Page 23 of Kiss for My Kraken
“Hoped for it,” he corrected, feeling suddenly vulnerable. What if she refused? What if the idea of being alone with him on his island was too much, too soon?
But she was already nodding, her initial hesitation giving way to a look of determination. “Yes,” she said firmly. “I’d like that.”
He felt something tight in his chest loosen. “The dog can come too,” he added, noting how Ozzie had pressed himself against her legs, watchful but not growling.
She smiled, scratching behind Ozzie’s ears. “Hear that, buddy? We’re going on an adventure.”
He steadied the boat as she climbed in and settled on the center seat with Ozzie at her feet. The small craft dipped beneath their combined weight, but remained stable.
“I’ve never been in a rowboat before,” she admitted, gripping the sides as the boat rocked gently. “At least, not that I remember.”
“It’s safe,” he assured her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her eyes met his, and the trust he saw there humbled him. “I know you won’t.”
Taking a deep breath, he pushed away from the dock, propelling the boat forward with powerful, controlled movements of his tentacles beneath the surface. He kept most of his body submerged, with only his head and shoulders visible above the water as he guided the boat towards the center of the river.
The evening air was cool, carrying the scent of pine and earth. A heron lifted off from a distant bank, its wings spanning thedarkening sky. He watched her take it all in, her face tilted upward to catch the last light.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she said softly, trailing her fingers in the water beside the boat. “So peaceful.”
He nodded, keeping a careful distance from the boat while guiding it forward. He didn’t want to frighten her with the full sight of his lower body—the powerful tentacles that propelled him through the water with efficient grace. Not yet.
He studied her face for any sign of fear or discomfort, but saw only wonder. The soft curve of her lips, the curious tilt of her head as she gazed at the island drawing nearer—she seemed genuinely eager to see his world.
The thought both thrilled and terrified him.
As they neared the island, he remembered something—a hidden wonder he’d discovered years ago, one he’d never shared with anyone. On impulse, he changed course slightly, steering the boat towards sheltered cove on the island’s southern side.
“There’s something I want to show you first,” he explained when she gave him a questioning look. “Something special.”
Her eyes lit up. “A surprise?”
“A secret. One I’ve never shown anyone before.”
The admission seemed to please her. She leaned forward eagerly as the boat glided into the shallow cove, where overhanging trees created a natural canopy above the water.
“Close your eyes,” he said softly.
She hesitated for only a moment before complying, her lashes fanning down against her cheeks. Even Ozzie seemed to sense the importance of the moment, sitting perfectly still at her feet.
He guided the boat to the center of the cove, then gently positioned it so that she faced the bank. He used his tentacles to strike the surface of the water in a specific pattern—three quick splashes, then two slower ones.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, like stars winking to life, tiny points of blue-green light began to appear along the shoreline. First dozens, then hundreds, then thousands—a cascade of living light spreading across the embankment and reflecting in the still water of the cove.
“You can open your eyes now,” he whispered.
Her gasp as she beheld the spectacle made every nerve in his body sing with pleasure.
“Oh my God,” she breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. “What are they?”
“Bioluminescent algae.” He was watching her face rather than the display. “They respond to vibrations in the water. I discovered them after a storm a few years ago.”
“They’re incredible.” She leaned forward, mesmerized by the pulsing lights that transformed the ordinary cove into something magical. “Like underwater fireflies.”
“They’re most active at dusk.” He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The blue-green light reflected in her eyes, casting her face in an ethereal glow. “I come here sometimes, when the world feels too…” He trailed off, unsure how to express the weight of his isolation.
“Too much?” she asked quietly, her gaze still fixed on the glowing shoreline.
