Page 17 of Crossing Between

"I've never met a Kraken before. You guys are notoriously known for sticking to the ocean." I stepped closer to him. "Could I touch your tentacle?" I couldn't believe I actually asked that but I had to know what they felt like.

His stance turned rigid and it looked like he stopped breathing but he held out his right tentacle arm, turning it over so that the suction cups were upward.

My index finger ran along his arm first. His skin was warm, not what I was expecting, and it was soft, even if it was a tiny bit rubbery, like I imagined touching a dolphin would be like. It was velvety.

I grinned up at him. "You just got ten times cooler."

Elias blinked down at me before he returned my grin with a smile of his own. "That's not the reaction most people give."

"I'm not most people."

"No, you are not."

The kitchen suddenly felt charged as our eyes met. It was as if everything else faded away and all I could see was Elias. His stormy gray eyes seemed to see into my very soul, darkening with desire. My breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

Slowly, he reached out and caressed my cheek, his touch ignited sparks along my skin. I leaned into his palm, captivated by the tenderness in his gaze. He moved closer, our bodies nearly touching, the heat between us palpable.

"Zoey...." I could feel his warm breath against my lips as he lowered his head.

When our lips met, it was like a raging storm clashed.

The kiss deepened instantly, as my body felt hot at his touch and my side burned with heat.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his hard body as I clung to him.

I was lost, consumed by the taste and feel of him.

Nothing else mattered except this moment.

A sudden change shifted in the room when I jumped away as the smoke detector went off as the smell of burning eggs wafted in the air.

"Shit!" Elias cursed and his arms were back to his human form as he grabbed a rag to wave the smoke away as he turned off the stove while he moved the frying pan to the other side. "Crap. I'm sorry!" His voice rose above the loud beeping.

"Dang. What the heck?" Kenji appeared in the doorway, his hands slapped over his ears. "That's unlike you, Elias." He reached above both of us and turned off the smoke detector without having to even stretch.

"I know. I know." Elias blew out a frustrated breath, blatantly not looking at me. "I was distracted thinking about the case."

"I know it's hard, but it's our day off.

Unless another murder happens, we need to try to relax or we'll burn ourselves out.

" Kenji reached over and squeezed Elias' shoulder.

"That's one of the reasons we're having breakfast with our new partner in crime!

" His cheerfulness seemed to release the awkwardness that had happened when Elias and I had broken apart from that mind-blowing kiss.

The sound of the front door opening was a welcome distraction. The kitchen was overcrowded with just one person. With three of us, it was overwhelming.

"Z?" Ryan's voice rose over the sound of the TV. "I'm home."

"That's my brother."

The two men moved to the side so I could get past. I don't remember a time I was more relieved to leave a situation, but this was in the top three. If I could fly away, I would.

Ryan looked better. He'd always healed unnaturally fast. I figured that was the power he received from our parents. His clothes were clean, he must have been somewhere safe, except I didn't recognize them. He didn't have any money, so I hoped he hadn't stolen them.

"Z, I'm sorry." He walked up to me and hugged me tightly.

"I couldn't see how selfish I was being and making you suffer.

Please forgive me?" His blue eyes held a sorrow in them that made me want to believe he was being truthful.

"I got a job. It's not the greatest, but I promise that I'm going to get better, okay? "

To say I was shocked was such an understatement, I think I passed out briefly. A job? My mouth moved like a fish as I tried to form words.

"Who is that?" Ryan's demeanor changed. He grabbed me, putting me behind him. "Who are you and why are you in my house?"

Kenji and Elias walked out of the kitchen.

"Woah, hold on, kiddo." Kenji let out a chuckle. Nothing seemed to phase the oni. "We're Zoey's detective partners. I'm Kenji and this is Elias."

I touched Ryan's back gently. "It's okay, Ry. They're friends." I stepped around him. "They came over to have breakfast."

"Oh." Ryan looked surprised. "That's a first. You brought friends home!" He beamed. "I'm Ryan. The little brother." He stepped forward to shake hands with them.

I could feel a small headache start to form behind my left eye. This was going to be a circus, wasn't it? I still hadn't had time to think about the kiss I'd shared with Elias and what the potential consequences of it could be.

"Breakfast is ready." Elias' warm tenor helped focus my brother's attention. "Why don't we all eat?"

"It does smell good." Ryan's energy spread through the room rapidly, making everyone smile. I wanted to strangle him but hug him at the same time. "Zoey burns water. It's kind of impressive if you think about it. How does one burn water?"

Yup. I wanted to strangle him. No hugs for the traitorous shithead.

"That burned water was your favorite midnight snack with noodles." I flicked his ear as I walked around him to go help Elias with plating the food.

"I also learned to cook as soon as I could handle the stove." My brother teased me as he set up the TV trays next to the couch and chair in the living room. Our house wasn't big enough for a dining room.

"You two are obviously close." Elias was amused as he handed me a plate piled with bacon and eggs. "It makes me a little envious. My sisters usually just ignore me unless I can help them do something."

"We're the only family we have." I took a second plate and followed him into the living room. I set the food on the trays. "Even if he is a brat."

"Just for that, dear sister," Ryan pushed me into the middle of the couch. "You get to sit between your two partners instead of in your chair."

Kenji had sat on the right side of the couch and pulled one of the trays in between us. "I figured since there aren't enough trays for everyone, we could share." He nudged our shoulders together and I couldn't help but smile at his actions.

"You're really sweet." I squeezed his hand before starting to dig into breakfast. "Thank you for the food."

The meal passed with pleasant conversation and before I knew it, it was late afternoon before the two detectives headed out.

I'd enjoyed being between both of them on the couch.

It had felt safe, warm, and I had wanted to curl up in their laps.

Having Ryan there helped remind me that they weren't just new friends, they were colleagues.

Even if I was developing a crush on them as well as Varon.