“You want me to let the naked, dripping wetBeastKindredhug me?”
“Yes.”Sevnodded.
“Ofcourseyou do.”Hervoice was flat.“Whywouldn’tthat be the next logical step in this nightmare?”
“I know he’s naked and wet and this is asking a great deal,”Severinsaid, forcing himself to speak gently when urgency was clawing at the inside of his chest.“ButIneed to test a hypothesis.Please,”he added, since he knew humans valued good manners.
“Ahypothesis?”Cassandraexclaimed.“Severin,I’mbarely dressed and he’snaked.”
“I noticed.”Henodded again.
“Well,I’mglad somebody did, becausehecertainly doesn’t seem bothered by it.”Hereyes shifted to the area between theBeastKindred’sthighs where a truly enormous shaft hung down the inside of his thigh.
It wasn’t the first timeSevhad seen his best friend naked and it didn’t bother him.Hewas glad, though, thatRavikwasn’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?”Cassandrademanded, motioning at herself—her full breasts pressing against the thin silk nightgown.“Thenwhat?”
“Ravik is not currently processing social norms at his usual level,”Sevsaid, keeping his gaze on her face with an effort.“Buthe doesn’t wish to harm you.”
“Mate cold,”Ravikrumbled suddenly.“Ravikwarm.”
Cassandra glanced at him andSeverinsaw something flicker across her face.Itwasn’t fear this time—not exactly.Itwas something softer and more uncertain, which she clearly tried to hide by tightening her grip on the stirring rod.
“I’mnotcold,” she said.
This was plainly untrue.Hernipples were visibly hard beneath the thin red silk and she had crossed her arms over her chest as though trying to conserve warmth.Thekitchen, like most of the bunker, was kept cool to slow viral degradation and preserve supplies.Itwas tolerable for aKindredmale.Fora human female wearing nearly nothing, it must have been uncomfortable—Sevwas sure of that.
“WarmMate.”Raviktook 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—theBeastKindredhad stoppedbecause she had told him to.NotbecauseSeverinhad given an order and not because he had been physically restrained.He’sstopped becauseCassandrahad 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 thatCassandrahad something to do withRavik’sapparent recovery.
“Please,” he said quietly to her.“Can’tyou see how he reacts to you?Justfor a moment, let him hold you.Ifhe frightens you or gets too rough,I’llstop him—Iswear it by theGoddess.”
Cassandra shot him a look.
“You said that about the bath too,” she pointed out.
“AndIdidstop him from massaging you with oils,”Sevpointed out.
“Yes, but you let him scrub every other part of me—including my breasts and between my legs,” she snapped.
A flush rose alongSeverin’scheekbones.Shewasn’t wrong.Ravikhadn’t hurt her, but hehadhandled her far more thanSeverinshould have allowed.Atthe time, he had told himself it was necessary to avoid triggering aRageresponse in a half-infectedBeastKindred.Butthat didn’t change the fact thatCassandrahad 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.“Ishould have handled the bathing situation better.I’msorry.”
Her expression shifted again, the sharpness faltering.Fora second, she looked tired—morethan tired.Itwas like she was bruised in some place he couldn’t see.Maybeher soul.
“Don’t do that,” she said with a sigh.
“Do what?”Sevfrowned.
