Page 39 of Marked as Their Mate
“Ravik won’t letCassiefall,”Ravikrumbled behind her.
“Yes, well, thank you both,”Cassiesaid, trying to ignore the warmth ofRavik’spalms through her thin nightgown and the careful pressure ofSeverin’sfingers at her arm.“WhileIappreciate not face-planting into the lizard-sex mattress, maybe we could all take a breath?”
Ravik immediately pressed his face to her hair and inhaled deeply.
Cassie closed her eyes.
“That wasnotan invitation to sniff me.”
“Cassie smells good,” he rumbled.“Smellsright.”
“I know.You’vementioned that.”
The strange thing was, as soon as he breathed her in, she felt the tension in his body ease.Hishands loosened at her waist.Hischest brushed her back and the low, restless growl in his throat faded into a sound almost like a sigh.
Severin saw it too—she knew he did because his expression changed, sharpening with that intense scientific focus.Buthe didn’t say anything, which was smart.Becauseif he said the words “scent sample” right now,Cassiemight shove him off the bed.Notthat she actually could, since the bed filled the entire room but still…
“Let’s get settled,” he said instead.“Weneed to find a good, er, position.”
The bed was so large that it should have been easy to find a place that didn’t feel intimate, but somehow the opposite was true—maybe because the warm bedding gave under her knees and the amber lights made everything feel soft and secret.Ormaybe because the walls were literally carved with alien mating scenes which she was trying very hard not to look at.
Cassie crawled toward the center because there was nowhere else to go, feeling ridiculous and exposed despite the blanket still wrapped around her shoulders.Shewas certain she was flashing her behind at both of them since she didn’t have any panties on, but neither warrior said anything.
Ravik followed immediately, staying so close behind her that his hand brushed her hip every time she moved.Severinfollowed more slowly, looking as dignified as a six-foot-sixBloodKindredcould look while crawling across a giantVisskoussex bed—which was to say, more dignified than anyone had a right to look,Cassiethought.
Ravik, on the other hand, had no dignity whatsoever.Hesimply dropped onto his side of the bed—the left side—and reached for her.
“Cassie sleeps here,” he rumbled.
“Cassie hasnotagreed to a location yet,” she corrected him.
He patted the space in front of him.
“Here.Hereis good.Hereis warm and safe forCassie.”
She looked atSeverinwho looked atRavik, then back at her.
“Ithinkhe’ll rest best if he can hold you from behind,” he said apologetically.“Thatway he can breathe your scent without restricting your movement too much.”
“Restricting my movement at all is not really a phraseIwant to hear whenI’mabout to go to bed,”Cassiepointed out.
“I know.I’msorry.”
The look inSeverin’spale blue eyes was sincere and his apology that actuallysoundedlike an apology—not like a man saying words so she would shut up likeMitchandSskarthso often had.Cassiecouldn’t help liking that.
She sighed.
“Fine.Butif he starts anything?—”
“I’ll stop him,”Severinsaid at once.
“And ifyoustart anything?”she asked, raising her eyebrows.
His eyebrows rose in response.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.Andmy eyes are up here.”Shepointed to her face.
