Kit popped up to the surface and gasped just as I reached him. Worry had me wrapping every part of him that I could grab in tentacles, while also bracing others on the rocks nearby to help keep us both up. Zenori was there, too, and checking Kit’s head for injuries, sifting through his curls.
 
 “I’m okay,” Kit said before he coughed.
 
 He threw his arm around my shoulders, so I didn’t release him. I wasn’t sure I could.
 
 “Did you hit your head?” I asked, watching Zenori and waiting to see blood.
 
 Kit shook his head, gasping again. “I don’t think so. It happened sofast.”
 
 “These rocks are covered in small plant life,” Zenori said, done with sifting through Kit’s hair. “That makes them incredibly slippery. You should not climb on them.”
 
 Kit chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t think I will again.” But then he looked at me and said, “I’m okay now. You can let go.”
 
 And I went and said the first thing that popped into my head. “I don’t want to.”
 
 He stared at me, and I stared at him, and I think I saw when he understood what I meant. His eyes widened, pupils dilated, and he flicked his gaze back and forth between my eyes and my mouth. That meant he wanted me to kiss him, right? I really hoped that was what it meant.
 
 I kissed Kit. Caught his lips, pulled him closer, and kissed him. I let my tentacles wander over his firm muscles and soft skin and speared my fingers into the wet hair on the back of his head. For a moment, he was completely still, and I worried that I was so very wrong.
 
 But then Kit opened up, gave a breathy little moan, and kissed me back.
 
 I moaned with him and took the kiss deeper, my whole body singing with sensation as I caressed every bit of him that I could reach. He wanted me! It might’ve taken him by surprise, but he was right there with me.
 
 Until he wasn’t.
 
 “Oh, my god,” he said as he looked around. “Zenori, I… I…”
 
 Zenori was smiling. “I am not as good at kissing as Hiaka, so continue kissing them. When you are ready to practice, might I insert your cock into mine?”
 
 Kit blinked a lot. “What?”
 
 Yeah, some explanations were in order. “So, um, we’re both attracted to you, which means you don’t need to worry about anyone getting upset or jealous or whatever like that. Our penises,” I said, for some reason going with a technical term,“are a lot longer than yours and have a bigger opening, so it’s possible to put yours inside ours. Zenori’s a big fan of that feeling, so he’d be thrilled if you were cool to try it out. And, um, yeah. I think that’s everything.”
 
 More blinking. “Oh.”
 
 Shit, I had to say it. “If you’d rather not, that’s fine. Really.” I made myself smile. “It’s fine.”
 
 But Kit shook his head. “I’m not saying— I just had no idea.”
 
 “You’re not saying…”
 
 “I’m not saying no. I’m… I’m really not.”
 
 I could’ve cried!
 
 “Good,” I said around the lump in my throat. “That’s really good.”
 
 It was perfect. It was beautiful. It was everything I’d hoped for and hadn’t been sure how to get.
 
 I kissed him again, sweeter this time. Still deep but hopefully conveying my gratitude for his curiosity and acceptance of us. I’d work on telling him he was my mate, but for now I’d take wonder and willingness.
 
 Zenori caressed me with his hands, his tentacles brushing against mine as we both touched Kit. When Kit lifted his head for a breath, I watched Zenori kiss along Kit’s shoulder to his neck. Kit tilted his head to the side, giving Zenori room, and moaned. As I felt Kit’s cock firming up between us, I smiled to see Zenori participating so lovingly. They really were okay with this arrangement.
 
 Kit’s cock became a warm rod against my stomach, and I knew there was one more thing we needed to talk about before the moment got away from us. “Kit, listen to me a little more.”
 
 Panting lightly, he opened his eyes and licked his swollen lips. I nearly forgot what I wanted to say.
 
 “If you’re willing, I’d like to fuck you.”