6. Chapter 6

C ory stopped talking and looked as if he was trying to hold his head in place.

“Are you all right, Cory? Does your head hurt?”

“My head? Oh, uh…no.” He lowered his hands. “My mind is blown, but no, it doesn’t hurt.”

I tilted my head to see if anything was leaking out of him, but he seemed okay. “Blown? Is that a bad thing?”

“No. It's not bad, not necessarily. It just means I'm processing new information that changes the way I see the world.”

“Hmm. I understand. My mind, too, has been blown.” I didn't know what to expect when I stepped onto the sand, but I trusted my instincts and followed the magnetic pull within. Cory must have felt the same pull when he ran out to greet me. When he offered me the blanket, my insides lit up at my mate, giving me a gift .

Cory was that—my mate. I'd wondered for so long, but that pull had led me right to him. Touching him in this form, when every sensation was heightened, it sparked inside of me. I didn't know how or why, but he was my mate. We had a bond. So when he asked me to come with him, I knew I had to, despite the risk of leaving my shell for even longer. I'd looked back and sent it a silent promise to return soon before letting Cory lead me away.

“So, I take it you don't do this a lot, then?” Cory asked.

“Do?”

He waved his hand around the shop and between us. “I don't know. This? All of it? Any of it?”

“Visit a shop on the beach and drink coffee with a human?” I asked.

He snorted and smirked. “Yeah, sure, that.”

“No. I have never done this before. I do, sometimes, change to my human form and come on land, but never somewhere as busy as this. There are a few small islands where those of my kind like to walk on two legs. They are isolated, less inhabited, and the people who live there have an understanding of beings that come from the sea as I do. But here? No. I always stay in the water in my nautilus form.”

“And you have tentacles, uh…cirri.” His blue eyes watched me.

While it wasn't posed as a question but a statement, I answered anyway. “Yes. I do. Would you like to see them? ”

Cory seemed interested for a moment before taking another drink of coffee. He stared at the cup and quirked his lips to his side. “I think I need something stronger.”

“What do you need? I’m strong, I can help,” I offered.

“I know you are. You were able to get me out of the water. That's actually a pretty impressive feat, but that’s not what I meant.” Cory met my gaze with his ocean-blue eyes, a color that felt familiar and comforting. He wore a crooked smile on his glistening lips that I found myself staring at. He had short, light hair that surrounded his lips and covered his cheeks and chin. I'd seen humans with hair on their faces and I found it fascinating, but never more so than now. I longed to touch Cory, to learn what it felt like. What kind of sensations would I feel if I used my cirri to explore him? The idea alone had my dick hardening again. At this rate, I would have to do something to alleviate the tension soon.

He broke our connection, casting his attention to the shop’s closed door, before returning it to me. “Do you want to get out of here? I don't think I could concentrate on work today, and I definitely could use a stronger drink .”

“I…” I wanted to go anywhere he went, but I'd already ventured further into the human world than I ever had. I wasn't sure I could handle more. And there was my shell. Tucked away in a cave. What if something happened to it? The thought sent panic through me. I shuddered involuntarily .

Suddenly, Cory stood before me, lifting my chin with two fingers. “It's okay, little one. We don't have to do anything or go anywhere if you don't want to.”

His touch, his closeness, they overwhelmed my senses. My mate. I would go anywhere, do anything, simply to have him touch me and look at me like this. “I want to. I do. But…”

“But what?” Cory stepped back, putting his hands in his pockets. I nearly lunged forward to grab his hands and bring them back to my face, but I managed to keep myself in place.

“The human world. The city. It is new to me, and truthfully, it is terrifying. The noise, the people, the carelessness, the violence. It’s a lot.”

He nodded thoughtfully, not dismissing my foolishness. “It can be, but there’s good, too. If it’s too much, we can come back, but I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

I let out a happy sigh. He wanted to protect me, just as I always hoped my mate would. How could I possibly leave his side now? I could come back later for my shell. I wanted to mention it to him. Perhaps I could bring it with me, but as much as I trusted him, letting him see my shell felt more vulnerable than I was ready for. It would be safe, as he would keep me safe. His promise made me feel much better.

With a nod, I let out a soft, “Okay. ”

“Okay, great. Let me just shut my register down and lock up.”

He first got me what he called flip-flops and helped me put them on, explaining that we had to protect our feet when we walked outside. The plastic between my toes felt strange, but I liked the sound they made when I walked, slapping the ground with each step. Cory chuckled as he watched me try them out.

Once I was more sure-footed in them, he had me follow him out the back door, and checked to make sure everything was secure. I had to admire him and his dedication to fortifying his shop.

Cory turned toward me. “Are you ready, little one? Wait…shit, I don't even know your name. I guess I got sidetracked by the whole nautilus thing. I’m sorry, I should have asked sooner.”

“My name?”

“Yes, what should I call you?” he asked.

“Hmm.” I had never given it any thought, but then I never imagined I would be having a conversation with a human that might require names. Not just any human, but my mate. “I don't have one. Not a human one, at least. I’ve only ever communicated with other sea folk. The ocean has its own language, you see. Sound works differently underwater.”

“Can you tell me your… ocean name? ”

His desire to know me, even this part of me, made my heart flutter. I canted my name, a quick sequence of whistles and clicks. Canting was a musical way of speaking that traveled through the water much easier than trying to verbalize words.

Cory watched me with a look of wonder in his eyes. “Oh! Was that your name?”

“Yes.”

“That was lovely.” I grinned widely at the compliment, thrilled to know he liked hearing my name. It wasn't something I shared in my human form.

His lips pursed, and his eyes turned downward. “I’m not sure I can do it right, though.”

I patted his arm to comfort him. “It’s all right, Cory. I didn't expect you would. Humans don't have the same ear or vocalizations as beings from the sea.”

“I’d like to have something to call you besides ‘ little one .’”

“I don't mind that; it sounds nice when you say it.”

Cory met me with a sweet smile. “Good, I'll keep that in mind. I still would like to have a name for you. What if I were to introduce you to someone? What would I say?”

I shrugged, even while I had a mixture of panic and excitement at the thought of him wanting to introduce me to others. I didn't want to meet more people, but I liked how he pictured sharing me with people he knew. “Can you pick one for me?”

Cory’s eyes widened. “Really? You’d really want me to pick a name for you? That's a big decision.”

I slid my hand down his arm and twined our fingers together. “I trust you, Cory.” I did. Completely.

“Phew. Okay. I’m going to think about it. It needs to be a good name. Come on, let's get outta here.”

My hand stayed in his as he led me further away from the water. I squeezed tight to him, letting him be my anchor in a stormy sea, afraid I would get tossed about in this new world. Cory guided me to his vehicle, a truck he’d said, and opened the door. I stared at it, not sure what to do.

“It’s all right. You can climb up and sit on the seat, then I’m going to go around to the other side and sit next to you. Does that sound okay?” His tone was gentle and patient, not exasperated at having to explain something he did daily.

I drew in a deep breath, bolstering myself. Being far from the sea was one thing, but getting into a machine was entirely different. I heard them in the water, felt the rumbles from their mechanics, and smelled the fumes and waste left behind. It wasn’t something I was particularly keen to do, but I had come this far, and I wanted to be with Cory.

“Yes. As long as you are beside me.” I stepped up and got in, finding the seat more comfortable than I expected. The way its curves seemed to fit the shape of this body was soothing in a way. Though, I’d always found constriction comforting. Much like my shell. When I was confined within its walls, it made me feel secure.

Cory closed my door, sealing me in, and blocking out the outside world. Once he was sitting beside me, he reached over, pulled a strap across me, and clicked it into a receptacle. “This is a seat belt. I'll drive as safely as I can, but this is an added protection, just in case.”

I turned my face toward him, appreciating all his care and kindness. “Thank you, Cory.”

“You’re welcome. I know this is all new to you, so instead of going somewhere crowded, would it be okay if I take you to my home?”

My head bobbed. “Yes! I would like that very much.”

He smiled widely before turning his attention to the truck. Soon, we were leaving, driving away from the beach, away from my shell, away from everything I’d ever known. It was frightening, but Cory rested his hand on my leg, and my fear drifted away; the warmth of his touch, bleeding through the light material of my pants, held my focus. I placed my hand over his, craving his touch already.

“It’s not too far from here. We’ll be there soon,” Cory said.

I was too busy staring out the window, watching people, cars, houses, buildings zip past us to answer right away. The more I sat with Cory’s hand on me, reminding me of his presence, the more I was able to take it all in. It was a marvel. I could propel myself quickly through the water, especially in my half-shifted form, but never anything like this. “We’re going so fast.”

Cory laughed. “Yes, I suppose so. Though, it’s a much lower speed limit here than in some places. Maybe later, if you’re up for it, I’ll take you on the freeway where we can go a lot faster, depending on the time of day.”

“Oh? Does it work like a tide, with highs and lows?”

“In a way, yes. But on the roads, it’s called traffic. There are busier times of the day, mostly when people are going to or from work.”

“Hmm. I see. No, I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want to push you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

I squeezed his fingers. “You are very thoughtful.”

Cory squeezed in response, a simple gesture that skittered through me excitedly. “I’m trying. It’s a little…strange to have someone who is so unfamiliar with things I don’t even have to think about.”

“Strange for both of us.”

“Then at least we’re navigating it together.” Cory patted my leg, and I smiled, loving the way ‘ together’ sounded. I continued watching through the windows, unable to observe every little detail at the speed we were going. We didn’t speak for a little while, but it was nice. Cory’s breathing and tapping on the steering wheel were comfortable reminders of his nearness, but allowed me the chance to take everything in. I noticed along the way that several buildings had trees with colorful bubbles on them. Some were inside of houses, and others were on signs or paintings.

“Are trees sacred here?” From the brief glimpses I’d caught, they certainly seemed to be idolized.

Cory glanced over before returning his gaze forward. “Well, I suppose they are to some groups. Why do you ask?”

“There are many trees in places I wouldn’t expect. Inside . They are decorated and some even glow.”

He chuckled. “Oh! Those are Christmas trees! It’s something some people do at this time of year to celebrate the Christmas season.”

“Christmas?” I’d heard the term somewhere, but couldn’t seem to pick out a reference from memory.

“Oh, boy. Well, Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it’s a centerpiece of their beliefs, but for many others, it’s a time to come together with loved ones, share meals together, and exchange gifts as a way to show gratitude and love. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. There are other holidays around this time of year, like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, that each have their own special significance.”

I turned to face him. “Do you celebrate any of them, Cory?”

“I do. I usually celebrate Christmas with my family. ”

Hope sparked within at the idea of possibly being included in his family. Would I get to share meals with him or exchange gifts? He’d already given me so much. A blanket, clothes, flip-flops. What could I give him to show my gratitude and love? My mind started wandering at that. I didn’t have any material things. I didn’t have anything aside from what I wore and my shell.

Cory turned the truck and stopped under a cover. Several other vehicles were lined up in a row beneath the cover. “We’re here. This is where I live.”

I looked around and then back at him. “Do you live with many other people?”

“No. This is an apartment building. It’s divided into several individual homes. I live by myself.” Relief washed over me. I really didn’t want to be introduced to anyone else so soon, and without a name. He ran a hand over his hair and quirked his lips to the side. “It’s not big, and it might be a little messy.”

He seemed nervous now as if he was worried about showing me his home. I offered him my best smile and said, “If it is yours, I know I will like it.”

His blue eyes brightened at that. “All right. Let’s go in.”

Cory showed me how to undo the straps across my chest and waist, and I climbed out, staying close to him. He led me to a door beneath a set of stairs, and I breathed a sigh of relief not to have to tackle those once more. When he opened it, I was hit with the intensity of his scent infused into the place. It was briny, like the sea, but with his own unique woodsy musk. The intoxicating scent made my dick perk up again. I wanted to roll around in it, to envelop myself in his aroma.

“It’s not much. But it’s mine,” Cory said with a shrug.

“It’s fantastic,” I said in a whisper. It wasn’t big and overwhelming, like I feared it might be. It was small enough that it gave me the same sense of security I’d felt in his truck, more so with his scent in my nose.

Cory showed me around, pointing out the couch, the kitchen, and the bathroom. His cheeks flushed a pretty color when he pointed out his bed. “Yeah, so that’s everything.”

I looked around, taking it all in, when I realized as nice as it felt, something was missing. “You don’t have a Christmas tree?”

“No. It’s just me here, so I haven’t really bothered with it.”

“You like them, though, correct?”

Cory stood beside me, looking over his space as I did. “Yes. I have a lot of great memories with them. We did one every year at home, and I would go to my grandfather’s house to help him decorate his as well.”

His eyes twinkled as he spoke, his adoration for the tradition clear. “Are there a limited number of trees?”

One side of Cory’s mouth tipped up, making me wish I could trace his lips to feel every minute movement of them. “ Well, yes and no. Real trees are cut and harvested each year. Seedlings are planted to replace them, but they take time to grow. Some people prefer the feel and smell of a real tree, but others have chosen to use artificial trees which can be used over and over again.”

I nodded, absorbing the information. “I think I would much prefer the second.”

“I do, as well.”

“Then you should have one. Is it not allowed to do something simply because it brings you joy?”

Cory gave me a sweet smile and threw an arm over my shoulder, squeezing me to his side. The warmth of him and the way I fit against him made my mind go blank and my body ignite. I’d heard a mate’s touch was different, but I couldn't have prepared myself for how overwhelming it would be. Although I’d never been this close to anyone in this form with all my senses heightened.

“You know what? No, there’s nothing to stop someone from doing what they enjoy as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. And I like the sound of it. Maybe later you could…”

He shut his mouth tight, stopping whatever he was about to say from spilling out. My curiosity about this man had me asking. “I could what, Cory?”

His hand went through his hair, an action I was beginning to recognize came with uncertainty. “It’s silly. You just got here. I know nothing about you, or how any of this is possible, or if you have any kind of schedule or plans. I don’t want to make assumptions. Let’s just forget about it.”

Lifting my face to see his, I said, “My memory is very good. I don’t forget easily.”

Cory laughed, a sound I felt rumble through him, exciting all my senses, which thrived on vibrations.

“You are something else,” he said with a smirk.

“I am, Cory. I’m a nautilus. But I’m human, too.”

Another wonderful laugh and then he pulled away from me. “Come on, let’s have something to eat.”

“And you need your stronger drink?” I offered.

“No, actually. I think I’m good.” He led me to a round table and pulled a chair out for me to sit in. So thoughtful, my mate. He gave my shoulder a light squeeze, sending sparks through my skin, before leaving me to open a white door that revealed a storage space within. Cory looked over the door at me. “Uh, are you a meat-eater, vegetarian, something else? I’m sorry, I don’t remember very much about nautiluses… nautili ? Although, you aren’t a typical nautilus, anyway and I know absolutely nothing about, well, sea shifters. Shit, any shifters. I always thought they were myths.”

“Myths often come from reality. Like me. Here I am.”

Cory met my gaze once more, an awed expression on his face. We stared at each other until his cheeks warmed and his eyes shifted away. “To answer your question, in my shelled form, I am a scavenger, but in this body, I haven’t tried too many different things. Fruits, mostly. Oh, and something called a coconut. Have you ever had one? I quite enjoyed them. As for anything else, I have a strong stomach and I’m open to trying new things.”

Cory coughed and laughed at the same time. “Good to know. Maybe we’ll start simple with eggs and toast.”

“Okay.” I watched as he pulled things out of what he said was a fridge. A feeling of happiness filled me at the idea of him wanting to provide food for me. Even in a short time, Cory already wanted to protect and provide for me. The thought made me hum.

Cory sat across from me and put a dish in front of me. Steam rose from it, and I found it new and fascinating. Sniffing, I took in the aroma of cooked eggs. I’d never had anything cooked before. The scent made my stomach grumble with a hunger I wasn’t used to experiencing. Cory snickered at my reaction. “Go ahead, eat.”

I watched as he picked up a pronged utensil and pushed it into the fluffy, yellow food, and I copied his motions. I held the bite in my mouth for a moment, focusing on its taste and texture. The eggs were savory and mellow, soft and silky, with a hint of saltiness. It was a new experience in every way. Cory seemed to be eagerly awaiting my reaction. When I swallowed at last, it left a pleasant taste behind, and a groan of appreciation left me. Cory grinned and stared at me with fascination .

“Dude, that's wild. It really is new to you, isn't it? I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. You can actually change forms? Shell and everything?”

I was grateful he was taking to the idea so well. From what I'd heard about humans, they didn't often respond well to the unfamiliar, but my mate already accepted me and was curious to know more. The thought made me happy, except… the mention of my shell made that light feeling fall.

He must have noticed a change in my expression and rushed to speak. “Ah, fuck, I'm sorry. Am I being too pushy? I don't mean to be. This is all just so…well, it’s a lot. If you’re not comfortable talking about anything, you just have to tell me, okay?”

I reached across the table, sliding my fingers over his. I didn't mean to make him feel bad. It was simply ingrained into us that revealing our secrets and our vulnerabilities to humans was dangerous. It was different with him, though. An instinct deep within told me I could trust him. I did, I had. He was my mate, but I didn't want to disappoint him, either.

“No, Cory. I appreciate you asking. I like that you want to know me more. The answer is difficult, not the question. Yes, I do change. I have three different forms I can take. My human form, as you see me now. My hybrid form, as I was when I helped you after your fall. It allows me to be my full size, but I can also utilize some of the advantages my kind have: breathing underwater, propelling quickly through the ocean, and being able to sense my surroundings more clearly. I am also stronger in that form.”

He listened and nodded, seemingly unbothered by what I told him. "And your third form?"

I drew a deep breath and expelled it. "It is as I said. I am a nautilus. A full nautilus. My size decreases, my body morphs, and I retreat into my…shell.”

I paused for a moment, trying to embolden myself to share something I’d never shared. "You wouldn't be able to tell me apart from other nautili except for my size. My kind aren't as big as our ancestors were, but far bigger than simple creatures."

"I doubt that," Cory interjected.

"What do you mean?"

His fingers squeezed mine. "I think I would be able to tell, size difference or not. There's something about you. I might not know any of your kind, but I think I would know you . Maybe it’s because of what happened in the past. I don’t know, I can feel it." He gave me a sweet smile, making me warm all over. Could he feel the connection between us, too? Did humans sense their mates as we did?

"I think you're special too, Cory. Not that I know other humans.” It wouldn’t matter if I did, though.

"So how big is it? Your shell." Cory asked.

I pursed my lips, trying to think of how to describe it, but I decided the easiest way was visually. Pulling my hand away from his, I held them chest-width apart. I was much smaller than Cory, my frame more lean and petite. It probably would have been about half the breadth of Cory's broad chest.

His eyes rounded. "And you can fit inside of that?"

I nodded once. "Yes, it's quite comfortable. I enjoy the tight space because it makes me feel safe."

"So how does that work, exactly? Is your shell a part of you? Does it generate somehow when you want it to?”

“Hmm. It’s a part of me in the way your boat…”

“Kayak,” Cory corrected. “Sorry, continue.”

“Yes, kayak. The way it is a part of you when you move through the water. As one, though not fused together. My shell doesn’t grow from me. It has always been what it is, a shell. It doesn’t change with me.”

Cory’s brows pinched together, looking sweetly puzzled. “So…where does it go when you’re in your hybrid or human forms, because…you definitely didn’t have it with you on the beach?”

I bit my lip and shifted my eyes. “I try to put it somewhere safe so I can return to it. I don’t normally stray this far from it.”

Cory’s arched brows fell. “Oh. I didn’t know.”

“Of course. There's no way you could know.”

“Is it somewhere safe now? Do we need to get you back to the beach? ”

A part of me wanted to scream, ‘Yes! Immediately.’ but a bigger part knew I couldn't leave yet, couldn't leave him. It was worrisome to be so far from it, but Cory lit me up in the way I'd always dreamed, and we had hardly touched. I couldn't give that up so soon. Determination had me shaking my head.

“No. I'm not ready to leave yet if that's all right?”

Cory squeezed my hand. “Yeah, yes, of course. I’m not ready for you to leave either, but I want to respect your needs.”

“Thank you, Cory. You have been. You've been very kind.” I rubbed my thumb across the back of his hand, enjoying the rough texture. What would his hands feel like on my body? I wanted nothing more than to know the answer to that.