Not terrible heat—notFlorida-in-Augustheat, thankGod.Buta deep, enveloping warmth that wrapped aroundCassielike a blanket.Afterthe chilly stainless-steel rooms and corridors, it felt incredibly good.Herskin prickled, her shoulders loosened, and she had to stop herself from sighing like a woman stepping into a hot bath.
Then she saw the room…or rather, she saw the bed.
Because there wasn’t much else to see.
The chamber was enormous compared to the rest of the bunker—round instead of long and narrow—with a domed ceiling that disappeared into amber shadows overhead.Thewalls were made of that same pale stone, carved with curlingVisskousdesigns that looked decorative untilCassierealized they were actually bodies.Long, serpentine bodies tangled together in stylized loops and coils—tails wrapped around tails…claws gripping shoulders…narrow lipless mouths open in what she very much hoped was ecstasy and not predatory hunger.
She looked away quickly but unfortunately, looking away meant looking at the bed…the bed which nearly filled the entire room.
It stretched from one curved wall almost to the other, a massive circular nest of layered cushions and thermal blankets and shimmering coppery sheets that seemed to glow faintly from beneath.Therewas no floor space to speak of except for a tiny half-moon landing just inside the door, maybe large enough for one person to stand on if that person was notRavik-sized.Therest of the chamber was bed.
Bed to the left.
Bed to the right.
Bed straight ahead.
Bedeverywhere.
If a person wanted to enter the room, they had to climb onto the bed.Therewas no dignified way to stand around and discuss options.Therewere no chairs, no couch, no narrow little cot whereCassiecould pretend this was less compromising than it was.
Just one gigantic heated lizard-sex nest.
She stared at it for a long moment, then turned slowly toSeverin.
“You havegotto be kidding me.”
His expression was composed, but she could see the faintest hint of discomfort in his eyes.
“I’m afraid not.”
“There’s no floor.”
“There issomefloor.”
She pointed to the tiny landing where they were standing.
“That isnotfloor.Thatis a postage stamp.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means this entire room is basically a bed with walls.”
“That is…not inaccurate,” he admitted grudgingly.“Butit’s the only chamber big enough for all three of us.”
Cassie took a deep breath and immediately regretted it because the warm, spicy scent of the room filled her lungs and did absolutely nothing to calm her down.
“So when you said we would all have to share the bed,” she said slowly, “Whatyou meant was that we literally can’t enter the room unless we get into the bed.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
“I thought it might alarm you.”
“It does alarm me!I’malarmed!”she exclaimed.
Because it wasn’t going to be easy to get out of such a huge bed.She’dbe trapped in there, between them.Whatif she wanted to get out and get away quickly ifRavikdecided to get frisky with his “mate?”She’dhave to scramble to the foot of the bed and try to crawl out which wouldn’t be an easy process, considering all the cushions and blankets.
