Page 85 of Lessons with the Mothman

"We can't really use this in the study," she said softly, glancing back at Nico. "I don't think it would be appropriate."

Nico laughed, and I finished stripping, stepping to her side and finding the warm spot at the base of her spine that fit the curve of my palm perfectly.

"That's what the interview is for," Nico said brightly.

Victoria looked to me for confirmation, and I nodded, shrugging. "I assumed there might be a conflict of interest with this part, but Nico had already promised an interview. When their laying came up at the same time, it just seemed…too exciting a temptation to resist."

Victoria leaned into my touch, a new phenomenon I was relishing in since our reunion, and rose up on her toes to graze her mouth over mine.

"Don't stop, please," Nico called gently, the sound of water lapping at tile heralding their approach. "I like to watch."

Victoria's breath caught against my mouth, but she didn't pull away as I cupped her face, drawing her in for another, deeper kiss. My arm circled her waist, holding her against my chest, and I slid my hand down from her cheek to trace a long muscle from her neck to shoulder, then moved to her breast, cupping it through the gauzy cotton. She sighed into my mouth, tasting of the spiced liquor I'd crafted with cardamom, ginger, vanilla, and green tea.

I found the front latch of her bra and paused to lean back and enjoy the picture of her, arched back over my arm at her waist, the thin bra parting to reveal small breasts with perfect dark peach areolas that tightened and pebbled in the cool, humid air.

Nico was watching too, and I smirked, holding Victoria's slightly nervous gaze as I drew the cups of the bra away from her body, showing her off to the kraken's worshipful stare. Her pupils widened, and her breath hitched as I circled a soft claw around the tip of her breast. I repeated the motion, back and forth, one nipple and then the other, until she was swallowing the start of a whimper and her eyelids had drooped shut. Her head hung back, hair loose, throat flexing with a swallow. Perfect surrender.

My chest burned, and my cock ached where it was starting to thicken, coremata flirting against the waistband of her underwear.

"Are you getting wet?" I whispered into her ear.

She nodded, eyes fluttering open, a glance skirting over Nico and then fixing to me, her cheeks coloring with a blush. She liked exhibitionism as much as she liked voyeurism, apparently.

She really is perfect for me, I mused.

I'd been determined to believe as much that very first moment I'd found her name on a sticky note. It waspreposterous to realize that now—now that I did know her and had discovered all the ways we matched together.

"Show us," I said, stroking my hand over her cheek, keeping her face lifted to hold her gaze. I wasn't sure if I did that for her comfort, or for my own selfish need to remain the one connected to her.

The whine escaped, and I swallowed it with a kiss, my tongue laving over her bottom lip as she shifted against me. In the water, Nico groaned softly.

"So lovely," they murmured, and Victoria shivered.

"Spread your legs," I said, nipping at her lip. Her foot nudged against mine. "Very good. Now hold yourself open so Nico can have a good look at you."

Victoria's stare was blazing, her breaths short and quick, and her arm moved to cross in front of her. A darker flush spread over her cheeks as we held each other's stare, and I wondered for a moment what in particular had her so embarrassed.

And then Nico answered the question without prompting. "Ohh, she's just started to drip."

Victoria's eyes slid shut, and I let out a long, slightly pained sound of approval. I scattered kisses over her cheeks, an apology for the ruthless teasing and in gratitude for her perfect response.

"May I?" Nico asked.

Finally, we gave our attention to the kraken waiting in the water for us. One long tentacle mottled with emerald and indigo was swaying up out of the water, its tip curled back to reveal the pale underbelly, where little rounds of flesh were pursing and relaxing like lips begging for a kiss.

Victoria gaped for a moment and then roused from the haze of desire, the hand not holding the lips of her sex reaching out to the extended tentacle. Nico met her partway, sucker clasping around the tip of her middle finger. Victoria's eyes widened as Nico's lids hooded.

"They're exceptionally sensitive right now," I explained. "The more suckers that have somewhere to touch, to exert pressure and receive feedback, the more pleasure Nico experiences."

This caught Victoria's attention too thoroughly to be distracted by the promise of what those little suckers might offerher.

"Do you masturbate with them?" she asked, abrupt and direct, her study jumping to the front of her mind.

Nico laughed, and the sound was deeper than I expected, bouncing off the walls of the bare room. "Oh, yes. Sometimes even accidentally," they admitted, drawing their tentacle away from Victoria's hand, folding it in on itself, rubbing the rounds together. They shuddered in the water in response, and Victoria brightened with interest. Nico preened under her attention. "I could manage on my own, really, but I'm a social creature. I like new textures. New tastes."

Victoria had forgotten about my orders to her, straightening at the edge of the pool, her toes curled over the ledge, panties around her ankles. When Nico's tentacle snapped out and wrapped around one leg, tugging her closer, she flew forward with a yelp. I growled and reached for her, but Nico was faster, another tentacle whipping out with a splash of water, coiling around her waist and lowering her more gently into the pool. The two long ropes of muscle stroked between her legs as she sank, and Victoria's moan was surprised and ragged.

For a moment, I remained standing, unsure of what to do with myself. But she twisted in Nico's hold, searching for me, and I found myself jumping down into the water, my wings growing heavy as the delicate fibers grew saturated.

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