Chapter 38
CASSIE
For a few minutes, Cassie honestly thought they were done for the night…that everything was under control and she could sleep between her two guys. (She didn’t question why she was thinking of Ravik and Severin as “hers” all of a sudden—it just felt right.)
She knelt there between them, panting and flushed, with the taste of both males still on her tongue and the bite wound on her arm dimmed down to the faintest golden shimmer.
Her body felt better—so much better that she almost wanted to cry with relief.
The frantic, clawing need had gone quiet at last, and the terrible heat in her blood had cooled to something softer and less frightening.
She felt normal now. Well…almost normal.
But as Ravik and Severin settled on the huge bed on either side of her, Cassie became aware of a strange, lingering ache low inside her.
It wasn’t sharp like before, and it wasn’t the desperate, feverish hunger that had been driving her out of her mind.
This was deeper…heavier. It was a hollow, pulsing emptiness that didn’t go away no matter how many slow breaths she took or how hard she tried to ignore it.
She shifted back on her heels and winced.
Both males noticed immediately, of course.
“Cassie?” Ravik’s big hand came to rest on her shoulder. “Hurting again?”
“No,” she said quickly. Then, because that wasn’t completely true, she made a face. “Well…not exactly.”
Severin, who had been rearranging the pillow behind him went very still.
“What do you mean, ‘not exactly?’” he asked.
Cassie stared down at the coppery sheets beneath her knees, wishing very much that the Visskous mle who had built this bunker had believed in ordinary beds instead of gigantic heated mating platforms designed to make every conversation feel ten times more intimate than it needed to be.
“I feel better,” she said slowly. “I really do. The need is mostly gone and my arm isn’t pulsing like some kind of alien mood ring anymore. But I still feel…” She stopped, pressing her lips together.
“Empty?” Severin asked quietly.
Her head jerked up and she stared at the big Blood Kindred. How could he know that?
His pale blue eyes were fixed on her face, not her body, and his expression was careful—too careful. Which meant he already suspected something and was trying not to say it because he didn’t want to upset her.
“Yes,” she admitted at last, her cheeks heating. “Empty. And before you ask, no, I don’t mean emotionally empty. I mean physically empty. Like my body wants…needs fullness.”
Ravik’s eyes darkened at once.
“Cassie needs to be filled,” he growled.
“Thank you, Ravik,” she muttered. “I was trying really hard not to say it quite that plainly.”
The big Beast Kindred looked contrite.
“Sorry.”
But he didn’t sound sorry—not really. He sounded concerned and aroused and maybe a little proud of himself for understanding what her body wanted before she did.
Severin’s jaw tightened.
“Cassandra,” he said slowly, “I may have something that can help.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Why do I suddenly not like the sound of that?”
He held up both hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture.
“It isn’t dangerous.”
“That is exactly what a man says right before producing something dangerous,” she pointed out, frowning.
“It’s not dangerous,” he repeated. “But it is…intimate.”
Cassie stared at him.
They were all half-naked in a Visskous mating bed after Ravik had tasted her and she had just had both of them in her mouth at the same time, swallowing their cream. The idea that Severin still had some higher category of intimacy available was honestly alarming.
“What in the world did you bring?” she asked.
Severin reached toward the side of the bed, where he had set the piece of equipment he’d grabbed from the lab before they came in.
Cassie had noticed it earlier, but only vaguely.
At the time, her body had been screaming too loudly for her to care about whatever bit of science Severin had decided to drag into the sex bed.
Now she cared—she cared a whole hell of a lot.
She watched through narrowed eyes as the Blood Kindred lifted a long, clear wand from a slim sterile case.
It was maybe eight inches long at first glance— smooth and transparent with faint silver filaments running through its length.
The handle was made of some dark metal and had several tiny sensor lights embedded in it, as well as a small dial at the base.
Cassie stared at it, then she stared at Severin.
“Um, is that some kind of a sex toy?”
“It’s not a sex toy,” he said immediately.
Ravik leaned closer to look.
“Looks like a toy,” was his rumbling verdict.
“It is a medical sampling device,” Severin said with great dignity. “It’s a portable honey collection wand designed for sterile sampling during periods of sexual activity.”
Cassie gave him a skeptical look.
“Oh, so it’s a scientific sex toy. A science dildo.”
“Well…I supposed it could be classed in that category,” the Blood Kindred admitted reluctantly.
“It has internal sensors that measure temperature, pH, hormone concentration, viral markers, and anti-viral activity in real time,” he continued, because apparently if he used enough scientific words, the clear alien dildo in his hand would become less embarrassing.
“It can also expand or contract depending on the subject’s comfort and anatomical need. ”
Cassie stared at him.
“Excuse me? It can what?”
“Expand or contract,” he repeated patiently. “The girth is adjustable. It remains smooth and flexible at all sizes, and the sensors in the handle will tell me if there is any distress or tissue strain. You can control how much you take.”
Cassie frowned as she felt another twinge in her arm.
“So let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “You brought a clear, expandable, sensor-filled honey collection wand into the mating chamber just in case my zombie virus decided I needed to be filled?”
Severin’s high cheekbones went faintly pink.
“I brought it because I suspected your symptoms might intensify and because a fresh honey sample could be medically important.”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded. “Of course—that makes perfect sense.”
“And because I didn’t want to drag you back to the lab if you were in distress,” he added earnestly.
Ravik nodded.
“Sev brings science to help Cassie,” he pointed out.
“Yes, I’m seeing that,” Cassie said. “I’m also seeing that Sev’s ‘science’ is shaped a lot like a cock.”
The corners of Severin’s mouth twitched.
“I can see how you’d think that, seeing as how this devices is specifically made to fit into a vagina.”
Ravik looked at the wand again and nodded solemnly.
“Small cock,” was his verdict.
Cassie burst out laughing before she could stop herself and Severin looked mildly offended.
“It can become larger,” he pointed out.
“I’m sure it can,” Cassie said, still laughing. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I know this is serious, but if I don’t laugh, I’m going to scream. I don’t know why this damn virus won’t leave me alone!”
Severin’s expression softened.
“I know it’s frustrating. I just want to help you, sweetheart.”
And there it was again…that gentleness…that quiet understanding and patience that was so unlike any other man she’d ever been with. He was aroused—she could see that clearly enough—but he was also worried about her.
Cassie took a breath and looked at the wand again. As she did her body clenched with need and the emptiness inside her pulsed in response—not frantic now yet but getting there—it was definitely insistent.
It was embarrassing how good the idea of being filled by the collection wand sounded.
Something smooth and thick filling that hollow ache inside her—something that wasn’t a real cock so she wouldn’t be risking Bonding Sex with either of her guys, but could still give her the pleasure her body was crying out for.
Severin’s gaze sharpened, probably because he could smell her need but he didn’t say a word…just waited.
“How would this work?” Cassie asked at last, trying to sound practical.
Severin glanced at Ravik, then back at her.
“You said you still feel empty. I believe that may be part of the viral pathway—your body is seeking internal pressure and reproductive stimulation. But you don’t want penetrative sex with either of us because of the risk of accidental bonding.
The wand will allow us to satisfy your physical need without crossing that boundary.
” He held the wand carefully, not moving toward her.
“It will also collect a fresh honey sample during peak response, which I very much need. In essence—it would kill two birds with one stone, as you humans say.”
Cassie eyed him.
“Why do I have the feeling I’m one of the birds?”
His mouth twitched.
“You are not one of the birds, sweetheart.”
“Good, because I’ve had a rough couple of days and being metaphorically stoned to death by alien science would really be the cherry on top.”
Ravik frowned.
“No one stones Cassie.”
“It’s an expression, big guy.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I, honestly.” Cassie looked at the wand again, then at Severin. “So you would…what? Put that inside me and collect a sample?”
“Only if you agree.” His voice was low and serious now. “But I have to e honest, Cassandra—in order for this to work, I might have to make the wand quite large when I get it into you. Otherwise, your body won’t feel satisfied.”
Cassie swallowed hard. God, how big did that thing get? She supposed she was going to find out.
“What if I say stop?” she asked.
“Then everything stops,” he promised.
Cassie nodded.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s try it.”
Ravik’s hand stroked gently over her back.
“Cassie wants the wand?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I think Cassie might need the wand,” she said, making a face because apparently talking about herself in the third person was contagious. “But Ravik is going to hold me while Severin uses it.”
Ravik’s expression softened at once.
“Ravik holds Cassie,” he rumbled. “Ravik will keep you safe.”
“Thank you.” His words warmed her heart.
“And Severin…” She looked at the Blood Kindred and felt her cheeks heat again. “Go slow.”
“I will.” He nodded.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him not to make it too big…but she swallowed the words back down. He had said it might have to be really large to ease the emptiness inside her and she had a feeling he was right.
“All right,” she said. “Let’s try it.”