We dip suddenly, swerving to the left. I yelp and accidentally grab a fistful of his hair. His eyes widen in surprise, and a low chuckle sends a questionable thrill down my spine. He does it again, and I gasp, clutching him harder. We can’t be steady for more than eight seconds before he takes us for another dip, then twirls us through the water like a torpedo.
My stomach flips. It isn’t wholly unpleasant. For a moment, it’s like I’m fourteen again, with my friends, screaming with our arms up in the air, going this way and that on the roller coaster.
That same giddy feeling has me shrieking when Ordus dives straight down toward the sea floor before straightening out at the very last second. A smile splits across my face as he keeps doing it until unexpected laughter peels right out of me.
I only just catch his own smile for a second before he’s swirling us again. My fist is still in his hair, and I should feel bad and worry about my supplies—scold him for changing the subject.
It’s the same freeing sensation of being carried through a wave, never knowing if you’re going to crash or make it to the other side in one piece. It’s exhilarating and invigorating and saddening because I remember a time when laughing like this was a daily occurrence.
My stomach lurches unhappily, and I tap his back in silent command to cut it out before I throw up the crab I had for dinner. He straightens immediately without question, swimming along like nothing happened.
The temperature of the water drops as we descend closer to the ocean floor. The familiar cave entrance looms ahead.
I survey the water. It feels so wrong for there to be no other life around—not even any moss on the stone, only the plants higher up the cliffside that are untouched by water. Will the island be destroyed if the Curse isn’t ended?
I blurt out my question before I chicken out and keep fretting over it. “What happens if you don’t…” Mate? Bond? Shackle me to you? “Marry?”
Ordus’ face tightens. “My territory will be completely uninhabitable, and krakens will be forced to leave or die.”
That’s what he said last time, but it still doesn’t add up. “Why don’t they just—I know I sound like a dick—but why don’t they just leave, then? If there’s no food here, then why stay?”Why aren’t you pressuring me to marry you?
My stomach swoops when we loop around a protruding rock. Ordus mutters the word to open the entrance to the cave, and the sigils glow blue, groaning as the rock rolls aside.
His voice rumbles in the small space as we become engulfed by darkness. The lack of echo and reverberation plays tricks on my mind. “Because this land belongs to our kind. To leave it is to risk death from trespassing into another creature’s region, or from natural causes from incompatible climate. Many have already left.”
A shiver slides down my back from the plummeting temperature. “Shit, it’s cold.” I curl around Ordus to steal his body heat, hoping and praying he doesn’t feel my nipples poking through my bikini.
One arm curves beneath my shoulder and engulfs my waist and half my back to cradle my head against his chest, covering as much of my exposed skin as he can.
The other hand travels up my thigh, catching on my bottoms. My breath labors. Liquid heat curls through my core. He settlesat the base of my spine, right above my ass, fingers dangerously close to dipping beneath the fabric.
Ordus presses the lower half of my body to his hard stomach. Sparks detonate behind my eyes from the sudden pressure against my sensitive flesh. The complete lack of orgasms I’ve had since coming to this island is catching up with me and rewiring my brain chemistry.
I don’t think he’s aware of what he’s doing. There’s nothing that suggests any ulterior motive other than to warm me up. He’s doing what he set out to achieve, because my internal temperature has soared to an uncomfortable boil filling my veins with fire.
I clear my throat. “Did they survive?” I rasp.
“I do not know. The odds are not in their favor.” His voice is far too hoarse for this topic of conversation. I wish I could see his expression in the dark.
“So unless you marry, krakens will be extinct?” I confirm.
Ordus’ hand slips lower, practically cupping my backside. Only this time, I choke. His fingers brush the hem that leads down to my heat that’s rubbing against Ordus every time he moves, scrambling my brain.
He needs to move his hand. Right now. I need to move it for him. It’s not appropriate. Wrong.
It’s too hot in this tunnel. Cuddling is fine.
This? This is not fine. But I can’t bring myself to move.
What are we talking about?
Right. The Curse. Marriage. Our collective existential crisis.
He grunts. It’s strained. I hear him take a deep breath. “They will be endangered, forever skating the line of extinction, yes.”
Is he wound up because of the topic, or because of—his finger dips beneath my bikini as he drags me up his chest, adding friction to the neediest part of me. I clamp my mouth shut to stop any sounds from coming out.
His hand returns to the base of my spine. It was an innocent gesture to readjust his hold on me. Gentlemanly. I’m the pervert here for getting all hot and bothered by it.
