7. Juniper
Juniper
V iggo rights my clothes and brushes the hair out of my face before placing a gentle kiss to my forehead. The sweet gesture makes my stomach do a funny whooshy thing. If I’m not careful he’s going to wrap his tentacles around my heart and not just my pussy.
But holy halibut. Tentacle orgasms are next level. I wonder what it would feel like to have more than one of those tentacles exploring me at the same time. Like two, three even. A girl can dare to dream.
Viggo takes my hand and leads me down the cobbled path toward the ocean in the distance. He’s chewing on his bottom lip and looking a little fidgety, eyes darting around as if searching for something. His sudden nerves snap me out of my floaty postorgasm haze.
“Are you okay?” I ask, concern pulling my brows down.
“Yeah, it’s just… My cottage is around the western end of Kraken Cove and I’m trying to think of a route we can take directly there so we don’t bump into creatures setting up for the party,” Viggo babbles, each word coming faster like he’s trying to escape from the reality of being found.
“Is it bad if we bump into other creatures?” I ask, trying not to sound nervous that maybe we did something wrong. I’m pretty confident he doesn’t regret what we did, but a little discomfort is niggling at the back of my mind.
Viggo seems to sense my slight apprehension and he’s quick to halt that train of thought. “Not bad. Just…” He scrunches up his nose in the cutest way. “I’m scared they’ll steal you from me.”
“Steal me?” I ask, disbelief coloring my tone as my worry morphs into adoration. “I’m stuck to you like a barnacle. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Really?” Viggo asks, eyes big as saucers.
“Yeah. And if we don’t make it to your place right away, that’s also okay. We have the whole night.”
Viggo exhales a breath of relief, his shoulders deflating as a dribble of words escape from him that I don’t quite catch. It almost sounds like, “And the rest of our lives.”
I’m sure that can’t be right, so I just ignore it and beam up at him. “Take me to Kraken Cove.”
I’m glad Viggo prepared me for the chance that we might bump into other creatures because the whole beach is teeming with activity.
It’s glorious.
In the shallows, children frolic in the waves, their parents either joining them to cool off in the midafternoon heat or watching attentively as effervescent laughter rings through the air.
Strings of unlit lights crisscross almost the entire beach, leading to the center where an impressive display of food is arranged around a towering cake.
An explosion of florals decorate a driftwood arch above the main table, and a proud banner with beautiful calligraphy stretches across it, announcing the reason for today’s gathering, “Happy 100th birthday, Doc Calla!”
I spot Tilly where she’s arranging an array of vibrant cushions on colorful beach blankets. Bodin is behind her unfolding chairs and organizing them in a circle around what looks to be the base for a bonfire.
Similar circular setups are spread out at intervals along the beach, creatures of all kinds helping with various tasks to bring the vision to life—all with giant smiles on their faces.
Something warm ignites deep in my stomach at the sight of an entire community coming together with such infectious joy, and a sudden wave of longing to be part of it washes over me.
Doc Calla is first to spot us, and I quickly drag Viggo toward her before she has to walk all the way across the uneven sand to get to us.
“Happy birthday, Doc,” I say and bend down to wrap her in a warm hug.
“Thank you, dear Juniper. I’m so glad you made it,” Doc Calla replies with a tight squeeze. When we lean back, she keeps one hand on me. “I see you met Viggo.” I can appreciate her attempt at keeping her tone neutral, but I note the teasing inflection.
Viggo straightens up and squares his shoulders, his cheeks darkening in the most charming way.
“Yes, we met at Cape Easton harbor. I gave Juniper a ride on my boat.” At Doc Calla’s quirked brows, he clumsily adds, “Not that kind of ride. I mean, she was on my boat. Along with other guests. I brought them all here. Then I took Juniper around the island to, you know, show her all the good spots and such.”
Doc Calla tries to bite her smile back, but her eyes twinkle with delight. “Have you now? That’s really kind of you. I’m sure our Juniper appreciates that personal touch.”
There’s no hiding my own blush at that tone. She definitely knows something’s up.
Well, what did you expect? You walk onto the beach hand in hand with a sexy kraken after he so generously tentacle-fucked you. Oh shit, don’t think about tentacles, that’s just going to make me horny again. Change the topic. Anything, Juniper. Quickly. Think.
“Goose!” I blurt out. “What did you name your goose?” I shake my head to clear the fog of my thoughts. “Bodin told me you named him but didn’t tell me what it was.”
Doc Calla’s lips curve into a perceptive grin. “I’m so glad he didn’t say anything, because I’d like the honor of telling you myself. My gentleman is called Mr. Gander Quacksalot.”
I subconsciously lean into Viggo, instantly at ease again. “That’s lovely and suits such a distinguished gentleman as himself.”
“I agree. Viggo dear, you’ll have to stop by sometime to meet my goose.”
Viggo frowns, clearly not understanding what we’re on about, but willing to play along. “Sure. He sounds nice. Good name too.” The fact that he so easily accepts this goose conversation makes my heart melt a little.
Remembering Doc Calla’s present, I say, “I made you something for your birthday.” I reach into my purse for the gift I specially designed for her.
Doc Calla takes the box from me with a gentle smile. “You really shouldn’t have.”
“No, I wanted to. I made…” The words die on my tongue as I realize what I did. I quickly place my hand on top of the box, halting her from opening it. “Uhm, on second thought, maybe I’ll make you something different and give it to you next time you’re in the city.”
Narrowing her eyes as she works through that explanation, Doc Calla says, “Well, now you have me curious. What did you make? Can I look?”
I contemplate how much to say, but settle on a partial truth. “Earrings. But I dyed them.”
“You dyed them?”
I cringe and my shoulders climb up to my ears as Viggo goes stockstill next to me. “I bought a special dye but this might be awkward considering all parties involved know each other,” I say hesitantly and tilt my head ever so slightly toward Viggo.
Doc Calla’s large hazel eyes widen even further and she lets go of the box. “Oh, I see. It was a very kind gesture, dear, but maybe it’s best if you keep those earrings for yourself. I’m sure they’d look lovely on you with your purple hair and the… well, you know.”
I nod frantically to keep her from continuing those thoughts out loud, then place the box back in my purse, making sure the latch is firmly in place. “Yes, I do.”
Just before we can lapse into an uncomfortable silence two beautiful females join us.
The one with the curved horns and a mischievous smile holds out a perfectly manicured hand for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Calixta. This is my wife Beryl.”
Doc Calla smiles fondly up at them. “These are my daughters.”
At my obvious confusion, Beryl explains calmly, “Ma adopted me and Bodin. I married Calixta, he married Tilly. We’re all her kids now. Two orcs, a succubus, and a human.”
Viggo places a hand on my shoulder and introduces me with what I detect is pride in his voice, “This is Juniper.”
Beryl grins warmly as she shakes my hand. “Juniper from Treasure Hunters! We’ve heard lots about you.”
Calixta takes my hand to inspect my nails and her mouth settles into a cheeky grin. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen this color on nails before, and I run a beauty shop. It looks very lovely. Do you know where I can get some?”
Doc Calla pokes Calixta with a pointy finger. “Don’t scare Juniper off. We like her and we want her to like us.”
Calixta’s expression quickly turns apologetic. “Sorry. I’m a succubus and my jokes can get a little horny. I’ll rein it in. For now. If you stick around then I’ll come at you with all that I’ve got.”
I giggle at her. “No worries. I might just challenge you to a pun-off.”
Before she can respond Viggo pulls me back against him and lays an arm across my shoulders. “It was nice seeing all of you, but I’m going to take Juniper somewhere peaceful where we can have some lunch. We’ll see you guys later when the party starts.”
Ooo, protective and assertive Viggo is hot. Where did he come from? Me likey.
“Take good care of our Juno,” Calixta calls as we slowly walk backward, away from them and toward the western side of the cove. “We promise we’ll try to behave when we see you next.”
“I promise I’ll take very good care of her,” Viggo replies, the salacious implication very clear.
My pussy pulses in anticipation but I ignore her as we say our goodbyes then head down to the beach.
Different creatures call out greetings to Viggo and myself as we pass them. Everywhere I look there’s evidence of joy, the emotion seeping into my very being.
Never before have I felt so easily accepted, so instantly welcomed, as I have today. I even got a new nickname from Calixta.
How can I go back to a cold city when I’ve seen what life could be like here? Where I can be part of a community that truly and deeply cares for each other.
I can’t give up my shop, though. I’d never be able to do that.
But leaving tomorrow, never seeing Viggo again, the thought spears my heart.
Is there a possibility that I could have it all?
Do I even dare to dream?