Page 140 of Her Rabid Beasts

“Xander won’t do it. He’s sulking,” I mutter. “He’s upset about you talking to his dragon without his knowledge.”

“He can heal?” she asks in surprise.

“Yeah, dragon magic can do lots of things. They just keep it secret.”

“The more I hear about it, the more like serpents they sound.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that.”

She sighs again, wiggling her fingers. “Well, I guess I’ll have to wait a little. At least it doesn’t hurt as much with the little I can heal. But what about Beak?”

I suppress a snarl, but it rips out of my throat anyway. “I won’t have another male in here with us, regina. I—” Rubbing my thumb over the soft skin of the back of her hand, I wonder if I should tell her how much I need her to myself. “This is our first nest,” I say slowly, indicating the room with my eyes. “The first time we’re…”

“All together. Well, most of us.”

“Ghoul doesn’t count. He’s a nutter.”

“Uh-huh.” She grins at me.

I lean down and kiss her mating mark, which glows a brilliant silvery-gold all the time now. I could practically kiss Scythe for making that deal with her. She shivers under my lips and I kiss her neck again.

“I think I smell,” she complains so prettily that it makes me want to bite her. “I want a shower.”

“Lyle’s going to give you a sponge bath.”

“Pardon?” her voice is a high-pitched birdy squeak. She goes to sit up but grimaces and lies back down, her cheeks turning a lovely watermelon pink.

“Oh, be a good girl and let us,” I say, bopping her nose playfully. We both turn to look as Lyle comes out of the bathroom with a bowl of soapy water and washcloths. His sleeves are rolled up and he’s got this look on his face that says he means business. Aurelia’s cheeks go even more pink.

Lyle sets his things down on the bedside table and looks down at our regina.

“I don’t think—” she starts.

But Lyle is shaking his head and the voice that comes out of him reminds me of the time we all spent together under the school when Aurelia was unwell. It’s gentle and I try not to smirk at him being all matey. “Let me do it,” Lyle says. “Let me look after you.”

Something in his face makes Aurelia gulp. She seems to be doing that a lot lately. “Alright,” she says quietly.

I reach for her hospital gown, but she stops me faster than any cobra striking. “Don’t take it off.”

“Princess, I’ve seen your body before and it’s beautiful.” I’m desperate to pepper her skin all over with kisses and get the smell of the medical wing off of her.

“You can keep it on,” Lyle says firmly. “We can just move it around as we go.”

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” I say excitedly, jumping up to check the temperature of the water with my pinky finger. “Play doctors and nurses. Where’s my rectal thermometer when I need it?”

It makes her giggle, and the sound makes my stomach do all sorts of nice things. I watch as Lyle submerges one washcloth into the soapy water and wrings it out. He sits on the side of the bed and folds the cloth over his hand and wipes at Aurelia’s forehead. She closes her eyes like it’s pleasant. Lyle’s eyes move over her face and his entire body seems to go soft as he cleans her cheeks, then her straight little nose.

But I won’t be left out, so I take another washcloth, soak it, then wring it out like he did. I’m climbing onto the bed, aiming for her legs, when Lyle barks, “Shoes!”

Aurelia flinches, and I scowl at the lion before kicking my shoes off.

I lift up her gown to reveal her glorious thighs and start gently running the washcloth down one, then the other while Lyle does her arms.

“Does it feel nice?” I ask, lifting her leg to kiss her shin.

She clears her throat. “Yes.”

I’m gently cleaning each of her toes, one at a time, when I smell the sweet, vanilla cupcake scent of her…and her arousal.

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