Kate and the Kraken by Honey Phillips
Chapter Eight
A’tai was almost sorry when Ataian came into view. He loved the island and had always felt at home here, but it also meant that he would no longer have Kate in his arms. He had never realized that carrying a female through the water could be such a pleasurable, sensual experience. By Mafanan tradition, the initial mating of a bonded couple occurred in the ocean, but, driven by their biology, the females always resisted. The mating position had developed as a way to hold them in place.
But Kate did not resist him. Instead she clung to his body, her soft curves a constant temptation. She wouldn’t fight him—couldn’t fight him—if he spread her open and let his mating arm seek the slick warmth of her cunt. The thought sent another wave of arousal over his body and once again, his moa pressed against his sheath. Perhaps he should cover her mouth with his and seek the cooling waters below—but he somehow suspected that it would only add to his arousal. And he had promised her not to touch her against her will.
He contented himself with slowing his pace and taking the longer way around the right side of the island. This also meant he could avoid traveling past the small palace that perched on the southernmost tip. He still found himself reluctant to divulge his identity. Although she had already agreed to belong to him, he knew from past experience that people changed once they found out about his heritage. And he did not want her to change. He enjoyed her lack of obeisance, her boundless curiosity, and her obvious intelligence…
His strokes slowed even more as he remembered her questions in the cave. She seemed to possess a level of knowledge that was unusual in a slave. If she had been specially trained, then she would be even more valuable, and it was more likely that someone would come to claim her.
No!She was his.
No matter who had owned her before, they had not cared for her properly, and now she belonged to him. He didn’t realize that his arms had tightened around her until she uttered a muffled protest and wiggled in his arms. Her struggle triggered an instinctive response. One limb came up to wrap around her wrists while two others automatically clasped her legs and began to separate them.
“A’tai?”
Her soft whisper penetrated his possessive haze, and he looked down to find her watching him, sea green eyes wide. He immediately relaxed his grip, and yet… her nipples were burning points against his chest, and he tasted an incredible sweetness in the water between them. Was she aroused by his actions?
“Did you like that?”
Under the clear light of the Sisters, there was no mistaking the tide of pink that washed across her face. Fascinating. It appeared that her species was not as different from his own as he had imagined.
“N-No. I mean, I don’t know. I’ve never had anyone hold me down like that before.”
Satisfaction roared through him. “Good.”
Her chin lifted. “I suppose you do it all the time.”
“I have never restrained a female in the mating position,” he growled. His few liaisons had occurred on land and had not involved his moa. They had been driven by curiosity as much as desire.
“Mating position? But—”
“Our destination is ahead,” he interrupted, swinging around so she could see the lush blues and greens of the island rising out of the waters. He wasn’t ready to have this conversation.
“It’s beautiful. What is it called?”
“Ataian.”
“That’s pretty.” Her little brows drew together. “It sounds like your name.”
“That is because I was named after it.” As was every first son of the House of Maulimu. The island was their ancestral home.
They were close enough now to see the small cluster of white buildings perched on the rocks next to the wide beach, and contentment filled him. He loved the whole island, but this simple farmhouse had always felt most like home to him.
“This is where you live? Not in the capital?”
It was not the first time she had mentioned Kapenta. He had thought her concern was avoiding it, but perhaps there was more to her questions. Did she fear city life or did she enjoy it? Had her former owner paraded her beauty around in front of others? He would never do such a thing.
“Do you enjoy social activities?” he asked cautiously.
“Me? God, no. I spend most of my time work—I mean, pleasing my master.”
She gave him an innocent look, running her tongue across her lips, and although his moa jerked at her last words, he suspected her original statement had been more accurate.
“I travel there occasionally,” he admitted. “Although, like you, I prefer working.”
She looked adorably confused, and he relented. “Perhaps we can take a trip there. When the time is right.”
Which would most certainly not be until he was sure she was entirely his.
He could almost see the question of “when” rising to her lips, but he directed her attention back to the approaching land. An imposing figure had appeared on the beach, and he bit back a smile. Of course Simea knew he was coming.
“It looks as though Simea is already waiting for us.”
“Who is she?”
“My old nurse,” he said automatically, then winced. Still, surely it wasn’t that uncommon for a family to hire someone to look after their child. “When she retired, she and her mate decided to stay on as caretakers.”
“That’s nice. To still have that family connection.”
“Most of the time.” He grinned. “I suspect I’m in for a scolding, but don’t worry. Her hiss is worse than her sting.”
They had reached shallow water so he gathered his limbs beneath him and rose out of the sea, keeping Kate cradled in his arms.
“I can walk.” She started to try and wiggle down, then stilled, probably remembering what had happened last time she tried to escape him.
“Once we are on dry land. You may find that your legs are somewhat shaky after our swim.”
She sighed, but made no further attempt to climb down.
“Where have you been, Pr—” Simea began as soon as they came close.
“My apologies, Simea.” From her glare, she didn’t appreciate the interruption, but she let him talk. “We were caught in the storm.”
“Since when has a storm on the surface ever stopped you?”
“My… slave is not used to those conditions.”
“Slave? What in the Sisters is wrong with you?” Red was beginning to flare on Simea’s skin. “I’ve never heard such nonsense. And let the poor girl down right now.”
He didn’t need to look to know that blue was creeping over his own skin. “I will explain everything later. Later,” he repeated firmly when she opened her mouth again. “In the meantime, we are both hungry. I will take Kate to my quarters so she can refresh herself, and then I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
Simea glared, then harrumphed and marched off. He was going to have to do some fast talking to calm her down.
“Wow. She’s kind of scary,” Kate murmured.
“Sometimes. She never let me get away with anything when I was a child.” Becoming an adult hadn’t made that much difference either. But she was part of his life and he adored her.
“We’re on land now. You can let me down.” Kate poked his chest, and he had the oddest impulse to capture that errant digit and lift it to his mouth. Would her eyes flutter closed and that intriguing shade of pink color her skin when he tasted her flesh?
He rather suspected they would, but he reluctantly put her down instead. At least this way he could admire the way the wet cloth plastered itself to the curve of her breasts and clung to the sweet indentation between her thighs. A tempting little dip that begged for his touch. She must have seen the gold flickering across his skin because she took a hasty step backwards, then swayed.
“I warned you,” he said as he extended a limb to support her.
“No one likes a know-it-all,” she muttered, but she leaned into his touch.
“I cannot help it if I am always right.”
“Always?”
He shrugged a shoulder, then grinned at her. “Most of the time, anyway.”
She rolled her eyes, then smiled back. “I’ll be sure and let you know when you’re wrong.”
He should have been offended. Instead, he was delighted at the thought of her watching his every action. “I am sure you will. This way.”
She didn’t object when he tightened his limb around her and drew her against his side as he led the way to his quarters, and that was enough. For now.
