Page 32 of Little Saint Nautilus

My cirri reached behind me, sliding over Cory’s waist and legs. They squeezed and pulled him tighter, snugging us together so that nothing could pull us apart.

Cory rubbed his chin on top of my head reassuringly. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

With him there, feeling him, hearing him, I was able to relax enough to sleep.

It was a fitful sleep, but each time I stirred awake, I would feel him, both against my back and through my cirri, reminding me he was here with me. My human-shell mate gave me enough comfort that I was able to tuck back into him and fall asleep again.

I woke with a shout when a high-pitched tone sounded. Cory jerked behind me and then I felt him relax. “It's all right. That's my alarm I have set to wake me up. I'll turn it off.”

He relaxed his grip around my waist and chest, but when he tried to move, he couldn't. Cory let out a chuckle. “Can you get your cirri to let me go?”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot they were holding you.” I called them back in, shifting to my human form.

“You don't have to be sorry. It was nice, like being spooned frontand back.”

Cory rolled away from me and picked up his phone, stopping the obnoxious sound. I turned around to look at him. His furry chest and stomach were on display as he stretched his arms and rolled his head from side to side. “What do you meanspooned?”

“Hold on, I'll show you.” My mate walked across the room to the kitchen. I sat up in the bed, curious to see what he was doing. When he returned, he held two utensils in his hands. “Spoons, right? When you stack them in the same direction, they nestle together.”

He put one on top of the other and I could see how the rounded side of one sat perfectly inside the other, and even the stems lined up. It was like Cory moving my body until it could line up with his. “So we were the spoons?”

Cory sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hand on my leg. “Yes, we were spoons orspooning.Did it help?”

I nodded. “Yes. It helped. You made a good temporary shell.”

He leaned forward and caught my mouth in a gentle kiss. “Good. I’m glad I could help.” He hesitated for a moment, his lips quirking to the side in thought. “Normally, I would be getting ready to head to the beach to get some kayak-surfing in before I open the shop, but I can wait. Idoneed to work today, though. The next couple of days are bound to be really busy, and it would be foolish of me to miss out on it. You can stay here and watch more Christmas movies if you like.”

I leaned forward. “I want to go with you. I don’t think I’m ready to be here by myself.”

Cory gave me a half-smile. “Okay. I’d be happy to have you with me. I just don’t want it to be boring for you.”

“No. Not boring. I can help, too, if you show me what to do.” I wanted to be useful, and the thought of sitting and waiting for him all day made the panic Cory helped me fight off last night prickle under my skin.

“I’d be happy to. In fact, I have a shipment coming in today, so you can help me tag and organize everything.”

Having a job wasn’t necessary in the ocean. One’s job was simply to survive. As scary as the human world seemed to be, every second of the day wasn’t filled. There was more time for leisure, and well, I wasn’t exactly sure how humans filled their days. Being given a task felt nice. With all the ways Cory had helped me, I liked the idea of being able to do something for him, too.

“You can still do your kayak-surfing, Cory. I don’t want you to miss the things you love because of me.”

He brushed his knuckles across my cheek. “I wouldn’t consider spending time with you to be missing out on anything.”

My heart did that little flutter it did when he touched me so sweetly. “If you keep saying things like that, I might change my mind and keep you for myself.”

“I’m already yours, Nemo.” Cory gave me a wink. “But if you really don’t mind, I would like to hit the water. Asidefrom waking up with you, it’s my favorite way to start the day.”

“I really don’t mind. I think I’d like to watch you. I’ve only ever seen it from below.”

Cory smiled and stood up, pulling me with him. “Let’s get moving, then.” He gave my ass a pat as he pushed me toward the bathroom.

We parked in the lot at the beach, and I helped Cory unload his kayak from the back of the truck. As soon as the smell of the sea reached my nose, I was hit with a powerful mixture of emotions. Longing, sadness, comfort, rightness. Perhaps coming today wasn’t the smartest decision, not so soon after losing my shell.

Cory must have noticed I stopped following him, and he set the kayak’s cart down and hurried to me. “I can take you back home.”

I shook my head, trying to shake the dread away. “No! No, I don’t want you to do that. We’re here. I’ll be okay. I just wasn’t expecting…so much.”

“Will you tell me if you change your mind?” he asked softly.

I loved how considerate Cory was of my needs. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle being by the water without going in it, but I was going to try. Even if all I wanted was to hide away from the world, my shell was gone, which meant I couldn’t. For all I knew, I might never get it back. I would have to learn how to adapt.

---