Page 3 of Party With the Kraken
Doc Calla told us these creatures are humans from the city, but they’re all well aware that most of us from the island are not human. Since Doc Calla doesn’t have a second form and these humans are close enough friends to be invited to her birthday party, I don’t think they’ll be scared of Beck and me.
I mean, Doc Calla’s a goblin who looks like a goblin. Three feet tall and green with ears bigger than the jewelry usually dangling from them. When I’m in my shifted form I think I pass for ahuman. Beck totally does too. Maybe. If his hair wasn’t so shiny and his dragon scales didn’t appear randomly he totally could.
I hop onto the dock reserved for Starry Hill boats, the one farthest away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the harbor, and spot a couple of creatures at the same time Beck does.
“Gird your loins. Here they come,” I say, and slap Beck on the shoulder.
He frowns back at me. “What does this have to do with my loins?”
“Nothing. Unless you want it to.” I wink back at him and his frown deepens. One day I’m going to get him to double over with laughter. Giving it another try, I say, “Tell me which one you don’t like and I’ll squirt some ink at them.”
Beck’s head rears back. “Why would you do that?” After a second his expression shifts as if a new thought has occurred to him. “Do you have your ink problem under control now?”
I wince and scratch at the back of my neck. “Uh, yeah. Nurse Tilly gave me some… pointers on how to control it. I’m managing myself very well now.”
“Good. I guess it would be uncomfortable for guests if you were to shake their hands only for them to end up covered in kraken ink.”
A blush blooms across my cheeks and I quickly try to laugh it off. “No more accidental leaking for me.”
I don’t need to tell Beck about my stash of kraken cum at home and how regularly I have to jack myself off in order to get rid of the excessive amount of ink coursing through my body. Nor do I tell him that I sell it online for artists who like to paint with the unique color. Beck’s cool, but we’re not close enough for that kind of personal information exchange.
I scan the group of humans walking toward us, but when my eyes land on the purple-haired goddess strolling casually behindthem with her eyes fixed on the ocean, my blood freezes in my veins before it buzzes and barrels straight to my cock.
I’m in love. Surely that female is mine. There’s no way the universe would be this cruel and show the most perfect specimen only for her to not be available.
The goddess joins the group, smiling sweetly at us, and I almost forget how to breathe.
Oh fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck. Act cool. Don’t let her know you have no game. Don’t leak ink. Think before you talk. Smooth and steady. Unaffected. Cool.
Her hair is tied in two knots on either side of her head, tendrils of soft purple hair draping around her fine-boned face. Eyes, the same shade as the water in Kraken Cove on a bright day, and a smattering of freckles decorate her nose and cheeks—possibly other parts of her body too. Plump pink lips that look like they’re ready to burst into a smile at a moment’s notice, and a body meant for tentacles to wrap around and explore.
I’m in big trouble. How am I going to make her think I’m interesting enough to talk to? Come on, Viggo. Think of a plan.
Step one: Keep her away from the other single creatures.
Step two: Entertain her, make sure she has the time of her life today—and tonight.
Step three: Make her fall in love with you.
I can do that, right?
Blinking out of my thoughts and into the present, I subtly wipe at the drool gathering in the corners of my mouth, and belatedly tune in to Beck’s formal greeting, only catching the tail end of his instructions.
“We’ll be underway soon. By my count, we’re waiting for one more to join us. Once they arrive, I’ll ask you to please board mine and Viggo’s boats. There’s more than enough room for all.”
Seeing the opportunity, I step forward and weave through the group until I’m standing in front of the goddess, blood rushingthrough my ears louder than a stormy sea. I quickly run a hand through my wavy hair, lift my chin, and put on my most charming grin. “Hi, I’m Viggo. It would be my honor to escort you to Starry Hill today.”
She arches a single brow at me, but those luscious lips curve ever so slightly upward. In a voice sweeter than honey, and a tone laced with mischief, she says, “Viggo, you say? That’s a nice name. I’m Juniper.”
She likes my name. One point in my favor. If I say, “I wonder what you’ll sound like screaming it later,” that would be too forward, right? Yes. Small steps. Let’s see what else I can make her like about me before I make her scream.
The rest of the world disappears as I zone in on my sole focus for today. Possibly for the rest of my life.
“Juniper,” I say on a dreamy sigh.Oops, was my new-found devotion too obvious?“Juniper,” I repeat more neutrally, and finally remember my manners, holding my hand out for her to shake.
The moment she places her delicate hand in mine, everything within me ceases. I hold onto my shifted appearance as tightly as I can before all my tentacles explode from me and I drag her into the ocean and keep her as my personal treasure to worship and adore.
Because not only is Juniper the most beautiful goddess I’ve ever seen in my life, but her nails are painted the most exquisite black—bioluminescent black. Kraken black.
