“Medical sensors only,”Lipshillassured her.“Novisual recording unless requested by the patient or physician.Dr.Verityxis very strict about privacy during reproductive procedures.”
“Good to know,”Cassiemuttered.“BecauseIamnotstarring in anyone’s alien medical training porno.”
“No one would ask that of you,”Severinsaid, his voice low and firm.“Whatwe do together will be kept private.”
He was speaking to her, butCassiecouldn’t help noticing he was looking atRavik, who remained stoically silent.
The dizziness finally began to ease by the time they reached a wide arched door at the end of the corridor.Itwas made of the same green-tinted translucent material as the lab panels, and it opened with a soft chime whenLipshilltouched one taloned finger to the wall.Warmgolden light spilled out, along with the faint scent of flowers, clean sheets, and something sweetly spicy that madeCassie’sbody give a little pulse of interest.
Of course her body liked the sex suite, she thought dryly.Whywouldn’t it?
“This is the guest suite prepared for you,”Lipshillannounced proudly.“Pleaselet me know if anything is inadequate.Ihave stocked the nourishment alcove with stamina foods, cream-production tonics for the males, and soothing fluids for the female’s mammary activation discomfort.”
Cassie lifted her head weakly fromRavik’schest.
“Cream-production tonics?”she asked, arching an eyebrow at the bird-man.
Lipshill nodded cheerfully.
“Yes.Dr.Verityxsaid high output may be required.Thetonics are very effective to increase the volume of cream produced.”
“I’m sure they are,”Cassiesaid faintly.
Severin andRavikexchanged a short glance but said nothing.
Ravik carried her inside before she could ask anything else about “cream production” andCassiegot to have a look at the suite.
It was much larger than she expected, with curved walls, soft green-gold lighting, and a wide window that looked out over an alien garden filled with silver-leafed trees and hanging lantern-shaped flowers.
A shallow bathing pool steamed gently in one corner, surrounded by smooth stone steps and piles of fluffy towels.Therewas a sitting area with curved couches, a low table covered in covered dishes, and a wall of cabinets she had a feeling contained medical supplies and maybe things she didn’t want to know about just yet.
But the focal point of the suite was the bed—it took up nearly half the room.
Actually, calling it a bed seemed inadequate.Itwas more like a circular nest-platform piled with soft green and gold blankets, oversized pillows, and some kind of adaptive mattress that looked like it would mold itself around whoever lay on it.Itwas enormous—big enough for twoKindredwarriors and one overwhelmed human woman to sleep in without crowding.
Or to dootherthings,whispered a little voice inCassie’shead.Herface got hot at the thought.
Ravik felt her tense and looked down at her immediately.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.“Justrealizing that alien medical hospitality is extremely committed to the theme.”
Severin glanced toward the bed, then away again with a faint flush on his cheekbones.
“It does seem…purpose-built.”
“Purpose-built for what?”Ravikdemanded.
Cassie looked up at him.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
His jaw tightened.
“No.”
“I just meant its big enough for the three of us to…be together,” she explained, despite his closed expression.
