Page 23 of Palaces and other Prisons
Great, so now he was attracted to men and blue people. Yeah, that made perfect sense.
“So, are we just hanging out in the bath for a change of scenery, or did you bring me down here to…see how far I’ll go?” He wasn’t sure of the answer to that question.
Ul tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
Oh shit, had he said the wrong thing? “Are you able to understand me?”
Ul smiled and shook his head. His voice washed over Dawson, and whatever he said wasn’t a question. It wasn’t in order either. For several heartbeats, they looked at each other, neither of them moving. Then one of Ul’s back tentacles made the smallest motion, inviting Dawson to come closer.
He couldn’t hear anything over the beating of his heart as he slid within tentacle range.
CHAPTER 17
Ul wasn’t sure if he expected Dawson to move closer or stay where he was. For a couple of heartbeats, it seemed as though Dawson wasn’t sure either, but then he let himself drift closer, and then closer again. His gaze fixed on Ul, as if not sure this was the right thing to do.
That made two of them. Maybe it was foolish of him to invite Dawson closer. But the human’s interest had been impossible to hide, even though he tried.
It seemed as though neither of them knew what they were doing. Even though it was clear, they both wanted something. He let one of his tentacles brush over Dawson’s calf. The hair on Dawson’s leg tickled his skin, and his body remembered what it was like to curl up in someone’s arms and feel stubble against his cheek.
Dawson didn’t flinch away. His lips parted, but otherwise he kept his gaze steady. Beneath the water, his fingers gripped the edge of the rock ledge, and his cock stiffened.
Ul wanted to pretend that this was easy and that it meant nothing, and perhaps if his markings hadn’t turned pink, he might have believed that lie. Many would take it as a good sign that he had found another compatible human and that there wasstill a chance for the young to continue his line. Others would see it as a slight that he’d welcomed a stranger into his bed…not that he had.
Not yet anyway.
It seemed wrong when they didn’t understand each other’s words, but some things didn’t need words. And it had been a long time since he’d allowed himself the simple pleasure of having a lover. There was a part of him that wanted to allow Dawson to breed him. The human would never know what it meant, but that meant lying, and lies, like lust, didn’t need words.
It seemed safer to wait until they shared words than to stir the silt and cloud the water between them. But he didn’t pull back, and his tentacle crept higher to Dawson’s thigh. Over his thigh, letting his suckers cling to Dawson’s skin for a moment before moving on, continuing the exploration of the parts of Dawson’s body he could reach and that were underwater and out of sight of the guards.
“Talk to me, tell me what you like?” he murmured, even though asking was pointless.
Dawson swallowed, and his tongue darted over his lower lip. He traced his fingers over the tentacle but didn’t pull it away. He spoke a few words that betrayed his confusion and desire. Was he surprised by the lust?
He continued to pet the tentacle, occasionally touching a sucker with the tip of his finger, which did all kinds of things to Ul, again. His cock pressed against the opening, unable to be contained. Despite his best efforts, the tip slid out as if seeking the heat of Dawson’s body.
He wanted to move closer, straddle his thighs, and wind around him. Dawson’s gaze flicked to the guards. They were close enough to protect him should the need arise, which meantif Dawson moved first, they might take action, and then this sunlit moment would be torn apart.
Ul turned to face him, his tentacles spreading out, moving up Dawson’s arms. Dawson’s eyes widened and his heartbeat quickened, but he didn’t respond. Ul sighed. It didn’t matter how badly he wanted him; there was too much uncertainty. He eased back, even though his tentacles and cock still reached for the human in his pool.
Dawson pushed off the seat and stopped in front of him, on his knees. The guards took a step forward. Ul lifted his wounded arm, requesting that they stay back.
Dawson muttered something and then placed his hands on Ul’s face. He paused for a moment, then leaned in and kissed him.
Ul felt every one of his markings burn as they changed color.
A guard failed to smother his surprised gasp.
Ul spread his back tentacles as if swimming, and the membrane stretched between the limbs, blocking their view. This time, it was Dawson who gasped as if he’d never seen such a thing.
Because he hadn’t. He was from the other world, and he didn’t know anything about the krakke.
Ul knew he should stand and walk away, wait until they shared words they both understood. But his heart was filled with lust for the first time in too long, and he wanted more than one kiss.
Dawson didn’t pull away, even though he lowered his hands so they skimmed over Ul’s chest to his waist, and he slowly wrapped his tentacles around them. The ends danced down Dawson’s back to the curve of his ass, but he didn’t seek more. Dawson tugged Ul closer, and he slid off the ledge.
He remembered at the last moment to keep his arm out of the water and rested the stump on Dawson’s shoulder.Hopefully, that wasn’t too much. But Dawson didn’t look away; instead, he closed the gap between them, pressing their bodies together and kissing him.
Ul closed his eyes and opened his mouth, relieved that one of them had found the courage to step over the barriers between them. A courtier would never have been so bold. Perhaps Dawson had asked if this was okay, or if this was what he wanted. Perhaps he’d taken Ul’s exploratory touches as a yes. In much the same way, he’d assumed that Dawson not pulling away was agreement.
