With the taste of her honey mixed with the salt of his friend’s skin still on his lips, he finally came—his thick shaft fountaining cream all over his fist as he gripped himself.
“Gods,”he groaned at last, resting his forehead on the cool stone wall.Hewas certain nothing like tonight was going to happen again—he was surprised thatCassandrahad allowed it in the first place and he was certainRavikprobably wouldn’t have gone along with it if he was in his right mind.Afterall,BeastKindreddidn’t share mates.
But it had been amazing while it lasted and he knew he would always have the memory of sharing the gorgeous, curvy little human with his best friend.
And now that the “pipes were cleared” his brain was free to think of other things besides desire.Hefrowned as he consideredCassandra’seffect onRavik’svirus-ravaged mind.Herscent…her taste…and she’d complained about hormone fluctuations.Couldany of that have to do with her effect on his best friend?
Severin was tempted to go straight to the lab and start running experiments at once.Onlytwo things stopped him.First, he didn’t have the material he needed—he would have to get all kinds of samples fromCassandrato even begin to do what needed to be done.
And second, he didn’t want to miss sleeping in the same bed with his friend and the curvy little human.Hehad always been secretly jealous ofTwinKindredand the way they always shared a bed with their mate between them.Heliked the idea of being curled up and warm with hisRavikandCassandra—who he was beginning to like very much, even if she was stubborn at times.
Of course she was a beautifulMatureElite—a woman he andRavikprobably couldn’t have gotten back aboard theMotherShip.SomeonelikeCassandracould have her pick of the warriors there.
But here, in the back of beyond and light years from competition, he actually felt like the two of them had a shot.Well…not that they would ever be able to share her for real—not ifRavikever came back to his right mind.ButSeverindidn’t want to miss the chance to be with such a beautiful, desirable woman and his best friend too—even in a limited way.
So he went back to the mating chamber and sure enough,Ravikwas lying on his side, “spooning”Cassandra—a human term which had made no sense toSeverinuntil a friend showed him the silverware fromEarthand how it fit together.
Cassandra was already half asleep and so wasRavik.Hehad one big arm thrown over her waist and was holding her possessively close to his big body.
Severin was slightly disappointed—he’d been hoping to have contact withCassandraas he slept.However, it was enough just to share a bed with her and his best friend, he told himself.
He climbed carefully into the huge bed, being sure not to jostle either of them, and lay down with his back to the curvy little human, about a foot away from her.
He was just getting settled and closing his eyes when he was surprised to feel fingers trailing along his spine.
“Hmm?”Heturned his head and saw thatCassandrahad one eye cracked open and was reaching for him.
“Hey—aren’t you cold over there?”she asked drowsily.
“The bed is heated—there’s no wayIcould be cold,”Severinpointed out.
Cassandra gave him a sleepy frown.
“Well maybe,I’mcold—did you think of that?”she asked.
“Uh, no.Forgiveme,Ididn’t,”Severinadmitted.“Wouldyou like me to, er, warm you up?”
“Just scoot back some—get closer,” she said.“Thatway my front will be as warm as my back.”
Severin did as she asked, scooting back until she was spooning him the wayRavikwas spooning her.Hewas afraid his friend’s hand would get in the way but—to his surprise—Ravikmade a sleepy sound and lifted his arm.Whenhe laid it down again, his big hand was resting onSeverin’ship.
Severin stiffened at first.HeandRavikhad been best friends for years, but they’d never fallen asleep touching before.Noteven the night they’d shared theTheramitewoman.
You didn’t mind suckingCassandra’shoney off his fingers.Whyare you getting upset about him touching you now?whispered a skeptical little voice in his head.
Well, that was true,Severinconceded.Andthere was nothing overtly sexual about having his friend’s hand on his hip.Infact, it felt warm—comfortable, to sleep together with him andCassandra.
We really are like spoons in a drawer, all nested together,he thought as he let himself relax at last.
Cassandra seemed to like the sleeping arrangement too because she made a sleepy noise of contentment and slipped one soft arm around his waist as her breasts pressed against his back.
“Better now?”Severinasked her.“Areyou warm enough, sweetheart?”
“Much better,” she murmured.“JusthopeIdon’t have a hot flash tonight.Ijust can’t stannn…”
Her words drifted off to a sleepy murmur he didn’t catch.
Severin was about to ask what she’d said, when he realized her breathing had grown regular and the arm around his waist was limp with sleep.
