Chapter 5
“Please take off your pants now.”
Fian wasn’t exactly sure, but the request—the steadfast order—was quite possibly better than the rosehip jam Kai had given him.
Maybe he doesn’t need much convincing. Maybe he’ll be my landbride just for the asking.
I’d bring him seashells as gifts—no, stupid, that’s the stories.
I’d carve him things from driftwood, pretty things and useful things like…
things humans find useful. They like spoons and car tires and water bottles.
Well, I can’t carve water bottles or tires, but I’ll make him all the cutlery he ever dreamed of.
And possibly a decorative phallus or two, and—
“What about those pants?” Kai gestured down to where Fian’s legs were. The low current moved his honey-golden hair, making him look as if he were illuminated.
He’s so handsome. Fian blinked. “Of course. Yes. But, Kai, this really is real, and you must want it. You shouldn’t do anything in your dreams that you wouldn’t also do in real life.”
“I don’t think that’s how dreams work.” The lovely human grinned.
“Besides, nothing better to get over getting cheated on than falling into someone else’s arms.” His grin crumbled.
“Although…I’ve never done that. Even with the swimmer—I mean, it’s weird.
I don’t think I really feel anything for Nick, you know.
I’m not sad he was an asshole, I’m just sad I wasted my time on him and moved to this fucking ass-pit of a town when I had a good life before. I’m no longer sure why I did it.”
Kai frowned, that beautiful grin now gone like sandcastles in the incoming tide.
Fian hated that because, dream ethics aside, seeing Kai happy and eager to jump his tentacles had made Fian feel lighter.
He wanted that expression back on Kai’s face, selfish perhaps, but then he was a demon and was allowed at least a small pearl’s worth of that.
He would explain about the magic soon, and he’d unravel it, also soon.
But for the time being, he wanted to give Kai (and himself) a simple dream they could both enjoy.
He cleared his throat and worked his pants open.
“Kai. There’s magic. We don’t have to get into all of that now, but I will help you.
I have already given the sea my oath, and you will be fine.
I’ll make sure of that.” You will be my fine landbride, and my plus one, and I will show you around to everyone.
Mikano will have to shut up about something finally.
If we get very, very lucky, we’ll manage to crash his and the surfer’s wedding with the power of our love.
“But for now, I want to show you something.”
Kai froze. Then he broke out laughing. It wasn’t the reaction Fian had hoped for. He glanced around them just to make sure neither Mikano nor any of his colleagues or friends was near, because if Kai’s reaction got out, Mikano’s teasing would know no bounds, none.
“You have to show me your massive dick, right? Oh, I have the lewdest dreams. Honestly, I’m surprised you’re not some hot earl, preparing to ravage me on one of those four-poster beds.
I don’t know, I always had a thing for earls with the roguish hair even though it’s really just a fancy mullet most of the time.
I do like your curls though. Huh. Who’d have thunk I have a thing for curly hair? ”
Hot earl? And he likes my curls? Fian only just managed to keep the color of his skin stable.
He had to remain focused on the next part though. First impressions when revealing to a dreamer your demon form were important, every demon knew that. “Actually, showing you my dick wasn’t what I meant. Do you know what a cecaelia is?”
Kai calmed down. He put one hand on Fian’s shoulder to steady himself. There was still a current even in this quiet spot in the ocean Fian had found for them.
“No idea. Is it very kinky?”
I think he will adore each driftwood phallus I give him. “It can be. It’s me, what I am, some of the time. We are in the ocean, Kai, and I am a creature of the ocean.” Fian pointed at his face. “This is me, but I am a demon, and compared to you, my shape is malleable. For instance—”
Fian moved quickly to get his pants off, surrendering them to the water and not caring whether he would be able to retrieve them later.
Kai looked amused for about a heartbeat, looked down at Fian’s bare crotch with a certain twinkle in his brown eyes.
Then Fian shifted, not as fast as he was able, but slow, beginning with color, dark reds and blue and green, rising up from his toes and rippling over his calves and thighs.
Then his human legs disappeared, wiggled away and into what Fian had always felt was an easier shape for him to keep.
His tentacles.
Kai’s mouth stood open. He breathed dream water for a long time. A very, very long time.
Fian’s self-confidence, not a solid structure on a good day, crumbled with every moment that Kai remained silent, but he forced himself to keep a smile on his face. Eventually, Kai looked away from Fian’s tentacles and into his eyes.
“Dude. You have suckers.”
Fian nodded. “Yes. This is my cecaelia form, you see. Tentacles with suckers below the belt, human with curly hair above.”
Kai nodded. His hand was warm on Fian’s shoulder “I see. I see. Quite something. You know that advice you gave me about closing that fucking store, great advice I have to say. So. We’re doing this. Oh, we are doing this. It’ll be so great.”
Kai’s eyes widened as he spoke, and his tone grew commanding once more.
Fian’s smile turned into a real grin, half as smug as Mikano’s, he hoped.
Yes, he will be the best landbride ever.
And he will be mine. We will share meals containing okra and mushrooms together, and he will allow me in his bed.
We’ll sleep and dream together, and sometimes we will stroll along the roads of the Morpheusrealm, hand in hand.
Maybe he’ll help me collect driftwood for my art.
Fian’s heart, his mind, were full of hope, salty and bright as a cresting wave.
“I think you will enjoy it, Kai. No, forget I said that. I will make sure you enjoy it, every bit of the dreamtime you spend here. But you have to remember, it is real, and the pleasure I give you will be real as well. I’ll remind you of that later. ”
Kai, nodding, reached for his own shirt, struggled with the material while trying not to take his eyes off the tentacles. Fian felt flattered.
“Yes, yeah. A dream that’s asking for consent is kind of weird though,” Kai mumbled. “Never had one of those before.”
Fian exhaled, and a few bubbles rose from his nostrils, making for the surface. “Here, let me help you with your clothes. I have eight arms for a reason.” And soon you’ll know that reason intimately.