“I need to check your blood,” he said.“Andthe bite site.Ifthe viral pathway is intensifying?—”
“Don’t say ‘viral pathway’ to me right now, okay?”she interrupted.“Idon’t need to hear that right now—I’mabout aninchaway from a full meltdown.”
Severin stopped immediately, holding up his hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture.
“All right,Iwon’t say it.Forgiveme.”
But somehow his apology made her feel evenworse.Shehad expected him to keep pushing—to explain, to lecture, to go full scientist on her until she either screamed or gave in.Instead, he simply stopped because she asked him to.
Damn him.
Damn both of them, really.
Why did they have to be so big and handsome and careful?Whydid they have to smell like exactly what her body wanted?WhydidRavikhave to look at her like she was precious, even now, with her arm glowing and her hormones—or the virus, or whatever the hell this was—turning her into some kind of alien medical disaster?WhydidSeverinhave to look at her like he was terrified and fascinated and determined to save her all at once?
Cassie pressed a hand to her forehead.
“I thoughtIcould ignore it,” she said.“This…what’s happening inside me,Imean.”
Neither male spoke—they were both just looking at her, listening intently.
“I thought ifIjust…kept busy, it would go away,”Cassiewent on.“Icooked.Icleaned.Itook three showers like some kind of overheated lunatic.Itold myself it was perimenopause or stress or maybe just the fact thatIhaven’t had decent sex in years and suddenlyI’mtrapped with twoKindredwarriors who seem to thinkI’mthe hottest thing in the galaxy.”
“You are,”Raviksaid at once.
Cassie almost wanted to laugh, but she was afraid she might start crying instead.
“Not the point, big guy,” she told him.
“Still true,” he rumbled.
Severin’s mouth twitched, but only for a second.
“Cassandra,” he said gently, “what exactly have you been feeling?”
Cassie looked away.
Heat crawled up her throat and into her cheeks.Itwas humiliating—there was no other word for it.Shewas a grown woman—a mother, an ex-wife—a current wife if you countedSskarth—though she didn’t, since he was a cheating asshole.Shehad lived through divorce and alien marriage and perimenopause and being thrown out to die.Sheoughtto be able to say what was happening in her own body.
But saying it to these two males, with her nipples tight under the stupid red nighty and her thighs still trembling from the way the bite wound had pulsed, felt almost impossible.
“I feel…needy,” she said at last, hating how small the word sounded.Itdidn’t begin to describe the aching void that was growing inside her.
Ravik inhaled sharply andSeverin’sgaze darkened, but his voice remained steady.
“In what way?”
Cassie glared at him.
“Don’t be a jerk—youknowwhat way.”
He gave her a level look.
“I need you to say it.”
“Why?Soyou can write it down in your notes?”she snapped.
“No.”Heshook his head.“Becauseif the virus is affecting your judgment,Ineed to know how strongly.AndbecauseIwill notguessat what you want—especially if it’s whatIthink it is.”
