Page 21 of Little Saint Nautilus

It might have been a little over-protective, but I wasn’t the only one who'd been hurt by my accident. Physically, yes, that was all me, but I knew it had been really hard on my family, too. My mom didn’t bother me as much as long as she knew I stayed in touch with Gramps. Communication with him was non-negotiable.

“Good. Now, your Nemo, here? Is this a one-time thing, or is he going to be around for a while?” My grandfather asked.

I looked down at the petite man at my side, who gazed back at me with a longing expression. It held a hint of worry, too. Worry about us? I didn’t know what would happen with him, but I couldn’t imagine letting him walk, or swim, out of my life now. “I hope he’ll be around for a while.”

Nemo gave me a slight smile. My grandfather clapped his hands, drawing our attention away from each other. “Excellent. Then you’ll join us for Christmas Eve dinner, won’t you?”

“Oh? For your holiday? That is a special event, is it not?” Nemo asked.

“Yes, it is.”

Nemo bobbed his head excitedly. “Yes. I would very much like that, thank you, Cory’s grandfather.”

My grandpa smiled warmly, clearly won over by the man as much as I had been, well, maybe notas much, but I was happy to see him received well by someone whose opinion meant more to me than anyone else.

“Well, I guess I’d better let you two get back to whatever it is you were doing.”

“It’s okay, we aren’t having any more sex right now. Cory said we have to wait.”

My cheeks flared hot, even as I couldn’t stop the grin. I might have to have a discussion with Nemo about the difference between private and public information. Luckily, my grandfather just laughed and waved goodbye before closing the door behind him.

I pulled Nemo into my arms and kissed him hard. He really was something else. And now I didn’t have to hide him either, not that I’d planned to. In fact, my grandfather was the furthest thing from my mind when it came to Nemo. Now it was out there, and he would be joining us for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Already, I could picture him with my family. Something I’d never been able to do with other guys I’d been with. There was just something about Nemo that had him fitting right into my life as if he always was meant to be there.

“I like your elder, Cory. He seems very nice.”

“He is. He’s a really important part of my life.”

“And you introduced me, like you said you would, with my name and everything. I’m so happyyou named me.” Nemo pushed up on his toes until our mouths met, and he played his tongue over mine. Fuck, this man had me wrapped around his fingers… and cirri.

When he settled back down on the flats of his feet, I brushed his hair aside. “Is there anything you want to see or do today? Whatever it is, I’m happy to take you.”

Nemo’s eyes fell, and he stared between us. “I’m not entirely sure. Your home feels like a safe place in the middle of the human world. I don’t know if I’m ready for anything else. And well…”

When he stopped talking and bent to rest his forehead against my chest, concern flared through me. I rubbed his back. “What? What is it?”

“Well, I don’t want to leave, because I like being with you very much, but I’d really like to get my shell. I’ve never been away from it for this long before.”

His shell. Shit, I’d completely forgotten. It was a big deal that he’d even come with me, knowing he was leaving it behind. I didn’t understand that when I first offered, but I did now, sort of. As much as Icouldunderstand based on my limited experience.

“Of course, little one. Let me get dressed, and I’ll take you back to the beach.”

Nemo pressed his cheek against my bare chest. “Thank you.”

The ride back was a quiet one. Nemo watched the sights through the windows again, and I was lost in my thoughts.His shell. What would happen when he got it? Would he want to retreat into it as he said he often did? Would he want to return to the sea to be in his nautilus form? Would he show me that part of him?

I had no right to feel a claim on him after mere hours. It was mid-afternoon, and I had only just found him that morning. It was completely unreasonable to feel such a weight at the idea of him leaving, but I couldn’t fathom knowing what I knew now about who and what he was and suddenly having to go back to a boring existence without a man with tentacles. I needed to say something, to let him know I wanted more time with him.

Though he had agreed to Christmas Eve, which was in five days. He might not know the calendar days, but he seemed thrilled about it. I really liked the idea of having him there. I even imagined him in my home on Christmas morning as we opened presents by the tree. A tree I didn’t have. Getting one suddenly felt like a top priority.

“I think I should get a Christmas tree,” I announced into the silence of the truck’s cab.

Nemo turned to face me and wore a sad smile. “I think that would be very nice.”

“Would you want to help me decorate it?”

His eyes lit up, and the worry on his face lessened. It was still there, beneath the surface, but seeing him respond positively made me feel better. “Yes, Cory. It would make me very happy to decorate it with you.”

“We’ll get your shell first, okay? Then you can help me pick out a tree.”

---