Page 12 of Away in a Tentacle Lair
“So you've turned your back on your family for this job you're hoping for?”
“Maybe not. I didn't miss them until I came here.”
“Absence makes the heart grow stronger.” I shrug, but it's not until his finger starts rubbing across my knuckles that I realise it's more about not being alone than wanting his family.
“You're making my heart grow stronger.”
“Leo, I'm not sure where we stand. My family And the marine centre don't see eye to eye. You're technically the enemy.”
“Maybe you just need to be whisked off your feet and be convinced in less traditional means.”
“Less traditional?”
“I'm guessing letting interviewees ravish your naked body isn't a tradition you partake in?”
“Not at all.” But it suddenly sounds far more appetising than the main course. “But I'm willing to start.”
Our empty starter bowls are cleared away, and they ask if we're ready for our main meal. I resist saying I'm ready for the bill and just nod.
The main course is delicious, and the company is great. I just can't wait to have his company in a more secluded location. I twirl my fork absentmindedly, watching the flickering sun on the waves. This would be so different if the moon danced over the waves. I’ll never have that experience; the family curfew is strict for a reason. I may not like it, but I can only live half a life so long as the research centre exists.
"Kai, what would you pick as the one marine creature that fascinates you most?"
"Ah," I start, not needing to think about this. "The octopus, without a doubt. It's a master of disguise, blending into its environment with an almost... otherworldly grace. And their intelligence is unparalleled. They're the enigmatic poets of the sea, weaving stories we can barely grasp."
"Poets of the sea, huh?" He smiles, a soft chuckle escaping him. "That's quite the image. It suits you, though—mysterious and deep."
A blush creeps up my neck, but I shrug it off with a laugh. "Well, now it's your turn.”
“Seahorse. The females depend on the males in a way no other species does. It’s a complete symbiosis.”
I smile, staring into his eyes for longer than socially acceptable.
"Maybe we could... continue this conversation somewhere more private?" I suggest.
“We could try a different kind of dessert,” he replies, a devilish grin spreading across his face that has me questioning my sanity. Sanity, logic, and personal safety can go to hell. I want to be this guy’s dessert. "My hotel room, perhaps?"
"Okay," I agree, surprising myself with the eagerness that bubbles up alongside my nervousness. I stand, feeling a little unsteady, as if I've finished far more than a single glass of wine.
Chapter nine
Leo
The keycard clicks, the green light blinks its approval, and we're in. The hotel room seems to hold its breath as I close the door behind us, shutting out the world. Kai stands a few steps away, his eyes like moonlit tides pulling me closer without a single touch. My heart taps against my chest—maybe it's trying to break free or just keeping time with my nerves.
"Nice place," he says, but the words are empty, filling the space between us. He didn't seem to care about the layout last time he was here.
"Thanks," I reply, though I didn't pick it out for the décor. I clear my throat; my laugh sounds more nervous than I want it to. "Great view of the ocean."
"Right," Kai nods, taking a small step closer. His voice is softer now, huskier. "But I find myself distracted by something else."
Our eyes lock, and there's that awkward chuckle again, bubbling up from my throat like a school of fish breaking the surface. Then we're moving simultaneously, a magnetic pull that can't be denied, and his lips meet mine. It's gentle at first, aquestion asked with the tenderest of touches, and I answer with equal softness.
Kai’s kiss deepens, an urgent current beneath calm waves, and I'm swept away. It's all crashing emotions and breathless whispers, hands exploring unknown territories with the fervour of a sea storm. Our clothes are shed in an uncontrolled flurry of hands. There is no gentle revealing of skin already seen. But my dessert is hidden behind a pair of tight black boxer shorts.
“Are you going to be a good boy for me, baby?”
Kai's eyes light up at my endearment. I know he wants to be praised and rewarded; and maybe punished if I'm lucky.
