Page 13 of Tentacles and Teeth

I snatched up two of the now empty platters before he could stop me, scowling at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. You cooked. Gods, you loaned me these clothes. And I’m not even your date! This is the least I can do.” I marched to the sink, dumping them in and rolling up my sleeves. “Hot water, please.”

Fenn’s heat bathed my back. I kept my eyes forward as his armful of plates joined mine from the left, then his right hand sparked as he turned the handle and sent steaming water cascading into the basin. He didn’t move away. Instead, he gripped the counter on either side of my hips, caging me in place.

I started scrubbing mechanically, all my focus on trying to pant as silently as possible as my body screamed with excitement and a shuddering trickle of fear.

“Would you like to be?”

“What?” I froze, bubbles dripping from my hands.

His arms lifted, taking the plate from me, rinsing it, and setting it aside. The heavy, throbbing ridge of his erection pressed into my back as he moved.

I trembled.

He groaned, lowering his head to draw in a deep inhale at my neck. “Would you like to be my date?”

“But...I’m with Sid,” I forced out, barely daring to breathe.

“Yes,” he agreed. “It’s not an issue.”

He was nuzzling my hair now, his fingers flexing on the counter hard enough to dent it. That shouldn’t have been as hot as it was.

“It...it might be for me. And we—she and I—we haven’t...” I trailed off, unaccustomed insecurity stealing my words.

“Think about it, li’l bit. I want you.” That fucking third arm he called a cock pressed into my lower back, making my pussy drool with anticipation. He growled. “And I can smell how much you want me. I won’t do anything you don’t want. And I won’t come between you and Sid. Just think about it.” His voice was a rough mix of plea and demand, growly with want.

I jerked my head up and down woodenly, and he finally stepped back. Again, I was left shivering in his absence. A towel appeared at the corner of my vision, dangling from Sid’s midnight hand. Oh, gods, how much of that had she heard? Seen?

Her expression wasn’t angry or upset when I raised my eyes to hers, as I half feared. Instead, it was set in the hungry expression I’d grown so familiar with the night before. Her eyes were solid pools of glowing violet, and her lips were parted and glistening.

Whatever she’d heard, she was not upset about it. A cascade of emotions swelled in me, making my skin feel like it was too tight. Excitement, worry, and arousal all warred for space while my cunt spun in rapturous circles and anticipation sparkled in my chest.

Wherever this led, going to the Broken Crown last night was the best—and hottest—decision of my life.

Chapter VII

Sid

Having promised to drop off her car later, I pulled to a stop where Katarina indicated, in front of a pretty brick two-story sandwiched between three others in a row. It had a covered porch barely five feet across that positively overflowed with flowers. Hanging, on tables, in planters along the stairs, they were everywhere. It was a joyous riot of color.

My skin itched at the idea of so many people living that close, but everyone I could see looked happy enough. I hadn’t spent much time in this area of town; it being a primarily human neighborhood, but it was obviously prosperous and comfortable by more group-oriented standards.

“Beautiful place.” Turning in my seat, I faced Katarina. Unable to keep from touching her somehow, I let my fingers trace mindless patterns over the curve of her shoulder. “I’m so thankful you chose my bar last night. Wild that you were right here all this time, and I had no idea.”

The smile that broke over her face lit her up like a star.

“I’m glad too.” She bit her lip, an odd expression crossing her face. “You know, I went out last night looking for a one-night, no-strings adventure.”

My stomach shriveled, and I stilled, searching her eyes. I racked my memory. I’d done most of the talking about the future, sure. But she’d seemed into it. She’d said she wanted to know more about me. Had something changed? “Yeah?” My voice barely shook.

“Yeah.” She leaned forward and kissed me, softly. “You’re so much more than I had planned.”

“In a good way?” Most of the tension had flowed out of me with that kiss, but I still held my breath, waiting for her answer.

“In the best way.”

Her lips were warm against mine, and I held the kiss until she was squirming, half crawling over the seat towards me. The breath I blew out could have been a laugh or a groan as I rolled my forehead against hers.

“Come on, sweet girl. Let me walk you to your door. You keep reacting like that and you’re going to miss your plane for sure.”

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