Chapter 20

The salty breeze trails in with us as we step through the threshold of our beachfront villa, droplets of ocean water still clinging to our skin shimmering under the lighting. My heart races from the electric touch of Zethe's hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside.

"Come." His dark blue tentacles, slick and shining, leave wet patterns on the tiled floor as he leads me through to the bedroom.

Zethe leads me to the edge of his bed, amongst the sanctuary of soft whites and blues, mimicking gentle waves upon the shore, amongst the rustic wooden feel of his exotic tropical villa.

He sits me down gently, his powerful chest heaving slightly, muscles adorned with swirls of blues and grays—a hypnotic canvas I long to touch. With a tenderness that belies his strength, he brushes back strands of my hair, still damp from visiting the Merfolk.

"Tell me, Rey," he says, his deep ocean eyes locked onto mine. "Is there anything you crave? Anything you need after our adventurous swim?"

His question sends a shiver down my spine, I know he is checking on my health but there is a lingering feeling that he is asking about something more… I bite my lip, feeling bold in his presence.

"I'm thirsty," I admit, watching as a knowing smile curls the corners of his lips.

"Thirsty?" Zethe repeats, his voice lowering to a seductive purr. "I can quench more than just your thirst." His fingertips trail over my collarbone, a barely-there touch that ignites a fire within me.

"Can you now?" I tease, as I feel flush creeping up my cheeks. Every sense heightens, attuned to this Kraken, who has forever changed my life in such a short of a time.

"Absolutely." His confidence is alluring, and I find myself leaning into his caress, yearning for more of his touch, more of him.

"I want you so much, but… I'm scared," I whisper, still emboldened by the desire reflected in his gaze as my confession hangs in the air.

"Scared?" His brow scrunches, his touch gentle as he cups my face, his dark blue tentacles subtly shifting around us, loosely cradling me. "Tell me, what frightens you, Rey?"

His concern is palpable. Doubt gnaws at me. I find myself leaning into his touch, seeking comfort. "It's just… I keep thinking about asking Svea for an interview. Will she really be interested in a new app for the resort?"

"Rey," Zethe says, his thumb stroking my cheek in soothing motions. "Svea would love to have you on her staff. To bridge our worlds together—she needs more humans like you on staff to make guests feel welcome. And your talent…" He pauses, his gaze intense. "Designing an app for the resort could change everything."

"Do you think I can do it?"

"Without a doubt." His confidence in me is unwavering. "You're brilliant, Rey. You're what this place needs… and what I desire."

"Your faith in me…" I close my eyes and lean into him. "Thank you, Zethe. Your confidence in my abilities—and our future—means the world to me."

"Only the best for you," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear. "We'll make it work if it doesn't, but I know Svea. She'll listen to your pitch, and will at the least, give you a trial. But, like the Merfolk said, they would love to have you create something for them, even if Svea doesn't hire you as the resort's official app creator."

"Then I will speak with her tomorrow," I mutter, opening my eyes to meet his. "I won't be able to rest if I wait any longer. I hate waiting. It only gives me anxiety and fills me with doubts."

"Do it," he says sternly. "But right now. Tonight. Let me care for you. Let me make those worries disappear." His voice is low, the invitation clear. His smile is predatory, full of promise and passion.

Zethe gently cups my other cheek with his other hand, holding me in place as his piercing blue eyes gaze into mine with tender concern. "I would feel better if I could check you over, just to be sure you're all right before I have my way with you tonight."

"Please." I nod in agreement.

He releases me and turns away, and I find myself momentarily lost in the mesmerizing swirls of blues and grays adorning his form. It's as if he was a body of water, as his tentacles gracefully move on the floor.

He gives me another grin as he returns from retrieving a medical scanner and oximeter from an emergency kit, and delicately places the devices against my skin.

As the steady beep of my vital signs fills the charged air between us, Zethe's fingertips linger, tracing tantalizing patterns that leave goosebumps in their wake. "Everything looks good," he murmurs, voice low and husky. "But you should really shower, cleanse yourself of all that seawater first to make yourself comfortable." His words dance along my spine, more suggestion than statement, as his intense aquamarine eyes darken with unspoken desire. "I'm happy to assist in any way I can to ease your… tension."

Zethe moves closer, crowding me with his imposing frame, his tentacles circling me. I inhale sharply, his briny, masculine scent flooding my senses and sending my heartbeat into overdrive.

His hands skim my waist, thumbs rubbing maddening circles that make me ache for more. "Please, allow me." His ocean-blue eyes darken with desire, lips curving into a seductive smile, issuing an invitation I'm powerless to refuse. "I insist."

"Good thing you're a Kraken lifeguard," I tease, trailing my fingers along his muscular arm. "Because I may need your help in the water."

"I'd be happy to assist," he purrs, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.

Zethe takes my hand, his touch electric, and leads me to the steamy bathroom. I feel his penetrating gaze roaming over my curves as I slowly peel off my clothes, revealing inch after inch of bare skin.

He moves closer, his broad chest rising and falling with quickened breaths. "You're so beautiful," he murmurs reverently, callused hands skimming my waist and igniting my body.

I press against him, relishing the hard planes of his body, aching with need. "Show me," I whisper. "How I should clean myself."

With a growl, he pulls me flush to him, crushing his mouth to mine in a searing kiss. His tongue delves deep, claiming and consuming me. I moan into his mouth, my fingers tangling in his silky hair.

Zethe breaks the kiss, both of us panting. His ocean eyes are nearly black, pupils blown wide with lust. "Let's get you nice and wet," he rasps, guiding me into the shower.

Steam fills the shower as Zethe moves in behind me and closes the large glass door, his muscular blue body glistening under the warm spray. I gasp softly as he presses close, his powerful chest against my back, skin on skin.

The heat and wetness heighten every sensation as rivulets trickle down my sensitized flesh.

I'm trapped inside this enormous stone shower, with a bench and multiple heads from the ceiling pouring down on us. A single glass panel blocks us from the rest of the elegant bathroom.

And yet, it only adds to my desire. This Kraken—my fated mate—makes me feel safe, cherished, and loved.

"Let me wash you," Zethe rumbles in my ear, his deep voice sending shivers through me despite the hot water.

His large hands gently turn me to face him. My breath catches at the intense smolder in his eyes. Zethe takes the soap and begins slowly lathering my shoulders and collarbones with sensual circular strokes. I arch into his touch, craving more.

As the fragrant suds glide over my breasts, I moan and grip his muscular arms for support. Zethe caresses every curve and valley with tender reverence, as if memorizing my body. His ministrations leave me weak-kneed with desire.

I reach up to thread my fingers through his wet blue hair, tugging him down for a searing kiss. His lips are parted, inviting me in as our hips grind against each other in a slow, sensual dance.

His tongue darts out to trace the seam of my lips before plunging into my mouth. I groan low in my throat, arching into him as he takes control of the kiss. Our tongues tangle and wrestle, exploring every crevice and curve of each other's mouths.

With one swift movement, I wrap my legs around his waist, anchoring myself to him as he deepens the kiss even further. His tentacles roam over my body, tracing patterns that send shivers down my spine. They pause at my breasts, teasingly squeezing and massaging them, his hands slick with soap.

Breathless, I pull back slightly, breaking the kiss to catch my breath. Our chests heave in sync as we gaze into each other's eyes. "I want you, Zethe. So much."

"I need you too, Rey," he groans, desire roughening his voice. "You drive me wild."

The steam swirls around us in the shower as Zethe's muscular body presses against mine, our slick skin gliding together in sensual friction. His strong tentacles are everywhere, caressing and teasing as his soapy hands skim down my stomach and slip between my thighs.

My head falls back against the tile wall as his fingers find my most sensitive spots. "Zethe, please…"

"You're making it very hard for me to get you clean, Rey," Zethe growls, his voice husky with need. In one swift motion, he unhooks my legs from around his waist and spins me to face the tiled wall. "Put your hands up."

I gasp from the sudden change. The coolness of the stone contrasts with the warmth of the water pouring down my body.

His tentacles snake around to cup and massage my breasts.

A low moan escapes my lips as his stav glides sensually between my thighs, the gentle suction of its suckers stimulating my sensitive folds with electrifying "kisses. The unique shape of his stav, with its twists and curves, rubs against me, each thrust sending shivers of pleasure through me.

"Mmm, so responsive," he purrs approvingly, rubbing languid circles around my aching clit. "I love how it feels. How your body craves mine. Your pretty little pussy is begging to be filled, isn't it?"

"Please, Zethe," I whimper, arching back against him. I can feel his thick length, hot and heavy, pressing insistently at my entrance.

His chuckle rumbles through me. "Patience, my sweet Starfish. I'm going to make sure every inch of you is thoroughly… washed first."

He rolls my nipples between his fingers, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core. I moan shamelessly, writhing against him, desperate for more. The tentacle teasing my clit presses between my folds, replacing his stav, curling and stroking against my entrance.

"That's it, Rey. Wash me good," he purrs in my ear, his deep voice dripping with lust.

His tentacles slither around my waist, the suckers latching onto my heated flesh. He thrusts his cock between my folds, his suckers teasing my clit, and clipping on my entrance with each movement.

"I need you," I pant, shaking my head. "Please, I need your hard stav. Fill me, claim me, make me yours!"

Zethe growls possessively, nipping at my shoulder. "You're too much to resist."

Suddenly, Zethe spins me around to face him, hooking my legs around him. He reaches down to stroke himself a few times between our bodies before notching his cone-tipped head between my legs.

"I need to be inside you. Now." He reaches down and lines himself up with my aching entrance.

With one powerful thrust, there's a faint pop as he enters me, filling me just enough to the point where I feel both stretched and full.

We groan in unison as we adjust to the size of him, his thrusts deepening as he pushes further in, his suckers latching onto my hips. We both moan loudly, Zethe's long tentacles wrapping around my thighs and slithering upward to massage my ass cheeks as he gently pulls me closer.

He sets a relentless pace, setting a rhythm that has me panting and grinding down on him instinctively.

"Stars, you feel so good wrapped around my stav," Zethe growls, grabbing my ass cheeks and spreading them wider. He plunges impossibly deeper, stretching and claiming every inch of me.

"Yes!" I cry out as I grab fistfuls of Zethe's silky dark blue hair, clutching him desperately as waves of pleasure course through my body. My nails rake down his rippling back muscles, the swirling blues and grays mesmerizing me.

His tentacles snake around my body—always moving—sliding over my skin, squeezing and caressing every curve. The purple undersides and suckers tease my most sensitive areas, making me gasp and moan with each of their suctioned kisses.

Zethe's lips crash against my neck, alternating between hungry kisses and playful nips that send electric sparks straight to my core. "That's it, my Starfish," he growls against my throat, his deep rumbling voice dripping with lust. "Let yourself go. I want to feel all of you as you come undone."

The intense sensations build rapidly, my body trembling on the edge of release. "Don't stop, I'm so close," I whimper, pushing back to meet his punishing thrusts.

I'm lost to the building sensations, arching into his touch, my world narrowed to only the delicious friction of our joined bodies.

He drives into me with powerful thrusts—stretching and filling me so perfectly—hitting that perfect spot deep inside over and over until I'm trembling on the edge, seeing stars.

"Z-Zethe…" I pant. "I-I'm… I'm going to…"

"Claim me, Rey," he commands huskily. "I've got you."

His tentacles squeeze me tighter as his movements turn frantic. With a few more deep strokes, I shatter apart with a keening cry, my inner walls clamping down on him. Zethe lets out a guttural groan, tensing as he finds his own explosive release moments later, spilling himself deep inside me.

We cling to each other as the aftershocks gradually subside, his tentacles still lazily caressing my overstimulated skin. I press my face into the crook of his neck, trying to catch my breath.

My vision blurs as the feeling of absolute bliss and completion washes over me.