Page 33 of Kiss for My Kraken
“Nina—”
Before he could continue, she walked to the cabin door and outside to the small platform that extended over the water.The afternoon sun warmed her skin as she stood at the edge, looking down into the clear depths. He followed, his expression a mixture of concern and something hungrier.
“The water’s cold,” he warned.
“I don’t mind.” She met his gaze steadily. “Unless you don’t want me in the water.”
“It’s not that.” His voice roughened. “I want—” He broke off, seeming to struggle for words.
She understood. Over the past week, they’d shared increasingly passionate kisses, their hands exploring each other with growing boldness. Each encounter left them both breathless and wanting more. The unspoken barrier between them had always been the water—his domain, not hers.
“I trust you,” she said simply.
Something flashed in his eyes as she lowered herself to sit on the edge of the platform, her legs dangling in the water. The cold shocked her at first, but she acclimated quickly as he lifted her away from the dock and gradually lowered her into the water. Water rose to her knees, then her thighs, then her waist as she descended.
“Okay?” he asked, watching her face intently.
She nodded, unable to speak past the lump of emotion in her throat. This felt monumental—stepping into his element, crossing a divide that had defined their interactions.
By the time she was standing on the bottom, the water was almost to her neck and he moved closer, his body solid and reassuring against the current. His arms encircled her waist, holding her secure.
“Cold?” he asked.
“A little.” She shivered, but not entirely from the temperature. His proximity affected her more than the chill.
“I can warm you,” he murmured.
Before she could ask how, she felt it—a subtle change in the water around them, as if a warm current had suddenly found them. The sensation spread, enveloping her in comfortable heat.
“How did you?—”
“Thermal regulation,” he explained. “It’s a natural ability.”
“Convenient,” she managed, distracted by his closeness.
His skin felt different underwater—smoother, more supple. His tentacles moved around her, not quite touching but creating gentle currents that caressed her body. Her heart raced with anticipation and a touch of nervousness. This was unknown territory in every sense.
“May I hold you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Please.”
His arms tightened around her waist, lifting her slightly so her feet no longer touched the bottom. At the same time, his tentacles wrapped gently around her legs and lower body, supporting her weight. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced—being completely enveloped, held from all sides by powerful but incredibly gentle pressure.
“Okay?” he asked again, searching her face.
In answer, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His lips, cool and firm, opened beneath hers. The kissdeepened rapidly, their shared hunger evident in the press of mouths, the stroke of tongues. His tentacles tightened reflexively around her, drawing a gasp from her lips.
“Sorry,” he murmured against her mouth.
“Don’t be,” she breathed. “I like it.”
That admission seemed to break something loose in him. His tentacles shifted, wrapping more securely around her thighs, her waist, one sliding up her back to cradle her head. He kissed her with newfound intensity, one hand tangling in her wet hair.
She surrendered to the sensation, her body cradled and supported by his strength. She felt weightless, her movements liquid and free. His tentacles were smooth against her skin, the occasional sucker creating unexpected points of pressure that sent shivers through her body.
He pulled back a little to study her face. “You’re trembling.”
“Good trembling,” she assured him.
