Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Caspian
It’s all I can do to stop myself from shredding my clothes and shifting midway to the right level. My kraken would destroy the elevator if he exploded in here, and then I’d be in big trouble, so I hold him in as I make my way to the Aquilian pool.
The minute the doors open on that level, he pushes his way through, and I manage to get us out of the elevator and strip off my clothes before my body makes a full shift.
Mate, he bellows inside my head before letting out an ear-splitting roar that makes the calm water of the pool ripple.
He throws us into the pool, allowing me to navigate and not forcing me to the back like he usually does when he takes control.
The water is bright as we make our way farther into the depths of the pool.
The reef, which is normally teeming with fish, is strangely deserted, but I guess that’s no surprise with him being the apex predator in the pool.
A blur of color out of the corner of our eye has my kraken rolling and bracing for impact.
The blur collides with us, the force sending us tumbling off course, our tentacles wrapping around the offending creature.
My kraken roars, unhappy that he has once again been cockblocked from his mate.
He bares his teeth and snaps at what has attacked us, but then quickly withdraws at the sharp, stabbing pain in our side.
We release the offending creature and fill the water surrounding us with ink, making it impossible for anyone, including us, to see, but he barrels through it, the ink having no effect on him this time.
Ha! You will not be able to stop me so easily this time!
A voice echoes through our mind. You caught me unaware last time, but I activated my forcefield before I attacked, he gloats, brandishing his trident at me as he appears directly in front of me.
If I squint, I can make out the shimmer of magic that surrounds him.
Apart from their shape shifting and singing abilities, this is one of the other things the Aquilians can do.
Bad kraken! You must not ravish without consent.
My little sea squirt is weeping at the bottom of the pool in the jewel cavern.
I do not think she wants your giant member penetrating her lovely soft depths right at the moment. She needs comfort, not cock.
Nikos’s ridiculous words have us both pausing and considering what he just said.
Lila is crying? I guess memories of her parents pushed her over the edge on top of everything else, not to mention she may still be recovering from her blood rose bonding with Saxon.
Turning our backs on the surprisingly thoughtful merman, we continue in the direction of the jewel cave but at a slower and less sexually frenzied pace.
I can feel my kraken’s worry for his mate.
Although human emotions don’t really register with him, it’s more animal instincts.
He does understand the concept of sadness and hates that his mate feels this way.
We dart in and out of the coral reef until we get to the special cave.
We pause just outside the entrance, my beast unsure if we should approach Lila or not, but I quickly push myself forward and do a half change, assuring him I will make sure our mate is alright. He grumbles somewhat, but her well-being is more important than anything, so he will wait his turn.
Swimming through the entrance, the strange phosphorus light that glows down here, makes all the gems incrusted in the wall sparkle and shine.
I find Lila huddled on one corner of the cave and, surprisingly enough, sheltering in a giant anemone that seems to have appeared overnight.
She’s curled up on her side, and her eyes are closed, but her face is blotchy like she’s been crying.
The anemone tentacles wave back and forth, caressing her body in a soothing motion.
I should probably just swim away and leave her be, but my heart aches at the thought that she’s been crying and exhausted herself enough that she fell asleep down here in a very unfamiliar place.
So, instead of leaving, I push my way through the anemone tentacles.
The stings feel like electrical shocks, but my body soon adjusts, and the sensation fades away.
I gather her into my arms, wrap my tentacles around my sleeping mate, and nuzzle into her neck.
She groans, and as her eyes open, a sad little smile crosses her face as she hugs me back, her own tentacles tangling with mine.
Hello. Did you get Mark and Susie all settled? she asks into my mind. Of course her first thoughts are about someone else. She is so attentive to everyone else’s needs.
I did, baby, but what about you? Are you okay?
She sighs and snuggles into me, grabbing another tentacle and draping it over her.
I am, but it’s been a lot, you know? Being reminded that there was a suite for me and that I’m living in my parents’ space was all a bit much.
My memories of them are fuzzy at best, and I guess it’s just a big reminder that they are not here, teaching me everything I need to know, or that I could have grown up knowing about all of this.
And how do you feel about bonding with Saxon? I ask, addressing the other question that’s been bugging me. Just like me, you didn’t really know him, and I want to make sure you’re doing okay.
A slow smile spreads across her lips, and she leans in and kisses me softly.
I’m good… great, really, because just like you, he’s been sweet and attentive, and the sex was out of this world.
I mean, there could be worse things to endure than having to feed a sexy vampire every day.
She pulls back and studies me closely. Are you okay?
I don’t want you to feel left out or ignored or anything like that, so if you start to feel that way, especially when I bond with Xavier and Link, I want you to tell me.
A grin spreads across my face. Link too, huh?
She blushes slightly and shrugs. Link’s the only one I’ve really had a choice about.
He’s my choice, and I’m hoping once I ask him, he’ll say yes.
She pauses for a moment, and I can see her thinking about something.
How does one ask another to fuck her and give her many orgasms until they are sealed in holy matrimony?
I will be happy to give you as many orgasms as you want, my pretty periwinkle.
I will put my sea cucumber in your clam, and you will have mind-blowing orgasms. Nikos’s voice pierces my brain, and when Lila winces, I can tell it’s in hers too.
We both turn, and there, peeking through the anemone tentacles, is the annoying merman.
How can you hear our conversation? Lila asks, sitting up and scowling at the merman. I wasn’t actually talking about you. I don’t want to have sex with you.
His face drops, and I kind of feel bad for the poor guy. On his planet, he’s in demand, so I don’t think he’s ever had to work for anything in his life. It’s actually kind of amusing seeing Lila shut him down every time.
His smile returns, and he shakes his finger at her.
Oh, my little snappy crab, I know you are telling me lies.
He turns, and on his shoulder is Lila’s Skarrian attraction mark.
This is telling me you want to stroke my fins and maybe my giant manhood as well.
I promise it would be so good. He runs his hands down his chest and over his tail, smiling.
I will teach you to coax it out of my slit and how to handle it just right.
Something undulates under the skin, and a slit forms in his scales, pulsing a little.
I think Lila and I were slightly mesmerized by it all, but a stinging anemone tentacle brushes against me again, and I jolt out of my daze.
Damn it, Nikos! Did you just use your voice to coerce us? Away with you. I unwrap myself from my mate and shoo him away.
He swims backward, laughing in delight. I will wear you down, my sweet rainbow fish, he calls back before disappearing out of the cave.
I return to where Lila is still lying inside the anemone. I settle down beside her, but she’s wearing a pensive look on her face.
Why is he wearing my mark? I don’t like him at all, she asks, sounding confused, and I try to smother the grin that wants to break out. I don’t think I succeeded, however, because she scowls at me. I don’t! He’s a misogynistic, rapey, full of himself asshole.
Yeah, but he’s hot, right? And kind of adorable with all that arrogance. He is bound and determined to win you over. I think it’s awesome you’re making him work for it. The guy hasn’t had to work for anything in his life.
She continues to scowl as she mulls it over, and then she sighs. He is sexy, and I can’t deny that mermaid sex fascinates me. Although it would have to be above the surface, because I can’t breathe underwater in my human form, and I’m not sure my half form and the merman are compatible.
I chuckle and pull her into my arms. The merman won’t care. He seems happy to stick his dick into anything.
She screws up her nose. Ew, do you think I need to worry about diseases from him then?
I chuckle and shake my head. No. All of the circus workers take a shot that protects us against anything sexually transmitted.
You would have had the same thing when you first arrived.
Link would have done it when he implanted your translator.
Also, I don’t think Nikos has been having sex with anyone since he’s been on board.
He tends to stay in the pool and not venture out like the others. It’s probably why he’s so damn horny.
She’s quiet for a moment, and my beast starts to stroke a tentacle up and down her own tentacles, caressing them and brushing closer and closer to her sexual opening each time.
What was that slit and the thing that was moving under it? Was it what I think it was?