"Don't worry about how long it takes," she said, shaking her head at him. "It will be lovely even if it is only fifteen minutes."

She spread her hand over where she'd poked him, palm warm and soothing against the spot as she laid her cheek on his chest. "It's not a narcotic, no. It's non-habit forming, just something to cut down the inflammation from healing. It will only help a little, but it's something." Sinthia watched Illya lower his head, hiding his face, and grinned as she lifted his chin.

"Don't feel guilty, my love. It's okay if you look. You haven't been able to, not with men, in a long time." She didn't mind.