When Sha Yi woke up again, the thunder and lightning had ceased, though the rain had only slightly lessened. The sky remained terrifyingly dark, and the entire forest was shrouded in mist.
The fire was still burning, and the eerie scene not far away was faintly illuminated by its flickering glow, casting a vague, indistinct outline.
They say dawn is the last trace of darkness, but Sha Yi no longer felt afraid. The strong arm draped across her lower ribs gave her an extraordinary sense of security.
As long as Xi Yi was by her side, she felt she could face any terrifying situation.
Thinking this, she turned her head to look at the man behind her. Unexpectedly, Xi Yi was already awake. The moment she turned, she met his deep, brown eyes.
Seeing her gaze, warmth filled his beautiful eyes. The arm resting beneath her chest shifted slightly, his large hand brushing against her slender waist, pulling her entirely into his embrace. At that very moment, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her neck.
His hair fell against her skin, tickling her as he moved. A faint itchiness made Sha Yi giggle, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her head against his chest to prevent his hair from slipping out and teasing her again.
But Xi Yi wouldn’t let her have her way. His other arm slid beneath her, pulling her slender body fully against him, his fingers playfully squeezing her waist before lingering with an unmistakably reluctant expression.
His shameless teasing left her torn between laughter and exasperation. Just as she was about to swat away his mischievous hand, his rough palm deftly slid from her ribs to her abdomen. Her momentary hesitation gave him the upper hand—though Xi Yi didn’t push further. Instead, he rubbed against her with a mix of reluctance and tenderness, his scorching, calloused palm stirring ripples of warmth that seared through her trembling heart.
Sha Yi broke out in goosebumps, instinctively tightening her arms around his shoulders. A soft sigh escaped her throat—but the moment it did, she froze. She could feel Xi Yi’s body tense abruptly. The next second, his breathing grew heavier, and the arm around her waist tightened slightly.
Was he really planning to have his way with her in this godforsaken place?
Sha Yi still found the location highly unappealing, but because it was him, she felt an inexplicable reliance and affection. She didn’t resist, instead yielding to his advances.
Yet, based on past experience, she didn’t believe he would truly take her. After all, Xi Gu had repeatedly warned him—aside from her, Xi Gu was probably the only one who could sway Xi Yi’s decisions.
At this moment, Xi Yi wasn’t overthinking as she was. Once a man’s desire was ignited, distractions faded away. With her gentle compliance, he pressed forward—his movements clumsy and rough at first, but his innate dominance quickly took over, and soon he grew more adept.
She thought he would break through her final barrier.
But in the end, Xi Yi stopped, panting heavily and visibly struggling, yet he restrained himself.
Sha Yi had never understood why, despite his obvious longing for her, he always halted halfway. His words—*”Wait until after the rainy season for a child”*—left her utterly perplexed. Did he think she wasn’t ready to accept him?
But that didn’t make sense. From their first meeting until now, his every action had shown how deeply he cherished her. He never held back when touching her, so the idea that he feared she wasn’t ready was illogical—impossible, even.
Just like his fury when he thought she was trying to escape—that had been sheer dominance. While he was attentive and caring in all other matters, when it came to intimacy, he wouldn’t yield to her wishes. Even if she resisted, he’d likely find a way to have his way.
Moreover, she had already shown clear willingness and compliance toward his advances. Therefore, the theory that Xi Yi stopped at the last step out of concern for her readiness didn’t hold.
After much deliberation, Sha Yi concluded that the answer lay in his words and Xi Gu’s warnings. Perhaps Xi Yi planned to wait until after the rainy season to consummate their relationship? Maybe he wanted her to conceive afterward?
Sha Yi decided to accept this explanation for now. After all, she couldn’t figure it out anyway. Regardless, she could tolerate his teasing, and his refusal to cross the final line only proved how much he cared. There was no need to overanalyze—things would become clear in time.
By the time Sha Yi snapped out of her thoughts, Xi Yi had already sat up, his back rigid as he faced away from her.
She slowly sat up as well, leaning close to brush aside his disheveled hair and study his face.
At that moment, his face was flushed, his breathing ragged, the muscles of his chest and abdomen taut with tension.
Sha Yi wanted to tease him. She reached out to tap his straight nose, but halfway there, his hand clamped around hers. At the same time, his low, hoarse voice whispered in her ear:
*”Sha Yi…”*
Just two syllables—her name—but she instantly detected the frustration, the plea, and the suppressed helplessness in his voice.
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