Kate and the Kraken by Honey Phillips
Chapter Nine
As she leaned against A’tai and let him guide her into the house, Kate decided that this seduction business was all rather confusing. She wasn’t entirely sure who was seducing whom. He certainly seemed to respond to her, but her own body responded just as quickly when he touched her. That moment in the sea when he had clasped her hands and legs, holding her helpless in his grasp, had been a revelation. She had never thought she would be the type of woman to enjoy any type of bondage, let alone from an alien octopus man. But there was no denying the rush of arousal that had swept through her in that moment. For once, her busy brain had slowed, floating in a contented haze.
She shivered at the memory, her nipples painfully hard beneath the damp cloth, and he looked down at her immediately. “Are you cold?”
Why did his obvious concern make her melt? He’s just protecting his property, she told herself, but she didn’t believe her own words.
“I’m not cold,” she assured him. The warmth of the two suns ensured an almost tropical climate, very similar to where she lived. She suspected that under other circumstances she might have found it too hot, but the constant breeze from the water created a pleasant coolness on her damp skin.
“These are our—my—quarters.”
He threw open two wide glass doors to reveal a spacious room that could come from a luxury resort. The walls and floor were predominantly white, except for a tile mosaic in the center of the room, but it bore little resemblance to the sterile white of the slave ship. Colorful cushions relieved the white, and the room was filled with sunlight.
On one side, an enormous bed covered in white linens was directly across from more tall glass doors. Those doors led out onto a sheltered lanai with the sea only a few steps beyond. A comfortable seating area and a table large enough to seat at least six people occupied the rest of the spacious room.
She wandered over to the doors leading to the lanai and saw flowering vines had been trained around the posts, framing the view and filling the air with a sweet fragrance.
“This is beautiful.”
“Do you think so?” A’tai frowned as he looked around the room. “The furniture is quite old. Most of it is hand-me-downs from the pal—from other places. If you would prefer something more up to date, I would be happy to provide it for you.”
He thought this beautiful, luxurious room was outdated? Once again, she suspected there were a number of things he wasn’t telling her, starting with his own background. Based on his attitude, she suspected he was not only wealthy, but powerful enough to expect people to obey him instantly. Given his flashes of arrogance, that didn’t entirely surprise her, but it didn’t explain why he was being so accommodating towards her.
He’s just trying to get in your pants, a cynical voice insisted, but somehow she didn’t believe it.
“The room is beautiful,” she repeated. “And the furniture looks very comfortable.”
“You’re sure?” He still looked dissatisfied.
“Absolutely. Is there a bathroom?” she added before he could suggest any other improvements.
“Yes, of course. Although it too is not new.”
She wasn’t surprised when he led her through an arched passage next to the bed and into a huge, beautiful bathroom. The room contained a big bathtub in front of another window open to the view of the sea, along with the other necessities. In addition, it opened into a small enclosed courtyard with a lounging pool in the center. The courtyard walls were covered with more flowering plants, and water trickled down the rocks and into the pool.
“It is still in relatively good shape,” he decided. “But if there is anything you would wish to change—”
“A’tai, stop. This is perfect. Why do you think I would want to change anything?”
“My mother likes to change things. Frequently.”
“But she doesn’t come here?”
He shuddered. “No, thank the Sisters. I inherited this property directly from my father. She finds it much too primitive.”
Well that explained a lot.
“I’m not your mother, and I love it. Do I have time to take a bath?”
He frowned and tilted his head. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you asked Simea to make us a meal. I wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”
For a second she thought he was going to dismiss her concerns despite his obvious affection for the older female, but instead he smiled.
“Trust me, she would have no hesitation in coming to get you if she was ready to serve.”
She couldn’t help laughing. Her brief impression of his old nurse made his statement very believable. Tall and somewhat stocky, Simea’s skin was lighter than A’tai’s and more heavily patterned. She had been dressed in a practical-looking navy gown that fell smoothly from her shoulders to the top of her thighs. Although she was obviously female, her chest was almost flat and there was no obvious curve to her waist or her hips. No wonder A’tai seemed so fascinated with her own body. Did he find it as strange as she found his? And as attractive?
Driven both by curiosity and her seduction plan, she ran a casual hand across her breast. His eyes immediately focused there, and she saw a quick shimmer of gold.
“Do your females have breasts like mine?” she asked as casually as she could, hoping her cheeks weren’t burning.
“Not like yours.” His voice sounded strained. “Although they do increase in size once they give birth and are suckling their young.”
Her brain was immediately diverted. “Your females don’t lay eggs?”
He finally dragged his eyes away from her breasts and looked at her, frowning. “Eggs? Why would they lay eggs?”
“That is how most of the ocean creatures in my world give birth.”
“Your world?” He took a step closer, and her heart sank as she realized he was about to question her.
Before he could begin, there was the distant chime of a bell.
“That is to alert us that the meal will be ready in half an hour. If you wish to bathe, then you should do so now.”
Phew. Talk about being saved by the bell. She still wasn’t quite sure what she should tell him about her situation.
“Yes, that would be lovely. Do you think my dress will be dry by then?”
He looked horrified. “You cannot wear that to our meal.”
“I don’t exactly have anything else.”
“I will find something for you,” he promised. “Although it may not be completely satisfactory.”
Given his notions of what was satisfactory, she wouldn’t be surprised if he returned with cloth spun from gold, but she only nodded.
“I’m sure whatever you find will be just fine.”
“I’ll do the best I can.”
He showed her how to operate the taps, and the location of an amazing array of bath products, then turned to leave. She was already testing bath salts when he stopped and returned to her side.
“Do your people have a leaving ritual?”
“You mean like a goodbye kiss? Or waving goodbye?”
“A kiss,” he said firmly, then seemed to swoop towards her, lifting her into his arms.
His mouth pressed against hers, and she parted her lips. His tongue swept into her mouth, curling around hers and sucking on it with a gentle, persistent pressure that sent little streaks of excitement through her body. She no longer required his oxygen to breathe, but she clung to him as if she did.
Her arousal flared with astonishing speed. A sucking kiss to her nipple sent a spark of electricity straight to her swollen clit, and it took a moment for her to realize that one of his limbs must have curled around her breast. The reminder of their differences shocked her out of her sensual haze and she pushed back.
He lifted his head immediately, although his skin shimmered gold.
“Bath,” she reminded him.
“Yes, bath.” He looked as dazed as she felt, and his sucker was still working on her nipple.
“You have to let go of me,” she said, resisting the urge to rub herself against his muscled abdomen.
“Yes.” But he held her for another moment before his tentacle finally detached and he placed her back on the ground. “Bath. Clothes. Meal.”
“Exactly.”
A smile suddenly crossed his face. “I named you correctly, amali. You are very deadly.”
Once again he turned to leave, and this time he didn’t come back.
She climbed into the tub and settled back into the warm fragrant water with a sigh of pleasure. Her body still throbbed, and she still wasn’t sure who had the upper hand in the seduction game, but she felt surprisingly triumphant. Perhaps all she needed, all these years, was an octopus man.
