Page 42 of Rising from the Depths

He rose slowly, drawing her upright along with him. One of his tentacles slid beneath her long skirt to brush over her right shin. She barely suppressed a pleased shiver.

Without further delay, Kronus swept her into his arms, pushed the door closed with a tentacle, and carried her deeper into the house. Eva looped her arms around his neck and studied his profile. As usual, it was hard to guess at his thoughts. He hid his emotions behind a seemingly displeased mask, but she’d caught glimpses of warmth through the cracks.

Kronus turned and gently sat her on a wooden chair with a soft cushion on the seat. She sensed reluctance in him as he drew back.

“Are you all right?” he asked after several moments.

“Tired, but otherwise fine,” Eva replied distractedly as she studied the room.

It was a modest space, with everything contained in one room — save the bathroom, which looked to be through a doorway near a corner. She was sitting at a table, which itself was situated beneath a window that looked out on the ocean. For a moment, she stared at the rolling waves, the sound of which set a faint but unmistakable undertone even inside. She’d have that sound lulling her to sleep each night.

The bed was positioned against the wall to her right; it looked freshly made. The front door was straight ahead, with a fireplace, counter, and cabinets in the corner to the left of it. A narrow door at the end of the counter likely opened on a pantry. Immediately to her left, an armoire stood against the rear wall. A large, rectangular woven rug covered the floorboards in the open central space. The furnishings were sparse, but it was…cozy.

Kronus lingered nearby, the tips of his tentacles flicking restlessly. For once, he seemed nervous instead of agitated, and that difference piqued her curiosity.

“What’s wrong, Kronus?”

“Nothing is wrong,” he replied, a tad too quickly. He shook his head. “I just…” He scowled, and his brow fell low over his eyes. “Is everything to your liking? Should you require more…”

Eva reached out and placed a hand on his forearm. His muscles twitched beneath her palm. She looked up and met his gaze. “I like it.”

“We can put your clothing in that,” he said, gesturing toward the armoire with his free hand. “Macy gave me extra clothes she thought would fit you, if you need them. Andhangers, too.”

“You asked someone for clothes for me?” Her gaze caught on the harpoons and spear leaning against the wall between the door and the fireplace. Wadded netting and at least two canvas sacks lay on the floor beneath them. The objects had the look of things set down by someone who didn’t know where else to put them. It warmed her heart to know he’d gone out of his way to accommodate her, that he’d displaced his own belongings to give her room.

When she looked back at Kronus, he nodded, his lips pressed into a tight line.

She could only imagine how uncomfortable he must’ve been doing that; Kronus didn’t come off as someone who asked for anything, but he’d done so — for her.

She tugged on his arm, silently requesting him to lean down. He obliged. Reaching up with one hand, she cupped his jaw, shifted forward, and pressed her lips to his cheek. They lingered there before she placed another kiss next to the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you, Kronus,” she said, releasing him.

He didn’t straighten; he remained still, pupils dilated to black, fathomless pools and face slackened by awe. His gaze dipped to her lips. Before she realized what he meant to do, his hand was on the back of her head, and his mouth crashed down upon hers.

Her eyes flared at the suddenness of it, but her surprise swiftly faded as fire ignited within her. She moaned, her eyes fluttering shut as she leaned into the kiss, her hands sliding over his shoulders to wrap her arms around his neck. His lips were firm but yielding, savage but gentle, and the clumsiness of his efforts were more than made up for by his eagerness and passion.

His other hand curled around her hip and tugged her closer until she had no choice but to spread her legs and allow him to wedge himself between them. Her hardened nipples rasped against his chest through her shirt, sending tingles of pleasure straight to her core. Her lips parted in a soft exhalation. She nipped at his bottom lip, first capturing it between her teeth, then soothing it with her tongue.

A long, low groan resonated from his chest, vibrating into her. His hands tightened; the sting on her scalp and the pricks of his claws on her waist only heightened her desire for him. Liquid heat flooded her, dampening her underwear, and her sex clenched with need. She kissed him harder, tasting the sea upon his lips, and beckoned him with her tongue to open his mouth.

She wasted no time when he parted his lips, sliding her tongue between them to dance delicately, teasingly, along the peaks and valleys of his teeth.

But Kronus seemed to be nothing if not a quick learner. He swiftly took charge and reciprocated her attentions; soon, his tongue was exploringher, moving with strength and confidence. What would that tongue feel like elsewhere on her body? This kiss alone had her on the edge of an orgasm, and the thought of his head between her legs nearly sent her over.

Her skin prickled, craving more of his touch. Then she felt it — the gentle kisses of his suction cups as one of his tentacles brushed the inside of her thigh, having worked its way under her skirt. She panted against his mouth as the tip of his tentacle moved higher, until, finally, it settled over her sex. The thin layer of fabric separating his skin from hers made no difference when his suction cups moved over her clitoris.

Her climax was swift, overwhelming,delicious. Tofeelagain — to bewanted— after all she’d been through was more exquisite than her wildest imaginings. Eva cried out, tearing her mouth from his as her body stiffened. Her arms and legs tightened around him as though she could draw him into herself. All she could do was breathlessly cling to Kronus until the final, blissful tremor subsided. And yet her body thrummed, eager for more.

“I need more of you, female,” he growled as a second tentacle slid up her leg to join the first. His hold on her was firm; she could sense his restraint in the tension of his muscles. He dipped his head and pressed his lips to her neck, flicking his tongue over her skin. “I made my claim on you. Do you accept it?”

The tentacles between her legs stroked her sex as though fighting each other for access. The tip of one wriggled beneath the fabric, delved through her wet folds, and entered her.

“Yes!” Eva rasped, hips bucking against him. She didn’t think —couldn’tthink — not when her mind and body were floating on a euphoric high.

“Yourscent, female.” His voice was a low rumbling in his chest.

Two more of his tentacles rose and shoved her skirt up, exposing her legs, and he dropped both hands to her thighs. His palms were scalding hot as they moved up to her pelvis. His claws slipped into her underwear. There was pressure, and the waistband bit into her skin for a moment before the fabric tore. All the while, the tentacles at her sex never stopped, never slowed, stroking her inside and out. Eva’s nails sank into his skin, and she bit her lip as another climax stirred within her.

---