Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
It just feels . . . different.
“This is a safe place,” I finally manage. “A place I value.” Her words still ring in my head. Trapped. I shouldn’t care too much if she feels that way as long as she’s safe . . . but I do care. Too much. Showing her this space won’t magically make her feel less hemmed in, though. She can reach it on her own, but only if she swims. An impossible feat considering her current circumstances.
I don’t know why I brought her here. There are dozens of places about the tower that would serve the purpose of a safe space for her to learn to swim. But . . . I don’t regret it.
She steps carefully away from me and turns slowly to look around again. The relaxing of her body is subtle, but I’ve watched her closely enough to note it. Catalina inhales deeply and glances over her shoulder at me. “Well, don’t just stand there like a bump on a log. Show me around.”
Everything here can be seen in a single sweep, but I move closer to her all the same. “There is a hot spring there.” I point to the pool tucked back between the two waterfalls closest to each other and then to the one in the middle. “This is not connected to the rest of the water by any openings big enough for predators to get through. I would like to teach you to swim here.”
Catalina blinks those big eyes at me. I have no idea what’s going on in that frightening brain of hers, but she keeps her wild smile tucked away. She’s very serious as she examines the pool, circling it slowly. “You brought me here . . . to teach me to swim.”
Her disbelief makes me straighten. “You are not comfortable in open water,” I say stiffly. “This is deep enough to serve but also closed away so you can feel safe.” When she keeps looking at me, I find myself continuing. “You’re always safe with me, of course, but you won’t be able to concentrate on swimming if you are too busy flinching at every movement around us.”
She stares at me for another long moment and then nods, almost to herself. “Okay, you’ve convinced me. Teach me to swim.”
I don’t quite breathe an exhale of relief, but it’s a near thing. This won’t fix the overarching problem of her unhappiness here, but I don’t have a solution to that problem yet. Maybe Embry will have some suggestions. Ze has been giving me sharp looks whenever ze is in my presence, so goddess only knows what opinions ze has managed to keep to zirself since Catalina arrived.
“You won’t drown.”
Her lips quirk into an almost smile. “Yes, I’m aware.”
“I’m repeating myself because I suspect humans learn to swim very differently than my people.” I reach down and touch the gills tucked just beneath my ribs. They’re closed currently, since we’re on land. “We learn beneath the surface.”
Catalina gives that far more consideration than she’s given anything else we’ve talked about to date. Finally, she nods. “Okay, we’ll try things your way.” Before I can say another word, she slips off her dress.
I should look away. I even command myself to drop my gaze. It’s as if another has taken control of my body . . . specifically my eyes. I trace the sight of her. The curve of her hips, the soft line of her stomach, her breasts—goddess, but I want her. Coaxing orgasms from her, watching her lose herself to pleasure, is an addiction I don’t know how to shake.
I’m not certain I want to rid myself of it.
“Thane.” Catalina wets her lips. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, we’re not going to swim at all, and while I’m not super opposed to cumming again, I very much want to earn your cock.”
Earn your cock.
I close my eyes, but there’s no relief behind my lids. Her presence soaks into every bit of this space, from the air I breathe to the rock beneath my tentacles. It’s ridiculous. Absurd. One would think I’m smitten with this confusing human, which I most certainly am not. “Right.”
If I don’t do something quickly, I’ll keep standing here staring at her, and then staring will become touching, and then she’s right. We won’t do any swimming at all. I’m having trouble remembering why that’s a bad thing, which is problem enough.
The woman needs more than orgasms. I may not be able to offer her proper freedom, not without accompanying her personally, but I can offer her this.
Before I can talk myself out of this route, I slide into the pool and motion for her to follow. “Come here.”
Catalina doesn’t hesitate. She slips into the water next to me and immediately goes under. I follow her down and catch her waist. She blinks at me, obviously trying to be calm but just as obviously not succeeding. I can’t speak to her down here, but I hold her steady until she inhales deeply and relaxes.