Away in a Tentacle Lair

14. Kai

Chapter fourteen

Kai

N icholas is waiting by the door. His face is stern, and I'm not sure what I will be told off for first: letting Leo in, leaving him out of sight, or putting on a show for Alice.

“You must be Leo,” he greets.

“He must,” I groan under my breath.

“I am Nicholas Briareus, head of this family.”

“I'm Leo Rowland, but everyone seems to know that already.”

“Being with a Briareus brings a certain notoriety. It will also hinder your opportunities at the research centre. If you plan to pursue a career there, I suggest putting your relationship on hold until you have secured your position.” Nicholas makes his first attempt at ruining my blossoming relationship. I almost hate him for it, but if Leo will put the marine centre first, it's best to know before I give away any more of my heart and secrets.

“If they don't want to hire me because of who I hang around with, then their pledge to put marine life above everything else would be a lie.” Leo's hand tightens around mine. “I don't believe in love at first sight, so declaring my love for him won't convince you of my intentions, but I do believe in him.”

Is he…

Could Leo be putting me above his dream at the research centre?

His gaze moves from Nicholas to me, and my smile wavers as I wait for confirmation.

“What I mean to say is, I can't openly declare my undying love for a man before he agrees to me displaying my vast shell collection around his home.”

“Nope, I don't approve.” Nicholas throws his hands at us. “One family member bringing home shells daily just because some great-great aunt did it decades ago is quite enough.”

“For the record, he's talking about Millie, not me,” I chuckle.

“It doesn't matter. My tins of shells are non-negotiable.”

“Fine, you can display them in my room if Uncle won't put them out around the house.”

“I love you, Kai.” He leans forward to kiss me.

“Not until you have shell approval in triplicate,” I joke.

“The water is colder today. High tide is at eleven fourteen, and the chance of a rip around West Point is stronger than usual. Wetsuits are a must.” Nicholas reverts to business as usual. “Low tide is at five thirty-nine, and sunset is at seven twenty.”

“Thank you, uncle.”

“Leo, we’d love to have you join us for Christmas dinner if you haven't made any other arrangements.”

“Only a lonely turkey in my hotel room.” Leo grins. “It would be an honour to join you.”

I drag him outside and dump my bag on the floor. “What do you want to do today?”

“Don't you have to go diving?”

“At high tide with a risk of a rip? No, it's safer to dive between five thirty-nine and seven tonight.” That would give me twenty minutes to be home in time for curfew. Maybe I should give myself longer to make my excuses to Leo first.

“Do you know anything about the plants around here?”

“Elsa is the plant lover around here, but I've picked up enough to sound at least like I know stuff.” I tuck my backpack on the porch for later, and we head out.

There is a chill in the air today, and despite us both being dressed appropriately, it's an excuse to snuggle into him a little more. I can show him half the town without leaving the protection of the family estate and show off a little while I'm at it.

We mainly allow sheep farming on the land, giving up half our fields for grazing and the other half as fallow for wildlife. He looks interested as I add details about the few cows and chickens we keep, effectively forcing the town to buy from us to keep everything local. Our lamb, milk, and eggs are used across the coastline, with other businesses making cheese, butter, and wool from our products. I can tell he sees us as criminal oppressors, but he says nothing.

When Uncle Nicholas allows me to tell him, if he lets me, then Leo will understand why we are so strict about what happens in the place we own.

He changes the conversation to butterflies, asking what types we get despite none being visible. I know he is trying to make this about us instead of my family, but I won't keep any secrets between us. If he joins my family, he does it with open eyes rather than a stiff dick.

“I want to make love to you,” he declares, pulling me in for a kiss before I can answer.

“Here?” I splutter before lightening the tone. “But you have nothing to tie me to.”

“I want to see what you're capable of with your hands-free.”

“Wait until you see what I'm capable of without needing my hands,” I boast, but I can say no more until I'm permitted to take him to my bedroom and reveal everything I can be. “Come with me.” I kiss him, moving away as I do until my lips tear from his.

He follows me, probably still thinking he's getting lucky. I mean, he is, but he's got to work for it first. I'm a water baby, not a flower fairy. If I'm going to do dirty things in public, it's going to be wet and wild.

We cross the field, scattering at least five rainbow sheep. Their woolly butts look like a rainbow because we believe in genetic diversity, and our seven rams are horney little blighters. They each have a different-coloured ink pad on their chests, so we know which ram has served which ewe, but it's a free-for-all most of the time.

This seems an appropriate moment for a joke about ramming, but he reaches the edge of the field, and I lose his attention. I'm not upset; I know I can't compete with the magical bay.

“This is beautiful.”

“Yeah, this is where I practise holding my breath when the sea is too rough.” I grin, wrapping my arms around his middle. He's bigger than me, so I can't see much over his shoulder once my fingers are hooked together.

“I think we can find a better way to do this.” Leo spins us around, and somehow, I’m leaning back into his chest, his thick fingers entwined with mine.

My eyes close and I imagine a moment where this could be my life, day and night, without any cares. But my future happiness rests in the hands of my family and the damn secret that threatens all of us.