Page 30 of Little Saint Nautilus

He started at the button on my jeans as if trying to work out how to undo it. Nemo reached out and felt the button from the outside, as well as dipping a finger into the waistband to feel it from the inside, making me suck in a quick breath. I could have shown him or instructed him, but apparently, I was in it for the torment, because I said nothing. He went at it with both hands, pushing and pulling, his tongue sticking out in concentration. It was the most adorable thing ever. His determination to figure it out was only out-cuted by his little cheer when the button slipped free from the hole. Yup, I was a goner.

The zipper was easier to figure out, and he had it unzipped with my jeans rolled down my legs in a moment. When his hands returned to my boxer briefs, my hard cock barely contained, I stopped him. “I think I'll keep those on, thank you.” I needed some sort of barrier to keep me using thehead upstairs and not give in to what Nemo so willingly offered.

Nemo stood and gave my arm a squeeze. “Lay down and rest your leg, Cory. I can take care of my own clothes.”

I would have protested, but I didn't know how much longer I could keep myself in control and undressing him might have made me throw this whole slow-courting thing out the window. Throwing back the covers, I did as he said, though I may have enjoyed the show of watching him remove his shirt and pants.

He'd been commando under them all day. I didn't sell underwear in my shop, and it didn't occur to grab some when we were shopping for the tree. I should ask, though with his sensitivity to materials, I wasn't sure he would want to wear something else underneath, but he should have the option. I'd ask him later. Not right now, with him standing there gloriously naked. Fuck, such a beautiful, lithe body that I desperately wanted to touch.

“Do you need anything to help with your knee?”

I wasn't used to having anyone look after me, but it was nice. He was so sweet, and I wasperhapsmore than smitten already. “Maybe one of those small pillows from the couch so I can prop my knee up.”

He tilted his head for a moment. “Actually, I think I can help with that, if you would be willing to let me.”

I had noidea what he had in mind, but after his cirri trick, I'd already decided I would be open to trying whatever he wanted. “I'm willing.”

Nemo smiled and crawled into bed next to me. I felt a strange whir of energy and jumped when a cirrus slid over my leg. Nemo flicked his eyes to mine, checking if I was okay. I gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, just surprised me. It's still a new sensation, but it's not bad, I promise.”

“I understand.” He placed his hand on my cheek, keeping my attention on him, as dozens of cirri slid over my good leg, which was closer to him, before they slithered beneath my bad knee. So many appendages touching my skin with their ends flicking over me like a lizard tasting the air with its tongue, only it wasa lotof tongues. It tickled in ways that both fascinated and turned me the hell on. My knee lifted, cushioned by Nemo's cirri, like my own customized support, naturally contouring to my body's shape. It was unreal, but also kind of incredible.

“Is this okay?” Nemo asked carefully. I knew he was eager to help, but he also sounded small and vulnerable.

“Is it possible to lift a little higher under the center?” As soon as I asked, his cirri adjusted and gave my knee a slight bend, making it the perfect, relaxed position which relieved the pressure. “Ah. Yes, right there. And yes, it's okay. In fact, it feels perfect, just the right support where I need it. Is it…comfortable for you?”

Nemo smiled. “Yes. My cirri like touching you. I feel this sense of satisfaction from them, and it's nice to know I can help you.”

Seeing the flesh-colored cables snaking across my thigh and lifting my other knee looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, but as it turns out, I was definitely into it. Reaching down, I caressed my hand over the cirri, making them contract in response, squeezing me lightly. They had grooves and ridges I found really enticing. I ran my hand over them again, and Nemo giggled.

“You said no sex, but your touch excites them, so if you keep doing that, I can't guarantee they won't pursue more and it will be your own fault.”

“Fuck, okay, I'll stop.” We both let out a disappointed groan when I moved my hand away. Some of the cirri supporting my knee released their secretions, adhering to my skin. They began contacting and relaxing in a way that felt like several small fingers giving me a massage. Somehow, they were able to target the exact areas I needed it most. I let out a loud sigh and felt my entire body relax into the mattress. I used to get regular massages as part of my rehab and physical therapy, but it was something I'd neglected over the last couple of years.

“That feels really good, Nemo.”

“Good. Just relax and let me take care of you.” Nemo rubbed his smooth cheek against my scratchy one, then kissed my nose.

My leg's weightlessness and the soothing palpitations had my eyes closing before long as I sank into blissful rest.

Watching Cory fall asleep, knowing I'd been able to help ease his pain, made me feel as content and satisfied as my cirri did. It was, admittedly, even better than the way it felt when Cory brought me to completion in the morning.

I stared at him for a while, studying him without him seeing. His lips were parted slightly and he let out soft huffs in a slow rhythm. With his eyes closed, I missed seeing the dark ocean swells in them, but the corners were no longer pinched in pain. Cory looked so peaceful and overwhelmingly beautiful in this state. His short yellow hair was ruffled, and I itched to play with it, but I didn't want to disturb him. So I stared instead.

After a while, the novelty of watching him wore off and my attention waned. Unfortunately, without something to focus on, my mind began to swim. Soon it returned tothe cove, to the cavern where I dug frantically, trying to find my shell. Digging over and over, covering every inch of the small cave. The panic I felt then was creeping back in. Any warmth I’d felt within me from my time with Cory had dissipated and a chill began sweeping back in.

My shell. It was gone.

Gone. Gone. Gone. The words became a whirlpool, catching me in its strong currents, pulling me under until I got pummeled into the depths. The whirlpool wouldn’t be a problem for me if I had my shell to protect me. The worst that would happen would be getting disoriented, but it would be righted quickly with my cirri puzzling out where I ended up. Now I had no shell. I wasn’t even safe from a fictional whirlpool.

Fictional. I’d learned the word from Cory when we were watching the movie about the snowman. It was fun, and watching the couple fall in love made my heart happy, but I connected with it in a way, too. The snowman had to learn what the human world was like, but his girlfriend never cared. Just like Cory. He didn’t care that I was different. In fact, it seemed he was rather intrigued by all three of my forms.

Not three.It would never be three forms again without my shell. I couldn’t change into my nautilus form, and I couldn’t return to a life at sea. It was dark outside; the city was quieter. Too quiet. I was used to the constant whirlsand whooshes from the constant movement and the songs of other sea creatures.

Movement? Not here. Not now. The room felt too still.Ifelt too still. Cory’s chest rising and falling was the only rhythmic sound in the room. I pressed my ear to his chest and closed my eyes. Hearing the ba-bumps beneath me helped, but it wasn’t enough to surround me. To make me feel as I did when I was underwater.

I didn’t sway and rock back and forth on the bed, no ocean currents to cradle me. Still. Quiet. Big.

Aside from the short rest I’d had after Cory and I had sex, I usually slept in my nautilus form. Confined within its pearly walls, tucked in, safe, and secure. Cory’s apartment felt as if it had tripled in size. There was nothing to bind me and hold me tight. My arms and legs were loose, just hanging there. My cirri were occupied, but even then, I felt stretched too big.

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