Page 57 of Poseidon's Island Flower

“That’s why you love me.” She fluttered her lashes. “Now spill.”

I explained how it happened, crawling onto his lap and taking the kiss. How I ordered him what to do, and it was the best kiss in my entire life. So slow, so much feeling in every brush of our skins. Candice listened intently, her eyes widening.

“That sounds wonderful,” she said when I finished. I nodded, a bit embarrassed how much I confided in her, but she was my best friend.

“I need to go drown, maybe my prince will show up then.” Candice frowned.

“What about Zeus? He seems very nice when I speak with him.”

Candice shook her head. “He keeps calling, but I told him I’m not interested. I’m just not attracted to all that muscle, tanned skin, and itty bitty brain.” She closed her fingers together to show me the exact measurement.

Lies.

“Candice—”

“Are you seeing him again today?” Candice interrupted.

I was just about to answer when a wave of warmth cascaded over my body, creating a pleasant, tingling sensation. It rushed from my feet up to my legs until it overtook me and, I was in over my head. I felt my chest compressing, a heavy weight sitting in the middle. Its current pulled me in the opposite direction from where I was going, and I turned to see Cy at the other end of the parking lot.

He had his hands in his pockets and a smile he was trying to hide. He looked both ways before he crossed the path of cars. I couldn’t break my eyes away from him, the heavy burden lifting the closer he got to me.

“Wow, he’s like…changed. He looks normal.”

“He’s always been normal,” I whispered. “He just needed a little coaxing.”

“Yeah, imagine what he will be like once you bang him. He might end up a narcissist like his friend.” She rolled her eyes.

I tried to contain my laughter at Candice’s words, but I snorted and covered my mouth. This broke Cy’s concentration as well, and he laughed when he approached.

“Hi,” he said, rolling on the balls of his feet and back to his heels.

“Hi,” I replied, holding onto my bags tightly.

Candice continued to stare until she shook her head. “I’ll leave you two love fishes alone. I’ll see you later, yeah?” I nodded and Candice pranced away, singing, “K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

Cy held out his hand, reaching for my bags and I let him, telling him thank you. He put his hand on the small of my back, taking me back to my car. Candice was right. Last night changed Cy. I wasn’t sure how long he would be out of his shell for, but I was excited to see where this was going.

Cy was also an early riser. He spent the early morning walking on the beach and happened to see me at the pier when I was purchasing our lunch. Then he rode back with me to my place where I taught him how to make a poke bowl for our lunch and dinner.

It was more than I was planning on spending for today’s food, but the way Cy was licking his lips, I knew I’d made the right decision.

Finally, someone that appreciates good, raw fish.

Afterwards, we headed to the beach, and I was ready to do our usual routine of free diving while the water was clear in the morning, but instead I was greeted by a boat. A big boat.

“I thought we could go free diving somewhere else. There is a reef nearby I wanted to check out, if that is okay with you?” Cy asked.

What I loved most about Cy was the way he asked if things were okay—that he cared what I thought and wanted. As much as I loved Koma, he didn’t ask if things were alright with me if he changed plans, but he was so young I overlooked it. It was a wonderful feeling to be asked, and the extra attentiveness like carrying my bags was really winning me over.

It made me want to go take a quick round with my tentacle friend in my bedroom actually, but I would not make this awkward.

“That sounds great!” I grabbed his hand, and he led me onto the small, motorized boat that would take us to a much larger one with twin motors and what looked to have an air-conditioned cabin.

Once we boarded, we weren’t alone and there were two very well-built men with dark hair with sheens of blue highlights. They wore tan leather-like skirts, their upper bodies massive and their ears slightly pointed.

I tilted my head, mesmerized by their peculiar shapes. Sure, it wasn’t the politest thing to do, but I wasn’t expecting anyone on the boat. Not that Cy couldn’t afford it because whatever he did, he obviously could.

“This is Strom and Teritis. Their brothers, they work with me back at my…laboratory.” Both of the men bowed, their wet hair slinging water down the both of us.

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