“Would you like to see why this is my favorite spot?” Kendall nodded. I sat against one of the marbled columns and pulled her up next to me, nestling her between my legs and tentacles. “Look,” I said, pointing to the city below.

It glimmered and teemed with life. “If we stay quiet, sometimes music drafts up.”

“Really?” her eyes widened. “How amazing.”

“This is where the night gets even better. See the darkened current?”

“Yes.”

“Watch.”

Kendall looked on in awe as a school of jellyfish floated in on the current. Combined with the music drifting upward, the jellyfish appeared to dance, their thin, hairlike tentacles glowing, pulsing, propelling them forward.

Her mouth opened in an O. I loved watching her experience their dance. “It never gets old.”

“Thank you for showing me, Bourne. I wish I could see it again. How often do they dance?”

“Every few rotations.”

She rested her head against my chest. “I suppose you’ll have to let me know earlier next time so I can prepare.”

It took some moments for my brain to process her words. “So you’ll stay?”

“Bourne, you didn’t have to go through the trouble of tonight to convince me to stay.”

“Oh?”

Kendall shook her head, blond hair undulating with the waves. “No. I feel at peace here. I feel more myself, more at ease and comfortable in my skin.” She laughed, raising her arm, showing off delicate scales, an outward symbol of her change. “Even though it doesn’t look like my own.”

Heat crept into my face. “I’m sorry. I wanted to save you.”

She caressed my cheek. “I’m glad you did. Don’t look so worried. I want to stay.”

“Oh,Bourne.Don’tlookso worried. Of course I’m going to stay.” I ran my fingers over the scales on his arms and chest. “I don’t want to leave. Even though I haven’t been here long, this place feels like home. You feel like home.”

He picked me up and twirled me around. “Kendall, little one, I love you. I’m glad you’re staying.” Bourne pressed his forehead against mine. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I will do everything in my power to prove to you that you made the right decision.”

“I won’t regret it. I know what I’m getting into.”

Bourne’s tentacles reached out for me.

“Can we try something?” I asked.

“Anything.”

“Stay there.” A flash of boldness entered my thoughts, and I began to sway my hips to my favorite sexy song. I’d never done a strip tease before, and I’d always thought my first time would be on land, but, whatever, I could improvise. I sashayed to the bed, gyrating my hips, squatting and standing slowly. With every motion, I inched the dress up higher before turning around and shaking my ass.

Bourne’s groan spurred me on. I bent down like I’d seen porn stars do, but I didn’t think I was doing anything nearly as sexy.

“Can I touch?”

“No.” I felt powerful. Beautiful. Wanted.

I pulled the dress over my head and climbed on the bed backward. My legs fell open and I rolled my nipples between my fingers, tugging lightly. I sucked on two fingers before baring my pussy to Bourne’s view. He groaned and reached for his cock, taking two definitive strokes. My fingers made a V shape over my clit, and I rubbed circles around it.

“Is this how you like to be pleasured?” Bourne’s voice was raspy.

“One of the ways. There are many things I enjoy,” I teased. “Do you like?” A guttural moan tore from his throat. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Bourne nodded. “Will you try something for me?”