Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
But the sample under the scope had told a different story.
The anti-viral wasn’t working—Ravik was. Or rather, something was working on Ravik…something Cassandra carried.
Something in her scent.
“Cassandra,” Severin said slowly, turning to her. “I need you to let Ravik hold you for a moment.”
Her eyes widened.
“You need me to what?”
“Let Ravik hold you,” he repeated.
She looked from him to the huge, naked Beast Kindred dripping water all over the kitchen floor and then back again.
“You want me to let the naked, dripping wet Beast Kindred hug me?”
“Yes.” Sev nodded.
“Of course you do.” Her voice was flat. “Why wouldn’t that be the next logical step in this nightmare?”
“I know he’s naked and wet and this is asking a great deal,” Severin said, forcing himself to speak gently when urgency was clawing at the inside of his chest. “But I need to test a hypothesis. Please,” he added, since he knew humans valued good manners.
“A hypothesis?” Cassandra exclaimed. “Severin, I’m barely dressed and he’s naked.”
“I noticed.” He nodded again.
“Well, I’m glad somebody did, because he certainly doesn’t seem bothered by it.” Her eyes shifted to the area between the Beast Kindred’s thighs where a truly enormous shaft hung down the inside of his thigh.
It wasn’t the first time Sev had seen his best friend naked and it didn’t bother him. He was glad, though, that Ravik wasn’t hard—that would have made what he was asking that much harder for the curvy little human.
“What if he gets the wrong idea?” Cassandra demanded, motioning at herself—her full breasts pressing against the thin silk nightgown. “Then what?”
“Ravik is not currently processing social norms at his usual level,” Sev said, keeping his gaze on her face with an effort. “But he doesn’t wish to harm you.”
“Mate cold,” Ravik rumbled suddenly. “Ravik warm.”
Cassandra glanced at him and Severin saw something flicker across her face. It wasn’t fear this time—not exactly. It was something softer and more uncertain, which she clearly tried to hide by tightening her grip on the stirring rod.
“I’m not cold,” she said.
This was plainly untrue. Her nipples were visibly hard beneath the thin red silk and she had crossed her arms over her chest as though trying to conserve warmth. The kitchen, like most of the bunker, was kept cool to slow viral degradation and preserve supplies. It was tolerable for a Kindred male. For a human female wearing nearly nothing, it must have been uncomfortable—Sev was sure of that.
“Warm Mate.” Ravik took a single step toward her.
Cassandra immediately held up the stirring rod, her brown eyes flashing.
“Stay right there, big guy,” she said.
Ravik stopped and just stood there, staring at her.
Severin felt another jolt of shock—the Beast Kindred had stopped because she had told him to. Not because Severin had given an order and not because he had been physically restrained. He’s stopped because Cassandra had spoken and some part of him—some deep, mate-driven, protective part of him—had listened.
It was surprising that his best friend was so willing to comply with his new “mate’s” wishes, but it only strengthened his theory that Cassandra had something to do with Ravik’s apparent recovery.
“Please,” he said quietly to her. “Can’t you see how he reacts to you? Just for a moment, let him hold you. If he frightens you or gets too rough, I’ll stop him—I swear it by the Goddess.”
Cassandra shot him a look.
“You said that about the bath too,” she pointed out.
“And I did stop him from massaging you with oils,” Sev pointed out.
“Yes, but you let him scrub every other part of me—including my breasts and between my legs,” she snapped.
A flush rose along Severin’s cheekbones. She wasn’t wrong. Ravik hadn’t hurt her, but he had handled her far more than Severin should have allowed. At the time, he had told himself it was necessary to avoid triggering a Rage response in a half-infected Beast Kindred. But that didn’t change the fact that Cassandra had been frightened and overwhelmed and far too naked in front of two strange males.
“You’re right,” he said, acknowledging her truth, even though he wished he could refute it. “I should have handled the bathing situation better. I’m sorry.”
Her expression shifted again, the sharpness faltering. For a second, she looked tired—more than tired. It was like she was bruised in some place he couldn’t see. Maybe her soul.
“Don’t do that,” she said with a sigh.
“Do what?” Sev frowned.
“Don’t turn decent on me when I’m trying to be mad at you.”
Sev didn’t know how to answer that, so he didn’t. He simply waited, hoping she’d agree to do what he was asking.
At last, Cassandra blew out a breath and lowered the stirring rod.
“Fine,” she said. “One hug—one. And if he starts rubbing me again—or biting me, or licking me, or trying to give me another bath, I am holding you personally responsible.”