Page 40 of Nora's Kraken

She glances at the wall of kitchen windows looking out over the yard. Already, the morning clouds are breaking up with what looks to be another glorious day of autumn sun.

“I don’t know about you,” she says, standing from her seat and reaching casually—so casually, like she’s done it a thousand times—to loop her arms around my neck. “But I could use some fresh air somewhere away from Seattle.”

14

Nora

Daniel is in Seattle.

First and foremost, I’m relieved to know I wasn’t actually seeing things last night. Hedidwalk down the street outside the shop. I’m not anxiety-ridden to the point of seeing things that aren’t actually there.

Well, probably. I guess it’s still possible it could have been his Seattle doppelgänger, but I’m choosing to believe I was right.

Beyond that relief, I’m torn.

Even as we finish breakfast, and even as Elias leads me outside to where his SUV’s parked in the driveway, I can’t quite make myself calm down.

I want to be rational about this. I want to be reasonable. Daniel being in the city for business with the Bureau makes sense. There’s absolutely no reason to think he’s here because he knows I’m here, or that I’m in any danger at all.

I just wish it wasn’t happening.

Still, I manage to logic myself out of panic-spiraling as we pull out of Elias’s driveway and start heading north. The further we get away from the city, the more I relax.

The day is beautiful and bright. I have a handsome kraken beside me who only wants to spend time with me, who gave me the best orgasm of my life this morning, and who’s shown me over the last twenty-four hours that he’s not going anywhere, even when I’m a mess.

And, even beyond that, fuck Daniel.

Today, I don’t care about what happened between us or how it ended. I have my own life. I have a whole day with Elias to spend just how I want, and I’m determined not to let Daniel ruin it.

Elias is surprising me again today, and I’m more than willing to let him.

The road opens up wide before us, and I take in the passing scenery eagerly. Despite living here for three years, I haven’t gotten out of Seattle all that much. Partly because I don’t have a car and partly because between my limited funds and my busy work schedule, there just hasn’t been the opportunity. It makes today feel all that much more like a treat.

We chat as we drive, not diving into any deep waters or fraught topics. Elias has one hand on the wheel, the other holding mine on the center console, and I can’t stop myself from looking over at him again and again. It brightens my mood even further, enough that by the time he turns off the road, I’ve almost found my even keel again.

When he pulls the vehicle into line at the ferry terminal in Mukilteo, I perk up in my seat. “Where are we going?”

Elias smiles at me, looking pleased by my reaction. “Whidbey Island. There are a few spots I thought we could visit.”

Once we’re parked on the ferry, we leave the vehicle and go to stand at the side of the boat, watching the mainland coastline recede. I’m leaned up against the railing, and when he comes to stand behind me, hands braced on either side of me as he makes a protective cage of his body, he hesitates for a moment.

I crane my neck back to look up at him, finding him staring down at me with a slightly sheepish expression on his handsome face.

“Is this alright?” he asks, voice low and soft and just for me.

I laugh. “You have to ask, after everything we did this morning?”

A satisfied rumble kicks up in his chest and he leans in, kissing the tip of my nose before fitting his body more closely to mine.

“Have you been?” he asks, nodding toward the island.

I shake my head. “No, I haven’t gotten out of the city all that much since I moved here.”

When he answers, I can hear the smile in his voice. “Well, then, just all the more places I might have the privilege of sharing with you.”

I smile, too, closing my eyes and reveling in the feel of the salt air and the breeze on my face. When I open them again, I can sense Elias’s gaze on me, and throw him a questioning look over my shoulder.

“What?”

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