Chapter 1

Chapter

One

ZORA

T he moment he walks in, all the air leaves the vast hotel lobby.

Jay Lafayette. Eight-time gold medalist. The alpha kraken-shifter who’s made “wet and wild” a whole new thing. And he’s here, in our resort, looking like sin on tentacles.

He’s tall, easily 6’4”, with shoulders broad enough to eclipse the sun. His skin is a warm bronze, glistening with a faint sheen that hints at his aquatic nature. Dark hair, artfully tousled, begs for fingers to run through it. But it’s his eyes that capture me–dark blue like the ocean’s depths, with an otherworldly glow that marks him as something more than human.

Jay’s wearing board shorts that cling to thick, muscular thighs, showing off legs powerful enough to propel him through water at inhuman speeds. His tank top is practically painted on, revealing abs so defined you could grate cheese on them. Every movement causes his muscles to ripple tantalizingly under sun-kissed skin.

But it’s his tentacles that truly captivate. Two are visible, undulating gracefully at his sides. They’re a deep, iridescent blue that shifts with the light, covered in intricate patterns that seem to swirl and move. The suckers are clearly visible, and I find myself wondering how they’d feel against skin.

Our eyes lock, and the world stops spinning.

His nostrils flare, those ocean-deep eyes flashing electric blue. A low, barely audible growl rumbles through the lobby, vibrating in my chest. The sound sends shivers down my spine, igniting something primal in me. And just like that, my body goes fucking crazy.

Heat floods through me, my skin becoming hypersensitive. I’m wet, aching, and we haven’t even spoken. The silky fabric of my underwear suddenly feels abrasive against my sensitized folds. What the actual fuck?

Jay stalks towards the reception desk, all predatory grace. His tentacles writhe, reaching in my direction like they have a mind of their own. The iridescent sheen of his scales catches the light, mesmerizing. With each step, I catch whiffs of his scent – salt air, sun-warmed skin, and something wild and musky that makes my mouth water.

I open my mouth to welcome him, but no sound comes out. His stare is too intense, pinning me in place. I can feel my heart racing, my cheeks flushing under his scrutiny. The cool air conditioning does nothing to soothe my overheated skin.

With shaking hands, I manage to check him in, sliding his luxury suite key-card across the desk. The soft scrape of plastic on wood seems oddly loud in the charged silence. He doesn’t reach for it immediately. Instead, a tentacle snakes forward, wrapping around the card. The movement is smooth, controlled, hinting at incredible strength held in check.

His eyes never leave mine, dark and hungry. I watch, transfixed, as his chest rises and falls with each breath. A bead of sweat trails down his neck, disappearing into the collar of his tank top, and I find myself desperately wanting to follow its path with my tongue.

The air between us is charged, heavy with unspoken promise and primal need. I can smell him - salt, musk, and raw alpha power. It’s intoxicating, making me dizzy with want.

Finally, after what feels like hours but must have only been minutes, Jay turns to leave. But his eyes… God, his eyes stay locked on mine as he walks away, even as he enters the elevator. I catch one last glimpse of those mesmerizing tentacles before the doors close.

It’s only then that I remember to breathe, gulping in air like I’ve been underwater. My legs feel weak, and I grab the edge of the desk for support.

“Giiiirl,” my colleague Tasha whispers beside me, eyes wide, “what was that?”

I shake my head, still dazed. The lingering scent of Jay–ocean, alpha, and pure sex–clings to the air. “I have no idea. But I think I’m in trouble.”

Understatement of the century.

“Ah, Zora,” Ms. Johnson, the hotel manager, says when I enter her office, peering at me over her glasses. “I believe you checked in our VIP guest?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I manage, aiming for professional and probably landing somewhere around ‘still shaken out of my mind’.

“Good. Mr. Lafayette has specifically requested you as his personal concierge during his stay.”

My heart stops, then kicks into overdrive. A mix of excitement and terror floods through me. He asked for me? Specifically? “He… what? But I-”

“Just remember-” her eyes narrow, “-he’s a guest. We can’t have any incidents like the mermaid fiasco last summer.”

I nod, my mouth dry. “Crystal clear, Ms. Johnson.”

As I leave her office, my body still humming from that silent encounter with Jay, I can’t shake out of my shock. He asked for me. The thought sends a thrill of excitement through me, quickly followed by a wave of panic. What does he want from me? And more importantly, am I ready for whatever the fuck it is?