Chapter 1
Eleanor
Ipull at the neckline of my baby blue blouse, adjusting my ample boobs resting on top of their underwire support to resemble something perky. Tonight, I have liberated my assets from the confines of high-necked boxy work blouses and embraced every single feminine curve of mine with this sweetheart neckline.
Not quite sure if I’ll get used to seeing so much of myself when I look down, but it was nice for a change to enjoy getting ready and putting on something cute.
Working in a male-dominated field, I constantly strive to blend in, hiding any hints of myself that could remind themthat I’m a woman. Each boxy shirt I don helps me chameleon myself, activating my lawyer side where I can pretend to be just as tough as them.
But tonight, I get to simply be me—a girls’ girl who’s actually a sensitive softy and who gets overstimulated easily.
When I go to adjust my shirt again, Audrey swats at my hand, an echo to my inner voice.
“Stop fussing. Your tits look amazing.Youlook amazing,” she emphasizes, hooking her arm through mine, effectively stilling my incessant clothing adjustments as she leads me away from her parked car and toward Cape Easton’s harbor. More specifically, the farthest dock reserved for boats going to Starry Hill, our destination today.
I’ve only been to their dock once before, but not a day has passed that I haven’t thought about it, and Shinsu—or Beck, as he prefers to go by now. Unexpectedly seeing him after twenty-two years completely caught me off guard, and we both found ourselves fumbling for words. Who I remember as a lanky preteen boy has turned into a statuesque male with a sharp jawline and wide-set shoulders that have kept my late-night thoughts occupied more times than I care to admit. And those pale eyes of his and the way they raked over me when he realized who I was, they may have featured in a couple of naughty fantasies a time or two. Or three.
Almost obsessively, I’ve replayed our interactions from that day, rewriting them again and again, each one vastly better than the awkward reality that it was. I may even have practiced what I would say if we were to run into each other again. Like tonight, perhaps. Because finding out someone you haven’t seen sinceyou were twelve is a dragon andtheguardian of Starry Hill, it does make one a little curious. Okay, more than curious. I have so many questions and I didn’t get to ask any of them last time. I just hope my courage doesn’t fail me again.
Wrenching my thoughts back to the present, I bump my shoulder playfully against Audrey’s. “Thank you, bestest neighbor in all the land. It’s been a while since I’ve had this much boobage on display, but tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity to try something different, something that feels more like the real me.”And it has nothing to do with Beck or trying to show him I’m not a kid anymore,I add silently, futilely trying to convince myself.
“I’m glad you did. You’re doing yourself and the entire population of the world interested, and not interested, in titties a disservice by not having those bad boys out for our viewing pleasure.”
The cackle that escapes me is abrupt and loud and I quickly clamp a hand over my mouth to contain it, though some muffled giggles still manage to break free. “Why, thank you, my dear,” I say with an affected accent, flipping some of my long ginger hair over my shoulder.
I’ve always loved the rich copper of my hair, a “crown of fire” Beck called it once when we were nine and playing outside, but I’ve yet to embrace my natural curls. Perhaps one day I’d be comfortable enough to set them free. Baby steps.
Audrey and I stroll toward the end of the dock, my gaze jumping over each boat moored in place before settling on an unfamiliar boat waiting in the spot that Beck’s was in last time. I try to be inconspicuous about it, but my eyes quickly scan thewaters of Indigo Bay beyond the harbor, just in case he’s on his way and I might have missed him.
Audrey gives me a sideward glance, likely reading something in my expression that isn’t there. Not anything I’d like to acknowledge anyway.
Propping her hands on her slim hips, Audrey raises a brow and drawls, “So, I know we’re going for a ladies’ night, but you haven’t said much about your previous visit to Starry Hill. Any cuties catch your eye?”
My cheeks instantly heat as Beck’s face flashes behind my eyes, the smattering of shimmery scales on his cheeks and down his neck printed into my brain. He definitely didn’t have those before. Just last night I imagined what they would feel like if I were to trace them with my fingers, if they would be hard or smooth to the touch. But that is a thought that I’ll never voice nor dream to actually experience in reality.
“Oh, uhm,” I start, suddenly finding my tongue tied and clumsy. If my mother saw me stumbling over my words like this she would question if I actually am a good lawyer. Thank goodness I went into commercial law and not into prosecution like she originally wanted me to do. Though, dragging myself out of bed to go to the office every day is becoming harder and harder with each year that passes in my oppressive company.
“Why, Eleanor, is that a blush I see?” Audrey teases, poking my arm playfully as she wiggles her eyebrows up and down.
“Ooo! Who’s blushing and why?” a purple-haired woman asks excitedly as she comes skipping down the dock, her seashell bangles clinking together rhythmically. What can only be described as a completely infatuated and devoted partnerfollows closely behind her, monitoring her every move as if she’s a goddess and he her humble servant.
“Juniper!” Audrey calls, wrapping the newcomer in a hug. “This is our blushing Eleanor, whom I’ve managed to drag out of her miserable little apartment to join us for ladies’ night at The Singing Seahorse.” Reading the confused frown on my face, Audrey quickly adds, “I get to call it miserable because our units are exactly the same, and mine has been pretty lonely since Tilly moved out, so I’m choosing to believe yours is just as dreary. And a fun time with the gals, and perhaps some eye candy along the way, sounds like a much better way to spend a Saturday night.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as calling it miserable, but it certainly fails to be as exciting as everything you and Maisie have told me I can expect tonight.” If Audrey hadn’t invited me along, I would’ve crawled into my plush reading chair with one of my well-loved historical romances and been swept away into a land of dashing gentlemen pining for their ladies. It’s one of my favorite ways to escape reality and de-stress after a grueling day at work, but I didn’t want to miss another opportunity to visit charming Starry Hill again. Or see Beck.
“Wait. Are youtheEleanor? The fancy lawyer who’s helping Maisie set up her business?”
“Oh, uhm, yes. That would be me,” I say, with an awkward wave, my blush deepening at her knowing who I am and me not having a clue who they are.
“Maisie and Ren have been singing your praises about how much you’ve helped with preparing her cakery,” she practically gushes, the warmth in her tone making my shoulders relax. “I’msorry, I’m Juniper and this is my lovely Viggo. He’s my kraken boyfriend.”
Juniper pulls Viggo forward and I try my best to keep my eyes on his face and not scan for any signs of tentacles as I stretch out my hand for him to shake. Even though it’s becoming more normal to see creatures of all kinds around Cape Easton, I haven’t met a kraken before, and I don’t want to inadvertently do something that would be considered rude.
Strong fingers wrap around mine and Viggo’s mouth pulls into a kind grin as he throws his free arm around Juniper, pulling her back to his front. “Nice to meet you, Eleanor. I’ll be taking you lovely ladies to Starry Hill tonight.”
“Not Beck?” I catch myself too late and mortification flutters cold fingers down my spine. My eyes round and Viggo’s brows pull together, a question lying in wait while a smirk of curiosity dances around Juniper’s mouth.
Saving me from having to explain myself, Viggo teases lightly, “Sorry, you’re stuck with me on this trip. I’ve been trying to help out more with ferrying visitors across from the city and take a bit off Beck’s very full plate.”
