Page 9 of Hummingbird and Kraken

Declan looked awed. “Wow,” he whispered. Like he was seeing something amazing and beautiful.

Slowly, Geir let one tentacle rise from the water. He didn’t know why he was doing it. Declan had already made him do so many things that he didn’t usually do. He hadn’t talked to anyone so much in decades. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever had another soul in his home, once it was constructed.

Now, he was sharing a secret that could mean his life or the lives of innocents nearby. But, perhaps naively, he trusted.

Declan would be his last indulgence, his last bright moment in the sun, for however long it lasted.

He had some nebulous idea that this was it. Without any concept of last, or what would happen after. Maybe simply the end. The end of endless time. But Declan would be there at the end, he thought. Whether it came by violence and betrayal or gently with soft limbs wrapped around him. They were both the same to him.

Declan reached out a slim, pale hand, meeting him halfway.

And the sensation when they touched… it was like the handshake before, but magnified. Even that delicate touch sent a ripple of warm awareness throughout his body.

Geir slipped the tentacle down his arm, waiting to be stopped, waiting for Declan to jerk away.

But Declan just trailed his fingers over Geir’s sensitive flesh, exploring with his slender fingers and eager eyes.

“Wow,” he said again, still awed. Geir hadn’t expected to see Declan at a loss for words, but his gentle caress spoke for him.

This couldn’t possibly be happening.

There was no way that Declan was leaning into his touch, letting Geir’s firm tentacles reach around his back and pull him in closer.

No way that Declan was looking up at him, giving him that same seductive look that he’d given him beside the lunch table, but now with all of his secrets spilled out between them.

No way that Declan was tilting his head up toward him, begging to be kissed.

And then Declan was pressing their lips together, a whimper spilling out.

Geir couldn’t deny what he wanted any more. Declan tasted like sunshine.

Chapter 5

Declan

Declan felt daring, tilting his head up and then pressing their lips together. Geir had been angry, and then shy, but he was sure now that Geir was feeling the same chemistry that he was.

Geir’s kiss was slow and gentle at first, an introduction almost, as they got to know each other. Their breaths mingled and Geir licked at the corners of his lips, sending waves of pleasure through his core.

Geir slowly wrapped his arms around him, then followed with the other tentacle. Even just those four points of contact, two warm hands and two cool, velvety appendages, were already sending him into overload. He couldn’t even imagine what it would be like if Geir used his other however many arms. He’d probably combust on the spot.

Declan slid his own arms around Geir’s back, trusting that Geir would keep him from drowning if he stopped treading water. They were pressed so closely together now, chest to chest, Declan’s legs bumping against the gently floating arms of Geir’s lower half.

Declan ran his hands lower, lower, until he found the place where Geir’s skin changed from solid, human skin to the slippery, tender skin of his octopus half. Squid? Cuttlefish? He ran his hands along them, the slime clinging to his fingers.

Geir pulled back but didn’t let him go. “We should stop. This isn’t… I’m sorry. This is probably disgusting.”

Declan laughed, feeling exhilarated. “Are you kidding? This is like… totally a fantasy. Haven’t you ever seen tentacle hentai?”

“No.”

“It’s, like, porn, but in animated movies and graphic novels from Japan. And tentacles are a big thing. It’s totally hot.”

“I don’t understand.”

Declan leaned closer. He didn’t want Geir to stop because this was, hands down, the sexiest thing that had ever happened to him. Adventure and erotica all wrapped into one.

But mostly he was thinking about that wary, hurt look in Geir’s eyes. Declan had worn that look often enough himself, not knowing if he was good enough for more than a fuck, certain that no one could really want him. Whatever made Declan unworthy was all on the inside, but Geir’s fear was right here, in a tangle of thrilling limbs that waved around Declan’s legs.