Chapter Five
Lilith
“Earth to Lilith. Hello?”
May waves her hand in front of my face, and I blink, snapping back to the present. We’re sitting at our favorite Italian place, the one with the checkered tablecloths and candles in wine bottles. I’ve been staring at my pasta for God knows how long without taking a bite.
“Sorry,” I mutter, stabbing a piece of penne with my fork. “Just distracted.”
“Yeah, no shit.” May leans back in her chair, studying me with those sharp green eyes that miss nothing. She’s been my best friend since college, and she knows when I’m hiding something. “You’ve been weird all night. Actually, you’ve been weird since yesterday. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Just work stuff,” I lie.
I’m not about to tell her I met a kraken shifter in a magical bar a couple of nights ago. She’d probably have me committed.
“Bullshit.” She takes a sip of her wine. “You love working. You tend to get super excited about your business, sure, but this isn’t about that. This is… I don’t know what this is, but it’s something else. What are you hiding from me?”
I force myself to take a bite of pasta. How do I explain this? How do I tell my completely normal, human best friend that I discovered monsters are real? That I opened a portal and met an ancient sea creature?
“I met someone,” I finally say.
May’s eyes light up immediately. “I knew it! I knew there was a guy. Oh my god, finally. Tell me everything. Where’d you meet him? What’s he like? Is he hot?”
“It’s complicated.”
She leans forward and arches an eyebrow. “Complicated how? Is he married? Your UPS guy? Oh no, don’t tell me it’s snoring Dale from your apartment complex,” she says, pulling a disgusted face.
I laugh. “Of course not. No, this guy I met is different, that’s all.”
“Different good or different bad?”
I think about Theron’s dark eyes, his possessive words, the way his tentacles wrapped around my legs under the table. The promise in his voice when he said he wanted everything. Heat floods my core, and I swallow.
“Different good,” I manage. “Very good.”
May squeals, actually squeals, drawing looks from nearby tables. “Oh my god, you’re blushing! Lilith, you never blush. This guy must be something special. When do I get to meet him?”
“It’s too soon for that. We’ve only talked once.”
“Once? And you’re already this distracted?” She grins wickedly. “Must have been one hell of a conversation. Was there kissing? Please tell me there was kissing.”
“No kissing.” Just tentacles teasing my thighs and a promise that next time he wouldn’t hold back. “But there was chemistry.”
“Chemistry is good! So when are you seeing him again?”
That’s the question, isn’t it? When am I finally going back to The Undertow? Tonight? Tomorrow? Ever?
“I don’t know,” I admit.
May’s expression softens. “Hey, you know you can talk to me, right? We’re besties, Lilith. What’s really going on? You seem, I don’t know, overwhelmed? Scared?”
“I’m not scared,” I say, but I know it’s not entirely true.
I am scared. Terrified, actually. Of what Theron represents. Of what choosing him might mean for me. Of how badly I want something that shouldn’t exist.
“Okay, maybe I am a little scared. This is just really different from anything I’ve experienced before.”
“Different how? Is he into weird stuff?”
I almost laugh. “You could say that.”
May reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I’ve known you for years. I know you’re not vanilla. Hell, your company makes fantasy monster dildos. If you say he’s into weird stuff, it must be next-level weird. I’m not going to judge you, but I do want you to be safe.”
My throat tightens. God, I wish I could tell her. I wish I could explain that everything I’ve ever wanted is real and waiting for me in a bar that exists between worlds.
“I know,” I say. “And I appreciate that. I just need to figure this out on my own. You don’t have to worry about me.”
May studies me for a long moment, then nods. “Okay. But promise me you’ll be careful? And if this guy turns out to be a creep or dangerous or something, you’ll tell me?”
“I promise.”
She squeezes my hand, then lets go and picks up her wine glass again. “So, are you going to see him again?”
“I think so. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I hope you do. I haven’t seen you this worked up over someone in… ever, actually. It’s kind of nice. Even if you are being all mysterious about it and he’s into some kinky shit.”
I manage a smile. “Thanks, May.”
We finish our dinner and say our goodbyes, but it hardly registers. My mind is miles away, back at The Undertow, replaying every word Theron said. Every touch. Every promise.
When you’re ready, when you come back to me, I won’t hold back. I’ll give you everything you’ve ever fantasized about and more.
By the time I get home, it’s past nine. My apartment feels empty and too quiet. I drop my keys on the counter and stand at the window, staring out at the dark ocean. He’s out there somewhere. In the deep places where light doesn’t reach. Waiting. For me.
I should go to bed, then try to have a normal day tomorrow. But I know I won’t sleep. I know I’ll lie there thinking about him, aching, until I can’t stand it anymore.
I pull out my phone and scroll aimlessly through social media, but nothing holds my attention.
I put on music, but the songs feel all wrong.
I try to work on a new design, but my hands won’t cooperate.
All I can think about is the way his tentacles felt wrapped around my legs.
The hunger in his eyes. His statement about us being meant for each other.
I abandon my laptop and head to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and turning on the shower. Maybe hot water will help clear my head. I stand under the spray, eyes closed, and all I can see is Theron. All I can feel is the ghost of his touch, his hand covering mine.
My hand drifts between my legs. I’m already wet. I’ve been wet since dinner, maybe since I woke up this morning. The ache hasn’t gone away. Hell, it’s only gotten worse.
I circle my clit slowly, letting the pleasure build. I imagine Theron here with me, his tentacles wrapping around my wrists, holding me against the shower wall. One thick appendage sliding between my legs, filling me the way I’ve been craving.
I gasp, my hips rocking against my hand. But it’s not enough. It’s never enough anymore. I need him.
I finish quickly, mechanically, the orgasm barely taking the edge off. When I step out of the shower, I feel more frustrated than satisfied. So I make my decision.
I’m going back. Tonight.