Page 15 of Away in a Tentacle Lair
As he frees me from the bed, I feel a bizarre sense of disappointment, which turns to humour as he tries to lift me from the middle of the bed and fails. He falls across me, both of us in giggles—very madly grown-up giggles, but definitely, that shrill laughter that comes from losing all modesty and self-control.
“It’s fine, I can walk.” I shuffle across the bed and have a go at standing. My legs don’t agree, and would like a little more attention from sexy Mr Neoprene. “Bollocks.”
Leo reaches around and fondles mine as if obeying an order before resorting to a fireman’s lift to escort me across the room. My first reaction is to shriek until my hands found purchase against the rounded globes of his arse, and then my protests stop. I mean, it's not a bad view.
“Stop making this into a farce,” I grumble.
Leo chuckles as he carries me across the room, his hands slaps against my arse. "You really are something, Kai," he murmured, his voice tinged with amusement and affection. "I can't help but feel like we're in some sort of farce."
"I think we're past the point of farces, Leo," I chuckle, squeezing his bottom playfully. "We're now venturing into the realm of pantomimes!"
“Oh no, we’re not,” he disputes in a sing-song voice.
“Oh fuck we are.”
He chuckles at my remark, a warm, genuine sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "You know how to brighten up my day, Kai."
As he sets me down gently on my feet, I can't help but marvel at how graceful he is despite his size. I couldn't help but notice the muscles in his arms flexing as he effortlessly carried me, and how his hair had fallen out of place made him look even more handsome.
“Go on, enjoy your bath. I’ll change the bed, and then we can snuggle and chat.”
Stepping into the bath of hot water gives me a shudder. I have a human-sized fish tank in my bedroom, which dominates the room and makes everything feel tiny. Being enclosed in the tub, even if my head is above the water level. Declaring my love for this man brings me to the difficult decision that he will need to know why I need such a large tank in my bedroom. Declaring my love for a man who works for my enemy will be more challenging than any confession I have for him.
My tumbling thoughts prevent me from enjoying my bath time as much as I had hoped, and I leave long before the water is cold.
“Perfect timing,” Leo greets me as I enter the bedroom with just a towel. “I was making a coffee, but I should help you find those pants. I’m sure I threw them over here.”
I laugh as he makes a show of gathering my clothing. He even looks under my belongings in his search for them.
“There.” He finally relents, flinging my top to me. I leave it on the side for now. My trousers are all I need for the moment. As much as I would enjoy snuggling naked with his man, we are more likely to have a sensible conversation about where we go next if I’m not preoccupied with how much I want to suck his cock.
Chapter eleven
Leo
We snuggle on the bed as the afternoon sun casts a warm light across us. Kai rests against me as I draw lazy circles across his bare back. I’ve never had a moment like this after sleeping with someone. I know I play on the harder side of a one-night stand, so the aftercare has always been important, but this is more than simply putting him back together. This is both of us wanting to spend time with each other. I should be out there trying to secure a job at the marine centre to stay here and see where this relationship goes—hopefully moving forward towards deserving those three words that popped out of my mouth earlier.
"Hey," Kai chuckles, nudging my shoulder with his cheek. "Lighten up. You're frowning like you're trying to solve the mysteries of the deep blue sea."
I can't help but smile at his playful jab.
"Guess I'm just caught in a bit of a moral dilemma," I admit, meeting his gaze. "It's about the marine centre."
"Ah, your preferred employment is the bane of my family’s existence," he murmurs, propping himself up on one elbow togive me his undivided attention. “I would say it doesn’t matter where you work, but you’d know that was a lie.
"It's complicated," I begin.
All I can offer is the promise that we’ll find a way to work it out.”
"I mean, on the one hand, working there will be this incredible opportunity, right? To learn, to make a difference. But then..." I pause. “It feels like I'm choosing between my dream job and... you."
Kai exhales slowly, the warmth of his breath tickling my skin. “There’s the ethics, too. You could pick me and have a happy life here.”
“You know you couldn’t be happy with me if I worked there, and neither could your family.”
"Leo," he says, sliding onto his knees, "whatever you decide, I'm with you. Your dreams, your values—they're part of who you are. And who you are is someone I care about deeply. I won’t tell you the only way we can be happy is if you give up your dreams."
"Thanks, Kai," I reply, feeling gratitude for this man. "That means everything."
