I woke up earlier than usual, the hotel room still shrouded in pre-dawn gray, Miko snoring softly beside me, her tail twitching in her sleep. The anxiety from last night's war news lingered like a bad aftertaste, but I pushed it down—today was about progress. Our new home was ready, but bare as bones. Time to fix that. I slipped out quietly, leaving a note on the nightstand: "Out early, back soon. Love you."
The furniture shop in Zemen's market district was just opening when I arrived, the owner—a burly hybrid with bear-like ears—grunting a greeting in Bulgarian. My language skills were improving, but I still relied on gestures and a translation app to pick out essentials: a sturdy bed frame, couch, table, chairs, and some basics for the kitchen. Nothing fancy, but comfortable. I arranged delivery for later that day, paying with the last of my immediate cash reserves. It felt good, tangible—like we were really rooting here.
Mid-morning, my phone buzzed. Miko. "Where are you?" she asked, voice sleepy but edged with concern.
"Just getting a few things," I replied, keeping it vague. "I'll be back before dinner. Miss you already."
She hummed suspiciously but let it go. "Okay, hurry back. The bed's cold without you."
After wrapping up at the shop, I swung by Elena and Sylvia's room. Time for a reality check—I couldn't keep footing the bill for two rooms forever, not with a baby on the way and our savings dipping. I knocked, and Elena answered, looking rumpled in her sleep shirt, her eyes sharpening when she saw me.
"Hey," I said, stepping in. "We need to talk. You two should start looking for jobs seriously. I can't keep paying for this indefinitely."
Elena crossed her arms, nodding slowly. "Fair. We've been scouting—Sylvia's got an interview at a cafe tomorrow. Me? Maybe something in the markets."
Just then, Sylvia emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel, steam curling around her. Water droplets traced down her skin, her wolf-tail damp and her curves on full display. She froze for a second, then smirked. "Well, hello. Didn't know we had company."
I couldn't help but tease, my eyes flicking down briefly. "Nice look, Syl. Reminds me of old times—back when you'd 'accidentally' forget clothes after a shower."
She laughed, sauntering closer, the towel slipping just enough to be dangerous. "Oh yeah? And you loved it. Remember those intimate nights? You couldn't keep your hands off me—or Elena, or Kira. We had you wrapped around our fingers... and other things."
Elena joined in from the couch, grinning wickedly. "He's right, though. Those were wild days. You were insatiable back then."
The banter hung in the air, a mix of nostalgia and heat, but Elena's expression shifted to serious. "Speaking of... did you ever tell Miko about us? That you slept with me, Sylvia, and Kira?"
I paused, leaning against the wall, thinking hard. The secret had buried itself deep over the months, a relic from our chaotic past. "No," I admitted. "And honestly? I'm probably taking that to the grave. Miko doesn't need to know—it's history."
Sylvia nodded respectfully, tightening her towel. "Smart. No point stirring up trouble. You've got a good thing now."
Elena frowned, clearly not thrilled. "Secrets like that... they fester. But fine, your call. I won't say anything." She shrugged, but her eyes said she thought it was a mistake. Nothing she could do about it, though.
I left soon after, the conversation leaving a slight unease, but I shook it off. On the way back, I grabbed dinner from a restaurant near the hotel—stuffed peppers, fresh salads, and grilled meats, the aromas filling the car.
Miko was waiting in the room, pacing a little when I walked in. "There you are," she said, hugging me tight. We set the table, but as we ate, her anxiety bubbled up. She poked at her food, hand drifting to her still-flat belly. "It's so early... you can't even see it yet. What if something goes wrong? The war news, the move—it's all so much."
I reached across, squeezing her hand. "Hey, we're in this together. The baby's fine, you're fine. And at least the house has furniture now—delivery's done. Our new start's waiting."
That perked her up, her tail swishing. "Really? Let's go see it after this."
We finished eating, packed a few overnight things, and drove to the hillside home. The sun was setting as we pulled up, the place looking lived-in now with the new pieces inside. Miko's eyes lit up as we stepped through the door, exploring the rooms with childlike wonder.
But her energy shifted as we reached the living room, her gaze turning heated. "I want to... claim this place," she purred, pressing against me. "With you. Right now. Make it ours."
I agreed without hesitation, desire igniting like a match to dry wood. I pinned her to the wall first, our kisses frantic and deep, her legs wrapping around my waist as I lifted her. Her claws raked my back through my shirt, shredding the fabric as I ground against her, feeling her heat through our clothes. I stripped her top, exposing her breasts, my mouth claiming one nipple, sucking hard while my hand teased the other, pinching until she moaned, arching into me.
"More," she demanded, her tail lashing. I yanked down her pants, fingers delving between her thighs, finding her slick and ready. She bucked against my hand as I circled her clit, slipping two fingers inside, curling them to hit that spot that made her tremble. Her walls clenched, her breath hitching as she came fast and hard, nails digging into my shoulders.
Not done, I carried her to the new couch, laying her back and shedding my clothes. She pulled me down, guiding me between her legs. I entered her in one thrust, the angle deep and perfect, her legs hooked over my shoulders. We moved together, rough and urgent, the couch creaking under us as I pounded into her, her moans echoing off the bare walls. She raked her claws down my chest, leaving red trails that stung deliciously, her tail wrapping my thigh to pull me closer.
We flipped, her straddling me now, riding with wild abandon, hips grinding in circles that drew groans from my throat. Her breasts bounced, and I gripped her ass, thrusting up to meet her, feeling her tighten around me again, milking another release as she cried out.
Finally, we stumbled to the bedroom, collapsing onto the fresh sheets. I took her from behind this time, her on all fours, ass arched high. I slammed in deep, one hand in her hair, the other rubbing her clit. She pushed back, feral and needy, until we both shattered—me spilling inside her with a guttural roar, her pulsing around me in waves.
We lay tangled after, sweat-slicked and sated, her clinging to me as sleep tugged. The house felt claimed, ours. Despite the world's shadows, this was our haven.