Page 52 of Lover from the Waves

“I do tend to defy expectations. Do you have a name? This is a somewhat intimate situation in which we’re involved, and it would be strange to refer to you as justmissorma’am.”

“Sorry. My name’s Kathryn. It’s nice to meet you, Kane. Meet you again, I guess. I’ve spoken with you—the other you, anyway—once before, when him, Theo, and Arkon set up my house with hot water.”

Kane laughed. “I have the pleasure of meeting you for the first time, and you the pleasure of meeting the best me. Seems we’re both coming out ahead on this, Kathryn.”

Kathryn looked at Ector, whose brow was drawn low, and smiled wide. “Ector and I are going for a swim. I’ve never done this before, so I’m glad you’re here to guide me.”

“Well, you’re in good hands. I am referring to myself, of course, though I do not have hands. I mean it in a metaphorical sense. Obviously, if I were referring to your escort, I would say you’re in good tentacles.” A thin yellow outline appeared around Ector, making him stand out against the darkening sea and sky. “Though it would normally be outside my scope to speculate…he is your mate, isn’t he?”

Something giddy and warm filled Kathryn’s heart. Somehow, her grin only widened as she looked into Ector’s eyes. “Yes. He is my mate.”

Ector’s expression softened, and he extended a tentacle to brush along her leg.

“I suspected as much, considering his brooding countenance and agitated stance,” Kane said. “I’ll spare you the follow up questions regarding tentacular penetration and the like. Theo made it clear that such matters are private business and that it didn’t make a difference whether I was in her head or not, I was to keep my nose out of it.”

Kat’s brows lowered. “Tentacular…what?”

“Penetration. The entry of tentacles into various bodily orifices. Again, it’s none of my business, so you needn’t give me any details. Unless…you’re willing to sh—”

“No! No, Theo’s right. It’s…private business.” Heat flooded Kathryn. Even if Kane wasn’texactlya person, Kat couldn’t help her embarrassment at him speaking so openly about such an intimate matter.

Kane made a sound like he was clucking his tongue. “Your body heat’s rising. I must apologize—I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Your boundaries have been clearly broadcast, and I will proceed accordingly. There will be no discussion of penetration, whether involving tentacles or not, going forward.”

“Thank you, Kane.”

Ector tilted his head. “You are turning red, Kathryn. What did he say?”

She shifted closer to Ector and reached for his hand. “He, uh… You know what? Don’t worry about it.”

He closed his hand around hers and frowned. “Is he causing you distress of some sort?”

Kathryn smiled. “No. Let’s just say…he seems to beveryknowledgeable about the mating practices of humans and kraken. Shall we go before it gets too dark?”

Ector glared in a way she’d never seen from him—it was a menacing look, bearing just a hint of threat. She knew it was meant not for her but Kane.

“They can be intimidating, can’t they?” Kane asked, sounding entirely unconcerned. And why would he worry? It wasn’t as though Ector could cause him any bodily harm.

Kathryn smoothed her other hand up Ector’s chest to settle it on the side of his thick neck. “It’s fine, Ector. I was just a little embarrassed. I don’t usually talk about things like that with strangers.”

For a few moments, Ector narrowed his eyes, and his frown deepened into something closer to a scowl. He glanced at the sky before his gaze shifted to hers. His expression eased, and he nodded. Excitement rekindled in his eyes. “You are correct, Kathryn. We should go. I will flash yellow to warn of danger if necessary, but we should be safe.”

“I am well versed in kraken sign language, as well,” Kane said, his voice projecting outside the suit, “should you need to communicate anything more complicated thanlook out. And regardless, I’ll monitor the surrounding waters for life at all times and warn Kathryn of anything concerning.”

Ector lifted his brows. “You could have spoken aloud the whole time?”

“Yes, but my conversation with Kathryn was private. I am here to assistherthrough this process.”

Kathryn laughed and shook her head. “This is going to be an interesting experience.”

Smirking, Ector chuckled. “My hope was for it to be an unforgettable experience—for the best reasons.”

She brushed her thumb over his jaw, again wishing she could touch him skin-to-skin. “It will be.”

Ector leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

“Just consider me yourexperience enhancer,” Kane said.

Shaking his head, Ector straightened and, still holding Kat’s hand, led her into the surf. She felt the water flowing around her feet but couldn’t feel its wetness or temperature. It was…strange. By the time the water was up to her waist, she was a bit more used to the sensation, and the reality of the situation hit her—she was about to see what lay beneath the waves. Halora was mostly covered in water, and after fifty years of life here, she was about to have her first glimpse of what comprised the majority of her homeworld.

---