Page 42 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
I take a moment to do a quick scan of my own. She’s dressed in bike shorts and a cropped shirt, with her hair pulled up into a bun. She looks amazing, but from what I know of Tegan, this outfit doesn’t spelldate. I guess she’s still trying to keep me at arm’s length.
My heart sinks, though it’s no more than I was expecting. At least she’s here.
“Thanks. Do you think we need to add anything? You know, for the camera?”
She looks around. “Candles?”
“Already on it.” I start lighting the ones I brought up, and Tegan walks to the edge of the hot tub and dips her fingers in. “I’m so jealous of all the people who are going to stay here.”
I try to keep my tone casual, but inside I’m sweating. “Well, you know it would be a shame not to test it out. To christen it.”
She bites her lip. “I did bring my swimmers.”
I was hoping she might not have any, but I keep that wish to myself. Not my proudest moment. “The pictureswouldlookbetter with someone in them…” I trail off, leaving the rest unsaid.
She does what I hoped she’d do and tears the t-shirt over her head to reveal a pale pink bikini that has my mouth watering instantly. I avert my eyes as she slides the bike shorts off and tucks her clothes out of sight. It’s going to be hard enough keeping my hands off her while I’m behind the camera, I don’t need the temptation of watching her bend over. I already know that’ll get me too excited.
“Oh my god. It’s so warm.” She slips into the water, and the little sigh she makes as she slides onto the seat has my cock twitching in my jeans.
I pull up my camera app and hold up my phone, trying to concentrate on angle and lighting rather than the way her tits look like they’re floating on the water, dished up for me and waiting to be sucked on. “Definitely better with someone in them,” I mutter.
I take a few pictures and then pause, fetching a glass and the sparkling juice. “Here, hold this.” I hand her some and she sips it.
“Oh, juice.”
“Yeah, because you’re not drinking.”
“Yeah. Right.”
There’s a pause, and I wonder what she’s not saying. I thought I’d done the right thing. Shaking it off, I get a few more shots of her looking out over the water. The sky is turning a pretty orange color. My eyes catch on a loose strand of hair that’s fallen from her bun and stuck to her neck with the water on her skin.
How am I supposed to go from having my hands and mouth all over her body to not being able to touch her? She’s supposed to be mine.
I look down for a moment, drawing in a labored breath. This is more difficult than I anticipated.
Tegan looks sideways at me. “Do you think it would be good for both of us to be in the pictures? After all, we'll be marketing this as a couple’s experience...”
“What are you saying?” My mouth is dry.
She chews her lip. “Well, maybe you should join me. For the socials.”
“Ah, I don’t technically own a bathing suit because I’ve never worn one in my life, but I could wear shorts.”
Tegan laughs. “It’s fine. Pretty sure I’ve seen everything there is to see already.”
I beat the land speed record for getting undressed and dashing over to the edge of the tub.
I set the phone close enough that I could reach with a tentacle if I need to, then I climb into the spa, shifting as soon as my skin hits the water. There’s an awkward moment where I hesitate on the opposite side from Tegan. It’s big enough that we’re not touching, though it’s taking all my willpower to keep my tentacles to myself. “Should we—?”
At the same time, Tegan says, “Do you mind if I—”
Laughter breaks the tension, and she moves over to me and climbs into my lap. I lose the battle with my tentacles and several creep and curl around her legs, drifting upward. “Sorry. Sorry. They kind of have a mind of their own.”
She lets out an unsteady breath, and I feel it all the way to the tip of every tentacle. It runs through me like a shockwave. Her need. Her flavor intensifies and overwhelms me even past the chemicals in the water.
Our faces are close, our breath mingled. I should put the timer on so the camera will take a picture, but I don’t want to move in case it breaks the spell.
Tegan lets out a little growl. “Fuck it. I’m no good at boundaries. I always break them. I’m such a mess.”
