“So whatareyou doing here?”he asked carefully.
“There is a Blood Moon here tonight,” I whispered.His tentacles slid down my arms, the liquid starting to warm my skin.I looked up at him.
“My skin is burning, I?—”
“It will not hurt you.It will only provide the layer of warmth you need and the protection for the water.It’ll wear off by the time we get to the Cove.”
He twisted his lips.“A Blood Moon, huh?What’s so special about that?”
“She’s ascending, you idiot,” Wanda bit as we came to a clearing.
On acliff.
I looked down, noting the dark, choppy waters and gulped.Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.
It took a moment for the truth to hit him, I think.Because a moment later his eyes widened and he grinned.
“Oh!So, that would mean?—”
“I would be at my full power.”
Wanda carefully removed her shirt, which broke the momentary spell of panic.
Norm turned, his tentaclesbuzzing,and I did not miss the small gasp from his throat.I could not blame him, for I could not take my eyes off of her, either.
The bronze swell of her breasts filling her teal-colored bra noted the perfect bounce of cleavage.Her hair fell over her shoulder, and I realized it looked longer than it usually did.An indicator of how much time had actually passed since my last brush with anArdaim.She removed her jeans next, looking back at me.
“Well, don’t just stand there, disrobe.”
My heart caught in my throat.I was more than aware of Norman’s suckers on my skin, and I remembered a time not so long ago I’d been caught between the siren and the Kraken before.Before I knew better about what theyfedon.
They’d wanted me then.
Did they still want me now?
I didn’t think so, but creatures of lust could be persuasive.
As if he could somehow read my mind, Norman spoke, his tentacle sliding down my arm coolly.“I won’t look, I promise,” he said as he slipped away, giving me his back, and with one swift motion, his tentacles worked to take off his shirt and pants, and I was the one to gasp.
Norman’s tentacles were always on display no matter what he wore, but I’d never actually seen a Kraken without their clothes.
Then, I could see where they started along his sides and back, see the color shift from teal to flesh.See the faint blubberous sheen along his muscles.His back was a work of art.Smooth and shiny like a squid, but muscled and defined like a man.That squid-like flesh tapered to his hips and waist, pronounced speckles of pink and red smattering his skin.His underwear was tight, which only accentuated the roundness of his arse, and his legs were covered in the same fish-like freckles.
I had to remember to breathe because I’d never seen anything as grotesque and beautiful before.He truly was amonsterbeneath his clothing, and he didn’t have to shift to become one.
It was who he was, day in and day out.
Wanda’s gaze appraised him before looking at me.“Anytime, Violet.”
I was suddenly more self-conscious than I’d ever been under the gaze of Bane.
I slid my dress off with shaky hands, telling myself I was doing this for Bane.
For us.
But perhaps that wasn’t entirely true.I needed to do this for myself, too.
The cool air kissed my skin and I covered myself.Norman turned around, and true to his word, he didnotlook at me standing there in my bra and underwear.He kept his gaze on me as his tentacles slid over my skin.
