Page 47 of A Monster’s Future

He snarled, his cock swelling even more inside me as he buried himself deep and came with a roar. I felt every pulse of his release, hot and thick, filling me up until it dripped down my thighs.

For a long moment, neither of us moved. Then he pulled out slowly, his cock glistening with our combined release, before he rolled me onto my side and yanked me against him. His arms locked around me, his chest pressed to my back, his breath hot against my neck.

I sighed, my body still humming, my pussy throbbing from the pounding he’d given me.

***

I didn’t know how long we napped, but when I woke the nest was warm and the air was still thick with the scent of sex and pheromones. Grtirr had already cleaned me up and tossed the soiled pillows out of our nest bed. There were still plenty left, soft and plump, piled high around us.

And yes, Grtirr had really leaned into it and gone for an actual round nest! And I was all for it.

The sheets were that soft and silky fabric I loved so much, the ones that always felt cool against the skin. The furs were soft and luxurious. And there were pillows of all sorts, so I would always be able to find the perfect one.

I tried to get out of the bed to check out the rest of the cave, but the walls were padded and curved, making it almost impossible to climb out without help. I flopped back down with a groan, only then noticing the railing and padded step on the side.

“Duh! There’s a step!”

Grtirr chuckled, offering me his hand. “Let me show you around.”

I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. The moment I stepped out of the nest, I gasped.

String lights twinkled overhead, casting a warm glow over everything. Large gems and pretty rocks sparkled on every surface, arranged like little treasures. Smaller gems were strung up and hung to glitter under the lights.

He guided me toward the back of the cave, where a sturdy work table stood.

“So you can continue your lapidary hobby.”

The table was already set up with a proper wet belt sander, an array of tools, and even a small vise for holding stones steady. I couldn’t believe it! This was similar to the old-school setup I’d always dreamed of but could never have, except it was clearly repurposed Kadrixan equipment.

One stone caught my eye. I picked it up and turned it in my hand. It was still raw and a normal person might just overlook it as a plain rock, but I saw the iridescent vein between the dull layers of pitch.

“The vendor guessed it would be similar to the opal you purchased once cut.” Grtirr glanced down at the table. “Even though there are no cutting tools.”

I grinned. “It’s called cutting, but we’re actually grinding away the parts we don’t want.”

There were more raw gems, ones I recognized as having been mined from this mountain. My fingers itched to touch them, polish them, and turn them into something beautiful. Grtirr had built this place with me in mind. A little lump formed in my throat.

Back on Nova Vita, I’d read and researched on this hobby, but never had the means to actually get into it properly. I’d done the best I could, finding pretty rocks and using repurposed wire. This meant so much to me.

I wandered deeper, my fingers trailing over the smooth surface of the table. There were potted plants scattered around, their leaves lush and green. I had mentioned plants in that questionnaire way back when I first arrived at the stronghold. Back on Nova Vita, I couldn’t afford a pet, but I’d tried to bring life into my apartment with store-bought plants. They’d looked great scattered between my rock collection, like a little piece of the wild in my tame little home.

But I’d never been great at keeping things alive. By the time I’d dragged myself home from the hospital after that kidney infection, every single one of them had withered into brittle, sad little husks. I’d thrown them out, too exhausted to even feel guilty about it.

I frowned at the lack of soil. I tried to pick up one of the pots and realized there was another pot underneath filled with water. Oh! They were self-watering. These might survive after all!

He showed me the kitchen next, and my stomach growled on cue. There was no food replicator, but there was a sleek little stove, a cooling unit already humming with food, and—oh! The cupboards were stuffed full of snacks! Snacks, spices, even a few of my favorite treats. He must’ve researched.

There were also the creature comforts to make our stay during future ruts much more enjoyable. Couples often spent their yearly ruts in their nests; a few lived in them full-time.

The only thing that confused me was the strange, tower-like structure in the corner.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“For Tatertot,” Grtirr answered. “If she ever joins us. Vostak has a similar one for Hardtack. Tatertot can’t climb up here on her own, so we’d have to bring her.”

Golden eyes locked onto mine for a single, electric second before flicking away. His tail twitched, and his claws flexed against his thighs. Was he… nervous?

I knew exactly what he was waiting for. I needed to verbally accept his nest, and in the process, accept the mating.