Away in a Tentacle Lair

15. Leo

Chapter fifteen

Leo

H olding Kai in my arms could quickly become the sole focus of my life. Inhaling the salty taste that never seems to leave his hair, I dream of a world where this could be my sole responsibility. I don't mean holding him in my arms but being with him, going to sleep with him in my arms and waking up beside him. Work is necessary, whether at the research centre or whatever capacity the family offered me, but I want the rest of my time to revolve around him.

"Want to see the real Seaspray Bay? The parts where tourists don't leave their flip-flops and sunscreen bottles?" Kai offers, breaking my daydream.

I blink, caught off guard but feeling the excitement of his company in my veins. "Sure," I say, because who needs caution when I've got Kai Briareus, my ocean prince, offering to be my personal tour guide?

"Great,” his grin widens as he turns to face me, trying to hide the fear evident in his eyes. I'm sorry about my family back there. They can be intense."

"Understatement of the century," I quip, and we both laugh, the sound getting swept away by the sea breeze. I'm not sure why he's thinking about this after so much rambling about sheep, eggs, and everything else his family dominates here.

We start walking down the pathway around the cliffs onto a dirt track that promises secrets as we head towards a small bay. My heart's still doing somersaults over analysing his motive for today. I thought he was being open about his life, but that look suggested maybe he was trying to scare me off.

Kai confidently leads the way; he knows every rock like they're old friends.

"Intense isn't bad," I add after a moment because I want him to know I understand. Families are complicated at best, and mine is no exception.

"True." Kai glances back at me, his ocean-blue eyes meeting mine. "It means we care a lot. Sometimes too much."

"Sounds familiar." I laugh softly but don't miss my parents in his presence. Maybe he wouldn't need his family as much if he had someone to love.

"Here we are," Kai announces as we round a corner to reveal a cove like nothing I've seen in any brochure. It's raw and untouched by the civilisation living around it. The water is clear with hints of life on the rocks beneath that beg for exploration.

"Wow," I breathe out, and Kai looks pleased. It's as if he's gifted me a treasure chest, and I've recognised its contents. I wonder how many of his family members are as devoted to the ocean as he is. Despite their encouragement, I wonder if they truly see it through his eyes.

"Come on," he says, and we scramble down the rocks to the shore. Every step feels like shedding layers of the ordinary until I'm standing at the world's edge with Kai beside me, everything else forgotten.

Until his hand snakes around the front of my trousers and finds my zipper. Now I remember exactly why we came here. Kai kneels before me, gently tugging my pants down. His eyes flick up, silently asking for permission. I give it with my smile. How can I refuse what this man is offering so freely?

His mouth moves down the length of my hardening cock, kissing and nipping at my heated skin. He laps at the liquid beading at my slit, then takes the bulbous crown into his mouth. He sucks like a banshee. If he keeps this up, I won't need to be impressed by his breath-holding abilities, although I think he is already stalling his need to breathe.

“Kai, I never came here looking for love, and I couldn't see how much I needed it over my desire for fame and glory. But none of that matters when I'm with you.”

“Are you saying I'm doing a bad job?” Kai mutters, his hand replacing his mouth around my cock.

“No. I -uh-”

“Can think about something other than my mouth right now. Aka, I'm doing a bad job.”

“No, it's that-”

His nose jobs against my stomach as he swallows my cock down whole.

Sorry, what was I thinking about?

Hot delicious lips wrapped around my dick. Tongue Lapping at the underside, throat constricting around my length as he swallows around me. Beautiful blue eyes peering up at me lovingly on his knees.

“God, Kai.” My fingers tangle in his hair as my hips start to rock. He bobs back and forth on my erection. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Such crude compliments spill from my lips as my knees threaten to give out. I'm usually the one to take my partner's breath away, not that the list is long; research has always come first, and yet, I'm turning my back on it all for a man, and he's turning me into a blubbering mess. “Oh God, I'm coming. If you don't want to-”

He doubles down in his sucking, drinking my seed as it spills from me and continuing to drain me until I have nothing left to give.

“Yep, that was worth holding my breath for,” Kai mutters, popping off my cock with a broad grin.

“I didn't exactly do much,” I shrug, leaning against the rock while my knees take a moment.

“No, but you tasted great.” Kai leans in, pressing his body against me as he kisses my lips.

He may taste a little of me, but it's nothing compared to his salty lips. “You taste like the ocean itself,” I groan.

“I am the ocean itself,” he teases.

“I want to repay you,” I order.

“Then walk this way.” Kai leads me back out of the water and into the little cave. “No one knows about this place but me.”

He pulls me into his little hideaway, where he has a bizarre collection of things in every nook and cranny: towels, bottled water, and chocolate bars, which I assume aren't locally sourced.

“Are these smuggled goods?”

“No, absolutely nothing smuggled here.” He pales at the accusation. “My ancestors had ties to smuggling, but we do everything to atone for that.”

“I wasn't being serious; I know you're not a pirate.”

“Maybe it's best to return to the marine centre.”

I grab Kai's arm as he tries to walk away from me. He knows the area better than me, both in the water and out. If I let him go, he’ll withdraw from me.

“Kai. I know your family is hiding something, and I've no idea what it is, but it isn't you. I know you're worried about how I'll react when you tell me, and you're scared to tell me because of that. But you don't need to worry. I won't push you to tell me before you are ready.”

“But once I've told you-”

“You're worried the longer you leave it, the harder it will be for you to deal with if I leave, but if you tell me before I'm committed, it will scare me away.”

“I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't.”

“Is it to do with your curfew?”

“Shit.” Kai turns away from me, confirming my thoughts.

“Kai, are you a vampire?” I frown at my question and that vampires are only out at night. “I mean, that kind of thing. A werewolf or something?”

“I can't tell you,” Kai pleads, making another attempt to pass me.

“Well, shit, Kai. I thought you'd be able to confirm that. You tell me you don't turn into a monster, I tell you it can't be that bad, and then you tell me your family is the local mafia.”

“My family isn't the local mafia.”

My mind stalls. He confirmed he wasn't in the mafia but wouldn't confirm or deny turning into a monster.

“I would tell you right now if I could. Please, I'm not afraid of your reaction. My family are afraid for the area. If the marine centre finds out… And you're one of them...” Kai gives a heavy sign. “You've been invited to Christmas dinner to see if they can trust you. Uncle Nicholas will decide if I'm allowed to tell you.”

But he couldn't deny turning into a monster at night.

“I'm going to take a dip. I swear I won't leave the bay, but you look like you need a minute.” Kai finally pushes past me; my mind is whirling too much to react.

He has to be home by sunset or becomes a monster.

The Marine Centre would be very interested in the family if they knew.

They all have fish tanks in their bedrooms.

“It's you, isn't it.” He is the creature that has been maintaining the bay. He's my ticket to winning the job at the marine centre. “Are you a mermaid? Man. Merman?”

He pauses, takes a deep breath, and steps into the water.

Not a merman. Okay, Rowland, think .

It has to be something small that could take care of a reef bed. I doubt I can guess, but I don't think I need to be afraid of it.

I grab a scuba tank and breathing apparatus, surprised and relieved to find it full.

I run into the water and start swimming. I'm not chasing Kai, just enjoying the water.