Page 27 of Kiss for My Kraken
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, quickly withdrawing her hand.
“No,” he said, his voice deeper than before. “The opposite.”
“Oh.” Understanding dawned, bringing with it a flush of heat that spread from her cheeks downward. “They’re sensitive.”
“Yes.” His blue eyes had darkened, watching her with an intensity that made her breath catch. “But every part of me is… alive to your touch.”
The admission hung in the air between them, charged with possibility, and she found herself moving closer, drawn by a pull she couldn’t explain. Her hand lifted again, this time to touch his arm, feeling the smooth skin and hard muscle beneath.
“You’re so different,” she said softly, her fingers tracing the line of his shoulder. “But not in a way that frightens me.”
He remained perfectly still under her exploration, but she could feel tension radiating from him—not fear or anger, but something else entirely. Her hand moved to his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart.
“Nina,” he said, his voice rough. “If you continue touching me this way…”
She looked up, meeting his gaze. “What will happen?”
In answer, one of his tentacles curled gently around her waist, not restraining, just holding. The sensation was startlingly intimate, making her acutely aware of how close they were.
“I’ve wanted to touch you since I first saw you,” he admitted, his free hand coming up to cup her cheek. “But I was afraid you’d run.”
“I’m not running,” she whispered, leaning into his touch.
His eyes blazed blue fire. “Can I kiss you again?” he asked, his voice a low rumble that she felt as much as heard.
She nodded, unable to form words past the tightness in her throat. He leaned forward slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. But she didn’t want to pull away. She wanted to move closer, to explore this powerful, gentle male who looked at her with such wonder in his eyes.
His lips met hers, soft at first, a question more than a demand. She answered by leaning into him, her body pressing against his, her hands sliding up to tangle in his dark hair. The kiss deepened, his mouth moving with increasing hunger against hers. His tongue stroked hers, longer and more flexible than a human tongue, sending excited little shivers down her spine.
Another tentacle wrapped around her lower body, cool and smooth compared to the heat of his mouth on hers. It was intoxicating—the dual sensation of strength and gentleness, power held carefully in check. She heard herself make a small sound of pleasure, and felt his response in the tightening of his tentacles around her.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, she found herself cradled against his chest, his tentacles supporting her weight as easily as arms would have done. She should have felt strange, or alarmed, but instead, she felt only a profound sense of rightness.
“I’ve never felt this way before,” she admitted, her voice unsteady.
His expression was a mixture of wonder and desire that made her heart race. “Nor have I.”
The intensity of the moment overwhelmed her, and she buried her face against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart against her cheek. His arms—and tentacles—held her gently, as if she were something precious and fragile.
“Are you afraid?” he murmured against her hair
She shook her head against his chest. “No,” she said, and meant it. “I feel… safe. With you.”
He made a sound—part laugh, part disbelief. “Most would not find safety in the arms of a kraken.”
She lifted her head to look up at him. “I’m not most people, and you’re not just a kraken. You’re Sam.”
Something in his expression shifted, and he smiled down at her—a smile so full of warmth and tenderness that it stole her breath. “And you’re Nina. My Nina.”
“Yes,” she said simply, feeling the truth of the words settle deep within her.
Ozzie chose that moment to let out a soft whine, reminding them both of his presence. She laughed, the sound breaking the intensity of the moment. “Someone’s feeling left out.”
Sam smiled—a real smile that transformed his face. “Perhaps he’s hungry. I have food, if you’d like to stay a while longer.”
“I’d like that,” she said, returning his smile. “I’d like that very much.”
CHAPTER 14
