"I couldn't agree more."
I follow him below deck to the moon pool chamber—the heart of our weird, wonderful home. The circular pool sits in the center of the space, surrounded by comfortable seating built into the walls. The lighting casts a warm glow across the water, and the room feels like the physical version of what we've been trying to build together: a perfect hybrid environment where neither of us has to compromise.
"You should change," I suggest, already pulling my shirt over my head. "Get comfortable in your real form. I want to see you properly, without holding back."
The look he gives me sends heat racing through my veins. For months, our encounters have been limited by circumstances—rushed meetings in hidden coves, careful contact in Fergus's boathouse between construction tasks, always watchingfor potential observers. Now, in our private space, those limitations are finally gone.
I strip quickly, dropping clothes wherever they land on the bench. Freedom from hiding means freedom from rushing, and I plan to take full advantage of both.
Cyreus slips into the moon pool, and I watch with familiar fascination as his human form dissolves beneath the surface. The transformation flows through him like tension releasing, his body returning to its natural state. When he surfaces again, he's entirely himself—dark red skin with burgundy undertones, multiple tentacles extending from his lower body while his upper torso keeps the human features I've grown to love.
I slide into the water beside him, the perfect temperature a stark contrast to the frigid ocean we've been working in for months. "Hello, you," I say, moving into his embrace without hesitation. "I've missed this. Missed you, exactly as you are."
"As I've missed you." His tentacles curl around me instantly, supporting my weight in the water while others start tracing the curves of my body. "These past months of limited contact have been... difficult."
"Understatement of the century." I run my hands across his chest, feeling the subtle ripple of muscle beneath skin that's smoother than any human's could be. "But we're here now. No more hiding, no more compromises, no more getting interrupted just when things are getting good."
"No more," he agrees, lifting me slightly to bring our faces level. "Just us, exactly as we're meant to be."
When he kisses me, it's with an intensity that steals my breath. I respond immediately, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing against him with months of pent-up need. The water around us warms noticeably—another of his abilities that makes him the perfect partner for a woman who spends her life diving in cold seas.
His tentacles support me effortlessly, some cradling my body while others begin more deliberate exploration. After months together, he knows my body better than anyone ever has—every sensitive spot, every preference, every reaction that signals I want more. Now, with no limitations of time or safety, he applies that knowledge with devastating precision.
A tentacle slides along my inner thigh, another traces the curve of my breast, a third supports the small of my back. I gasp into our kiss as he finds the sensitive spot between my legs, my fingers digging into his shoulders as pleasure shoots through me.
"I've thought about this," I admit against his mouth. "Every night while you were gone. Every day during construction. Having you like this, no holding back, in our own space."
"As have I." He trails kisses down my neck, his mouth cooler than a human's but warming against my skin. "The anticipation has been... excruciating."
"Show me," I demand, already breathless with desire. "Show me exactly what you've been thinking about."
He doesn't hesitate. His tentacles enfold me completely, supporting my weight while positioning me exactly where he wants me. Some wrap around my thighs, spreading my legs whileothers explore places that make my breath catch. The warm water makes everything slick and frictionless, allowing him to glide against my skin with perfect control.
One tentacle circles my entrance, teasing with gentle pressure before slowly pushing inside. I can't help the sharp cry that escapes me as my body clenches around the intrusion, welcoming him in ways no words could express. Another appendage finds my clit, circling with a rhythm that makes me moan his name.
"More," I urge him, my head falling back as pleasure builds. "I want to feel all of you."
He complies immediately, more tentacles joining the intimate exploration. One wraps around my breast, applying gentle suction that sends sparks shooting down to my core. Another traces patterns along my neck and collarbones, finding that spot behind my ear that always makes me shiver. Two more support my thighs, keeping me perfectly positioned as he pleasures me.
I've never experienced anything like making love with Cyreus. The coordination of multiple points of contact, each moving with independent purpose yet synchronized perfectly, creates a symphony of sensation that no human partner could achieve. Each tentacle knows exactly how much pressure to apply, exactly when to increase or decrease stimulation, exactly how to build pleasure without overwhelming.
"Cyreus," I gasp as one particular movement sends electricity shooting through my body. "Oh god, yes, right there."
He maintains the exact pressure and motion that pulled that response from me, focusing with laser precision on the spot thatmakes me tremble in his grasp. Another tentacle joins the first inside me, stretching me in ways that border on too much but never cross that line, while curling to find my g-spot with unerring accuracy. My breathing turns ragged, my muscles tensing as I approach the edge.
"Not yet," he murmurs against my ear, the harmonics in his voice sending shivers down my spine. "We have all day, all night. No need to rush."
He eases the stimulation slightly, drawing me back from the brink while continuing to pleasure me with less intensity. I groan in frustration, though we both know I'm enjoying the extended build.
"Tease," I accuse, the word coming out as more of a plea than a complaint.
"Anticipation enhances the experience." He shifts our position, bringing me to the edge of the moon pool where a built-in ledge provides support. "And I intend for this experience to be unforgettable."
He arranges me on the ledge, the water still covering my lower body while my upper torso emerges into the air. The position gives him perfect access to every part of me simultaneously—his upper body and hands free to explore above water while his tentacles continue their attention below.
He takes his time now, rediscovering my body as if it's the first time. His hands trace my face, my neck, my shoulders with reverent attention. His mouth follows, tasting and teasing in equal measure. When he takes my nipple between his lips, thecombined sensation with his tentacles still working between my legs nearly sends me over the edge.
"Cyreus," I gasp, tangling my hands in his hair to hold him against my breast. "Please, I need—"