“I waited half an hour too,” Drina announced from somewhere beyond Katricia. “And I’d suggest that for you, Allie. The nanos will heal it right away because it is a bleeding wound, but might be slow about it because they are spread out so thin taking care of the other repairs they’re still tending.”
Magnus felt Allie stiffen at the sound of Drina’s voice and wasn’t surprised. Neither of them had realized the other woman was in the hall as well.
“I thought I was done turning?” she whispered now to him.
Magnus shook his head. “The majority of it is done, the more painful stuff. But the nanos will be working to finish off less crucial fixes or changes for the next while, perhaps weeks. You’ll need to take in extra blood while that’s happening.”
“Oh,” she said unhappily.
“I agree with Drina,” Katricia said, reminding them of their presence. “I’d go with half an hour to be safe.”
“Okay,” Allie said unhappily, and then added, “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” Katricia said lightly, and then said more seriously, “Really, Allie. I’m sure you will have a lot of questions as you adjust to being immortal, and I’m happy to help. Just ask and I’ll do my best to answer.”
“That goes for me too,” Drina called.
“Thank you, guys,” Allie said sincerely. “I appreciate that.”
“Okay, then. Have fun,” Katricia said as she closed the door.
The last comment had been said in a wry tone that suggested it wasn’t likely. Magnus understood that thoroughly. He had to remain inside Allie for half an hour. Well, perhaps only twenty-five minutes now, but he wasn’t sure how long he’d been in her already so would say thirty rather than risk having to do this again. The point was, however, he needed to maintain his erection to remain in her. If it shrank too much it would slide out no matter what he did, so they had to keep him at least mildly excited. But if he got too excited and passion overwhelmed them . . . well, an orgasm would certainly put an end to the exercise. So, it was going to be a terrible balancing act.
“Something’s happening again,” Allie said anxiously.
Her words drew his attention from his thoughts to the realization that he was losing his erection again. Sighing, he laid his forehead on hers and said, “I am shrinking.”
“Well, don’t do that!” she exclaimed with dismay. “You have to stay in me for half an hour.”
Magnus released a helpless chuckle and raised his head. “I am aware of that, but ordering me not to lose my erection is not going to . . .” His words died as she suddenly shifted beneath him, thrusting her hips up to press herself tighter to him, probably in an effort to make sure he didn’t slip out. Fortunately, it had the added benefit of restirring some excitement in him and he felt himself hardening again.
“What can we do to keep you . . . interested?” she asked now, and then added, “But not too excited.”
She understood the situation and didn’t need it explained to her. That was good at least, Magnus decided, and was considering her question and the best way to approach the problem when she suddenly knocked his legs out from under him with one of her own and then turned him onto his back, coming up on top of him. She then sat up, only to raise an arm to cover her breasts from his view.
“Don’t look,” Allie ordered, and he raised disbelieving eyes to her face.
“You have gone shy?” he asked with surprise. “Now? After prancing around naked in front of me for—”
“I wasn’t prancing,” she said with a roll of the eyes. “And I’m a virgin. Or I was,” she added with a grimace. “Of course I’m shy.”
“Forgive me,” he murmured with amusement, raising his hands to her upper arms and running them lightly up and down her skin. “But you did not appear shy in the bathroom.”
“No.” She shivered slightly at his light caress, but then wrinkled her nose. “I don’t even know who that woman was. I was just desperate to . . .”
When she paused, looking confused, he said gently, “It was blood lust.”
Allie’s eyes widened slightly, and she peered at him with surprise. “Really? Because it felt like . . .”
“Desire?” he suggested gently. “Blood lust can be easily mistaken for desire at first, I am told.”
“Oh. So, I was actually hungry for blood not sex.” She considered that briefly and then