Dungeon Bound Page 13

  “Feeling better, my lovely gorgon?” he asked playfully.

  A slight nod was her only response beyond squeezing tighter as she rested against him.

  “You’ve no doubt guessed that I’m not the most experienced with women, so I’m just going to ask, but would you mind explaining what happened?”

  A single sob escaped before Sthuza nodded.

  “I am sssorry, Massster,” she hissed into his ear, her breath tickling him. “I intended to allow our bond to grow at a more sedate pace, but when I saw how strongly you lusted for the canine, I feared losing my place with you before we even began.”

  “And so you thought you’d seduce me? Then what?” Gabriel asked, his tone light.

  She chuckled sadly, managing a weak smile as she glanced up at him. “I have not yet figured out the next step, Master. Though I promise I will let you know the moment I learn of it.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Damn, I’m terrible at this whole sex thing. I finally got a hot chick offering sex, and I cockblocked myself.

  “I must apologize for leading you on in such a shameful fashion, Master,” she hissed, her shaky voice surprising him.

  “You don’t need to apologize, I understand feeling out of your depth, trust me.” He punctuated his words with bitter laughter.

  “No, it is not right that I should leave you unsatisfied like this.” Pulling back, she stared into his eyes. “I am more than willing to offer my body for your pleasure.”

  “Uh-uh. We’ve already agreed you’re not up for anything more right now, and that’s the end of it,” Gabriel said, gazing into her reptilian green eyes.

  Unable to hold his gaze, Sthuza looked away demurely, then snuggled tight against him. “Would you like for me to wake Cindra?” she asked in a tiny voice.

  Oh gods have mercy! Can’t you see I’m trying to show restraint?

  He chuckled. “While I appreciate the offer, I don’t think that would be for the best at the moment. You barely got her to agree to wait before. If either of us brings it up, she’ll definitely want to jump the line.

  Besides, I’m so tired she might break me in half. Though, I have to admit she is super hot. Hmm. Would she be even hotter inside?

  Sthuza’s cool lips pressing against the soft flesh of his neck drew his attention back to the delightful woman straddling his lap.

  “I can tell that the idea arouses you, Master,” she whispered.

  He shrugged. “I can’t deny that Cindra’s beautiful. So are you. Neither of you are human, but then I’m not one anymore either, right?”

  “You truly find us both beautiful?” she asked, her hands gripping his shirt tightly. Several head-snakes stared at him with disturbing intensity.

  “Yes, Sthuza. I find both of you very attractive. Whether that is all me, or the fact I’m now a DM, I can’t say. But I consider myself incredibly lucky to have you both with me here at the start of a new life.”

  “Even… even if we do not have sssex?” she asked with a whispered hiss.

  “Yes, even without sex. Given I made it this long, I’m pretty sure I’ve proved I can go awhile without getting laid,” Gabriel said, trailing off with a dark chuckle.

  Frowning, she grabbed his face and pulled him close. “No more self-deprecating talk, Master.”

  Then she kissed him roughly.

  Surprised by her sudden aggression, he fell backward, pulling her down with him. The pair lay there for several moments, lost in a simple embrace.

  “Are you finished mating now?” Cindra called out from where she lay on the carpet, causing the gorgon to break their kiss.

  “Go back to sssleep, you relentlessss fur coat!” Sthuza hissed, leaning into him again and cuddling close.

  “Fine!”

  “Master, would it be acceptable for us to sleep like this tonight? I do not wish to feel alone right now. Not after so long.”

  He nodded, then wrapped his arms around her, letting her settle comfortably along his right side.

  “We can do this anytime my Prime-bonded desires it,” he whispered, then planted a tender kiss on her cheek before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  When Gabriel woke up, he quickly realized something was off.

  What happened to my arm?

  Panic jump-started his sleepy mind, and his eyes snapped open to spot the snuggling gorgon. Recognition struck just in time to prevent him from jerking his right arm out from under her sleeping form.

  Ah, since I’ve never slept with anyone before, I didn’t realize that’s a thing.

  A quick survey of the bandages on his left arm reminded him of their recent battle. To his relief, the wound on his arm felt more like a scratch than the deep cut when he flexed it.

  Looks like my body heals faster now. Probably all that extra SE Merideva invested in it. Or DE. Whatever. Still, wish she’d let me do it.

  Gabriel stretched as best he could without waking his bedmate, then closed his eyes and lay back, reliving last night’s incredible pleasure.

  Sthuza didn’t say she’s not interested. She was just pushing herself too fast, but we can do more in the future.

  Won’t catch me complaining if that’s my fate.

  Gabriel chuckled to himself, then flinched when it felt like someone was watching him. A sudden tsunami of hunger and lust washed over him, and he focused on that part of his mind where he connected with his bonded.

  Yep, that would be Cindra. “Are you awake, Cindra?” he whispered, not wanting to wake his Prime.

  “Yes, Packmaster,” she growled instantly. From right above him.

  He opened his eyes again and found himself staring into the grinning muzzle of an enormous hellhound.

  Waking up to that vision could give me nightmares.

  “Are you ready to mount Cindra?” she asked, her deep voice somehow not disturbing Sthuza.

  “Uh… not yet.”

  I’m not opposed to it, well at least when she’s in humanoid form. But how would it work with Sthuza? The last thing I want to do is hurt her.

  “Okay,” Cindra whined and pulled back.

  “Oh no! I overslept,” Sthuza cried out.

  She leapt out of bed and turned to face him, dress wrinkled and hanging oddly on her slender body. “My apologies, Master. It was careless of me to—”

  “Calm down, Sthuza. Everything is fine. I only woke up a few minutes ago, and Cindra was checking on me.”

  Her head-snakes lashed frantically, but the gorgon herself seemed to relax at his words.

  “If you are sure. I will go prepare breakfast at once,” Sthuza said, racing across the room and slipped into the kitchen.

  “Yay food!” Cindra growled as she passed.

  “You hungry again today?” Gabriel asked, grinning at the large canine. He laughed when she nodded excitedly.

  With no more reason to resist getting up, Gabriel climbed off the cushions, and Cindra immediately leapt for him.

  “Packmaster!” she growled, tackling him and rubbing her massive bulk against him.

  “All right. I’ll pet you, maybe even rub your belly, but you’ve got to calm down.”

  She froze up, wiggled her rump, then flopped down and rolled over, exposing her light-gray belly.

  “Seems like someone really wants something,” he teased before sitting next to her and running his fingers through the thick fur.

  “Yes! More, Packmaster!”

  “I do not want to come in there and find you are mounting her in that form, Master,” Sthuza called out from the kitchen.

  Gabriel froze for a moment, trying to decide if she was joking, or honestly concerned it might happen.

  “Does Packmaster want to mount Cindra now?” the hellhound asked, and he facepalmed.

  “We’re doing belly rubs at the moment, remember?” he reminded her, drawing a happy yip.

  They spent several minutes with him vigorously rubbing her belly and scratching her fluffy ears before
Sthuza returned with an even larger tray than last time.

  “Breakfast is ready,” she said, pointing to the steaming food. On the tray were several tall stacks of warm pancakes and a huge serving platter of grilled sausages.

  “Cindra has never seen that type of food!” the hellhound growled, leaping to her feet and causing Gabriel to fall back.

  “Be careful when jumping around Master, you oversized washcloth. And shift back if you wish to join us for food.”

  Cindra nodded, but Sthuza pointed an accusing finger at her. “Get your clothes first. No more strutting around naked!”

  She glared at Cindra until the larger monster dipped her head and slunk over to her discarded robe. “And no peeking, Master.”

  He chuckled and nodded, helping himself to a stack of pancakes and a sausage. “This is amazing, Sthuza. I’ve never had so much excellent food.”

  Whatever she was going to say vanished into the background as the now clothed Cindra jumped between them and started shoveling enormous handfuls of pancakes and sausages into her drooling maw.

  “What? Ssstop that you…” Sthuza hissed, batting at a gray hand clutching a half dozen more sausages.

  Cindra whimpered pitifully, then shoved her other fistful of food into her already overstuffed mouth.

  “Asmodeus bless you, your table manners are revolting,” Sthuza said, covering her eyes with one hand.

  Gabriel’s eyes glanced from one monster to the other.

  They are somewhat different, aren’t they?

  He smiled, realizing Sthuza wasn’t getting through to the hungry monster girl. He patted the ground, inviting her to sit by him instead of sulking next to the angry gorgon.

  “Come over here, Cindra. We’re not mad at you,” he said, choosing to ignore the pointed look Sthuza shot him at that and continued. “But I would like for you to learn to eat with me properly. Don’t you want to eat at the same table as your Packmaster?”

  Already larger than his, her glowing blue eyes widened uncannily, and Gabriel flinched back when she jumped the serving tray and plopped down right where he’d patted.

  She all but crushed his outstretched hand, her firm ass pinning him to the floor.

  Need to remember just how quick and literal she can be.

  It took him several tries to extract his stuck arm, but Cindra didn’t budge. She sat there motionless, watching him. Suppressing a wince at the pain in his hand, he smiled up at the taller woman.

  She’s only a few inches taller than me, how the hells does she weigh so much?

  “Okay, so the way to eat when you’re in your humanoid form,” he said, pointing at her very busty, female figure. “Is to put the food on a plate, and then use a utensil, like this.”

  He piled the third plate with a heaping stack of pancakes and half a hog worth of sausage, then handed it to Cindra. She took the plate with one long-fingered hand, using the other to wipe a thick trail of drool from her chin.

  “Now use the fork like me to eat, got it?” he asked, demonstrating slowly.

  Her ears flopped, and thick hair flailed around when she nodded too vigorously, but she seemed to get the picture.

  Eyes following her movements, Gabriel was pleasantly surprised when Cindra copied him without issue.

  I thought she’d have more trouble with it.

  ***

  “At least she appears to be trainable,” Sthuza muttered.

  Gabriel flinched in concern for the hellhound’s reaction. But Cindra smiled, nodded, and continued to shovel food into her mouth with the fork.

  The three of them settled into a companionable silence as they systematically devoured the entire tray of food.

  He glanced over at Cindra, who was licking her plate clean.

  A little surprised she didn’t try eating the plate.

  Sthuza rose smoothly to return their dishes to the kitchen, leaving him alone with the now stuffed hellhound.

  “That was even better than last night’s food, Packmaster,” she said, one clawed hand stroking her bulging belly. “Will we get to eat like this often?”

  He smiled at her while considering her question.

  If we were just living here, I suppose Sthuza might keep preparing food. But I can’t imagine Meri having anything like this available.

  What do her goblins eat? I really hope there’s something other than bugs.

  He thought back to their talk about Cindra starving. Or rats.

  Thoughts about hungry goblins brought up memories of the ravenous monsters devouring his corpse, provoking a shudder. With a shake of his head to clear his mind, he absently pushed Cindra back as she inched closer.

  “I’m not sure,” he replied, going for honesty. Not like I’ve had a lot of practice lying anyway.

  “Hopefully we can, Sthuza’s cooking is better than anything I ever ate while human, but the Core, Merideva, has a… simpler home.”

  Cindra nodded at that, then tilted her head adorably and stared at him. “Who’s Mary diva?”

  Resisting the urge to facepalm, he took a calming breath, smile fixed in place.

  “Merideva is the Dungeon Core that I’m bound to. She saved my soul, and I’m grateful to her. I hope that you and Sthuza get along well with her.

  “She seems to have had a hard and lonely time, just like the rest of us,” he mumbled, his thoughts returning to the events of just two days ago when she saved him and offered him the chance of a lifetime.

  Honestly, given everything that’s happened since I met Sthuza, I don’t think I’d change a thing. My old life was so dull. I’d let my fear of Mother’s death scare me away from even thinking of living.

  “Cindra doesn’t enjoy being alone. Life with the Pack is far better, don’t you agree, Snakey?”

  Sthuza sighed. “I wish you would not call me that, but yes, life is much more enjoyable when with trusted companions. And likely far safer.”

  “Sorry, I forget, Lady Snakes,” the taller woman said, overly solemn.

  Gabriel chuckled at that, then broke into a full laugh when Sthuza’s head-snakes all shook their heads in exasperation.

  “Well, at least she amuses you, Master.” The gorgon flashed her fangs at him as he struggled to stop laughing.

  “Now that we have eaten, it is time to see about equipping your second bonded,” she said, her voice now brooking no distractions.

  That got their attention, and they got up to follow Sthuza as she moved to the wardrobe. Having already discovered its spatial enchantment, Gabriel was unsurprised when she opened the door and climbed inside.

  Cindra gaped as the elegant woman vanished inside the magical closet, the echo of her feet on wood moving farther away.

  She turned to look at him. “Lady Snakes has magic box?”

  Gabriel snorted at her phrasing, remembering a classmate going on about a courtesan’s ‘magic box’ on one of his rare trips to the Guild’s tavern.

  Upon noticing the curious stare she directed at him, he cleared his throat before replying. “Yes, she does, though I was not aware quite how powerful it is.”

  Cindra nodded, her wild mane of gray hair whipping about.

  “Do you ever brush your hair?” he asked, taking a moment to inspect the powerfully built woman’s thick hair.

  A heartbreaking sadness marred her magnificent face, and he blinked at the sudden change.

  “Mother used to brush and braid our hair, Packmaster,” Cindra whispered. “But she’s not here anymore.”

  Unable to stand her trembling despair, Gabriel reached out and pulled the impressive, depressed monster girl to him.

  Or, he tried to.

  She stood limply in front of him, but when he pulled on her shoulder, it felt like trying to drag a boulder. No matter how hard he tried, she never budged.

  Just how much does she weigh?

  Blinking in surprise as she remained motionless, Gabriel shrugged, then stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. After several seconds Cindra flinched, her pos
ture softening, and her toned arms encircled his chest. He pressed his face against her neck and whispered soothing words to her, just like his mother had years ago.

  A polite cough brought them both back to the present, and he blushed, turning around to find Sthuza waiting with a small smile.

  Draped over her arm was a suit of leather and bronze armor. “I had forgotten I collected this, Master, but I believe it will be perfect for your furry exhibitionist.”

  “Cindra doesn’t rob people!” the hellhound protested, apparently recovered from her earlier melancholy.

  The hells? Does she mean extortion? Where would she learn a word like that?

  “Yes, yes, not important,” Sthuza said, brushing the misunderstanding aside and presenting the ornate armor.

  A one-piece blue-and-black leather suit with decorative bronze reinforcements, the armor carried obvious enchantments. But it didn’t appear anywhere near large enough for the massive woman. At best, the suit might fit Sthuza.

  Granted, it might be entertaining to watch her try to squeeze into it, but there’s no way she can wear that. Even the enchantment on my coat shouldn’t let it grow enough for Cindra.

  “Is that going to provide her enough protection?” he asked. Leather armor, unless made from exotic monster hides, tended to be less protective than a goblin grass gambeson.

  “Of course, Master. This suit is well-enchanted, providing greater protection than mail over a gambeson. It will repair most damage as well, similar to the coat you are wearing. I believe the material is drake hide.

  “I have a superior piece in mind that I would prefer to see you wear, but the shape is a touch feminine,” Sthuza said, grinning.

  As Cindra took the offering eagerly, he realized that its lines would draw the eyes toward the chest, placing a great emphasis on the bust.

  That is looking less and less like armor the longer I look at it.

  “Thank you, Lady Snakes!”

  Sthuza’s face remained neutral. Green lips quirked to one side as sharp eyes watched the exuberant monster girl dance about, waving her present around.

  “Watch out, Cindra!” Sthuza snapped when the hellhound swung too close to Gabriel and nearly clipped his head with a thick bronze plate.