Page 43 of A Monster’s Future

And I believe I’d found the one, especially when Julie oohed and ahhed at it, but lamented that it was beyond her budget. I kept quiet and sent a message to Chris instead.

In the end, Julie settled on a piece of opal that she immediately saw as a pendant. The shopkeeper reminded her to call him if she ever found more of the stone, and we left to meet everyone else at the front of the bazaar for our evening meal.

“I have a few things to do,” I said as I handed her over to Sergio, who was currently without his partner since Chris was still recovering. “I’ll meet you at the shipping dock after your meal.”

Then, with my communication device translator on and the extra credits Chris had just sent over to me, I returned to the shopkeeper, who looked a little apprehensive to see me alone. But that apprehension quickly faded when I told him what I was there for. Before long, I had what he’d called a three-stone ring featuring a three-carat eye-clean Ceylon sapphire oval, flanked by two triangle-cut diamonds in a very old-looking antique ring box in my pack.

Chapter 22: Julie

The trip back to Vokira had been a blur of sorting, cataloging, and organizing all of the goodies we’d bought, both for ourselves and for the colony. We spent the days of the life cycle knee-deep in crates and boxes, trying not to eat all the chocolate we’d bought before we even made it home. Between cataloging the supplies for the colony and sneaking bites of raspberry preserves straight from the jar, I’d barely had time to think, or rather, overthink, about this new thing blossoming between me and Grtirr.

During his time away from the bridge, Grtirr would come find me. We’d fallen into an easy rhythm. Meals together, stolen moments in the corridors, and—okay, fine—nights spent in his temporary quarters. His bed was warmer than mine, his arms even warmer. I didn’t feel like I had to be on guard. I could just… be. With him. Which was weird, right?

I’d also managed to finish the article for the Ellaston Gazette, writing it while Grtirr did some final tune-up for the hovercraft. It wasn’t as good as what Dana could have written, and I was certain that she’d have to edit it heavily to make it publishable. But that was what editors were for, right?

We’d been back on Vokira for five days now.

The second we’d released Tatertot, she’d run off into the stronghold’s walls. She found me a few times in the cafeteria, begging for scraps, and even came to say hi once when I was enjoying a few breaths of evening air by the pond with my friends. She met Hardtack, and the meeting had not gone well. Penelope’s cooki sidekick had not liked sharing the spotlight.

And as for Grtirr and me? I decided not to move into Grtirr’s quarters right away because I wanted to see what happened now that we were back in the stronghold. Especially when I found out about the nullvein root that was growing in the hydroponics lab. What if he changed his mind about the bond? What if he decided to try to take the medicine again and disrupt what was already there? That wasn’t possible, was it? The thought made my stomach twist into knots.

But instead of going back to ignoring me ninety-five percent of the time and being a pompous jerk to me the other five, Grtirr had shown up the morning after we got back, offering to take me over to my work at the Ellaston Gazette on his hoverbike.

And holy hell, did he look hot as fuck on that thing. A total badass.

The way his thighs flexed as he straddled the seat, the way his hands gripped the handlebars like he was born to ride. I guess the stuffy religious-looking medic robes weren’t safe for riding, because he’d worn nothing but his leather pants and a tank top. Yeah, I might’ve drooled a little. Or a lot. It was hard to tell.

Then he’d head back to check on his patients. Chris was out and about again, but Charlene was still recovering.

Victor had shown up several times with more upgrades for the office and had asked for all the details about what happened on Halcyon Station. He had asked so many questions that Dana had asked if he was interested in being a reporter. His eyes had lit up for a second before a sad look had crossed his face, and he’d excused himself. It had me wondering if we’d said something wrong, especially when he didn’t show up again, and someone else brought the bulletin board we’d been waiting for.

Every day, when it was time to head back to the stronghold, Grtirr was there, waiting for me like clockwork.

This went on for days, and he didn’t once invite me into his room or make a move at me, even though I was certain that every Kadrixan in a ten-mile radius could smell my lust. Was he waiting for me to climb him like a tree in front of everyone? Because I was this close to doing it.

My tablet chimed with an incoming message. I swiped it open, expecting a quick note from Dana about the article or maybe a reminder about some colony task.

Dana: Hey, heads-up, you’ve got the day off today. No need to come in.

I blinked. A day off? That was unexpected. I tapped out a reply.

Me: Day off? Is everything okay?

Dana: Everything’s fine. Better than fine, actually. Just take the day.

Me: Are you sure nothing’s wrong? You’re being weird.

Dana: I’m not weird. You’re weird. Anywho, have fun!

Have fun? Now that was doubly weird.

But before I could reply, there was a knock at my door. Grtirr was already here.

I opened it to find Grtirr leaning against the frame, arms crossed, looking unfairly good in his leather pants. Except something was different. He looked… better than normal, if that was even possible. Was it the hair? He’d left it loose today with a few thin braids in it. Maybe it was the black silky shirt he wore with the front half open instead of his usual sleeveless top.

Whatever was different about him today, he was good enough to eat, and I suddenly forgot what I was about to tell him, especially when he pulled me out of the women’s dorm and into his arms for a scorching kiss.

Wow! That was new. There was already a lot of talk in the dorms about what was happening between the two of us, but I’d never confirmed anything. Now for sure everyone knew Grtirr and I were a couple.