Chapter Six

Kert

A fter the kiss, I was expecting Marin to rail me on the nearest flat surface, but noo, he was acting as if nothing had happened, leaving me horny and confused. Every evening before bed, I would pull out the dildo I brought with me and imagine it was him filling me deep until I came all over myself. Part of me wished he’d caught me spread on his bed pleasuring myself, whispering his name as I climaxed. What would he do then? Leave? Or replace my toy with his cock or tentacle?

The Marin I used to know at uni had a busy sex life with women, but he’d always supported me in all my queerness. He’d never kissed me, though. Or anyone else not female that I was aware of back then. Something was up, apart from my frequent erection when I was around Marin, and I had to address it or I’d burst.

For the following days, Marin had planned so many outings and shopping trips that we returned home dead tired and had little time to sit and talk. As if he’d been avoiding that conversation he’d promised.

The air between us had shifted, and as much as I’d loved the kiss, I dreaded what was coming next. Not wanting to spiral into negative thinking, I went along with all the fun plans and I didn’t push him to face the elephant in the room.

I caught him ogling my ass and stealing touches of my exposed midriff, then glaring at his tentacles as if he hadn’t been in control of them reaching for me.

Although, he’d been doing that since I’d arrived…

One afternoon, we’d returned from a fifties’ style American diner where we’d stuffed our faces with omlettes for brunch. Marin delivered on his promise to introduce me to the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the cuisine.

We’d sat on the couch Marin had insisted on sleeping with the mountain tea Marin had brewed. The hate I had for the stupid couch was illogical, but I wanted it gone. I couldn’t hop on top of Marin out of the blue without having a sound reason to. I wasn’t cold, but I sure as fuck was fucking horny. For my best friend. Who’d kissed me like I was his last meal.

I perched on the armrest while Marin spread his tentacles on most of the couch. He looked so mouth-wateringly gorgeous, I was ready to lick him from the tip of his big nose to the end of each tentacle.

“Ner finally texted back. He says hi. ” Marin showed me a pic of a beach on his phone, bringing me back from horny-land.

“Tell him I say hi back. How’s he doing on his trip to Miami? Tell me everything.” I sat up and clapped my hands.

Marin spun his phone on top of his tentacle like he used to do with paint brushes. He’d once said it was a leftover skill after his brother made him play drums for the songs he’d been recording, but all Marin had learned was how to spin the drumsticks. “Struggling with the weight of taking over our family restaurant. He won’t say it, but he’s miserable. I told him to fess up and tell our folks that he won’t do it. Instead, he took up a job in Miami to learn new stuff about running a restaurant.”

“He’s stubborn. Like someone else I know.” I chuckled, and Marin poked my shin with his tentacle. “How’s that going for him?”

“The job is fine, but I think he’s hooking up with some guy he met there.” Marin waggled his eyebrows. “Won’t tell me more about it, but he sounds smitten on the phone.”

I sipped the tea—the one in my mug and the one Marin was spilling. Both hot. “Good for him. Is he still playing guitar or keyboard?”

“Not that I know of. He’s not recording any new music, but he teaches kids how to play. He organized free classes for local kids and loves doing that in his spare time. When I ask him about writing music he gets anxious, so I just leave it alone.”

“I loved the videos he used to send you. He looked happy playing and creating.”

Marin had kept in contact with both his brothers during his time in Berlin, and being his roommate, I got to meet them during their video chats.

“Yeah. He had his ups and downs with it. I know he’s my older brother, but I worry about him and the expectations he’s largely put on himself. He’s gotten it into his head that our parents won’t accept anyone else taking over the place but one of us three. I would be horrible at it, and Spiros is not ready. Besides, the kid’s a cook, not a businessman. And he’s so good too. When you visit one day, you’ll see.”

When not if. Maybe the kiss hadn’t ruined everything after all.

“Aww… I remember him when he was this energetic teenager insisting on baking a honey cake for your birthday in the dorm kitchen when your parents visited with him. He said the store didn’t have anything good enough for your birthday celebration.”

Marin chuckled. “Yeah. Can you believe that he’s twenty-five now?”

“Time flies. Is he planning to visit you here? Or Ner, since he’s in the USA now?”

“Spiros may come over for winter next year. He wants to visit a few cities and landmarks. Maybe I’ll go with him. And Ner is going back home for Christmas soon.” Marin gazed towards the window, where the falling snow covered the roofs of buildings on the other side of the street, creating a cosy picture. One very different to winter in Marin’s hometown in Greece.

“But you’re not. You always went back home for the winter break during uni.” My stomach flipped. “You didn’t stay in New York because of me, right? Please tell me I didn’t fuck up your plans.” Guilt churned in my gut and I had to put my tea aside lest I dropped it.

“Oh no, I didn’t want to go this year.” Marin placated me with a pat on my thigh with his tentacle, and I covered it with my hand to keep it there.

“That’s your first year away at Christmas, isn’t it?”

He waved a tentacle in dismissal. “You know how big the event gets, and I’m not feeling that vibe now. This year my parents are hosting, so I can visit them a bit later to catch up, but not when everyone, their cousin, their uncle and pet will be over at my folks’ house. Besides, here I have a rare chance to spoil you.”

“I like the sound of that.” I wiggled in my seat, hope blooming in my chest. “I’ll decorate the apartment and you’ll have a chill Christmas vibe, just like you wanted.”

He smirked. “Stay right here. I’ll get the dip and chips.”

I had to make it worth it for him. He was denying it, but I knew how he loved visiting his family.

If our kiss at the skating rink was anything to go by, Marin was amidst an awakening. Would he be content with skipping family holidays and spending time with me if I helped him figure out his sexuality? Maybe that was the reason he wasn’t going home?

My thoughts were stuck on a ferris wheel. Some days I was way up in the sky, wanting to tell Marin how I felt about him; the next I was in the middle, thinking of helping him come out; then on others I was at the very bottom, dreading our friendship would fall apart if I did any of those other things.

I’d have to jump off the ferris wheel, take Marin with me, and see what happened—or our friendship would forever remain rooted in uncertainty.

I should start with small steps, like setting the mood. I reached for one of the six handmade candles I bought that stood on the table, then took the fancy matches that came as a gift with a big purchase.

What if I eliminated the couch? Then Marin would sleep with me in the bedroom, wake up to a boner and initiate the talk about sexuality.

Perfect.

Making sure Marin wasn’t watching me from the kitchen, I tipped a dollop of wax on the couch, but it solidified. This wasn’t wax play, I had to go all in.

Angling the candle to the backrest, I cursed the small flame that didn’t reach the fabric… This was a stupid idea anyway.

“I think we got too much yogurt for the dip.” Marin’s voice was close as he returned from the kitchen.

Startled, I yelped and dropped the candle on the couch.

It caught fire like its life depended on it.

“ Schei?e! ” I yelled. “Fire!”

Marin set the bowls on the floor and rushed my way. With one glance at the flame, he pulled me aside and dashed towards the door. “Don’t move!”

By the entrance, he grabbed a fire extinguisher, pointed it, and sprayed the fabric. The fire spread to the middle cushion and burst higher.

I jumped back while Marin doused it, putting the fire down, then dropped the extinguisher.

“Are you okay?” He held me at arms’ length, inspecting my body, his tentacles touching me with delicate, frantic movements.

“Yes. I’m sorry.” My voice trembled. What the fuck was I thinking? I looked down at my shaking hands. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m glad you’re okay.” Marin cupped my face, kissed me quickly, then pulled away. His gaze bore into mine as he took deep breaths.

This time, it was my turn. I captured his lips and deepened the kiss, sending my tongue to explore. His natural ocean scent filled my nose, calming me and spiking my arousal at the same time. He tasted of my dreams and my deepest desires.

The animalistic growl rumbling in Marin’s chest weakened my knees and I held onto him for dear life. He kept me steady, then pulled me up with his tentacles under my thighs and ass, backing me against the wall. Caged in his embrace, I was free to lose myself in the kiss, in the way his tongue chased mine as if he were afraid I’d run away.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, trapping my hard-on against his abs, and ground on him. My heart raced and my head cleared away the mountain of overthinking that had piled up there. I buried my fingers in his hair, hoping I could live in this dream state forever.

Except no dream could feel as good as Marin’s grip on me—as his tentacles pulsing against my back, thighs, and ass.

Then he broke away, leaving me panting for more, chasing his lips with my tongue. But he pressed me back to the wall with a tentacle across my chest.

“Don’t put yourself in danger like that.” Marin growled, the sound rumbling deep within his chest.

Holy fuck, that was sexy.

“Or what? You’ll spank me?” I thrust my hips, poking my cock into his abs.

“No, because you’d like that.”

Cold sweat broke on my back. “What did you say?”

Marin froze for a moment so quick that I’d miss it if I blinked. Sending his tentacles moving, he grabbed me by the wrists and pinned them to the wall behind me, above my head.

“Is this what you want?” He whispered against my lips.

I squirmed in his grip, the entrapment sending shivers through me.

“Is that what you’re offering?” I thrust my chin up.

He let go of my wrist and wrapped his tentacle around my throat, tightening it like a snake would its victim.

“Yes.” His tone was decisive. Gone was the hesitation from before.

I parted my lips on a gasp as his tentacle wiggled between us towards my cock.

“Please. Show me what you got. I won’t break.” I gripped the tentacle that was holding my wrists, and pushed myself down enough to feel his hard-on under my ass. I wanted him inside me, his fingers, his cock, his tentacles.

“I know.” Marin wriggled his tentacle into my jeans, popping the top button and freeing my cock. He looked down between us and flicked the hoop ring going through the crown of my dick. “I didn’t know you had a Reverse Prince Albert.”

“Surprise.” I smirked. Pre-cum gathered at the top of my cock, every touch feeding my arousal.

Marin licked his lips and wrapped his tentacle around my dick, but didn’t stroke. My cock was as slick as if it were coated in lubricant, but even with the amount of pre-cum I usually had, this was way more. The appendage pulsed in a sensation that blew my mind. His other tentacle slid between my cheeks and paused.

“Should I stop?” Marin was giving me space to retreat. Normally, I’d appreciate that. But right now, I needed him to bring me to orgasm or I’d lose my mind.

“Fuck, no. And don’t pull back.” My whispered groan was all I could muster.

“Then show me how fast you can come.” Marin repositioned to hold me up with his hands, with one the upper tentacle around my wrist, another around my throat, and the two lower ones diving for me. One slid down the back of my jeans and between my cheeks. I expected him to probe, but a sucker latched onto my hole and pulsed, as if he were kissing me there. The second wrapped around my dick, stroking. The slick sensation coudln’t have been from my pre-cum, but I didn’t have any brain cells left to analyse what Marin was doing to me.

“You’ll make me come.” I moaned, watching the expression on Marin’s face. He was equally focused and aroused, with his lips parted but gaze sharp. I seared that moment into my memory, knowing I had new material for a sculpture.

“Shhh. That’s the point.” He kissed me gently, in contrast to how his suckers were pulsing with intensity, sucking tiny bruises on my body. Then he searched my face and tightened the tentacle around my neck. “This okay?”

“Harder. Everywhere.” I wheezed and let my eyes flutter closed.

“Look at me.” The command in his low voice snapped me to attention.

The suction on my ass intensified, along with the pressure on my perineum and the pulsing around my cock. My body was at Marin’s mercy and no amount of my arching from the intense pleasure would make him let go of me. Heat travelled from my abdomen and back and through my body as I was inching towards my release.

Marin knew this. He somehow read it in my expression, my movements, or tiny whimpers.

“Now,” he said, tightening the tentacle around my neck.

I exploded into tiny little pieces, straining and wriggling as I kept coming in Marin’s tight hold, while he loosened his grasp on my neck.

I gasped in a lungful of air, looked at his beautiful face, and released another load. I arched in his hold, wailing incoherent syllables that may have been Marin’s name.

When I was finally done, my body was boneless. I was a puddle of goo with no thoughts in my head except for Marin ruining my future sex life. Because no one would beat what he’d just done to me.

Marin was licking his lips, his gills moving, taking in oxygen. He was gorgeous with a blue flush on his cheeks and his hair dishevelled by my fingers

Thank you. Why did you wait so long? How did you know what I liked?

Words popped in my head along with a myriad of questions, but I managed only one sentence.

“You didn’t come.”

Marin set me on my feet, but scooped me back up when my legs wobbled.

“Watching you unravel was more satisfying than an orgasm.” He carried me to the middle of the floor, snagged a blanket from a chair, and wrapped me in it as he sat down holding me.

My head lolled on his shoulder, but I was regaining awareness of what had happened.

“Wow. I should set your furniture on fire more often.” I splayed my hand on his chest, the thin sleeveless shirt showing the contours of his pecs. His hearts beat strong and steady.

Marin smirked. “You would.” His face fell and he caught my hand in his. “I acted on impulse. I’m sorry.”

“What the fuck are you on about? “ I shuffled on his lap to face him. “You just gave me the orgasm of my life.” I cupped his cheeks. “I loved it. Every single second.” Pointing down, I expected a patch of wetness on my jeans or boxers, but there was none. I pulled on the waistband. “My cock was slick and I definitely came. Where is it?”

Marin was glancing into my boxers too. He sure liked my piercing. “My tentacles produce natural lubricant when needed and the suckers can absorb it back, or any other liquid. The slime is also a disinfectant and I can’t transmit STIs. But neither should you, right?”

“Yeah. I can’t catch most of the human diseases either.” When a mixed species child was born, the doctors would perform standard infant testing as well as checking immunity to diseases. The practice was only two decades old, as before that many people were opposed to revealing their cryptid status if they could hide it.

“Good.” He made it as if to stand up, but I wrapped my arms around his chest. I wouldn’t let him run away from me and what had just happened. “No more fires, understood?” He pointed a finger at me. “My hearts can’t take the thought of you being in danger.”

“Okay.” Was he going to pretend he didn’t just raise the bar for my sexual experiences? “Sorry about the couch.” I’d give him a moment, but I had an idea how to make him talk without destroying any furniture.

“I needed a new one, anyway. Help me pick it and it might come before Christmas.”

Let’s hope I will come many more times before Christmas too.

“Why did it behave like a sinner in a church?” I pointed to the middle cushion.

“Someone spilled vodka on it once.” He pulled several blankets from the large footstool and spread them on the floor. “Stay here and don’t set anything else on fire.” He covered my shoulders with another fluffy blanket.

“I’ll try.”

He wasn’t mad and didn’t seem to regret the mindblowing fuckeroo. That was a good start.

Except him acting like nothing had changed between us was getting on my nerves. If sacrificing the couch wouldn’t make him talk, I’d have to strut around naked and wait for him to scold me or fuck me. Anything to make him address that we’d ventured beyond friendship.

He opened the windows in the living room and kitchen, letting in chilly winter air. “The smell will linger for a while. I’ll take the couch downstairs tomorrow and call for a collection.”

“I’ll clean the mess.” I stood up from my blanket nest and headed to the bathroom for some protective gear while Marin pulled out the vacuum for the extinguisher powder.