Page 31 of Kept By the Kraken

“Because from the moment I met you, I felt the same way I did that first time I looked at the ocean.”

“What way is that?” I ask softly.

“Like I was home.”

Those words land in my soul. I brush my hand along her cheek, trace her cute nose. “It was reckless.”

“It was worth it.” She gives me a saucy wink before turning serious, cupping my cheek. “Your family died. It’s an awful loss.”

I try to pull away from her, but she wraps her legs around me like tentacles and marches on.

“And you didn’t have anyone to grieve with. You didn’t only lose them, you lost everyone. I felt like I lost my whole world when I left Daniel. But even though I thought it sometimes, andblamed myself, the truth is that it wasn’t my fault. This wasn’t your fault either.”

My chest rumbles, but it’s not my Beast.

“You won’t win,” she says. “You know deep down I’m right. Because if you’re at fault, then I am too.”

I shake my head. I’ve given in to Penelope and the bond between us, but I don’t know how to let go of this.

“I’m not saying you have to believe it today. I don’t always believe my own truth. I have to remind myself often. The voices in our heads can be pressing and easy to listen to. But I’m gonna keep telling you it isn’t your fault, and maybe one day you’ll believe it.”

“Then I guess that means I’ll need to remind you every day that you’re beautiful and clever and sexy.” I wrap my hands around her and climb off the couch.

“Yes. I agree,” she teases, kissing my neck and collarbone. “Now take me to bed and remind me you’re my only one.”

Chapter 17

Penelope

“Is that the last of it besides the laptop—” Bjorn stands open-mouthed in the doorway of the bathroom of my rental. “Fuck, you look sexy in that.”

He stalks toward me in the small space and crowds my back, placing his hands on my hips and slowly circling them around my waist. His head falls on my shoulder, looking at me in the mirror.

Most of the time I wear leggings and jeans, T-shirts, or wetsuits. I like to be comfortable, and they make me feel cute. Today, I chose one of the few skirts I brought and paired it with a cropped T-shirt and sweater. It’s still casual. Hell, my usual rain boots are still in place. But the way he’s looking at me now makes me feel incredible.

When I gained weight in grad school, the changes in my body didn’t bother me like they did my ex. I was neutral about it most of the time and never tried to actively lose weight. Most days I like how I look. But it hurt that my husband didn’t find me attractive anymore. It feels good to be wanted like this, to hear that Bjorn finds me sexy and see it confirmed in the heat of his gaze.

Our little bubble out at the preserve is about to burst. We came to pack my stuff from the rental and grab some things from town. I need to head back to work tomorrow. Even though I want my stuff, I’m a little nervous about going back to the real world.

Being with him has been like a dream and I don’t know if I’m ready to wake up.

He kisses my neck where his claim is visible. It looks like a tattooed necklace, the skin slightly raised. That’s gonna raise some questions.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Yeah. Let me delete the files and we can go.” I smile at him in the mirror and tug on his hand around my waist.

I make quick work of deleting the files and wiping the camera card, handing it off to Bjorn when I’m finished. “It’s gone. I’ll protect your secret.”

“It’s ours now,” he says, handing me back the card. “And I trust you.”

His warm palm finds the small of my back and he leads me outside. I lock the door but don’t linger. This place was never my home, but where I’m going will be.

Bjorn helps me up into his Jeep, his hand on my ass as he places me inside. He leans over and buckles my seatbelt, pulling it snug and giving me a heated glance as my nipples pucker against my T-shirt in response. “Behave, Wildcat. The drive to town is short.”

On the ride, he places his hand on my knee, his thumb brushing right at the soft spot of my lower thigh. I uncross my legs and open my knees slightly, teasing him. The rumble in his chest makes me shiver as his warm, calloused hand travels farther up my thigh. He squeezes, and the tips of his fingers brush along my underwear.

He groans. “Such a needy little mate. Can you get off on my fingers like this?” He teases me between my legs, brushing his knuckles up and down my center.

---