18. Abbey

18

ABBEY

Solon led her into the living area and sat her on a huge, dense couch that seemed to be covered in flowers. At least, that was what it felt and smelled like to Abbey.

"Yes, most of the furniture on the Monstrum Mother Ship is grown rather than made," he confirmed when she asked. "This couch is grown from a special kind of sturdy, supportive vine which can be molded into any shape. It flowers continuously, but please don't worry—the petals won't stain your clothes even if you crush them when you sit."

"I like it." Abbey brushed the surface of the couch beside her, feeling the cool silkiness of the many tiny petals against her palm and fingers. After working in a florist shop her whole life, she was always fascinated to learn about new plants. "I wonder if we could grow something like this down on Earth?" she asked.

"Only if you have a continuous water source to feed and water it," Solon replied. "You see, an underground river runs through the entire Monstrum Mother Ship and all the growing things tap into it with their roots."

He settled beside her on the couch. In front of them, Abbey could make out a glowing rectangle which must be the entertainment screen. Of course she couldn't see any details, but the bluish light was evident.

"Now, let's see—maybe an Earth vid would be best, if you agree?" Solon rumbled.

Abbey shrugged.

"Sure—why not?"

"I have a whole list here on the screen—let me read them off to you and you let me know which one sounds good."

He read an extensive list—some obscure films that Abbey had never heard of and some popular and classic ones that were more recognizable.

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner…Casablanca…Avengers Infinity War parts one and two," he read.

Abbey shook her head.

"No, keep going…"

He read several more titles until she said,

"Wait—what was that last one?"

"Um… The Bodyguard and the Princess?" he asked.

"Yes—that. What's it about? It sounds good," Abbey said.

"A beautiful headstrong princess is threatened by assassins so her father, the King, hires a famous bodyguard to protect her," he read. "Packed with heart-pounding action, The Bodyguard and the Princess will keep you on the edge of your seat!"

"That sounds interesting. What do you think?" Abbey asked.

She could feel a motion beside her and she thought he must be shrugging.

"Sure—I'm willing to watch almost any Earth vid. I'm still trying to learn more about your culture."

"And you don't mind describing it to me?" Abbey asked, a bit timidly. Aunt Rose described things all the time, but she wasn't sure how Solon would feel about it.

"Not at all—it will be good practice for the future—if you decide to stay the rest of the Claiming Period with me," he rumbled. "I'll do my best—just let me know if you need me to be more descriptive."

He started the movie, which began with the princess being attacked by an assassin whom she barely escaped from. Solon was extremely patient about pausing the movie to give character descriptions.

"The Princess is lovely—she has smooth, brown skin and long black hair," he told Abbey in that low, growling voice of his. "She has large, brown eyes and a small nose and full lips. The assassin is dressed all in black—you can't see his face because it's hidden by a black mask."

He described the action too with surprising detail.

"Oh—he's flying through the air! He's coming right at her! She barely ducked out of the way in time—she's running to hide somewhere. In the closet—she's locking herself in the closet!"

The big Monstrum really got into it and Abbey found she was enjoying listening to him even more than the movie. He really brought it to life for her in a way that listening to the flat voice of the description for the blind or Aunt Rose's simple explanations couldn't do.

He gave opinions too.

"The princess doesn't trust him yet," he said, when the princess was introduced to her new bodyguard. "It makes him angry but he ought to be patient—she needs time to get to know him to see if he's trustworthy."

"What is her expression?" Abbey asked intently. "Can you tell me?"

"Her eyebrows are drawn down and her lips are tight—she looks skeptical," he reported. "Feel my face if you want—I'll imitate it and show you."

"Oh, all right." Abbey was intrigued. This wasn't something anyone had ever offered her before.

Solon turned to her and she reached for him. She felt his face, tracing the down-turned eyebrows and the corners of his mouth.

"Yes, you're right—skeptical," she agreed.

She withdrew her hands, somewhat reluctantly, and found that she was sitting closer to him on the couch than she had been before. In fact, she could sense that his long, muscular arm was stretched along the top of the couch, just above her head and she could feel the heat from his big body against her left side.

She didn't mind though—the room was slightly chilly and the big Monstrum gave off heat like a furnace. She stayed where she was as he started the movie again and they continued watching—or in Abbey's case, listening.

Solon described everything tirelessly to her…until they got to what Abbey assumed was the love scene.

"Hey, what's going on?" she asked, when he had been silent for over a minute. "You're not talking. What are they doing?"

He paused the movie for a moment.

"Well…he kissed her and then she slapped him."

"What? You should have said so!" Abbey exclaimed. "All I heard her say was, ‘How dare you?'"

"Yes, that was when he kissed her," he agreed.

"Well, what happens next? Start it again but don't stop describing," she commanded. She was being rather bossy, but Solon didn't seem to mind.

"All right." He started the movie again and went on with the description. "Now he picked her up and put her on a table. He's much taller than her so that puts their faces more level," he told her.

"Oh, really?" Abbey couldn't help picturing the scene. Only instead of the princess and her bodyguard, she was imagining herself and the big Monstrum together.

Stop it—stop thinking like that, she scolded herself. But she couldn't seem to help it. Sitting so close to Solon, she could smell his warm, enticingly masculine scent—the same scent she'd smelled in all the dreams she had of him. It seemed to do things to her—to make her nipples tight. The place between her legs felt hot and wet and she squeezed her thighs together tightly, but she didn't ask him to stop describing.

"She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close—now she's kissing him," Solon reported. "They're kissing very passionately—hungrily. As though they can't get enough of each other."

"Oh, really?" was all Abbey could get out. In her mind's eye, she couldn't help picturing herself kissing Solon. Of course, she didn't know exactly what he looked like, but the girl from the Be My Eyes app had given her quite a good description—more than enough for her imagination to work with.

I shouldn't be feeling this way. I just met him and after what Henry did?—

But she didn't want to think about that. She pushed the bad memories aside and somehow, she found it easier to do that than she had in the past. Maybe it was because Solon smelled so good and felt so big and warm beside her. Big and strong but not threatening at all, which was nice. He made her feel safe.

"He's kissing her neck now—sucking it. He seems to be marking her," he said, still describing the scene. There was a soft growl in his voice. "Oh, and now he's moving lower. He's…"

He paused for such a long time that Abbey nudged him with an elbow.

"What? What is he doing?"

"Er…I don't want to offend you." Solon sounded hesitant. "I didn't know this vid was so, uh, graphic."

"You won't offend me," Abbey assured him. Her heart was beating faster and she found that she had scooted just a little closer to him. "Tell me—what is he doing?"

"He opened her dress to bare her breasts." There was a definite growl in the big Monstrum's deep voice now. "He's sucking her nipples and she's running her hands through his mane—er, hair. She seems to enjoy feeling his mouth on her."

"Oh…" Abbey breathed, pressing her thighs together even more tightly. She was still imagining the scene with herself and Solon as the main characters.

Because of what had happened to her, both in high school and last year with Henry, she'd always been hesitant to have sex with a man, but that hadn't stopped her from imagining what it might be like to be with someone she could trust—someone who would put her pleasure first and never hurt her. Though she hadn't known the big Monstrum long, she definitely got that feeling from him. It made it easier to imagine being intimate with him.

"What…what's happening now?" she asked, since he had been quiet for a while. She could hear kissing sounds and breathless moaning coming from the screen, but she wanted a description.

"He's moved lower," Solon growled softly. "He's lifting her skirt and spreading her legs. I believe he's going to taste her."

"To…to taste her?" Abbey asked, her heart pounding. "You mean…"

"He's going to lick her soft little pussy," Solon murmured. "Gods, yes…he's doing it now. She's arching her back—she has her hands buried in his mane and she's moaning for him—letting him know that he's giving her pleasure."

Abbey felt as tight as a wire inside. Hearing the big Monstrum describe all this carnal activity in his deep, growling voice while he was sitting so close to her was driving her crazy.

"Is she…is she going to…to come?" she finally got out.

"Mmm, I think so. He seems to have good technique—he knows just how to lick her to give her pleasure," Solon rumbled approvingly. "He has her thighs spread wide and he's sucking her sweet little clit…" He paused for a moment. "I hope I'm not being too graphic."

"No, no—go on," Abbey urged him. "I…I want to know what's happening."

Just then a series of moans from the screen let her know that the princess was reaching her orgasm.

"She's coming now," Solon growled and Abbey could feel how tense he was, sitting beside her. "Coming for him and pulling his hair—she doesn't hold back her pleasure. It's beautiful to watch."

"You…you like watching her come?" Abbey asked. She couldn't quite believe they were having this conversation, but it was hot and she didn't want to stop.

"I love to watch a woman abandon herself to pleasure," he growled softly. "There's nothing more beautiful than a female moaning and crying her pleasure as she comes."

"Oh," was all Abbey could think of to say. "Er…what are they doing now?"

"He's lifting her up in his arms—he's taking her to the bed," Solon reported. "He laid her down on the mattress and now he's stripping off his clothes."

"Oh, my…" Abbey bit her lip. Did she want to hear the next part? Yes, she did, she decided. As long as it wasn't rough. "Is he…being gentle with her?" she asked uncertainly. "He's not hurting her, is he?"

"Not at all," Solon assured her. "In fact, now he's on the bed with her but he's letting her climb on top. She's straddling his hips and leaning over him so he can suck her breasts some more."

Abbey was nearly panting now. This was how she pictured sex when she fantasized about it. Not rough or hard or cruel—which was the only way she'd ever experienced it. Passionate but with no harshness or violence.

"Mmm, she's reaching between them…she's got his shaft in her hand," Solon told her. "She's putting him inside her. Gods…now she's taking him deep inside. She's riding him."

"God…" Abbey's exclamation was nearly a moan. "She…she is?"

"Her hips are rolling as she takes him into her," he confirmed. And he's thrusting up inside her. I think she's going to come again."

A series of moans and the sound of panting from the screen made it clear he was right.

"It…it sounds like they're coming together," Abbey ventured.

"Yes, I think they are," Solon growled. "Oh—now the scene has changed. I guess they're finished making love and they're lying in bed together in the dark, wrapped in each other's arms. He is kissing her again…very slowly and gently."

"Really?" Abbey's breath seemed to catch in her throat. "Could…would you show me how…how he's kissing her?" she asked.

Solon turned towards her.

"Do you really want me to? Do you want me to kiss you, Abbey?"

"Yes, but…but just to show me how…how he's doing it on the screen," she protested breathlessly. Was she making a mistake? Would he take this as an invitation for more than what she wanted? "Just once," she said quickly, clarifying. "Just one kiss."

"Mmm, that would be my pleasure, lelka. And please don't worry, I can stop myself after just one kiss," he added, clearly sensing her concern.

He started to lean over her but Abbey had a sudden attack of nerves. The feeling of a big, male body looming over her was too much.

"No—no wait!" She put a hand on his broad chest and pushed.

To his credit, Solon drew back at once.

"I'm sorry. Did you change your mind about wanting to be kissed?"

"No…" Abbey shook her head. "It's just…you're so big and when you leaned over me like that, I got…got scared," she finished in a small voice.

She was afraid that the big Monstrum would be angry with her, but Solon seemed to take what she said in stride.

"Of course you did—I'm sorry, lelka, I should have thought about what you've been through," he rumbled. "Well…what about this…"

There was a motion beside her and suddenly the big golden blur was in front of her instead. Abbey realized he was kneeling at her feet. However, he was so much taller than her, that his face was still almost level with hers.

"Oh!" she said, reaching out to touch him. Her hand came in contact with his cheek and he cupped his own big hand around hers. Turning his face, he pressed a soft kiss into her palm that made her tingle all over.

"Is this better, lelka?"

"Yes, I…I think it is," Abbey said.

"If you'll lean towards me, I'll show you the way the bodyguard kissed the princess," he rumbled. "If you still want me to, that is."

"Yes, I do." Heart thumping, Abbey leaned towards him. She closed her eyes as she felt the soft press of his mouth against hers.

He was very gentle…tender even. He didn't grab her or ram his tongue down her throat, the way the few men that she'd kissed in the past had done. He took his time, exploring her lips and letting Abbey explore his as well. It made her feel like her whole body was on fire with sexual need and she just wanted more.

But not too much more—what if he got the wrong idea? The thought caused a little burst of panic inside her and she pulled away, breaking the kiss.

"That…that was nice," she said lamely, panting a little. "Er, thank you for showing me how…how he kissed her."

"You're very welcome. Your lips are so sweet, lelka."

The golden blur moved and she realized that he was standing again. Then he settled beside her on the couch once more. He didn't try to grab her or take more than she'd offered. He just said,

"Should I start the vid again so we can see what happens next?"

Abbey was both disappointed and relieved. Part of her wanted more—much more than just a simple kiss. But her past still stood in the way and part of her was glad that the big Monstrum hadn't tried to do anything else.

"Yes, start it again. Er…I'm cold," she said to him. "Do you mind if I scoot a little closer to you? You're so big and warm."

"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.