The old Em—the Em from a day ago—would have stiffly refused him. She would have gotten off the bed and gone to find some clothing so she could be decently covered. But that Em hadn’t gone through everything she had with the big Monstrum. Maybe she didn’t even exist anymore, Em speculated.
Instead of pushing him away, she reached for him. And before she knew it, she found herself cuddled in his lap with her arms around his neck and her body pressed to his silky fur, just as she had wished for earlier.
“Thank you, Emilia,” Rarev murmured. His velvety hands were stroking along her spine and now that she was closer, she could feel his low purring vibrating her entire body. The sound reminded her that certain monks claimed sounds at specific frequencies and decibels could be soothing and healing. Was that what he was doing? Was he healing her?
“Are you healing me?” Em asked, her voice sounding dreamy in her own ears. She felt half-hypnotized by the warm, gentle purring and the long, slow strokes of his velvety hands along her spine.
“No, I’m only calming you down,” Rarev rumbled in her ear. “Though I’d like to heal you, if you’ll let me, my l’eeja.” He drew back a little and looked into her eyes. “I know you were injured by the tentacles of the creature that fool made at Last Meal. I would heal your injuries if you’ll permit me.”
“My…injuries?” For a moment, she was at a loss. She’d felt so wrapped in blissful comfort as she pressed her naked body against his soft, velvety fur, she had nearly forgotten her injured arm and breast. But when Rarev nodded down at her chest, she began to feel the throbbing pain again.
“Your injuries,” he repeated. “Will you allow me to heal them?”
“Like…like you healed the burn on my arm, earlier?” Em asked, remembering the intense experience of letting him heal her burned flesh.
He nodded.
“Yes. Just like that.”
Em bit her lip. “I…I don’t know. I’m, er, naked.”
Just saying it made her feel more vulnerable. She wasn’t thin enough—or firm enough—to be running around in her altogether like this.
But Rarev was looking at her with an unreadable look in his deep, golden eyes.
“Emilia, you’re beautiful,” he murmured. “I love your naked body but right now I just want to heal you—will you let me?”
“I…er…” She nibbled her lower lip again. “Will…can you start with my arm?” she asked at last, nodding down at her right forearm and the leopard print pattern the tentacle had left on it.
“Of course,” he said gently. “I’ll start anywhere you want me to. And I’ll stop if you want me to, as well,” he added. “Just say the word—I won’t take anything you don’t want to give.”
His gentle words finally won Emilia over. That and the memory of the way he had sworn that he found her attractive, despite her age—in fact, because of it.
“All right,” she said softly. “You can…can heal me.”
“Thank you.” Rarev took her hand in his much larger one and turned it so he could see the underside of her forearm. Dipping his head, he began a series of long, slow, soft kisses that made Em’s skin tingle as he pressed his lips to the marks on her arm.
But it wasn’t just the skin on her arm that was tingling. A rush of warmth swept over her as he continued to heal her and she felt her pussy begin to get wet and her nipples start to harden.
Unfortunately, this actually hurt her right nipple. She gave a little moan of pain and reached for her wounded breast with her left hand as Rarev continued to kiss her other arm.
The big Monstrum picked up on her cues at once. He pulled back—her arm was mostly healed anyway—and frowned gravely.
“Emilia, you are wounded elsewhere too,” he murmured. “Will you let me heal you there as well?” He nodded down to her wounded breast, which really was in need of help, Em had to admit.
Say no—say no! she ordered herself. If you say yes, things will go too far! You know they will! The way you’re feeling now, you won’t be able to stop!
“I…shouldn’t,” she whispered, nibbling her lower lip.
“Why?” He frowned. “Why should you be in pain when I can heal you with a kiss?”
“Because,” Em admitted in a low voice. “If…if you kiss me there, I might…might want you to kiss me everywhere.”
Rarev’s golden eyes grew half-lidded and his voice dropped to a purring growl.
“That would be my very great pleasure, my l’eeja. But let me heal you first, and then let’s see how you feel. Right now, your health is my first priority.”
That’s right—he only wants to heal me. He’s an honorable male, Em told herself, trying to shut up the voice inside her shouting for her to stop this nonsense at once. It can’t hurt to let him do that, at least—can it?