Page 20 of Something Real with the Sea Monster (Kraken Cove #3)

TWENTY

Jack

Fuck!

This is exactly what I was afraid of. I pushed too hard. Lucky I didn’t tell her the fated mates thing after all. At least I still have a small chance of working this out.

My hope dwindles when she calls in sick the next day. The day after that she leaves early, claiming an appointment, and I start to get a really bad feeling.

I’m about to resort to desperate measures and ask Luke and Noah for advice, when I get a phone call and the new hot tub is being delivered.

When it arrives I have a moment of panic, thinking it’s going to be too big for the space after all, but by the time they have it installed and Luke has been around to confirm that the balcony will hold and everything is sound, I’m feeling pretty pleased with it.

I can’t wait for Tegan to see how good it looks. It was all her idea after all.

This gives me an idea of my own.

I snap a few pictures and attach them to a new message: you should see this. Looks amazing. You’re a genius.

I wait, hoping, and sure enough, a few moments later, Tegan replies: it really does. I’m so glad it turned out well.

There’s a pause. The three dots appear and disappear, appear and disappear again.

Finally: I’m sorry about the other day and about not working yesterday. I just needed some space

Before she can say more, I quickly type: I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to be pushy

Tegan: you weren’t. I’d just hate to hurt u. You’re a really nice guy

I’m not so sure being a really nice guy is enough. It certainly seems like a consolation prize in this situation, but at least she doesn’t think I’m a fuckboy. It could be worse.

Then again, wasn’t she telling me fuckboys are the guys she always falls for…

I sigh.

Not going there. Even if treating her badly might give me a better chance of winning her, that’s not a battle worth winning. That’s not what she needs.

I’m leaning over the balcony of room one, trying to compose my next message to Tegan, and I can’t get the words to come out right.

At that moment, Luke shouts up from ground level. “Hey, you still up there? I’m about to head home. You wanna come round tonight for a barbeque?”

I shove the phone into my pocket; I can’t think of what to say anyway. But I’m not feeling like socializing. I hang over the edge of the balcony. “Nah. I might just have a quiet one tonight. Maybe later this week?”

“Sounds good.”

I trudge back to reception and stare listlessly at my screen instead of doing actual work.

Isn’t this supposed to be easy? After all, what’s the point of fated mates if you have to chase so hard?

Yeah I know that’s not the way it works.

I saw what both my brothers went through.

And if I have to do the same, at the end of the day it’ll be worth it, but I could use a little help from the powers that be.

I’m not really expecting it, but when I check my phone again there’s a new message from Tegan.

Tegan: should I come round later and take some pictures for Instagram?

My heart beats a little faster in my chest. Is this fate actually stepping in? Is she suggesting more or is this really just about photos? I’m going to assume she means just photos, but at the very least, she’s going to come and spend time with me again. That has to be good.

Jack: that’d be great. What time?

Tegan: I think we want to get some sunset colors, so let’s say 7:30

I smile to myself. Sunset and a hot tub. I wonder what else I can do to make it more romantic. For Instagram of course. And if it works on Tegan, so much the better.

By seven thirty, I have candles stashed everywhere, sparkling grape juice on ice, a small table with strawberries and chocolates in a little dish.

Stacks of rolled towels are neatly arranged.

The bright blue of the sky is just starting to fade, and I’m debating whether or not I should have tried to find a bathing suit.

There’s a tapping at the door of room one and Tegan calls out. “Hey, it’s me. Is everything all set up, want me to—oh!” She steps out onto the balcony and looks around, eyes widening. “This looks lovely.”

I take a moment to do a quick scan of my own. She’s dressed in bike shorts and a cropped shirt, with her hair pulled up into a bun. She looks amazing, but from what I know of Tegan, this outfit doesn’t spell date . I guess she’s still trying to keep me at arm’s length.

My heart sinks, though it’s no more than I was expecting. At least she’s here.

“Thanks. Do you think we need to add anything? You know, for the camera?”

She looks around. “Candles?”

“Already on it.” I start lighting the ones I brought up, and Tegan walks to the edge of the hot tub and dips her fingers in. “I’m so jealous of all the people who are going to stay here.”

I try to keep my tone casual, but inside I’m sweating. “Well, you know it would be a shame not to test it out. To christen it.”

She bites her lip. “I did bring my swimmers.”

I was hoping she might not have any, but I keep that wish to myself. Not my proudest moment. “The pictures would look better with someone in them…” I trail off, leaving the rest unsaid.

She does what I hoped she’d do and tears the t-shirt over her head to reveal a pale pink bikini that has my mouth watering instantly.

I avert my eyes as she slides the bike shorts off and tucks her clothes out of sight.

It’s going to be hard enough keeping my hands off her while I’m behind the camera, I don’t need the temptation of watching her bend over.

I already know that’ll get me too excited.

“Oh my god. It’s so warm.” She slips into the water, and the little sigh she makes as she slides onto the seat has my cock twitching in my jeans.

I pull up my camera app and hold up my phone, trying to concentrate on angle and lighting rather than the way her tits look like they’re floating on the water, dished up for me and waiting to be sucked on. “Definitely better with someone in them,” I mutter.

I take a few pictures and then pause, fetching a glass and the sparkling juice. “Here, hold this.” I hand her some and she sips it.

“Oh, juice.”

“Yeah, because you’re not drinking.”

“Yeah. Right.”

There’s a pause, and I wonder what she’s not saying.

I thought I’d done the right thing. Shaking it off, I get a few more shots of her looking out over the water.

The sky is turning a pretty orange color.

My eyes catch on a loose strand of hair that’s fallen from her bun and stuck to her neck with the water on her skin.

How am I supposed to go from having my hands and mouth all over her body to not being able to touch her? She’s supposed to be mine.

I look down for a moment, drawing in a labored breath. This is more difficult than I anticipated.

Tegan looks sideways at me. “Do you think it would be good for both of us to be in the pictures? After all, we'll be marketing this as a couple’s experience...”

“What are you saying?” My mouth is dry.

She chews her lip. “Well, maybe you should join me. For the socials.”

“Ah, I don’t technically own a bathing suit because I’ve never worn one in my life, but I could wear shorts.”

Tegan laughs. “It’s fine. Pretty sure I’ve seen everything there is to see already.”

I beat the land speed record for getting undressed and dashing over to the edge of the tub.

I set the phone close enough that I could reach with a tentacle if I need to, then I climb into the spa, shifting as soon as my skin hits the water.

There’s an awkward moment where I hesitate on the opposite side from Tegan.

It’s big enough that we’re not touching, though it’s taking all my willpower to keep my tentacles to myself. “Should we—?”

At the same time, Tegan says, “Do you mind if I—”

Laughter breaks the tension, and she moves over to me and climbs into my lap. I lose the battle with my tentacles and several creep and curl around her legs, drifting upward. “Sorry. Sorry. They kind of have a mind of their own.”

She lets out an unsteady breath, and I feel it all the way to the tip of every tentacle. It runs through me like a shockwave. Her need. Her flavor intensifies and overwhelms me even past the chemicals in the water.

Our faces are close, our breath mingled. I should put the timer on so the camera will take a picture, but I don’t want to move in case it breaks the spell.

Tegan lets out a little growl. “Fuck it. I’m no good at boundaries. I always break them. I’m such a mess.”

“You’re not a mess. You’re perfect.”

The kiss feels so inevitable I don’t even know who starts it.

All I know is that a moment later our lips connect, and a deep groan wrenches from me.

I cup the back of her head, holding her there, unwilling to let her go.

While I do, I plunder her mouth with my tongue, hungry for her taste, her sighs.

It doesn’t even matter that my cock is throbbing between us or that I’d love to pull her down over me.

What matters is every second I have my mate in my arms and can give her exactly what she deserves, that she doesn’t get from anyone else.

It’s good with me. Amazing. Those were her words.

I have to trust that it’s true. I can’t imagine how this could ever feel any better, but I’ve only ever been with her.

So I kiss her like my life depends on it, and as corny as that sounds, it does.

Because if I mess this up and she leaves for good, then my life is over.

Without a shadow of a doubt.