Page 28 of Crossing Between
"Please don't hate me, Elias. I like you." Her voice was muffled against my torn shirt, but the tone ripped into my heart. "I like all of you." Her whisper was hard to hear, but I tipped her chin up. Her eyebrows were pulled down. She looked like she expected me to blow up at her, which I couldn't blame her for. I had done so before.
"You mean you like Varon and Kenji?" My tone was teasing. "Can I tell you a secret?"
She nodded, confusion evident on her face.
"I'm in love with Kenji and have enjoyed Varon's body before. I wouldn't mind cracking his hardened heart with my suckers." My lips turned into a smirk as her mouth dropped at my statement.
Her giggle rang out along the empty hallway, and I pulled her into my room. "You're in love with Kenji? You've had sex with Varon?"
Her pupils were blown out, signaling she liked the thought of it. That made me smirk even more. Maybe this could work out, and I wouldn't have to choose between my yearnings and my mate. They could both become one.
Now, if only I could convince her to believe it could work and to trust me.
"Would you like to hear about my deep-seated love for the annoying oni and my lust-filled thoughts of our gracious boss?" I attempted to wiggle my shoulders in a way to get her to laugh again. I looked ridiculous, so it worked as her laughter rang around us. Score one for team tentacles.
"I think you just told me." Her smile made my kraken preen as he snapped his mouth in an attempt to smile as well. I rolled my eyes internally. "It's late, but I couldn't fall asleep thinking you were angry at me or hated me." Zoey stepped back from within my arms and rubbed her own crossed arms. "We should get some rest, though," her eyes went around me. "Did you have a fight with Kenji or something? Your room is....well...destroyed."
"Oh." I cleared my throat as I rubbed the back of my neck in shame. "I lost control of my kraken for a little bit. He was agitated with me for upsetting you." It was embarrassing.
"You can't sleep in here. There's no furniture left." Zoey's lips were twitching, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at me again, but I deserved it. "Come with me. My room has a big enough bed to share." She turned around, her shoes made soft tap noises as she walked away from me. "I promise that I won't jump you in your sleep, even if I want to, I'm falling asleep." She winked at me as she got to her door and opened it. "If you're worried, I think the couch might be big enough for you."
My kraken roared at me defiantly, as if I would say no to getting to share a bed with my mate, even if it was just to sleep. I was going to make up for my fumbling with her. Zoey was a beautiful curvy woman who stole my heart the second we touched, and our mate mark formed, but I'd been too stubborn. Now I wouldn't be. She deserved to be cherished body and soul.
Particularly body first. My cock strained against my pants as I watched her crawl into the bed before she pulled the comforter over herself. I discreetly adjusted myself as I went to the other side of the bed and got in, staying above the blankets, on my side.
Even though there was no light in the room, my eyes could see easily. Zoey faced me, a soft smile on her face. She reached her palm out to lay against my chest over my heart. It began rising.
"Today has been a whirlwind for everyone, hasn't it?" She held back a yawn before she was suddenly closer to me, with her head on my chest next to her hand. "We have so much more to learn tomorrow. I just hope I can handle it."
I pulled her as close as I could without having our hips meet. It wouldn't do to have her feel my erection. Small steps were needed right now to gain my mate's trust again.
"Whatever happens tomorrow, we're all in your corner."
Chapter 20: Zoey
Morning sunlight filtered through the window. There were birds chirping happily outside, and it promised to be a beautiful day.
Fuck. That. Shit.
Those fucking birds were getting a pillow thrown at their nest if they didn't shut up soon.
A groan slipped out as I sat up in bed, my eyes trying to focus. Last night came back to me in a rush and it just made me want to crawl back under the blankets and pretend nothing was wrong in the world. This mattress felt like I was engulfed within a cloud and I needed it at home.
Admitted to the men I had crushes on that I was an illegal magical being?
Check.
Told that I wasn't said magical being but something even more rare?
Check.
Not to mention I had my blood sucked for the first time and wanted to jump on my boss's cock and ride it off into the sunset. That had been very professional.
I rubbed the bridge between my eyes with a rough huff.
Caffeine. I needed something to get my eyes open all the way and working before I tried to tackle the day.
Throwing off the blankets from my legs, I swung them off to the side when a grunt made me pause. It hadn't been me.
