They sat in silence for a little while, the miles eaten up by the steady thrum of the car's engine, until she spoke again.
“Why?”
“Why what?” It came out snippier than he’d wanted.
“Why are you helping me?”
Kain scoffed. He hardly knew the answer himself. The swirling inferno of emotions and instincts that had been warring inside of him made clear thinking excruciatingly hard.
“You have no idea the impact your scent has on us, do you?” He was aware that he sounded bitter.
“But Marathin… All my scent did to him was make him want me, not want to help me. Why is it different for you? Are you tricking me?”
His lips twisted in dark amusement. “If I were, you think asking me would make me tell you?”
She sighed. “No. I just… If you are, please just tell me, okay? It's not like I can get away from you, and I can't bear getting my hopes up if… if you're planning on selling me or something.”
The defeat in her voice made his heart twist.
“I'm not out to trick you, little one. It's a little different for Lords. Most regular demons don't realize it, but our reaction to Breeders is… stronger.” Kain sighed. “It's not just about sex; it's about providing you with protection and safety. When you are frightened or upset, your scent messes with my brain chemistry until I act to make it better. And yours is… potent.”
She was silent again for a little while, until finally she said something that nearly made him crash the car.
“I'm sorry.”
“You're what?” He was almost certain he'd heard her wrong.
“I'm sorry. I know what it's like to have your mind play tricks on you and force you, and I hate that I'm doing the same to you.”
Her small hand found his arm, a little awkwardly, but the feeling of it burned through his coat and shirt all the way into his bloodstream.
How could someone that small, that soft, shake him to his very core? And how could someone who'd been put through the kind of abuse she had, have any empathy for anyone of his kind?
The chuckle at the absurdity of her apology erupting from his throat made her pull her hand away. “What?”
He offered her a gentle smile. “Breeders are known to care about others more so than most humans, but you apologizing for how your scent affects me? That’s… a first. And I appreciate the sentiment. Quite a bit.”
Her responding blush made his blood heat again, this time more predictably from arousal.
He forced his focus back on the road instead of on the odd little Breeder who made breathing difficult.
18
Selma
They drove all day and well into the night before the demon finally pulled over at a seedy motel off the highway, where he left her in the locked car while he sorted out room arrangements. Which turned out to be one small room with twin beds.
“I'm sorry for the cheap room. We are more likely not to draw attention if we stay off-grid.” He actually looked mildly ashamed as he watched her take in the floral bedding, the stained carpet, and the dingy furniture.
Selma bit the inside of her cheek as she glanced at him. It wasn't the standard of the room she was concerned about—it was sharing it with a ginormous demon. Kain might have been helping her, but she knew from last night’s debauched events and the near-constant bulge in his jeans that he was fighting his desires tooth and nail.
He’d admitted as much himself—that he had the same urges to take her as Marathin had. The fact that they were apparently mixed with an insurmountable urge to ensure her comfort and protection was likely the only reason he had yet to give in.
“I spent most of a month sleeping in my car. This is practically luxury in comparison,” she said, offering him a small smile to hide her anxious thoughts—though judging from his frown, he could scent her fear just fine.
“Last night…” he began, hesitating for a moment as if he’d rather not continue that sentence. “I did what I did because I had to.”
“I know.” She did know. The metal ring hidden between her lower lips had been demonstrated enough during her time with Marathin that she understood Kain had had no other option.
