Page 31 of Savage Giant

I remained near the woodstove, letting the heat dry my fur. “What is Everything Cas-er…”

“Casserole,” she supplied. “It’s a baked dish with a little bit of everything mixed in. You’d be surprised what you can do with canned soup, pasta, and a little imagination.”

I inhaled the aroma that wafted in from the kitchen and my mouth watered. “Well, it smells delicious. I am grateful to eat any food you prepare for us, Cari. You honor me by feeding me.” I doubted she realized how each meal we shared felt like a momentaneous occasion. Even Sashona, who I’d courted for two moon cycles, had never offered to feed me when I’d visited her. I brushed the memory aside, not wanting to dwell on the past.

I finished drying just as the ding sounded in the kitchen, and we shared another peaceful meal at her table. She sat in her usual chair, and I sat on the wide pillow next to her. As we enjoyed the meal, my thoughts strayed to the changes I would need to make in my alcove. I considered all the human items Brutus had taken from abandoned cabins to prepare his rooms for Hailey and compiled a mental list.

A very large mattress if one could be found. If not, a huge supply of soft, thick blankets and pillows would do. I was skilled at creating warm, cozy nests in the forest when I was away from the cavern, and I was confident I could make a nest my sweet female would find comfortable.

I would also need furniture. Unlike Montikaans, humans wore clothing and shoes, and she would need furniture to store her belongings in.

We could bring clothing and books, as well as other items she couldn’t bear to part with, from her cabin. She spent several hours a day reading, so perhaps I could surprise her with books taken from another cabin.

What else? Ah yes—a toilet. Humans could not hold their urine in as long as my people could, and we always did our business outside in the forest. Brutus had installed a working toilet that emptied into a fissure in the rocks that drained deep beneath the earth. I would do the same for Cari.

A sink with running water would be needed too. Humans liked to perform their morning and evening ablutions indoors rather than at the riverside. Fresh water trickled down the center of one wall in my alcove, and I reasoned I could rig up a suitable sink at that wall.

“You look very deep in thought,” Cari said, startling me from my musings.

I glanced her way with a smile. “I am contemplating how I will renovate my sleeping alcove in the cavern to suit your needs, pretty human.”

“Oh? What exactly do you plan to do?”

I explained my plans in great detail, and she listened with interest, surprise and gratitude swelling in her chest. By the time I was finished, happy tears glistened in her eyes. Her reaction took me aback. Had no one taken care of her before? Had no one ever gone out of their way to make her comfortable? She’d had nothing but good things to say about her father and grandfather, though I was starting to wonder if perhaps she’d gone severely without during the year she’d worked for the criminal.

“Wow, Gorran. I-I’m touched that you’re putting so much thought into my comfort, and that you’re going to so much trouble for me. I’m thankful.”

“Seeing to your comfort is no trouble, my sweet mate. It is an honor.” Finished with my meal, I stood and wrapped her in myarms, the urge to hold her all-consuming. She leaned against me, her soft breaths tickling my stomach.

“I’ll help you,” she said, peering up at me, her blue eyes sparkling in the overhead lights. “I’ll help you with the renovations. We can do it together.”

I opened my mouth, preparing to decline her offer of help, for it was a male’s job to make his alcove suitable for his female. But the hopefulness brimming in her heart stopped me. She truly wished to help.

“Very well,” I replied. “We’ll make our home together.”

Chapter 22

CARI

“Dessert,”I said, handing Gorran one of the blueberry muffins I’d baked this morning before all hell had broken loose. “Try one. They’re quite good. I had one while you were taking a shower.”

I watched as he popped the entire muffin into his large mouth and chewed. A look of rapture came over his features.

“Glad you like it. Here, have some more.” I passed him the tray. “I’m going to take a quick shower,” I said as I headed for the stairs.

Once in the main bedroom, I stripped off my clothes and tossed them in the hamper, panties included. Though a smile tugged at my lips as I remembered how I’d caught Gorran sniffing my used panties the other day. Was I totally messed up in the head for thinking his strange behavior was kind of cute?

I hurried into the shower and frowned to find my bottle of cucumber melon shampoo totally empty. Drat. Must’ve been Gorran.

My face heated as I imagined him lathering his huge muscular body up with the shampoo. Too bad the shower wasn’t larger. I wouldn’t mind hopping in with him and helping him get clean. He’d mentioned something about hot springs in the cavern, and I wondered if we would bathe together when in his settlement. Heated pulses rushed through me at the prospect.

After grabbing another bottle of shampoo from the cabinet, I took a quick shower and dressed in my favorite flannel pajamas. Too bad I didn’t have any sexy lingerie, though I supposed it didn’t matter in the end—before the night was through, I would end up naked and rolling around in the makeshift bed with Gorran. I dried my hair and headed downstairs, eager to join him.

As I passed by the kitchen, I noticed half of the muffins missing from the tray. Good. I was glad he liked them, and I wondered if we could rig something up in his cavern that would allow me to cook. It was my understanding that his people only ate raw foods. I thought of his offer for us to prepare our home together and my heart filled with warmth. I couldn’t wait.

I found Gorran lounging on the bed, turned on his side facing the front window, his tight muscular ass on display. He glanced over his shoulder at me, not bothering to turn over yet. Was he showing me his butt on purpose?

My breath caught in my throat when I realized I could see far more than his ass in this position… his heavy scrotum was on display as well. Yep, it really was heavy—I’d cupped him on impulse last night when I’d taken his shaft in my mouth. The weight in my palm had stunned me.

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