Page 44 of A Monster’s Future

I didn’t mind though. Not when it meant that every woman there knew that this medic was taken.

When he finally let me up for air, I remembered what I needed to tell him. “There’s no work today. Dana says I have a day off?”

“I know.”

He knew?

“Come,” he said, taking my hand and leading me down the corridor toward the exit to the valley.

What the hell was going on?

When we got out there, his hoverbike was waiting in its usual area.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He lifted me onto the seat and slid in behind me so that his arms and legs were on either side, holding me safely in.

I’d tried sitting behind him this first day, but his body was so much bigger that I had difficulty wrapping my arms around him, and every time he turned, it felt like I was going to go flying off the bike. Sitting in front felt so much more secure, and we’d done it this way ever since. The only issue was that every bump and turn had us rubbing together, and I’d feel every inch of his erection pressing against my back by the time we got to our destination. It’d take him a few minutes to calm down enough to get off the hoverbike without showing some major tenting.

But this time, we were not heading to Ellaston. Instead of continuing down the valley path toward the settlement, Grtirr turned onto a much less traveled path under the shade of the trees. We wove through the arboreal giants until we stopped at a small clearing right underneath a sheer rock wall. The clearing was beautiful with a small waterfall—there were hundreds of these around the mountain. The water dropped into a rocky pool before continuing down a babbling brook to join the larger river that ran through the valley.

“Ooh! It’s so pretty here!”

I found myself wandering toward the tiny bridge to cross the creek toward the waterfall. Whoever had built the bridge had simply piled a few logs over the water and strung a rope on one side as a guide.

I only realized how rickety the bridge was after I stepped on it. The log rolled just enough to send my arms flailing. I tried to reach out to the rope, but Grtirr was there, taking my hand and guiding me gently against his body.

“Careful, my little mate.”

The moment felt magical as he helped me the rest of the way across the logs. We stood there in front of the pool, watching the waterfall as the morning sun warmed the water.

“I am glad you like this. I enjoy this place too.”

“Is that why you brought me here?”

“No.” Grtirr suddenly picked me up, and I had to muffle a surprised yelp. He met my eyes when he said, “I’m taking you to our nest.”

Then, without another word, he leaped into the air. I threw my arms and legs around him out of instinct, as his words slowly penetrated my pre-coffee, morning brain. If he was bringing me to our nest, then that must mean… Holy smokes! This was our mating flight!

“A nest? You’ve already built me a nest?” The words came out sounding more like a squeal than I wanted. But I was so excited, and giddiness had my stomach doing flips. I didn’t understand why it felt like such a big deal. It wasn’t like humans had nests, but it was important to me.

“I started the moment we returned. Every minute I am not with you, I have been cultivating our nest.” He cupped my face, forcing me to look into those warm, golden eyes. “You are mine, Julie. Mine. And I’ll build you a hundred nests if you want.”

A flush crept up my neck, his possessive tone igniting something deep inside me that I couldn’t ignore.

“I’m sorry I tried to fight the bond,” he continued as we climbed into the air. “I’m sorry I hid from it. I know I have much to atone for. But know this: You are my mate, and I am yours. And even if it takes a million years to earn your love, I will never give you up.”

His words had my breath catching in my throat. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember why I’d ever fought this. My fingers dug into his arms, my pulse hammering.

“A million years?” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Or longer if I have to.”

I had a feeling it wouldn’t come to that, but I didn’t say it.

I looked down at the clearing beneath us and immediately regretted it. We were high. Like, way higher than I’d realized. The hoverbike below us shrank to the size of a child’s toy. I clung to him so tightly my fingers ached, my pulse roaring in my ears as the world receded below us.

“Breathe, my little mate. You are safe with me.”