Page 31 of Kiss for My Kraken
Her smile in the moonlight made his heart constrict. “I see you, Sam.”
They reached the small dock in front of her shack too soon. He secured the boat and Ozzie hopped onto the dock first, shaking himself vigorously before trotting towards the cabin.
He extended a hand to help Nina from the boat, but as she stepped onto the dock, she didn’t release his grip. Instead, she tugged gently, drawing him closer until he rose partially from the water, his upper body level with hers where she stood.
“Goodnight, Sam,” she whispered, leaning forward.
Her lips met his, soft and warm and insistent. He responded immediately, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head while a tentacle wrapped around her waist, steadying her. The kiss deepened, her mouth opening under his, inviting him to explore. He tasted wine and sweetness, felt the heat of her against the coolness of his skin.
When they finally parted, both breathing harder, her eyes were half-lidded, her lips slightly swollen. She looked thoroughly kissed, and the sight filled him with primitive satisfaction.
“Tomorrow,” she reminded him, her voice husky.
“Tomorrow,” he promised.
She turned and walked towards her shack, glancing back once to blow him a kiss before disappearing inside. He remained at the dock, watching until he saw the upstairs light go on.
Only then did he slip back into the deeper water, his body thrumming with sensations he’d almost forgotten existed. Joy. Desire. Hope. And beneath it all, a profound sense of contentment he’d never expected to feel again.
The river welcomed him with its familiar embrace, but for the first time since his escape, it wasn’t enough. The water that had been his refuge now felt like only half of what he needed.
The other half was waiting in a small shack on the shore, promising to see him tomorrow.
CHAPTER 15
The kitchen timer buzzed, and Nina pulled the cornbread from the oven. Golden-brown and fragrant, it released a buttery aroma that filled her small cabin. She set it on the counter to cool and glanced at the clock. Just after three—her shift had ended early thanks to Ben’s generosity.
“Don’t need you underfoot while I’m experimenting with this new venison recipe,” he grumbled, but his eyes had softened when he’d added, “Go on. Get some sun for once.”
A week ago, she might have protested, desperate for every hour of pay. Now, she had other priorities.
“What do you think, Ozzie? Should we surprise him?”
The dog’s ears perked up at his name, but his attention remained fixed on the cornbread.
“Not for you,” she chided, cutting a generous square and wrapping it carefully in waxed paper. “This is for Sam.”
Sam.Just thinking his name sent a pleasant shiver through her body. They’d met every day for the past five days—most of the time on her dock, and once more on his island. Each meeting left her more certain that whatever existed between them was unlike anything she’d ever known.
She changed quickly into a simple pink sundress, one she’d found atSecond Chancefor just a few dollars. The light fabric floated around her legs as she hurried down to the dock, Ozzie trotting at her heels.
The afternoon sun sparkled on the water, turning the river into a ribbon of diamonds. She squinted across to Sam’s island, wondering where he was. He was always watching, she’d come to realize—a constant, comforting presence just beyond her sight.
“Sam?” she called softly, settling at the edge of the dock.
The water rippled, then parted as he surfaced. First his dark hair, then those piercing blue eyes, and finally his broad shoulders breaking the surface. Every time she saw him emerge like this, something fluttered in her chest—part nerves, part wonder, all attraction.
“You’re early,” he said, his deep voice rumbling pleasantly.
“Ben let me go early.” She held up the wrapped cornbread. “I brought you something.”
A smile spread across his face, transforming his features from merely handsome to devastating. One powerful arm reached for the dock edge, and he pulled himself up enough to accept her offering.
“You made this today?” he asked, unwrapping the cornbread with careful fingers.
“Just now. It’s still warm.”
He took a bite, closing his eyes briefly in appreciation. “Perfect,” he murmured.
