Page 97 of Heart of the Deep

Dracchus’s claws grazed her shoulders and trailed along her arms. Tingles ran across the surface of her skin, heightening her desire. Her aching nipples hardened, constricted by the suit, and her sensitive flesh was suddenly aware of the faint thrum of the suit’s internal energy field.

He took both her hands as he came to her front. Continuing his slow spin, he drew Larkin upward, lifting her off the bottom. Sunlight flashed and flickered around them, and the ocean sparkled.

Colors pulsed over his skin. At first, she thought it was a trick of the constantly shifting light, but as the colors moved faster, she realized it washim. He was kaleidoscopic, beautiful, exotic. Dozens of colors and patterns flashed over him, flowing with liquid smoothness. She was transfixed by him.

And then he released his hold on her.

Her momentum carried her through one more rotation. She laughed and turned her head to follow his movement, and her heart stilled.

Dracchus was circling her again, but he did so now in a rhythmic spin that gained speed as he moved, tentacles spreading and twisting. The colors on his skin blurred hypnotically. Larkin moved her arms and legs absently, subconsciously maintaining her position; all her focus was on him, and she turned her head to follow his progress.

As his tentacles flared out, one of them slipped around her waist and pushed her into a spin of her own before sliding away. Shafts of sunlight danced overhead while Dracchus dominated her periphery vision, his hue changing to every color, to no color, and back again with every heartbeat.

He settled his hands on her hips and pulled her against him. The whole world spiraled around them, but Dracchus remained constant. Solid.Real.

She laughed, looping her arms around his neck, and met his eyes.

He held her gaze as they swam; she knew, instinctually, they were heading toward the Facility. Towardhome.

Larkin smiled, wrapping her legs around his waist as she caressed the back of his neck.

His hands slid down over her backside and along her outer thighs. The scintillating colors on his skin faded, leaving only a rich maroon. He dipped his head forward, pressing his forehead to her mask.

By the time they reached the Facility, Larkin’s patience was exhausted. She wanted her hands on Dracchus, wanted her lips on him; she needed to touch him, tofeelhim,now.

“Do you require entry?” Sam asked.

“Yes!” she said before he finished speaking. The light above the door flashed green and Dracchus pulled them into the chamber.

He lifted her head over the surface of the draining water, and she hurriedly removed the mask, yanking the hood down to free her hair. She dropped the mask to take his face in her hands and pressed her mouth to his.

“I need you,” she said against his lips. “Now.”

“In our den,” he growled.

“Too long.” She bit his lower lip, then soothed it with her tongue; he tasted like the sea.

“No one else will seemyfemale.” Dracchus slammed the button the instant the light turned green. Before she realized what he meant to do, he tossed her over his shoulder and charged through the open door.

Larkin’s shriek turned into laughter as he hurried along the corridor. She watched his tentacles moving beneath him, covering distance faster than she’d ever thought possible. Flattening her hands on his back, she smoothed them down his waist to caress what would’ve been his ass, if he were human.

“Enough, female,” Dracchus said, giving her rump a smack.

Larkin gasped; pleasure followed the brief sting. His hand remained on her backside, massaging it, heightening her arousal.

When they finally reached their room, Dracchus set her on her feet and yanked her suit off before the door had fully shut. Bared to his hungry gaze, she leapt upon him. He took her in his arms as their mouths met in another fiery kiss.

There was dizzying motion, and suddenly, the wall was at her back. Dracchus leaned into her and deepened the kiss, caging her with his arms and pinning her with his body. His hard shaft brushed beneath her backside. She arched, rubbing her nipples against his chest, and that little bit of contact sent flashes of bliss straight to her core.

Dracchus inhaled deeply and groaned. He drew back his head, and Larkin glimpsed his kiss-swollen lips before his hands untangled her legs from his waist, cupped her backside, and lifted her up the wall until her thighs settled over his shoulders.

She cried out when his mouth fell over her sex. He stroked her with his tongue, lapped at her, tasted her. Larkin grasped his head, her only anchor. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, submitting to the euphoria he bestowed upon her. His fingers curled over her thighs and spread them wider while his tongue delved deeper.

“Dracchus,” she moaned when his lips found her clit. He latched on and Larkin’s entire body tensed as he brought her to a swift, blistering climax.

He turned away from the wall and lowered her slowly, letting her sex slide over his chest, kissing up her belly and between her breasts until their mouths met. She wrapped her legs around his middle as he carried her toward the bed. She tasted herself on his lips, but it washimshe wanted on her tongue.

Dracchus dropped her onto the bed and moved to follow her down, but Larkin held a hand to his chest, stopping him.

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