Cassie felt the corners of her mouth quirking up and tried not to laugh.
“Yes, andCassieappreciates that very much,” she said.
He nodded solemnly.
“Ravik keeps pants on.”
“Good.Also, no tasting,” she said.
The bigBeastKindred’sface fell.
“No tasting?”
“No tasting,” she repeated.
“Not even a little?”
“No.”Cassiekept her voice firm.Shenever would have dreamed that she’d be in this position—having to forbid a seven-foot-tall warrior from going down on her.Itfelt like some kind of surreal dream.Butthen again, she’d never dreamed that she would be on a lizard planet in the middle of a zombie virus outbreak sharing a bunker with twoKindredeither.Andyet, here she was.
Ravik looked atSeverin, as though hoping for a second opinion.
“Ravik needs to taste his mate,” he said.“Ravikneedsto.”
Severin’s face was stern.
“It isnotyourTastingWeek,” he said.“Ifyou taste your mate too early, you’ll lose her because you break the rules of theClaimingPeriod.”
Ravik sighed heavily and his broad shoulders sagged in defeat.
“All right.Notasting.”
“Good.I’mglad we got that clear,”Cassiesaid, trying not to feel bad for disappointing the giant half-infectedBeastKindredwho apparently wanted nothing more than to put his mouth on her, which was not a thought she should be having right now.“Andno touching either.Imean, no intimate touching,” she clarified.
Ravik frowned.
“But we are mates—mates touch.”
Cassie was stumped.Sheought to say no…but if they had actually been mated, asRavikbelieved they were, he would be allowed to touch her during the bathing week.
“Look,I’mjust really tired right now,” she told him at last.“Notouching whileCassieis tired.”
“Touching later?”Ravikasked hopefully.
Cassie nibbled her lower lip.
“Maybe.Butonly ifIsay it’s okay.”
“Mate says okay first,” he said.
“Yes.Exactly.”Shenodded.
Severin’s gaze flicked to her, then toRavik, andCassiecould practically see his scientist brain making notes even though he didn’t have a datapad in his hands.Hehad to be noticing what she was noticing—thatRavikwas calmer when she spoke to him directly.Notnormal, exactly, but better—morepresent.
“Any other rules?”Severinasked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Yes.IfIsay stop, everyone stops.”Cassiecrossed her arms over her breasts.Shewas still wearing nothing but the skimpy little red nighty with no panties on under it.Shehad to be able to stop the action—if there was any—immediately.
“Of course,”Severinagreed at once.“Yourword will be our law.”
