It was full dark when Zilik came back to the room. Alex was sleeping peacefully, but Razz alerted as soon the door opened.
"How is she?" Zilik asked.
"Warm and sleeping."
Zilik stood there.
"For what are you waiting? Climb in." Razz patted the bed.
Zilik still stood there.
"Alex accepts a group bed and this is a golden opportunity. You do not seem like the type to waste those," Razz said. "You are politically powerful and helped Alex. You should join us."
Zilik slipped in. "Chameleons excel at adopting other culture's habits and right now, a group bed seems like a very, very, good idea," he said, curling around Alex's back.
***
Morning light dragged Alex to consciousness. Before opening her eyes, she felt bodies pressed on each side of her and the comforting scent of leather.
A weight lifted from her heart. It had all been a bad dream and she was home with Gabe and either Cale or Rile.
I can't remember why both are here, or where the third brother is, but I don't care.
A pain in her side nagged at her. She tried ignoring it, but it kept tapping on her brain, prodding her further away from sleep.
To distract herself, Alex ran a hand down the body in front of her to see who it was. Full consciousness came rushing up like a tidal wave.
"Aaaa!" Surprise made Alex sit bolt upright. "Aaaa!" This time she doubled back down, clutching her wound.
"Alex, you should not move so quickly or you will damage yourself further. Please lie back down. Please let me examine your wound," Razz said.
She looked at Razz wildly for a moment, sorting out the memories that were crowding back in her usual awakening confusion. He tugged at her to lie down.
"What are you two doing here?" Alex asked, still trying to orient herself. "Where is here, anyway?"
"This is our room in the Institute. We are keeping you warm so that you can heal." Razz's voice held no apology. "Now let me see." He lifted her shirt edge despite her mild resistance. "Good, no new bleeding. Zilik, do you have any oil?"
Alex scrunched her eyebrows.
That's an odd question.
Alex watched as Zilik walked straight to a cabinet and brought out a bottle. When he handed it to Razz, he leaned over and looked at Razz, not Alex.
"You'll need this for yourself. In fact, you'll need more than oil," Zilik said.
Zilik went back to the cabinet and pulled out a blue crystal jar. Alex looked at it, then at Razz in curiosity.
What had he seen on Razz?
"Why haven't you been oiling regularly? I thought the Anolis males took care of each other," Zilik said.
Now Alex could see what Zilik was talking about. Razz's hide was dry and flaking, with reddened cracks scattered about.
"Cla forbid anyone to oil me as punishment."
Zilik smiled as Alex took an interest in Razz, her own troubles forgotten.
"Take off your shirt," Zilik told Razz as he unscrewed the blue jar. "I keep this on hand from Master Healer Guni as it's very soothing and treats a variety of ailments."
He spread some white cream down one of the larger cracks. Razz softly hissed out a breath in pain.
"Hold a minute." Alex held out her hand and it glowed white. She concentrated and the glow receded to her thumb and two fingers. She ran these along a split in Razz's hide. "Now apply the cream," she told Zilik.
Razz didn't flinch as the cream was applied this time.
"Better?" Alex asked.
"Much."
"Alex, I have a meeting. Maybe you could finish this." Zilik handed her the jar and walked to the door, not waiting for her reply.
"Uh, okay." Alex didn't see how she could refuse. This didn't seem an intimate procedure, only a necessary task. At least, she hoped so.
What would Gabe say if he saw me in bed, oiling up another male? Wait, he isn't coming back.
Alex forced that thought from her mind by concentrating on her work.
Numb each split and then apply the cream.
When she had medicated all the splits that she could see, Razz smiled shyly at her.
"Next a layer of oil all over," he said. At her hesitation, Razz added, "But I can do most of that myself. I will only need help with my back."
"It's okay, Razz."
Alex felt guilty for her hesitation. He had suffered so much. She spread the oil on her palms to warm it and worked it into his back. She tried to ignore how sensuous the oil and his hide felt.
Alex continued to massage the oil in, working over to his chest, which she hadn't meant to do. When she looked up and saw that she was face to face with Razz, she scooted back on the bed.
"Now I shall oil you." Razz took the bottle.
"No! I mean . . . my type doesn't need oil . . . thanks . . ." Alex fumbled over the words.
"Is that it?" Razz's eyes were shrewd. "Or is it that you touch others, but you do not allow anyone to touch you?"
Alex flushed. "Considering I spent the night between you and Zilik, I hardly think that's true." Alex hated her harsh words when she saw how frightened Razz was. "Don't apologize when you're right." She pulled her knees up to her chest. "You're so smart, Razz, you tell me why I act that way."
"In some, it is an issue of power, of control." He tilted his head in that appealing puppy way to regard her. "I do not think that is the case with you. In time, I will figure it out."
He sounded so confident that Alex snorted. "I bet you're right. You would make a great psychiatrist."
"What is a 'psychiatrist'?" Razz asked.
A knock on the door made Alex shoot out of bed and she held her wounded side in regret. Razz shot her a reproachful look and walked to the door.
"You should not strain yourself," Razz said in mild rebuke. "Who is it?" he pressed close to the door to hear.
"Dr. Glick. Who is this?"
Alex rushed to open the door, holding her side. "Hi, Dr. Glick. This is Razz. He's uh . . ."
"Alex's new mate." Razz's tone was firm. "She won me from Cla."
Alex felt her face flush up to the roots of her hair.
"Indeed?" Dr. Glick smiled in amusement, eyes twinkling. "Well, Alex, then I'd say you were in good, if not perfect, condition. We'll go to the lab and I'll look at your side that you're holding in such pain."
"Dr. Glick, what do I do with Razz? Will he be safe here alone or should he come with us?" Alex asked.
"I will come with you," Razz said.
"That might raise some difficult questions." Dr. Glick said.
"I will be at considerable risk here alone."
Alex took Razz's hand and drew him to her side. He nuzzled close to her, under her arm. "I'm not leaving him."
"I'll put him in my private office right off the lab," Dr. Glick replied.
"Thanks," Alex said. "And some food for him, too. He's far too thin."
"We'll tell Hilto on our way to my lab."
*****
A/N
Reaction to Razz? He's sleeping next to, not with, Alex, as is Zilik.
Will they break Alex's barriers to intimacy?
Dedicated to a new reader:
NyphKitty
Thanks for the reads and votes!