“Because it makes you comfortable or because it makes other people comfortable?”
That question hits hard. Way too hard, and for a moment, I can’t breathe.
How does he ask all the questions that make me feel the most vulnerable?
“I fit in with the other guys like this. I fit in the band like this. It makes sense that way. In my other form, there is no way I could play on a stage—or play drums at all. I am too big.”
“How big?” he asks.
“Big enough to take down an entire ship.”
He chuckles. “So, the stories are true… interesting. How did you first become human?”
I’m glad he doesn’t push the subject more, but now he has another little piece of me.
“A pirate that I was going to eat for lunch offered me the ring to spare his life.”
“Wow, what a tale.”
“We aren’t supposed to go to the surface, but I was having a bad day. It ended up being the best thing I’ve ever done.”
He glances at me over his shoulder. “I’d love to see you like that one day.”
I shake my head, dread washing over me. “No, you wouldn’t.”
Leif turns in my arms, straddling my lap. Our cocks brush, but neither of them are hard. Now isn’t the time for that. I keep my arms and tentacles wrapped tightly around him, not wanting him to go anywhere. I want him like this, in my arms. Always.
His gaze meets mine, and his voice is firm when he speaks. “Yes, Aliko, I would. Why do you think I wouldn’t?”
“Because I’m a monster.”
He smirks, looking down at my chest then back in my eyes. “You’re a monster now.”
“It’s different.”
“It’s not,” he says firmly. “There are plenty of monsters out there. Looking different just makes you unique.”
“I’m ugly.”
He reaches his hand up to run his fingers along my cheek. His touch is soft. Gentle. Tender.
“I very much doubt you could be ugly in any form.” He leans in to kiss me, his lips soft and warm. “You’re certainly not ugly in this form. Or human. I’m sure you’re just as beautiful, if not more, in your other form.”
“You can’t say things like that,” I rasp out.
“And why not?” he asks, his voice so low I almost don’t hear him over the jets.
Because it makes me feel too much.
I wish I could say that. I want to say that. But I don’t. I can’t. So I just pull him close and kiss him instead.
Gently, he slides his tongue between my lips. It’s a slow, soft kiss not meant for people having a hookup. Even I know that much. I take it just the same, enjoying everything he’s giving me because maybe he will realize this isn’t as easy as he wants… and that it won’t be worth it.
When we separate, I look at him with a smile and he returns it.
“Are you hungry?” he asks.
“Starving.”
