Asha shifted her weight, fidgeting with her nails. Her stomach was queasy with nervousness. It wasn't just his change in appearance that had her apprehensive—Uh'luka had blown off their meeting on the bridge. It hadn't been the mating season then. She worried his only interest in her was breeding since he'd chosen to show up now.

When the silence stretched on too long, Asha finally said what was on her mind, "I know it's silly, but I've missed you."

A low hum vibrated through his chest, "Not silly."

He bent his knees to try to see her face, but she wouldn't look at him. Uh'luka tilted his head to the side. When that didn't work, he made a vibratory sound. It started soft in his throat but steadily grew to a pulsing vibration that could be felt in his chest. Her eyes flickered up at him.

He remembered those big, innocent brown eyes of hers. Every time he looked in them, time stopped for a moment. Uh'luka took a small step forward. He wanted to show Asha that he'd missed her too, but he wasn't sure how when he could sense her unease. All he could do was hope that the noise would soothe her.

"...I've never heard you purr before..." Asha leaned into the sound until her cheek touched his broad chest.

"It's reserved for very specific situations."

"Oh, right, it's the mating season." She cleared her throat and leaned away, but not before her cheeks turned a light shade of red. "I'm headed to sparring practice. Did you want to come?"

He didn't respond.

"Well, I should probably get going if I don't want to be late."

As soon as she took a side-step to get around him, Uh'luka's arms shot out to the wall, caging her. His nails dug into the rock, "The mating season has nothing to do with how much I've desired you."

She watched the heavy rise and fall of his chest before glancing up at his eyes. They were narrowed with a fierce determination. His mandibles were rigid. The cords on his neck were sticking out, and he was looming over her. After spending so much time with him down in that cage, she knew when he was on edge.

Her pulse was so quick it was making her dizzy but she fought to remain calm, "Uh'luka, you're scaring me. Please drop your arms."

His hands slid down the wall, brushing little bits of rock to the ground. He let them hang at his sides.

"I'm leaving now. But as soon as the mating season is over, I would like to see you."

His eyes darkened with a growl.

Asha hesitated, then side-stepped against the wall. Once she was out from in front of him, she slowly walked backward. The male turned his head to watch her but remained in place. Since he made no move to follow her, she turned her back to him.

She didn't hear a single sound behind her but felt his claws close around her upper arm. Asha jerked away with a screech. He released before his nails could do damage to her skin, but she still drew the plasma pistol from her hip and pointed it at him. It shook in her hand. She'd never even fired it before.

He purred again, slow and steady.

"Back off! Don't make me use this!"

His eyes were lidded as he drew in a breath, "Your scent steals my control."

As she backed up, he clicked at her as though she were prey. Asha remembered being in the cage when his lust reached a dangerous level. He'd been weak then, starved. He'd do much more damage now that his body was healed.

"Oomans are delicate." She reminded him, "You'll hurt me if you mate me here."

He crept closer with a rumble.

"Uh'luka…"

His hand shot out and lifted the muzzle of the gun to the sky. Her hand tightened around the handle—he'd have to break her fingers before she let it go. She punched him with her free hand but lacked the strength to do any harm. She resorted to kicking him instead. He just used it to his advantage.

With her on one leg and off-balance, it was easy for him to spin her. Then one hard shove had her stumbling to the ground. The rock cut into her forearms as she hit, but she still didn't release the gun. Before she could lift to her hands and knees though, his weight was at her back.

She struggled to flip her arm behind her with her shoulder pinned. The gun drug across the ground before pointing behind her. She felt his fingers wrap around her wrist. She pulled the trigger anyway. An explosion rang in her ears. Large chunks of rock came crashing down behind them.

A growl followed the destruction.

He grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back so the weapon couldn't be pointed at him. With her straddled, his other hand was free to slither up her side, gathering her skirt up, then her shirt. As soon as his fingers hit a strap to her armor, he jerked the buckle and then tossed the metal away. He removed the rest of her protective gear so his hand could glide over every inch of bare skin.

Even knowing the gun was aimed at the wall, Asha pulled the trigger again. The male rolled with her just before a boulder shattered on the ground where they'd just been. Bits of pebbles and dust scattered over them. While his grip was loose, Asha twisted around onto her back. She lifted the gun.

"Get off of me!"

His yellow eyes stayed steady as he lowered his jaws to her neck. The tusks of his mandibles spread over her skin. Two trailed up into her hair, while the bottom tusks grazed under her jaw. She felt his hot breath on her throat first, before his teeth. His jaw parted to nibble at her flesh.

Distracted, she hadn't noticed his hand reach down to untie his loincloth. She only felt when he slid the cloth away, and by then it was too late. Panic flooded into her chest. A wave of dizziness crashed over her as the air turned to static. All she could hear was her own pulse pounding away in her eardrums.

Her entire body tensed. She clamped her knees on his hips, trying to prevent him from pushing forward. Her back arched to change the angle of her hips and her free hand went to his chest. Her hand wasn't even as big as his pec muscle, but she shoved at him anyway.

His pupils were dilated to the point that his eyes were almost completely black. Through her palm, she could feel his racing heart. A male yautjas anatomy had tiny pores along the sides that released lubrication, much more than human precum. He would have no trouble penetrating her.

"Let go of me! Uh'luka, please!"

A deep purr pulsed from his chest into hers. The vibrations sank into her bones and made her muscles feel heavy. Asha struggled to fight the effects. When his muscles bunched, preparing to enter her, Asha pressed the muzzle of the plasma pistol to his temple. She flexed her fingers, then settled them on the trigger.

Asha grit her teeth, pressing the hot muzzle of the gun into his skin. The weapon didn't even seem to phase him though. Uh'luka was too far gone. Her finger trembled against the trigger, knowing she had to save herself.

That's what the classes were all about, self-defense. She strived to be strong and confident like a yautja female...She was anything but. Asha let out a breath, then a sob. When she relaxed her grip, the plasma pistol fell from her hand into the rubble.

She couldn't do it.