Page 22 of Not So Stranded
But I needed to know.
“Kit?” I whispered. He looked at me, eyebrows up like I’d surprised him. My heart started pounding and I knew I couldn’t keep being logical about this anymore. Vulnerability swamped me, but I made myself ask. “Do you want to be my mate?”
He smiled, and my breath caught. A moment later and he was up close and cupping my cheeks, leaning in for a kiss. Iwrapped my arms and tentacles around him, pulling us together, and opened up for him in every way that I could. I felt my tears fall, wetting both of us, and he pulled back.
Wiping my cheeks with his thumbs, Kit smiled again. “I don’t know how this is going to work out long-term, but I’m willing to try. You fascinate me, and I want to be near you all the time.”
It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love, but it was good enough for now. Even with Zenori, our connection had had to grow before we could say that to each other. I could wait for Kit to catch up.
At sunset and with all the running lights on to make sure they could be seen for miles around, Kit dropped anchor near Lalo. He wore a pair of shorts for the first time in what felt like forever because, even though Lalo was uninhabited, they were getting closer to the big islands and people. Part of him wanted to keep moving throughout the night, but they could use the rest and it wouldn’t help them in the long run. He just didn’t like being the only person on the boat who didn’t have to hide.
He also didn’t like that Zenori and Hiaka would have to stay in the water in case any other vessels came by because they’d be way too easy to see while lit up like they were. They could go below with him, but they’d have to come back out and get wet to keep their skin damp, track water everywhere, and again, risk being seen.
But after Hiaka’s revelation earlier, Kit didn’t want to be alone.
He’d never had someone say they loved him. He himself had thought he was in love several times, but those men hadn’tfelt the same way. And now there was someone absolutely amazing who thought they were perfect together—went so far as to describe the connection like they’d been struck by lightning when they’d first seen him. He’d said he had no idea what the future might look like for them, but by god, he was going to dive in and see what happened.
He had people who loved him!
As he made his way to the stern of the boat, Kit understood that no one had confessed their love, but a long-term, committed relationship was possible on a level he’d never experienced before. Something about him had told Hiaka that he was the one for them. Hiaka was in, no question. Zenori was more likely the one Kit might need to woo like any human he’d ever been interested in.
“All set for the night?” Hiaka asked from the water. It looked like they and Zenori both had some tentacles anchoring them to the stern ladder.
Kit stepped down onto the platform, and then sat with his legs dangling in the water. “All set. We should be there sometime tomorrow evening.”
“Good. I’m glad,” Hiaka said, sounding relieved.
“Hey, so I wanted to ask about something you said to your dad.”
“Okay.”
“You said he went with you to…the knowledge place?”
“Pacilona Nepthis. Yeah, he’s been there a few times. We go with our parents—it’s a whole big family trip—when we’re young, and then we go again when we’re grown. We usually do that one by ourselves.”
“You and your siblings.”
“Right.”
“But if your human parent goes, then does someone have a boat?”
“Oh, yeah. Eric has a yacht.”
“Sure,” Kit said with a grin. “That’s what billionaires do.”
“It’s a huge yacht,” Hiaka added. “There are three floors, fancy cabins, and a seawater pool.”
“Seriously?” Kit looked around. “I can’t imagine that while sitting here.” He patted his boat since he wasn’t trying to dis it at all.
“I’ve seen several large vessels,” Zenori said, “but I do not know their names.”
“Yachts are the ones the orcas keep sinking.”
“Ah.” Zenori nodded. “The ones for moving loud humans.”
Kit laughed. “That’s a perfect description, actually.”
“And it’s true for Eric’s. It has a waterfall into that pool.”
