Page 11 of Tentacles and Teeth

I cocked a hip, waving at the bathroom markedly free of anything but her hastily discarded clothing. “What do you suggest I put on? Someone stripped me and left my dress out there. Somewhere.”

She had the grace to pretend to look shamefaced, even as sly amusement sparkled in her eyes.

There was a tap at the door, then Fenn’s voice came through. “The dress is a little...worse for wear. Got you a couple things instead.”

His voice brought back all the confusing, conflicted feelings I’d been pointedly ignoring. When Sid opened the door, grabbing the clothes hanging from the knob, my nose twitched at the mouthwatering scent of coffee, bacon, and buttery toast. “Fenn cooked?” It slipped out before I could think better of it.

“Yeah,” Sid said, holding up two shirts for me to choose from. “He likes it. Convenient, since I’m terrible in the kitchen. If it’s not alcoholic, you don’t want me making it.”

“Oh. That was nice of him.” I pulled the black t-shirt over my head, praying she didn’t notice that my nipples puckered as his spicy, woody scent washed over me. It was snug around the boobs, but it hung almost to mid-thigh. A pair of soft, worn sweatpants completed my look, and together Sid and I walked out to join Fenn for breakfast.

No big deal, I told myself. Just a nice, casual, morning-after breakfast. Just you and the incredible woman who rocked your world, treats you like a goddess, and wants to see you again. And her roommate. Who looks at you like he’s starving and you’re the only food for miles. And who makes your pussy clench just thinking about him. What could go wrong?

Chapter VI

Katarina

Fenn wasn’t wearing a shirt. Why wasn’t he wearing a shirt?! He was frying bacon by all the gods. There was a pop, a sizzle, and those rippling muscles danced as he inhaled. When he turned, placing perfectly cooked strips of salty goodness on the plate beside him, a considerable bulge pressed against the soft grey fabric at his hips. Another pop, and it twitched. Oh, fuck, he liked it.

I looked up to find his eyes locked on me. Pale, half-lidded, the look in them made my insides both freeze and heat. For one panicked moment I wondered if I’d gotten it wrong, if he might actually be a big cat. I felt like I was being stared down by a jaguar from the shadowy depths of branches high above. But no. That knot didn’t lie.

My cheeks were warm as I dropped into the chair Sid pulled out. Sid. My date. Yes.Focus, woman.I turned to her, my desperate smile softening to genuine happiness as I took in her relaxed sprawl. Her fingers caught a wet hank of my hair, twisting it round and round without pulling.

“Coffee?” A tentacle unfurled, bringing a steaming pot to hover over the table. At my eager nod, another joined it, two ceramic mugs looped on its delicate end.

I took one, eyes fluttering closed as I drew in the aroma. Rich. Dark. A hint of caramel. Nectar of the gods.

“How do you take it?” The question came from left field, Fenn’s gravel voice tight and demanding.

Very well, big boy. See for yourself.

He raised a bottle of milk, a knowing smirk taking his face from gorgeous to panty-dropping.

Right. The coffee. “Uh, black and sweet.”

Sid choked on a laugh. Putting down her cup, she wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and pulled me close. Her lips were still curved when they closed over mine, making my blood buzz with the taste of joy and coffee and woman.

“I think I’ve got that covered,” she murmured, winking as she pulled away.

I blinked at her. Then, with an almost physical jerk, my brain started processing. When it caught up to my mouth, I burst out laughing. “Yeah, I’d say you do,” I managed between guffaws.

She pushed a plate my way, grinning. It held a bowl heaping with light brown sugar crystals, a jar of something thick and dark that might have been molasses, and another with a familiar waxy comb surrounded by golden liquid.

My eyes lit up, and I reached for the honey. I thought I heard Fenn groan, but he didn’t look up from the eggs he was cracking into a bowl. When my coffee was what my family referred to as “offensively sweet”, but I just called perfect, I took a long, deep swallow. Orgasmic. Well, almost.

I cast a look over at Sid, taking in her mobile, expressive face as she joked with Fenn. They were obviously close, not just roommates. Not romantic or sexual, which I would have known even if Sid hadn’t told me she was exclusively into women. More like...family. Siblings, from the way they ragged on each other.

Fenn took a seat across from me, setting out plates and forks. Tentacles snapped through the air, then the table was groaning under a truly impressive amount of food. There had to be two pounds of bacon, easily a dozen eggs, and a whole loaf of warm, toasty bread dripping with butter.

They couldn’t expect me to eat a third of that. There was no way. I’d explode. But then, Sid hadn’t eaten more than I had last night, at least at dinner. Her appetite once she’d gotten me here had been insatiable. I shifted in my seat. The rest must be for Fenn and his shifter metabolism. I crossed my legs, squeezing my thighs together, and tried not to stare at his mouth as I said, “This looks delicious. Thank you.”

He nodded, nudging the plate of bacon closer to me.

I took three pieces, licking my fingers as I passed the rest to Sid.

Fenn watched me with focused intent, repeating the nudge with the eggs this time.

I glanced at Sid, but she only rolled her eyes and nodded to the fluffy scramble. I took a couple spoonful’s, reaching for the toast immediately afterward. Sid had filled her plate and was blithely scooping egg onto a corner of her toast, but Fenn still watched me, plate empty.

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