“Yup,” Kekoa said, ending the argument for us. “Only shouldn’t I be the one keeping score?”
Nyx held up a finger as if he was about to make a point, then let it fall when he realized he had nothing to come back at him with. “Fair.”
Laughing with Kekoa was the most natural feeling in the world. It was starting to seem like fate, us meeting them the way we had last night. When Nuno and his boys had come sauntering in last night, Nyx and I had considered leaving until he’d started badgering Kekoa for a game and we’d decided to stick around and see how it all turned out.
Marvelous for us, not so well for Nuno. There was just something about Kekoa that we’d been drawn to as we’d silently cheered them on in that game.
“Ready to break the boards out?” Nyx asked.
“Works for me,” Kekoa said. “Need a hand?”
“If he doesn’t, I sure do,” I remarked, waving at them and earning a bright smile as they shook their head.
The fact that I felt comfortable enough around them to poke a bit of fun at myself over my missing appendage spoke volumes about how the morning had gone so far. We quickly retrieved the boards, waxed them, and paddled out to meet the waves. It had been a challenge, learning to surf without being able to use both arms for balance, but trial, error, and a lot of help from Nyx meant I was as comfortable on a board as I was leading a brigade of people as we pulled off an elaborate party.
In other words, I was in my element.
As I watched Kekoa struggle on their first wave and get pitched off halfway through the ride, I realized they were far rustier than they’d been at the pool table. Theira whilemust have been longer than the length of time they’d spent without a pool cue in their hands. I wondered what the story was about them coming here to live on the island after being away for so long, but today didn’t feel like a good day to ask. If they were truly going to make the island their home, then there would beplenty more opportunities to get to know one another better, or at least I hoped there would be.
Something caught my gaze as I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. The sun glinted off the water droplets clinging to my skin, so I couldn’t be sure if there really were colors where colors hadn’t been before, but hope bloomed in my heart, and I decided to cling to it, even if that meant setting myself up for disappointment.
I didn’t think I was, though. It felt like this time, the fates were truly smiling upon us, because the more time we spent in Kekoa’s company, the more I became convinced that they were our mate. Now to see how long it took before they agreed with me.
Chapter 3
Nyx
Kekoa was grace personified, except on the back of a surfboard. Then they were all windmilling arms and legs as the waves pitched them off. Each time they popped up, they looked so perplexed, like they couldn’t understand what had gone wrong with their ride, but they never got frustrated; instead, it became a running joke. I loved that they could laugh at themselves instead of getting competitive, even with Lani and I shredding it up out there.
Shifted, with those green and purple tentacles spread wide, it was like every move was a dance I could watch all day. Low tide was the perfect time for us to be in the shallows, with plenty of soft, squishy sand for us to lie in if we got tired of swimming.
Soft, Kekoa’s tentacles brushing over my flipper was almost ghostly, but I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do because we were unable to speak mind to mind due to the vast differences in our species. Even Lani and I had struggled at first, since weweren’t the same species of turtle, but we could speak fluidly now, even over long distances.
I think they want on your back.
Lani’s suggestion made sense, after Kekoa’s comment in the bar the other night.You’re right, they did mention something about riding us.
Guess they weren’t joking.
Dipping a little lower to make it easier for them to use my wake to help them position themselves, I waited to feel the caress of their tentacles as they climbed up my body and wasn’t disappointed when they clung to me as they inched their way along my flipper to reach my shell. Everything tingled where they touched me, but unlike what happened with Nuno, I could not only endure the contact without experiencing any of the negative effects of the toxins, but it also had a rather interesting side effect for me. The tingly sensation sweeping through me was not only a pleasant one, but it ushered in a surge of desire so strong I projected it straight to Lani.
Ohh, whoa, now I’m horny as hell too, thanks for that.
I don’t know what it is about them, I thought back to Lani as Kekoa settled in against my shell, tentacles spread and sending shockwaves of rippling, electric pulses of lust and need coursing through me.
I think I do, but I won’t be sure until we’re dry and back in skin-mode.
Oh, no way, seriously, do you think they’re our mate?
There was a shimmer of color on my arm, but it was wet, like my flipper right now, only I’m certain that band of green wasn’t there before.
Oh shit, this is awesome! Merry early Christmas to us! Do you think they’ve recognized it yet? Do you think that’s why they wanted to ride me?
I think they’d have ridden you regardless.
Bloop.
With a plop they rolled off me and bobbed to the surface, floating towards Lani until they brushed against the side of his face.
