Just this once.
Because one more second won’t hurt.
There’s a silver lining in all of this, and I want to cover myself in it.
When my climax hits me, I let it knock me off my feet and descend into the dark depths. Fireworks explode around me, erupting blues and browns and golds. And when I finally settle onto the ground, it’s in Ordus’ arms, wrapped up in his safe embrace, my head against his chest, engulfed by his sea salt scent and rhythmic purr that grows louder at my whimper.
The emptiness that follows is so profound, I almost ask him to put his tentacle back inside me. “It aches,” I mewl.
He presses his lips to the top of my head before carrying me to our bed. “I will take care of you.”
27
Ordus
I can still taste her.
On my tongue, on my suckers, in the pores of my skin. I can taste her, and I feel complete. I was hopeful, but I never thought I’d ever be welcomed into her sex, or press her lips to mine, or hear her say my name with such demanding need.
I throw glances at Cindi as she surfs while I continue building the shelter to install by the beach so she can watch the waves even when the skies open.
I like a lot of things.
I like the meat in a crab’s legs. The smell of the air after a storm. When I put together the final piece of a project and it works exactly how I planned.
I like Cindi’s smile the most.
I like my mate. A lot. Even if she pretends not to like me back, I’d still like her. She’s a fighter. Strong. Smart. Observant. Snappy. When I get angry, she holds her ground—sometimes. Chaotic but organized.
Cindi prefers to sit and watch. That’s what I like to do too. And she’s a tinkerer as well. She has a workroom that’s messier than mine, with just as many unfinished projects.
Most of all, she trusts me.
I’ve spent all morning and afternoon distracted, replaying every moment I spent with my Cindi.
She laughed. I made my mate laugh.
And I made her moan. She was—isso beautiful.
I want to do it over and over again, because it was the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever seen. It is all that has played on my mind, an endless loop that fills me with more joy than I can contain. It was the sweetest melody, more potent than a siren’s song.
She used to always be so dour that her delight is the greatest blessing the Goddess could bestow.
My breeding arm hardens even more when I look at her again—my bulb has been leaking since last night.
Last night was perfect in every way except for the words that left my mouth. Asking her whether she wanted to return to the mainland was foolish. Of course, her answer would be yes. I was an idiot to think what we were doing would somehow change her desire to leave me.
Offering to take her back was even more foolish. She may smile at me and close her eyes when I purr for her, but nothing has changed. The moment we depart this island, she will be plotting her escape. She will run at the first opportunity she gets, and I will drag her back here so she can spend the rest of her days despising me while my territory becomes uninhabitable.
I’m failing my siblings, their deaths meaningless in the name of my mate’s freedom to choose whether to marry me or not. I could’ve spent the past few weeks convincing her to bond to me to save my kingdom, but I couldn’t bring myself to mention iteven once. I don’t want to manipulate Cindi into doing anything she doesn’t want to do. She’d only resent me more.
And kraken-kind might die for it.
I understand now why I’m considered a monster, because only a monster would be willing to allow the hundreds who remain to die.
I want my mate more than I want my people to survive. I can only imagine the look of disgust on my family’s face over my selfishness. I have failed at every kingly duty I’ve been given. What’s one more? The gravest one.
If I’m unveiling the full truth to myself, I’m not even certain marrying Cindi would end the Curse. The territory might be too far gone for anything to be done, and Cindi may not be thedestinedbride—even if she is my soulmate.
