Page 7 of Stranded with the Kraken
Her chest rises on a quick breath, and I can’t help it—my gaze strays to her nipples, dusky pink and peaked. She doesn’t cover up, which tells me she’s enjoying this as much as I am. She shimmies out of her black panties but closes her legs, dipping her feet in the water. Blood pumps faster through my veins, and I’m surprised the water around me doesn’t boil, because I’m burning up, my body readying for what’s to come.
For what Ihopewill happen.
I look back at Arielle’s face and catch her ogling me. Her gaze slips from my mouth to my shoulders and down my abdomen before she flicks it back up and flushes. I grin at her, more than happy to let her stare if that will tip the scales for her. I’m not above using my physique to lure the pretty human into the water with me.
She bites her lip, then seems to make her decision. She scoots to the very edge and peers into the water between us. I try to still my tentacles, but it’s hard, especially since I’m trying to stay afloat. After a long moment, she meets my gaze and holds it, then pushes herself off the edge and slips into the water.
CHAPTER5
ARIELLE
Imust be crazy for doing this. I’ve done some wild shit in my youth, including that time I dated a biker from an actualgangin college, but swimming with a mythological creature takes the cake.
What I notice first after I get in the pool is the consistency and temperature of the water, like Jasper predicted. He hasn’t told me much about what would happen despite my questions, but I don’t think he’s keeping things from me on purpose. He just seems distracted. By me.
And I won’t lie, it feels amazing. Both his attention and the water, that is.
“Wow,” I say, moving my arms around. “I feel like it’s easier to stay afloat?”
Jasper hums in agreement. “You’ll expend less energy trying to keep yourself above the surface.”
I kick my bare legs out and float on my back for a bit, submerging my hair, then straighten again when I realize my nipples poke out of the water in the starfish position. Flushing, I focus back on Jasper, but he doesn’t seem to mind—he’s watching me with rapt attention, his golden eyes gleaming.
“Can I touch you?” he murmurs.
His tentacles swirl under him in the water, their movement sinuous. I swish my arms around, then swim closer to Jasper.
“Yes,” I say, because I think he needs me to say the actual words. “But slowly.”
He smiles. “Do you want to go to the shallow end of the pool so you can stand?”
I shake my head, anticipation rising in me. “No, it’s fine. I’m a good swimmer.”
Jasper’s widening grin tells me he thinks I’m being cute. And I guess that my swimming skills can’t compare to those of a sea creature. But now that we’re so close, I’m sort of counting on him to hold me up if needed.
He moves toward me, hands reaching out. I blink in surprise because I thought he’d hook me with his tentacles, but he takes my hand first and runs his palm all the way up to my shoulder. I kick to stay afloat with one hand occupied, and he simply slides his other arm around my waist, supporting me. In the water, I feel weightless, and Jasper handles me as if I am—there’s still several inches of space between our bodies.
That won’t do.
Putting my hands on his shoulders, I pull myself close and kiss him, eager to continue where we left off earlier. His body is so hot, his skin firm under my touch.
Jasper strokes his tongue against mine, and I angle my head to the side to deepen our kiss. The water lapping at my body feels like I’m being caressed all over, and I don’t hate the sensation at all. My nerves are on high alert, but in a way that sends shivers down my spine, and the anticipation of pleasure has me on edge.
And I’m sure the pleasure is coming. This man can kiss, and I’ve learned through previous hookups that excellent kissing often leads to great sex.
Something touches my leg, and I jerk in Jasper’s grip. My eyes fly open, and I glance down between us into the water.
A long, deep-blue tentacle strokes softly over the top of my foot, then slides around to my calf. I glance up at Jasper to find him watching me warily, as if he expects me to bolt from the pool at any moment. But the sensation isn’t unpleasant at all. The tentacle is slippery, yes, but I expected that since we’re underwater. What I didn’t expect is for it to be as warm as the rest of Jasper’s body.
Slowly, I reach down with one hand and wait for Jasper’s cue. His hands twitch on my hips, but he holds me easily above water. I’ve given up all pretense of trying to stay afloat on my own. It’s lovely to surrender to him, to trust his strength. I know he won’t drop me in the water, no matter what.
One of Jasper’s tentacles rises to meet my outstretched hand. Its tip curls around my palm, the flesh warm and giving. It feels like muscle, but perhaps a little harder than that, since I don’t think he has any bones in there. I want to ask him all the questions, but not right now. For the moment, I’m content to explore by feel.
Jasper turns the tentacle over in my hand, exposing a double line of small suckers. They’re tiny at the tip, no larger than a ladybug, but they grow progressively larger the closer they are to Jasper’s torso. I run my thumb over the light-blue suction cups, and they react by sticking to my skin.
Jasper lets out a ragged gasp. “Fuck, Arielle.”
I lift my chin to meet his gaze. “Are they sensitive?”
