Demon Waters (Apex #4)

Chapter Five

T ess’s throat closed up, her pulse jumping as she tried to make sense of Bale’s quiet words.

“I’m sorry.” She finally croaked out a response. “I think I passed out for a moment. Would you mind repeating what you just said?”

“As you are no longer able to use that ”—a note of derision entered his tone as he gestured at the silicone toy on the ground— “for your pleasure, I offer my own limbs instead.”

She swallowed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought you said.”

She obviously stayed quiet too long because his entire body, including every single tentacle, sagged.

“It was an absurd notion,” he mumbled, turning back to the water. “Forgive me.”

“Wait,” she blurted out.

He hesitated, glancing back toward her.

Her heart thundering in her chest, she said haltingly, “Okay. I accept.”

His eyes widened. She exhaled, dizziness washing over her as she waited for…what? For him to make the first move? Did she want that? It felt like every emotion in existence barrelled through her a matter of moments. For his part, he remained motionless, his gaze fixed on her like a soldier waiting for orders. Not that she had any clue how to take things from there.

“I guess we should figure out how to do this,” she stammered. “I can get you a towel then you can dry off and come aboard, or—oh, I know. I need to grab something. Wait there.”

She hurried back to Yew Dreamer , her head spinning as she climbed aboard. Mocha was curled up under a blanket in her basket, just her muzzle and bright eyes visible.

Tess pointed at her sternly. “Stay. This is all your fault anyway. You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Scurrying to her cabin, she rummaged in the compartment under the bed until she found a sleeping bag and a couple of bedsheets. Her heart was beating at double time, her thoughts whirling in a maelstrom. Was she actually doing this? What was she even doing? Getting physical with a monster because he’d looked so sad when he thought she rejected him? Was that honestly the best course of action?

Every rational part of her brain told her to stop in her tracks and decline his offer. Yet her body refused to obey, instead choosing to debark the boat with a torch and an armful of soft furnishings, and scamper back to the monster in question.

He had exited the water entirely. As she had suspected yesterday, he could stand comfortably on land, using the two tentacles that functioned as feet. His other limbs splayed out around him, possibly for balance? His skin had darkened to a slate grey colour that reminded her of volcanic basalt rocks. He was taller than she had realised, too; around six feet, making her crane her neck as she reached him. After a moment, he stretched out a tentacle and plucked the sleeping bag and sheets out of her arms.

“Oh, thanks.” She forced out a nervous smile and jerked her head in the direction of the largest maintenance shed. “There’s plenty of room in there. It’s not particularly clean, but I can spread the sheets out on the floor, it should be fine…”

She kept prattling as she switched on the torch and led the way to the shed. Looking back with a silly grin she immediately regretted, she slipped through the front door and gestured for him to follow.

She shone her torch around the shed in time to see a mouse scuttle away into the shadows, followed by two more. A gust of wind made the corrugated iron roof clang, and the sound of flapping wings came from somewhere in the eaves. The smell of mildew and dust blended with the faint scent of oil emanating from the old machines scattered about the interior. Weaving around them, she headed for the farthest corner of the shed, where it was cleanest. Bale stayed at her shoulder, silent and seemingly deep in thought.

“Are you okay being this far away from the water?” she asked, kicking herself for not thinking of that earlier.

He nodded. “My people can stay on land for long periods, provided we remain close to water sources.”

His voice shook a little as he spoke. She wasn’t sure if he was nervous, anticipatory, or regretting his earlier offer, and she didn’t dare ask as she took the sheets from his grip.

Aside from dirt and some dead leaves, the floor was clear of clutter. She spread the sheets out, then unzipped the sleeping bag and laid it on top, angling the torch nearby so it faced their direction without blinding them. Taking a deep breath, she lowered herself into the little fabric nest she’d made and slipped off her shoes. Bale continued to stand over her, and her gaze drifted below his navel. There was nothing there now. Maybe she had imagined a cock emerging from a pocket yesterday.

She cleared her throat. “So, what happens now?”

“I will do whatever you command.”

“Bloody hell, I don’t know.” She clutched her hair and was hit with a worrisome thought. “Bale, please tell me you’ve done this before? I’m not, like, corrupting a virgin, am I?”

“I am not a virgin, but I have never been intimate with a human. I do not want to hurt you.”

He stared over her head. The silence was thick and heavy with tension as she studied him.

“I don’t think you’d ever hurt me,” she said softly. “You’ve watched over me for a while, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” He kept his gaze averted. “I watched. Every single day, from the moment you arrived here. You were so sad, yet your inner light didn’t fade. You shine like the brightest star, little one. You are the flower that greets the dawn, the sunlight sparkling on the water, and I am utterly unworthy to be in your presence, let alone be permitted the honour of pleasuring you.” He finally looked at her, and the intensity in his gaze almost floored her. “You must command me, because if I am permitted to do as I wish with you, I don’t know if you’ll survive it.”

Tess knew she was blinking too fast. Her cheeks heated like lava as her mouth opened and closed futilely. Warmth blossomed in other places too at the thought of him holding her down with those thick limbs, taking her any way he wanted…

She exhaled shakily.

“Sit down,” she croaked. “Please.”

As he sank slowly beside her, she unzipped and removed her coat with trembling fingers, leaving herself clad in her pink vest top and leggings. She’d taken off her bra earlier that day, and her nipples peaked against her top as goosebumps rose on her skin. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Bale shifted closer. “You are cold.”

She gave him a lopsided smile. “A bit.”

The tip of his tentacle trailed up her arm to her collarbone. She gave a shuddering sigh, her skin tingling under his touch. Uncrossing her arms, she tilted her head back.

He caressed her throat, lingering over her hammering pulse. “Your skin is flushed, yet you’re trembling. And your heartbeat is rapid. Too rapid. I’m concerned that you’re unwell.”

“My heart is beating fast because you’re touching me.”

“Be that as it may, I don’t think human hearts are built to…”

She cut him off, pushing his tentacle down to her chest. A sharp intake of breath was his response. His tentative movements grew bolder, and a second tentacle joined the first. He squeezed her breasts gently, drifting the tips of his limbs over her nipples. Her body came alive, every nerve ending sizzling even through a layer of clothing. It had been so long since she’d been touched in such a way. Had she ever been touched like this? With such reverence, such wonder? It didn’t matter. All she knew was, she wanted more.

She pulled her top over her head and he took another abrupt breath. His tentacles returned eagerly, and warmth spread through every part of her body as he teased her nipples, catching them in his suckers before releasing them. He leaned in, stroking her in a rippling motion, his dark eyes enthralled.

“Beautiful,” he mumbled.

Sharp bursts of pleasure seared with every tug of his suckers. She moaned softly, his rich scent enveloping her as she lay back on the blankets, arching her back to encourage him onward.

His caresses continued and her lower body clenched, heat swelling inside her. Lifting her hips, she pulled her leggings and underwear off with shaking hands. Her stunned mind barely comprehended what was happening as his attention moved downward. He caressed her belly, then went lower. The suckers undulated against her skin as he stroked the trimmed hair at the apex of her thighs, lingering there as if he were fascinated. His touch was featherlight, yet it still made her gasp when he reached her pussy.

“You are wet here,” he whispered.

She bit her lip. “I know.”

“You became wet yesterday as well, when you straddled me in your sleep.”

Her burble of embarrassed laughter ran around the shed. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“That is a sign of your pleasure?”

She nodded, closing her eyes. “Yes, oh yes.”

“And if I enter you here”—he nudged at her entrance and she gasped again—“that will make you feel good?”

“Fuck, yes,” she whimpered. “Do it, please.”

She felt so damn empty all of a sudden. Desperate to be filled up with one of those thick tentacles he was teasing her with. Who needed a dildo when the real thing was right there?

He entered her slowly, carefully. He felt bigger than she’d expected and she took a deep breath, forcing her muscles to relax as he pushed inside her, his suckers brushing against her walls.

“Bale,” she choked out. “That feels amazing. Don’t stop.”

“As you command.” His tone had deepened even further, and was that a hint of smugness she detected? She couldn’t blame him. For all his humbleness and hesitancy, the guy had moves.

Reaching down blindly, she stroked her clit. Electricity sparked inside her and she gave a hiss of delight.

“What are you doing?”

She opened her eyes. “Huh?”

He loomed over her, frowning. “Am I not pleasing you?”

“Of course you are.” She tried to hide her impatience. “I’m just helping myself along.”

“By touching there?” He pushed, actually pushed her finger out of the way, circling her clit with the tip of his tentacle. The jolt of pleasure that shot through her made her hips jerk, and she cried out.

He studied her. “You like that?”

She nodded, unable to speak as he stroked it again.

“Why?”

She groaned, squirming under his touch. “It’s part of the…it’s an erogenous…oh hell, can we save the human anatomy lesson for later?”

Slipping her finger under his tentacle, she tried to regain control.

He flicked her hand away with a growl. “You requested that I give you pleasure. Allow me to complete my task.”

Words suddenly became alien concepts as something warm and tight enveloped her clit, then pulsed in a faint tugging motion. Her hips arched and she cried out in a daze as she realised that he’d placed one of his suckers directly around her clit, using the pulling motion to the best of its ability.

“Bale,” she burst out, “oh my gods, Bale, please…”

She reached out blindly, clutching at him as he massaged her clit with his sucker. Her words became babbling, nonsensical cries, her hips arching again.

“Say please again,” he rasped in her ear. “Beg me again, little flower.”

“Please,” she whimpered. “Please, Bale, please…”

A rumble of pure satisfaction emanated from him, and his movements became harder, faster. Pleasure crested through her body, rendering her powerless, soaring with no tether. Her pussy was full, so fucking full, his tentacle deep inside her… The orgasm crashed through her suddenly, and a wavering cry burst from her throat as stars exploded in front of her vision like fireworks in the night sky, bursting over and over until her head spun.

Reality gradually returned, and she bit back a whimper as she felt him pull out of her. His tentacle was slick and glistening, and after studying it for a moment, he met her gaze.

“My work was satisfactory?” he murmured.

She gave him an exhausted smile. “Absolutely. Great job, five stars.”

“May I see what your pleasure tastes like?”

He didn’t wait for her to answer. Instead, the three tentacles covering his mouth snaked aside to reveal his mouth.

She couldn’t help her wide-eyed stare. He had two rows of sharp teeth, jagged and white in the dim light. His long red tongue was covered in suckers and tapered to a narrow point at the end, and he used it to lick the pussy juice off his tentacle, closing his eyes and humming in appreciation. Despite being utterly sated, a flash of desire hit her with such force, her pussy spasmed. Her attention drifted downward, past the muscled torso to his narrow hips where four tentacles flared out, and…ohhhh, there it was.

The thin slit had appeared in his groin again, and from it emerged his long, slender cock with its rows of suckers on the underside. It was stiff and hard, and…that was strange. Its indigo colour was the same as one of the tentacles on his right hip. That limb looked rock hard, too, standing to attention like a soldier. Unlike the others, which were relaxed and resting on the ground around them.

She couldn’t stop glancing between them, fascinated. Did one of his tentacles also function as a second penis? If so, the possibilities were—

“Order me to stop,” he said hoarsely.

She dragged her gaze back to his face. “What do you mean?”

He looked strained. “Your attention is torturous. I want you too much. Tell me that you are satisfied, and I must stop.”

For a moment, she thought about doing the exact opposite, ordering him to fuck her as hard and as deep as he wanted. He’d do it, she knew without a doubt, but a tiny sliver of self-preservation made her baulk.

“Okay,” she said in a small voice. “Stop.”

He rose and backed away. “When you are ready, I shall escort you to your vessel.”

Getting dressed was a challenge. She was still limp and shaky from her orgasm, and her muscles felt like jelly. Pins and needles tickled her fingertips, making zipping up her coat impossible. She had given up and was slipping on her shoes when she looked at him. He waited patiently next to the torch, his features half in shadow. His cock had disappeared back inside him, and his broad shoulders were set as he helped her gather up her bedding.

She wasn’t one for silence, but she couldn’t think of a single thing to say as they headed back to Yew Dreamer together. It wasn’t awkward, merely…odd. Brand new yet strangely familiar, like they’d known each other for years.

He offered her a tentacle to hold when she climbed aboard her boat. A jolt of electricity passed through her as they touched. Unlike yesterday, he didn’t pull away, his limb curling gently around her hand.

She exhaled. “Well, thanks for that.”

“You are most welcome, flower.”

Wow, that nickname really did something for her. She had to fight not to swoon like a Regency debutante.

“Want to sit up top with me for a bit?” she asked impulsively.

When he didn’t respond, she continued. “Sometimes in the evening I climb on the roof and have a drink up there before bed. Would you like to join me?”

“I have seen you do that. It would be an honour.”

“Great. Come aboard, friend.”