Page 96 of Treasure of the Abyss

“Find what?” He extended a tentacle and brushed it along her inner thigh, skimming it around the back of her leg to tickle the sensitive skin behind herknee.

“Your surprise,” she said, voice husky. She swayed towardhim.

Jax advanced, and she didn’t back away this time. He cupped her cheeks, and ran his hands down her neck, over her shoulders, and to the top of her towel. “Is it…underhere?”

“Maybe.”

He gradually loosened the towel. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation and desire. Jax parted the fabric with deliberate slowness, allowing it to caress her breasts. His eyes moved over her flesh as it was exposed bit bybit.

When the towel was open, he released it; it was forgotten before it hit the floor. He slid his palms over her nipples and down her sides, trailing them over her slightly rounded belly to herpelvis.

“Where…where is the hair?” He brushed the backs of his fingers over the smooth, bare skin that had once been covered by a triangle of soft, golden hair, and down across her exposedslit.

“I shaved itoff.”

“Why?” Confusion and arousal vied for supremacy within him, but neither was strong enough to overpower the other. He lifted his gaze to hers; there was something in her eyes he couldn’t place, and she quickly lookedaway.

“I…thought you might likeit.”

He hooked the side of his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. “There was nothing wrong with it. Why do you think I would like thisbetter?”

Her eyes met his fleetingly. Jaxfrowned.

“Your females don’t have hair to…to cover themselves. So, I thought you might like to see it better,without…”

He stilled at those words; he’d never described what female krakens looked like to Macy, had never explained thedifferences.

Who had approached her? Who hadshownher?

“Macy. Look atme.”

She did, but now her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Y-You don’t likeit.”

“I don’t likewhyyou did it,” he said, too harshly; she flinched at his tone. He exhaled through his siphons. “Do not ever think, Macy, that you need to change yourself to appease me. I love you as youare.”

She searched his face and blinked. Tears slid down her cheeks. “You loveme?”

“Yes. Ido.”

Her face crumpled, and she threw her arms around his neck. Jax smoothed back her wet hair as he embraced her, gently grazing the tips of his claws over herscalp.

How could he have missed her vulnerability? How could he not have realized he was starving her of companionship? He’d never intended for her to feel inadequate, or less than the female kraken, or…alone.

“I am sorry,Macy.”

She sniffed and pressed her cheek to his chest. “Forwhat?”

“For not being here for you. For not making you feel as loved and important as you are. And…for not telling you why I have been gone sooften.”

She pulled back and looked up at him. “You can tell menow.”

He lifted her and laid he laid her upon the bed, climbing in after to draw her against him. His throat was tight; once he spoke of his plans to her, they were as good — in his eyes — as a promise. “I’ve been preparing for us to leave thisplace.”

“What?” She raised her head, damp hair falling onto hischest.

“When you agreed to stay with me, your condition was that you be allowed the freedom to venture out with me. I’ve failed you in that because of our situationhere.”

“You didn’t fail. You’ve never failed me, Jax. This…this is beyond ourcontrol.”

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