8. Viggo
Viggo
J uniper is deep in thought as we wander down the beach, away from the bustling activity and toward a special spot I want to show her. I know this cove better than any place on the island, so I’m using my home field advantage to make a good impression on her.
I tighten my fingers around her hand to get her attention. Jutting my chin to a small pool up ahead, I ask, “What do you think of sitting over there with our feet in the water?”
Juniper squints up at me, her lips set in a relaxed curve like any possible worries she might have had are erased. “Feet? Or tentacles?”
“You’d be okay with me shifting out here?” It’s one thing to summon a single tentacle for playtime, but so much more to be lounging around with all eight tentacles out.
Juniper shrugs good-naturedly. “More than. I want you to be comfortable around me. I’m guessing if you’re touching the water, it might be more natural for you to be in your kraken form.”
I stop walking and cup her face with my free hand. “You’re an absolutely magnificent creature,” I whisper reverently.
Juniper blinks up at me as a pleased smile spreads across her lips. “So are you.”
It takes every last bit of self-restraint from pulling her body flush to mine and kissing her until we’re both breathless.
But I want to hold back a little, really get to know her, find out everything I can about her, before we fully surrender to this tension simmering between us and become our most carnal selves.
Pressing my lips to her forehead, I take a fortifying breath then step away. “How about a fish-and-prawn pie to start with?”
“Yes, please. That sounds delicious. I’m starving,” she says as we walk the final distance.
“Can’t have that now, can we? You’ll need all your energy tonight.”
“Will I now?” Juniper’s tone is playful, but I also don’t want to pressure her into anything.
“Only if you want to,” I add hastily.
Juniper gives me a sly grin across her shoulder. “Oh, I definitely want to.”
“Me too,” I sigh out.
Focus, Viggo. Keep your tentacles together. No funny business. Just get to know her and give her the chance to get to know you. And for fuck’s sake, feed her.
I set the picnic basket on one side, then help Juniper sit down on the edge of the turquoise water.
“Don’t venture in too far,” I warn as gentle waves lick at her toes.
“There’s a rip current here that’s caused a sudden drop-off and the water gets deep quickly.
But if you fall in, I promise to rescue you. ”
“Is that why no one else comes to this part?” Juniper asks as I take a seat next to her.
“Definitely. Those who aren’t sea creatures are wary of the ocean. And rightly so.” A moan of sweet relief falls across my lips as I plunge my feet into the cool water, my tentacles roiling once again to be set free.
“Do you want me to look away when you shift?” Juniper asks. “I’m sorry I’m not well versed in shifting etiquette.”
“You can keep your eyes on me whenever you want. But fair warning, I’m going to take my pants off before I shift, otherwise my lower half will tear them apart.”
Juniper doesn’t look away for a second, her gaze riveted on me as I leisurely undo my pants and slip them off.
By the widening of her eyes, she didn’t expect me to be going commando underneath the shorts, but I find underwear cumbersome.
I let her stare at my cock a few seconds longer before I loosen my leash on my human appearance and finally set my tentacles free.
My lower half transforms and eight thick limbs appear where my legs once were.
I stretch each one out slowly as I lower them into the water, my whole body relaxing as I settle into myself.
Next to me, Juniper’s breathing is shallow as she watches me with rapt attention. Is she scared? I take a deep breath to see if I can detect her emotion, then feel awfully smug as I pick up on her arousal.
“Like what you see?” I ask, perhaps a bit cocky.
“Have I told you my favorite color is purple?” Juniper asks eyes still fixed on my tentacles curling and uncurling in the clear water in front of us.
“Mine too.” I gently tug on a lock of her hair then pass her the lavender matcha I got from The Flowering Teapot.
After a couple of sips, Juniper asks, “Think we’ll be able to go swimming later? Or is it too dangerous?”
I hand her a napkin with a mini fish-and-prawn pie. “With me, it’s never too dangerous. I’ve got you. The more important question is did you bring your bikini?”
Juniper pauses with the pie halfway to her mouth and quirks a brow at me. “Who says I need one?”
Slapping a hand over my eyes, I say, “Fuck, Juniper. Imagining you naked is not something I can do right now.”
“Why not?” she asks all innocent, bumping me with her shoulder.
“Because I’m trying to be a gentleman and get to know you first before I worship the fuck out of you for the rest of my life. I mean night. For the rest of the night,” I quickly amend.
“Fair enough,” Juniper replies around a mouth full of pie, ignoring my blundering confession. “What do you want to know?”
“Tell me more about Treasure Hunters,” I say then dig into my own pie.
A dreamy glaze comes over her face as she stares out at the sun inching closer to the horizon.
“Treasure Hunters is both my job and my passion. It’s been in my family for three generations, but I’m the sole person running it now since my parents retired.
It keeps me busy but I also really enjoy it.
I love turning an everyday item into something new that can be a source of joy for someone. ”
Juniper takes another bite and washes it down with a sip of her drink. I remain quiet as I finish my second pie, absorbing every bit of information that will help me understand Juniper better.
“For example, the porch geese I sell. One of which Doc Calla now owns. I take great care in giving them unique outfits and doing something unsuspecting with their displays. They’re our best sellers these days.
I do also stock the ‘normal’ thrift store things, but my customers seem to grow with me and enjoy my creative spin on some of the special items.”
I wrap one tentacle around her ankle where it rests in the water. “You’re really incredible. I’d love to see your shop one day. Maybe when I drop you off tomorrow?” I ask the question, then hold my breath while I wait for her answer.
One corner of Juniper’s mouth tilts up in the teasing curve. “Maybe. We’ll have to see how the night goes.”
I mentally fist-bump the air for that win. If it was up to me she’d be picking her wedding dress come morning, but having the chance to see a part of her life is a very significant step in our relationship.
Yes, I’m calling it a relationship, because I’m going to marry Juniper. Maybe not today. But soon. I just have to convince her to want to marry me too.
I hold out a creamy profiterole for Juniper, my head angled to the side in a silent question if she’ll allow me to feed her.
To my delight, she leans forward. Just when I think she’s going to take a bite, her tongue darts out and she licks up a stripe of the cream-filled center before closing her lips around the puff pastry, fitting the whole thing in her mouth.
I’m still panting, staring at her mouth, when she asks from behind her hand, “How about you? What’s life like on the island?”
I blink back into my senses and relax the tentacle that subconsciously started inching up her leg, letting it rest loosely against the inside of her knee.
“Good. Really, really good. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
I do some fishing for the town, but I mainly make a living off deep diving for treasure and selling it online. ”
“Holy halibut! I love that. Can I see some of your treasure?”
“You can see all of it. Take all of it.”
Juniper giggles. “Hold your seahorses there, Viggo. I’m not taking your treasure.”
At the very least, take my heart, I silently add, popping a profiterole into my mouth so I don’t say it out loud.
Juniper places one hand on the upper part of a tentacle, then reaches over me to pluck a fresh strawberry from a pink lemonade cupcake. Her hand remains there as she bites into the juicy flesh, my eyes tracing the way her lips wrap around it.
Clearly enjoying my attention on her, Juniper asks neutrally, “When did you start selling your ink? Thank you by the way for making it available. I’ve used cephalopod ink in the past to dye fabric, but nothing is as beautiful or strong as kraken ink.”
A pleased blush warms my cheeks. “It’s a fairly recent development for me.
Krakens produce large quantities of ink, and if I don’t…
relieve myself, my ink sac overflows and I start leaking from odd places.
I didn’t realize there was a market for kraken ink, but Tilly told me about it.
She’s been a great addition to the clinic and the community of Starry Hill. ”
Juniper pauses, her gaze skimming down my body before returning to my face. “So you need to relieve yourself regularly?” she asks huskily.
My own voice drops an octave. “Very regularly.”
“Maybe I can help with that?” she suggests, one finger drawing a soft swirling pattern on my tentacle.
“I’d like nothing more,” I breathe.
The moment lengthens, time suspending as we stare at each other with unmasked hunger.
I’m vaguely aware of music filtering in from the party, of creatures flocking to the beach, and lively chatter trickling through the air.
Then finally my brain clicks that we’re in public and I can’t drag her into the water right here. I need to wait.
Calling on the tiny rational part of my brain, and the final remaining drop of patience, I smile and say, “Tell me about your family and where you grew up.”