Then she squeezed out a small amount and—keeping her back toRavik—smeared some on her lips.Whenshe turned back towards theBeastKindred, they were shiny with the ointment.
“Okay, big guy,” she said softly.“Iwon’t try to put the ointment on with my fingers.Butwhat ifIkiss it better?”Shepointed to one of the red burn marks on his broad shoulder.“Hmm?Wouldthat be okay?Canyou let your mate kiss you?”
Severin’s mind went blank.
Notcompletelyblank, though.Somewherein the distance, the scientist part of him observed that she had found an elegant solution to the problem.Ravikrefused the ointment from her fingers, but he might accept the same medication if it was delivered through affectionate contact.Cassandrahad already demonstrated that her scent, taste, and touch improvedRavik’scognitive function.Addinga soothing, nonthreatening gesture might both calm him and treat the injuries.
It was excellent thinking—brilliant, really.
Unfortunately, the male part ofSeverin’sbrain had noticed only thatCassandra’slips were slick and shining and that she intended to put them onRavik’sbody.
His fangs sharpened uncontrollably and his shaft got hard so fast it made him dizzy.
He clenched his uninjured hand into a fist and forced himself to remain still.Ravikneeded this—Cassandrawas helping him.AndSeverinhad no right—absolutely no right—to feel anything except gratitude.Hedefinitely shouldnotbe feeling lust at the idea of watching the gorgeous, curvyMatureEliteput her mouth on his best friend.
For his part,Raviklooked confused at first, but whenCassandrapursed her lips,Severinsaw the light of comprehension dawning in his golden eyes.
“Mate…kiss…better?”he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yes, exactly.Matekiss better.”Cassandranodded.“Canyou hold still and let me?”
After a long moment,Raviknodded.
“All right.”
“Good.”Cassandranodded in apparent relief.
She leaned down—though she didn’t have to lean very far at all, since even with him sitting and her standing she was barely taller than him—and pressed her lips to the red burn mark on his shoulder.
Severin stopped breathing.
It was just a kiss, he told himself—just a healing kiss, absurd as that sounded.Apractical method of applying salve to a patient who was too frightened and regressed to accept treatment any other way.
ButRavik’sentire body relaxed under the contact and he seemed to get relief at once.
AndCassandra…Cassandralooked impossibly soft as she bent over him, her brown hair falling forward over one shoulder, her red silk nightgown brushing the tops of her thighs, her mouth gentle againstRavik’sburned skin.
And as she kissed him, something happened—the fog inRavik’seyes thinned.
Severin saw it happen.TheBeastKindredwas definitely responding to her touch, as much as her scent, the scientific part of his mind noted.Theother part though how beautiful she was, kissing his best friend.
“Feels better!”Ravikrumbled, nodding.“Mate’skisses makeRavikfeel better.”
His sentences were already improving,Severinnoted.Good.
“Good!”Cassandraexclaimed, echoing his thoughts and clearly relieved at the result.“Nowwill you let me kiss the other hurt places better too?”
Ravik nodded.
“MakeRavikfeel better.Thankyou, mate,” he rumbled.
“You’re welcome.Nowjust sit still and let me get you healed up,”Cassandratold him.
She went to work, kissing all the red burn marks over his broad chest and abdomen.Severinwatched because he had to…because every kiss was a treatment…because every contact point appeared to correspond with improvement inRavik’sverbal coherence and eye clarity.
Because he was a scientist and this was data.
Liar, whispered a dry little voice in his head.Youlike to watch them together.You’dlike it even more if you could join in.
