Page 19 of Little Saint Nautilus

Cory grabbed a bottle off a shelf and poured some of its contents into his hand. “Can I wash your hair?”

“Yes.” The answer was automatic, even though it wasn’t something I’d ever done. I didn’t know what to expect or what was needed, but I would let Cory do anything he wanted to me. Washing wasn’t something I’d had to worry about; I simply shifted into my nautilus form and the ocean took care of the rest.

Cory turned me again, so my back was to him, but he pulled me out of the water enough so it wasn’t splashing in my face. He took some of the liquid in his hands and began smoothing it through my hair. He worked his fingers in the strands and rubbed until the liquid turned to foam, massaging my scalp, and it felt… absolutely wonderful. I leaned back against his chest and closed my eyes, lost in his touch. It wasn’t erotic. It didn’t make me feel needy or like I was about to explode as his touching had earlier. Instead, it made me feel cared for. My mate took such sweet care of me. It was a feeling I’d been seeking my entire life. I sighed softly.

“Feel nice?”

“Mmm.” It was all I could say as I felt my body melt against his.

“Can I wash the rest of you, too?” Cory whispered in my ear.

“That sounds nice,” I replied dreamily.

Before I knew it, Cory’s hands roamed over my entire body. Yes, my dick was hard, but it wasn’t my focus, surprisingly. It was the soapy touch, the way it made me feel valued. After he was done, Cory helped me rinse the shampoo out of my hair and I watched as the bubbles slid off my body and down the drain. When he was done, I leaned against his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“I think I like showers.”

Cory huffed a light laugh and kissed the top of my wet head. “I do, too. Especially with you. You are so beautiful, Nemo.”

I smiled against his chest, feeling happier than I ever imagined. Knowing how good it felt, I wanted to do the same for Cory. “Can I wash you now?”

“Sure thing, little one. But first…” He tilted my chin up and caught my lips in a kiss. It wasn’t hungry or devouring as some of our kisses had been. It was light and sweet, just as the rest of this moment had been.

I tried to do everything he’d done, though Cory was much taller than me, so he had to lean down so I could wash his hair. I wasn’t as smooth at washingthe rest of him, but he didn’t seem to mind, looking truly content and happy as my soapy hands roamed over him. When I got to his knee, I noticed several white ragged marks on it and traced them with my finger.

“Those are scars from my accident and the surgeries that followed.”

I stared up at him. “Oh? From when I found you?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

I stood before him and my lips turned down. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you from getting hurt.”

Cory brushed his knuckles against my cheek. “Don’t be. Don’t ever be sorry for that. It’s my own fault I got hurt. I was being reckless. But if you hadn’t shown up when you did, I don’t think I’d be here today. You saved me, Nemo. You're a saint, an angel. I owe you so much.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Being here is gift enough. I’ve thought of you every day since then, and now we’re finally together.”

“Damn, I feel so lucky. I’ve thought of you since then, too. People tried to tell me you weren’t real, that I’d imagined the whole thing, but I knew you had to be.”

I stepped closer to him. “I’m real, Cory.”

His arms went around me, and he kissed me again, harder this time. I was loving all the different kisses. So many ways for our mouths to express feelings without words.

When he pulled away, my mind returned to the scars on his knee. I’d noticed his gait was sometimes stilted. “Does it hurt still?”

Cory nodded. He turned the water off and stepped out of the tub, careful with how he placed his foot, ensuring it would hold him. It was a small movement, one I recognized from my own unsteady feet. He grabbed a fluffy fabric and wrapped it around me, drying off the water.

“Yes. At times more than others. There are some things I simply can’t do anymore, like surfing, which is why I use the kayak now. I don’t think it will ever not bother me, but it’s a hundred times better than it used to be. For a while after the accident, I wasn’t sure I would be able to walk on it again. So the pain is a nuisance, but it’s also a reminder that I lived.”

“I’m very glad you did. Though, I am sorry to know that it bothers you. If there’s any way I can help, let me know.”

He brushed my hair away from my face and kissed me once more. “You’re doing it already.”

Iwas such a goner. It had only been a few hours, and already Nemo had carved a place into my heart. Though a part of him had always been there, his face had lived in my dreams. It was ridiculous, this whole thing was ridiculous, but his complete and utter trust in me stirred this caregiver side of myself I didn’t realize was there.

I didn’t know if it was his size, his directness, or that he’d been there for me when I needed it most years ago, but I had this deep need to do whatever I could to protect him. Love at first sight? Before my accident, I would have laughed it off, but I couldn’t deny the connection I felt with him. Perhaps it was a bit of hero worship, or it could be those big brown eyes that looked at me with such awe, making me feel as if I was the one being worshipped. I didn’t know, but I was addicted already.

Grabbing another towel from under the counter, I scuffed it through my hair before drying off the rest of my body. I glanced up to see Nemo watching me, making my body feel warmer than it had under the hot water. We needed clothes. Fast. He was too open, too free, which was fantastic, but I needed to keep the blood flowing to the right head, so I could think clearly.

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