Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
He took her firmly by the shoulder and had her lean back against the side of the tub. Then he applied a shampoo that smelled like someone had drowned a bunch of flowers in cherry cough syrup.
Cassie didn’t like the medicinal smell at all, but she had to admit, the big Beast Kindred gave an amazing scalp massage. She couldn’t help relaxing as he washed her hair, working the shampoo into a lather and rubbing it into her hair and scalp.
Slowly, her eyes closed and she felt some of the tension leaving her body as Ravik worked on her. She was aware that Severin was still looking at her with an anxious expression on his face, but she tried to ignore him. She didn’t like the Blood Kindred much—he was too cold and clinical, she decided. At least the Beast Kindred was trying to take care of her. At least he—
But her thoughts cut off completely as Ravik poured another bucketful of water over her head.
Cassie sat up, gasping and swiping at her eyes.
“Ugh!” Warn me before you do that!” she exclaimed.
“So-rry,” Ravik rumbled. “Must wash soap out.”
“Yes, well tell me first next time!” Cassie exclaimed and then wondered if there was going to be a next time. Was she going to be stuck here, playing the Beast Kindred’s mate for long?
Even if you are, isn’t it better than being out in the Dead Zone, waiting for an Infected to bite you again or for the virus to take hold so you turn into an Infected yourself? she asked herself. At least in here you have a chance—Severin might be able to cure you before you turn. He might be a cold-hearted jerk, but he’s still a scientist and whatever he gave to Ravik certainly seems to be working.
Yes, staying here in the hidden bunker with the two Kindred was definitely better, she decided. Even if she had to play Bonded Mates with the huge Beast Kindred, at least she was safe from being bitten again or torn to pieces.
So she didn’t complain when Ravik dumped yet another bucket of water over her head. She just sputtered quietly and wiped her long, wet hair out of her eyes. And when he motioned to her and said,
“Stand, mate,” she stood obediently and let him help her out of the bath. She even let him dry her off with a large towel and towel-dry her hair. But when he tried to put his arms around her and pull her close to him, she put her hands on his broad chest and shook her head.
“No—let me get dressed again,” she said firmly. “I’m cold—I need clothes.”
Ravik frowned.
“I can warm you up, mate,” he offered, holding out his arms.
“That’s a very kind offer,” Cassie said, trying to smile because she didn’t want to make him mad. “But I need to get dressed. At least let me put my nighty back on.”
“Here.” Severin handed her the silky red nighty and she pulled it on gratefully.
Ravik frowned as he watched her tug at the hem, trying to pull it down past mid thigh.
“But I like to look at your beautiful body,” he rumbled.
He was sounding more and more coherent, Cassie thought. And his eyes had lost almost all of the milky film that had covered them when she first met him.
She couldn’t deny she was flattered that he thought she had a beautiful body, but she still wasn’t willing to go around naked just to please him.
“Thank you but I’m too cold when I’m undressed,” she said firmly.
“Human women need to stay warm,” Severin added, frowning at his friend. “They get cold easily. You have to let Cassandra stay dressed.”
“It’s Cassie,” Cassie said. “I mean, that’s what most people call me.”
The Blood Kindred frowned.
“We do not shorten the names of females in our culture—it’s considered disrespectful.”
But the Beast Kindred seemed to have no problem with her nickname.
“Cas-sie,” he said, speaking her name slowly, as though he was rolling it on his tongue. “Cas-sie is my mate.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say that no, she wasn’t his mate, but Cassie didn’t want to upset him. So she just nodded and shrugged, feeling like an idiot.
“Cassie is tired now,” Severin told him. “She must be allowed to rest.”
“She can rest in our room,” the big Beast Kindred rumbled. “Rest in my arms—I will keep her safe and warm. But first, I will taste her pussy and make her come.”
Cassie felt a rush of fear mixed with some other emotion she couldn’t quite name.
“Wait a minute—” she began, but Severin was already speaking.
“You can’t do that yet, Ravik,” he told the Beast Kindred quickly. “It’s not your Tasting Week yet, remember?”
The Beast Kindred frowned as though he was trying to wrap his head about what his friend was saying.