Page 84 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“Well, you also weigh about three times what I do, so maybe the furniture is afraid of you,” Terra pointed out.

Taurex rumbled laughter.

“Just sit and try it for yourself.”

Deciding to take a chance, Terra lowered herself gingerly onto the couch.

She expected resistance and sharp twigs poking her most sensitive areas. Instead, the vegetation beneath her shifted and there was a soft whisper of leaves as the living cushion sank beneath her weight, then curved upward around her hips and lower back, molding itself to her body. The effect was so smooth and gentle that Terra gasped.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “It moved!”

Taurex looked concerned.

“The furniture is alive—it adjusts to your size and weight for maximum support. Is something wrong?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Terra shifted experimentally. The couch adjusted with her, the soft leaves and moss reshaping themselves until they supported her perfectly. “Oh my God—it’s so comfortable.”

He smiled.

“Of course it is. Didn’t I tell you?”

“No, I mean really comfortable.” She leaned back, laughing in amazement when the back of the couch rose slightly to support her shoulders. “It’s molding itself around me.”

The big Monstrum nodded.

“It senses pressure and adjusts accordingly.”

Terra pressed one hand into the cushion beside her and watched the vegetation rise around her fingers before returning to its original shape when she moved her hand.

“You know, this is better than memory foam,” she remarked.

Taurex shrugged.

“I do not know what memory foam is.”

“It’s something humans invented because apparently we couldn’t figure out how to teach our couches to grow and support us exactly how we wanted them to,” Terra said.

Taurex smiled.

“In that case, I think I prefer our living couches.”

“I don’t blame you.” Terra sank deeper into the living furniture with a contented sigh. “I may never get up.”

“You will when you smell dinner,” Taurex predicted.

She looked up at him with a grin.

“That remains to be seen.”

Taurex set down the baskets from the Market and held out one hand.

“Come. I will show you the rest of the domicile. You can return to the couch after our tour if you still want to.”

Terra groaned dramatically.

“You’re making me leave the magic couch already?”

“There is another in your sleeping chamber.”