Chapter 34
T he kelp forest closed around them like a living curtain.
Thick emerald fronds swayed in the gentle current, creating pockets of shadow and swaying green walls that swallowed sound and sight.
Klari pulled Greta deeper, his larger body cutting a path while her tail stayed pressed tight to his side. Their tails were already loosely entwined, the sensitive lengths brushing with every stroke in a way that sent little sparks of heat through them both.
They found a small clearing — a natural hollow formed where several massive stalks had grown together, creating a hidden pocket barely big enough for two.
Klari backed her into it until her shoulders brushed the thick stalks, then turned and pressed his back to the opposite side so he could watch the way they had come.
His chest was still heaving from the fight, blood drifting lazily from the gashes across his shoulders and thigh, but his golden eyes were locked on her with a hunger that had nothing to do with survival .
Greta’s pink scales shimmered in the filtered green light. Her gills fluttered fast, not from fear but from the adrenaline and the raw need that had been building since they first broke free of the drop zone.
Klari reached for her without a word.
His clawed hand slid around the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss that was anything but gentle. Mouths crashed together, tongues sliding deep and hungry.
She tasted blood and salt and him, and it made her moan into his mouth. His other hand gripped her hip, claws pricking her scales just enough to sting in the best way as he yanked her flush against his body.
Their tails wove tighter, the thick lengths coiling around each other until there was no space left between them. The sensitive undersides rubbed together with every small shift of their hips, sending electric pulses straight to her core.
“I need you,” Klari growled against her lips, voice rough and low. “Right now. I cannot wait.”
“Then don’t,” Greta breathed.
She reached between them and wrapped her fingers around his cock. It was already fully emerged, thick and ridged and throbbing hot in her palm. She stroked him once, slow and firm, thumb circling the leaking head until he hissed and bucked into her grip.
Klari’s markings flared bright silver across his chest, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He spun them so her back was against the thick kelp stalks, then hooked one of her legs high around his hip, spreading her open.
No teasing this time.
He dragged the blunt head of his cock through her slick folds, coating himself in her wetness, then pushed inside in one long, powerful thrust.
Greta’s head fell back against the kelp with a gasp. The stretch was perfect — every thick ridge dragging along her inner walls as he sank deep. Her tail tightened around his, the lengths squeezing and stroking with desperate need.
Klari groaned, forehead pressed to hers, eyes locked on her face as he bottomed out. “So fucking tight,” he rasped. “My mate.”
He started to move — deep, rolling thrusts that ground the base of his cock against her clit on every stroke. The kelp stalks creaked and swayed around them with the force of it. Water churned between their bodies, pink and indigo scales sliding slick and hot together.
Greta’s claws dug into his shoulders, accidentally reopening some of his wounds and sending fresh blood clouding the water, but neither of them cared.
She met every thrust, hips rolling, tail squeezing his tighter, the sensitive lengths caressing and stroking in rhythm with his cock moving inside her.
“Harder,” she demanded, voice husky. “I want to feel you tomorrow.”
Klari snarled and gave her exactly what she asked for.
His hips snapped forward faster, driving into her with deep, powerful strokes that made her breasts bounce against his chest and her gills flare wide.
One hand slid down to grip her ass, claws digging in as he angled to hit that perfect spot inside her on every thrust. The other hand found her breast, pinching and rolling her nipple until she cried out.
The sounds they made were obscene — wet slaps of skin and scale, desperate moans, low growls that vibrated through the water. The kelp around them swayed wildly with their rhythm, fronds brushing their bodies like curious fingers .
Greta’s inner walls began to flutter around him. “Klari—I’m close?—”
“Come on my cock,” he growled, thrusting harder, grinding deep. “Let me feel you.”
She shattered with a sharp cry, body clamping down around him in pulsing waves. Her tail thrashed against his, squeezing tight as pleasure crashed through her.
Scales flashed bright rose and silver. Her claws raked down his back, reopening more wounds, but the pain only seemed to drive him higher.
Just a little longer, she thought. Then this will be over. All of it. Finally.
Klari buried himself to the hilt and she felt him tense. He was about to come hard, and she braced herself for it.
Then the fronds exploded.
A rival burst through the green wall like a torpedo, claws extended, mouth open in a silent roar.
Klari reacted instantly. He shoved Greta back, pulling himself from her and meeting the attack head-on.
The rival slammed into him with brutal force, driving them backward through the kelp. Fronds tore and whipped around them as they grappled.
Greta didn’t hesitate. She darted in low, teeth sinking into the rival’s tail to yank him off balance.
The male roared and spun, trying to claw at her, but Klari caught his arm and wrenched it backward with a sickening crack.
They fought viciously in the tight space.
The rival was strong, but they were coordinated.
Klari took the heavy hits, using his bigger frame to shield Greta while she darted in with fast, vicious strikes — claws, teeth, tail whips. Blood clouded the water in thick clouds .
They finally got him pinned.
Klari locked the rival in a crushing hold, one arm around the male’s throat, the other pinning his arms.
The rival thrashed wildly, but Klari held him tight, muscles straining, blood still streaming from his own wounds.
“Greta—get back!” he snarled.
She was already moving to help finish it when the second — and final — rival exploded out of the kelp from the opposite side.
He didn’t go for Klari.
He went straight for her.
The rival’s eyes lit with triumph as he realized the obvious: while Klari was occupied holding the first male in a death lock, Greta was exposed.
He lunged at her with terrifying speed.
Greta bared her teeth and met him, claws slashing, but the rival was bigger, fresher. He grabbed her around the waist and started dragging her away from Klari, tail thrashing to pull her deeper into the kelp.
“Greta!” Klari roared, voice raw with terror and fury.
He released his hold on the rival and reached for her but the rival broke free and attacked him from behind.
The second rival laughed cruelly, claws digging into her sides as he hauled her backward.
“Klari!” Greta screamed.
The roles had been reversed and now he was the one being choked out.
“GO!” Klari managed, voice cracking with desperation. “Greta—run! I’ll find you! Just go!”
She hesitated, claws still slashing at the rival holding her, eyes locked on Klari as he strained to pull the first male from his throat .
“GO!” he roared again, the word torn from his throat.
Greta’s heart shattered, but she obeyed.
She twisted violently, raked her claws across the second rival’s face to blind him for a second, then tore free and shot away through the kelp.
Her tail powered her as fast as it could go, tears mixing with the seawater as she fled deeper into the swaying green forest.
Behind her, she heard Klari’s roar of fury and the sounds of renewed fighting.
She swam.
And prayed he would find her.