Page 53 of The Kraken Games

“I’ve learned to live with it.”

“Do you take medications?”

“Not anymore. For years I did. Strong drugs. But they made me dopey and didn’t really ease the pain. Then—someone—made up a potion for me… That really helped, and I learned techniques to manage it.”

“What kind of techniques?”

“Mental ones. And exercises, lots of exercises.”

“It’s amazing that you managed to compete with that going on in your body.”

“It’s not at the time I feel it, it’s after. Besides—” he shrugged. “I’m used to pain. It’s been part of my life since I was a youngling.”

“Guess we have that in common,” she said softly. “Except no one can see my scars.”

In the darkness, Kai was aware of the soft rasp of their breath. Still her hand rested softly on his tentacle, and it soothed him somehow. The pain receded.

Then something else took its place. Desire flared in his groin, red hot.

Could she tell?

Yes, she sure could.

As if in slow motion, he registered her standing up, putting down her drink and coming to stand in front of him. Kneeling, she placed a hand on each of his knees, pressing them open. Kai spread his legs, trembling, his cock already pumping up, his hearts pounding, one on either side of his chest.

Her fingers stroked, wondrously almost, over his chest, over his strong tentacles, then his weaker ones, her golden eyes surveying every inch solemnly.

“How’s this?” she said softly. Her touch was making him dizzy, and the pain was strangely adding to his arousal. He nodded, unable to speak. Her fingers moved lower to where it was obvious his cock was tenting the towel. Glancing down, he saw the swollen tip nudging over the knotted material. She undid the towel and gazed at his exposed crotch, his cock standing big and proud just for her. Gently, she took it in her hand and when her fingertips eased over the foreskin, sparks of pleasure made him moan.

“Are you trying to buy me with sex?” he rasped.

“Nope.” She cupped his cock in both hands now and he jerked, precum oozing out of the slit, the smell of it pungent, salty. When she bent her head and softly laid her lips around the head, he sighed and arched his hips up to meet her mouth.

So what if she was buying him? So what if he’d return home to humiliation and the wrath of the elders? He needed to make love to her tonight. Just once more.

She lifted her head, her lips wet from his juices.

“Promise me you’re telling the truth,” he husked.

“I promise.”

“Fuck,” Kai groaned, “what do you do to me?”

She didn’t answer, just came up to his level and stared deep into his eyes, her pupils blotting out the gold of her irises.

“You feel it too, right?” His voice sounded thick to his own ears, his cock riding between his legs, missing her touch already, every tentacle wanting to wind around her and tug her into him

She nodded. “We’ve both been hurt by the past.”

“It’s more than that. When we?—”

“Shhhh. Don’t talk.” Now her lips hovered over his. Their noses nudged and she let out a little sound, maybe a giggle, maybe a whimper.

“Gods, I’ve been wanting you so bad,” he grunted.

She traced her fingertip over his lips. “You saved me with these lips,” she husked. “I owe you.”

“Oh, sweet goddess, just fucking kiss me,” he ground out.

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