Page 73 of Bind Me

“Why do you always have to be a horny bastard?”

“Because I am, especially when you keep fighting me,” he replies smoothly.

I suddenly feel the gentleness of his tentacles on my legs, swirling around like seaweed, a sensation that sends heat through my body.

“Maybe I’m not ready… maybe it’s moving too fast. You’re talking about babies and…” I sigh, my words trailing off.

“Then I’ll take my time until you’re ready.” His voice is a soft rumble.

It’s like he’s trying to unravel me with every look, every word, every touch. And damn it, he’s succeeding.

I glance up at him, my heart aching with the weight of my fears.

“And what if I’m never ready? What if I’m the wrong person for you? What if… I hurt you down the track?” I turn away from him, emotions bubbling up inside me.

Memories of my mom and dad flash through my mind, the way their relationship crumbled, the way my mother’s choices tore our family apart. I can’t repeat that. I can’t become like her.

Kaden moves behind me, his body pressed flush against my back, the impossibly hard erection against my ass difficult to ignore. His breath is hot in my ear.

“You could never hurt me.”

Silence hangs heavy in the air.

“That’s what my father thought, too,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

“You’re not your mother. You’re nothing like her,” he says firmly.

He turns me around by my waist, and I see the determination in his eyes. This huge kraken shifter sees something in me that I can’t. He’s not leaving me alone, and I can’t deny the attraction to him. It’s magnetic and unbearably hard to resist.

Suddenly, his mouth is on mine. It’s a clash, a thunderstorm, an explosion between us. He always has a way of reminding me why I struggle to ever walk away from him. His kiss is fierce, demanding, and I can’t help but respond, my hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.

We break apart for a moment, both of us panting.

“You drive me insane.” My words are breathless.

“Good,” he replies, his eyes darkening with desire. “Because you make me just as crazy.”

I laugh, a sound that feels foreign and freeing. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Whatever you want,” he says, his tone serious. “Just stop pushing me away.”

I look at him, really look at him, and see the vulnerability hidden behind his confident exterior.

“I’m scared, Kaden. I’m scared of what this means, of what we could become.”

“Fear is normal,” he murmurs gently. “But don’t let it control you. Don’t let it keep you from something that could be incredible.”

“I don’t know if I can do this.” I bite my lip, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

“You can,” he says firmly. “We’ll take it one step at a time. No pressure, no rush. Just us.”

His words soothe something deep inside me, and I nod slowly. “Maybe one step at a time.”

He smiles, a genuine gesture that lights up his face. “That’s all I ask.”

Kaden pulls me closer, his tentacles wrapping around me gently. “You’re safe with me, Sasha. Always.”

Doubt creeps into my mind, though my body has other ideas. I’m softening against Kaden, craving the protection he offers, the idea of me no longer being alone, and yet those exact same reasons terrify me.

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