Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Of course not. Come here.”
A long arm looped around her and scooted her closer. A moment later, Abbey found herself leaning against his side with her arm resting on his muscular abdomen and her cheek against his chest.
“Is that all right?” she heard Solon ask.
“It’s nice,” Abbey said, rubbing her cheek against his chest. “But it would be even nicer if you didn’t have that t-shirt on. Not that I want you to get completely undressed,” she added quickly. “It’s just that I like your fur, that’s all.”
“I can take off my shirt if you like,” he offered. “Many of the Monstrum don’t believe in wearing clothing at all, you know,” he added. “If they’re covered in fur or scales or feathers, they think it’s unnecessary. But others of us feel it is a mark of civilization.”
“How do you feel about it?” Abbey asked, sitting back so he could remove the t-shirt.”
“I think it’s important to wear clothing—especially on Earth,” he said, settling down and putting his arm around her again. “I know you humans believe it’s indispensable.”
“Well, yes, but we’re not covered in fur. Mmm, that’s nice,” Abbey sighed as she snuggled against his muscular side once more. His short, dense fur felt silky against her cheek and arm and hand as she stroked him. It was like cuddling with a huge, muscular teddy bear, she thought. And he smelled so good. Pressing her face to his chest, she breathed him in deeply. God, his scent was practically addictive.
“Are you comfortable now, lelka? Should I start the vid again?” His deep rumbling voice sounded slightly amused.
“Mmm-hmm.” Abbey sighed in contentment. “Yes, go on. And tell me everything they’re doing.”
They watched the rest of the movie cuddled together on the couch. Despite wanting to find out what happened at the end, Abbey found herself getting more and more sleepy. It had been an incredibly long day packed with a lot of intense emotions. She’d been kidnapped, taken to an alien spaceship, and nearly drowned. And somehow she was now cuddling with her captor on the couch, feeling perfectly safe and contented.
But he’s not really my captor—he’ll let me go back to Earth if I want to, she reminded herself. And though he had kissed her so sweetly, he hadn’t used it as an excuse to grope her or do anything else she didn’t want. Against all odds, she felt safe with the big Monstrum—safe and protected and cared for.
I really like him. I never would have believed I could like or trust anyone male again. But the Monstrum seem to be different from human guys…
It was her last thought before drifting off to sleep, cuddled against Solon’s side.
19
SOLON
Solon realized towards the end of the vid that his curvy little human bride had fallen asleep. He turned off the screen and looked down to study her.
Abbey was curled trustingly against his side, her face pillowed on his chest and her arm wrapped around his waist. Her lovely face was relaxed in sleep, her long lashes like fans against her high cheekbones.
The sight of her resting against him filled him with tenderness and longing. It told him that Abbey was beginning to trust him, despite her earlier fears and her Shadowed past.
Please, Goddess—let me be worthy of her trust, he prayed, reaching down to brush a long strand of her dark brown hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Let her come to me and give me wisdom to know what she needs and how to give it to her.
More than anything in the universe, he wanted Abbey’s trust and love. She was his fated mate—the one female in the world the Goddess had chosen especially for him. He wanted to cherish her and pleasure her—to provide for her and protect her and most of all to hold her in his arms like this forever.
Solon was under no illusions, though—he knew that he had both his Bonding Scent and his Chimera ability to give and receive emotions to thank for Abbey’s acceptance of him. He hadn’t told her about his ability yet but he would need to soon. He didn’t want her to feel like he was manipulating her. He just had to find the right way to tell her.
But for now, he would hold her as she slept and just enjoy the feeling of her soft, curvy form resting against him.
20
ABBEY
Abbey had the strangest dream that night. In it, she could see clearly again and she was looking down at herself as though she was looking through someone else’s eyes. Then a large hand covered lightly in short, dense fur reached down to stroke her cheek.
“So beautiful, lelka,” a deep, rumbling voice murmured. “I wish you could understand how beautiful and precious you are to me…”
Then she watched as the one whose eyes she was looking through lifted her sleeping self and carried her into another room—a bedroom, she realized. He placed her gently on a huge bed which was covered in tiny, white flowers.