Page 33 of Little Saint Nautilus

Cory ran his hand over his hair, but then his eyes brightened. “Wait! I have an idea!”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“I’ll show you. Let’s get down to the water.”

Curiosity helped push out some of the dread within. I walked beside him as he wheeled the kayak across the sand and parked it near the edge of the water. Cory took off his jacket and pants, revealing a skin-tight black-and-blue outfit that covered him from his ankles to his neck. Then he grabbed another piece of clothing from the kayak that he slipped his arms into and zipped up his chest.

He scanned me and clicked his tongue. “I don’t have a life vest for you, but then…you don’t really need one.”

“What’s it for?”

“It’s a buoyant vest that can help keep you at the surface if you fall into the water. I started wearing one after my accident, so I would never be in the same position again.”

“I am very glad that you do, but I would be able to protect you if something were to happen. And no, I wouldn’t need it to save me. I am a strong swimmer.” Even without my shell. I might not be able to shift into my nautilus form, nor would I be able to stay in the ocean. I was vulnerable to predators without it, but it wouldn’t stop me from being able to help Cory.Nothingwould stop me from helping Cory. The determination to be there for him filled me and helped pull me out of my own woe.

He grinned. “And the cold water doesn’t bother you, either, right?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I am perfectly comfortable in cold water.”

“Okay, good, because I don’t have a wetsuit for you.” He pointed to the suit he wore. “It provides insulation. I’m afraid you’ll have to keep your pants on, but you are welcome to take your shirt off to keep it dry.”

I was wearing a light green matching set today. I liked the white because it reminded me of my shell’s interior, but I found changing colors made me feel excited. It looked completely different against my skin and was an easy way to have a different appearance. But… I much preferred being naked to any form of clothing. Without knowing why, I happily shrugged out of my shirt and added it to Cory’s pile.

He pursed his lips in amusement. “Okay, first things first. I have to let Gramps know I’m going out on the water. It’s the rule, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to know I’m not alone. Afterward, I’m going to push the kayak into the water, and once it’s deep enough, I’ll get in. You can sit between my legs. It’s not really meant for two people, but you’re small enough, so I think it will work just fine.”

Understanding dawned on me. “Oh! You want me to surf with you?”

“What do you think? Are you willing to give it a try?”

Riding on top of the water? It wasn’t something I’d ever done. I’d played in currents and let the tides move me, but I’d never experienced the power of the ocean from above. Except for when I had helped Cory and got him to safety after his accident. The idea of it was scary without the protection of my shell, but I would be above the water, not in it. And as Cory said, I would be fine if I fell into the water. Maybe Icoulddo it.

“Yes. I think I would like to try it.”

“We can paddle out past the waves and hang out where it’s calm. We don’t have to ride the waves. It’s up to you.”

I nodded and stared out at the ocean. A pain gripped my heart when I looked at it. Even more so as my toes touched the edge of the water. It almost felt like I was a visitor instead of someone who’d lived their entire life in the sea.

The water lapped at my pants, making the material cling to my skin. Cory pushed the kayak, and I trudged behind, fighting to keep my cirri within and not shift into my hybrid form. When we stood a few feet deep, Cory handed me the paddle to hold while he climbed on top of the kayak.

“All right, hop in, and you can sit here.” He patted the space between his legs as he pushed them as wide as the kayak allowed. Cory held out his hand to hold me while I lifted my leg over his, careful not to bump his bad knee. Once I was in, I turned around until my back was to hischest. An arm wrapped around me and pulled until I was snug against him. It was a tight fit, but I didn’t mind being wedged in with Cory. Aside from my shell, in his embrace was my favorite place to be. I only wished he didn’t have the thick life vest on, so I could feel his chest against my back.

Cory’s arms were on either side of me and he held the paddle across us. “How are you feeling? Is this okay?”

Sitting in the kayak and looking down at the water was an entirely unique experience. We floated above, and though we were in the shallows, I knew there was a whole world beneath us.Myworld. It was surreal, and yet, it wasn’t all bad. “I’m…strangely a little excited.”

Cory leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “That’s great! I think you’re going to like this. Just a little warning, though. I might jostle you a bit when I paddle with us sitting so close.”

“That’s okay. You can jostle me however much you’d like.” I was simply happy to be this close to him and get to be a part of something he loved doing.

He dipped one side of the paddle into the water, pushing it back, and then the other side. My body tilted from side to side with each movement, his shoulders moving me with each pass of the blades. We started picking up speed and burst over the top of a small swell, making a soundpop out of me. “E-yah.”

Cory chuckled. As we reached the bigger waves, he had to work harder to push us through them. I was fascinated by watching the smooth, fluid movement he had with the paddle. My hands slid down his arms, feeling his muscles tighten. With my touch, I could feel his cock grow hard against my ass, so much so that I wiggled back to feel it better. It made me happy to know I could have such an effect with a simple touch. Or maybe it was because we were surfing. Did it make him hard, too?

I wiggled again, loving the way it felt, and wishing I could get even closer than his life vest allowed. Cory chuckled. “You gotta stop that, little one, or I’m not going to be able to concentrate.”

“Does surfing always stimulate you?”

He laughed and pushed us through another wave. “In many ways, yes. It’s an adrenaline rush, but no, if you’re talking about my cock, that’s all because of you.”

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