“Yes,” I say simply.
“I don’t want kids.”
I blink at the sudden change in subject. “Excuse me?”
“Kids. There’s a clause in the contract that says if I get knocked up, my kid stays here.” She carefully sits up as the bubble of magic dissolves around her. “I don’t want to be pregnant. I had a shit show of a mother as an example and can’t guarantee I won’t fuck up a kid the same way she fucked up me. It’s not worth the risk. I won’t do it.”
There’s none of her defiant joy in the bleak words. Once again, I can only meet her honesty with honesty. “I don’t want children either. I never have. Embry is my heir, and I’ll do nothing to compromise zir position.”
Catalina narrows her eyes. “Then why is that even in my contract? Or is that a bargainer-specific thing?”
“The territories get their strength from their leaders. Our magic has been faltering in recent generations, and procreating with a human will provide a boost since humans are excellent conductors for magic. The other territory leaders no doubt intend to breed with their respective humans and create heirs that way.”
“That’s very nondemocratic of them. Are they all monarchies like you?”
It’s a mistake to linger in this room longer than strictly necessary. As we talk, the strength comes back into her voice, and she scoots to the edge of the bed, causing her dress to ride up to an indecent height. She doesn’t seem to notice, so I do my best to keep my gaze firmly above her shoulders.
I’m only partially successful. I make it to her chest, but each motion she makes has her breasts straining precariously against the fabric of her dress. Her generous curves look one tiny tug from bursting free.
To distract myself, I answer her question. “No. The incubi and succubi don’t follow bloodlines for who takes the leadership position. Rusalka likely intends to use some of her chosen warriors to breed with the human.”
“Kinky.” Catalina smiles slowly, life sparking back onto her pretty face. “Do you think they’ll line up and run a train on her? I only met her briefly, but she seems like she enjoys having a good time, and that sounds like a good time.”
“Is that something you’d be interested in?” I don’t know what possesses me to ask such an inappropriate question, but it slips free before my brain catches up with my mouth.
“Me?” She carefully gets to her feet. Without thinking, I move my tentacles out of the way as she steps closer. Her grin widens, and that strange look flares in her hazel eyes. Catalina reaches out and presses her hands to my bare chest. She meets my gaze, her touch scorching me. “I’m more interested in tentacles.”
I don’t understand why I lean toward her in response. She is infuriating and nothing like any partner I’ve had in the past. She’s certainly nothing like Brant. His charm was sunny and without the wild edge that lurks in the curve of her full lips. And yet . . . she draws me all the same.
It’s a feel beyond reason, beyond logic. That should be enough to make me turn around and leave the room and never look back. I even go so far as to silently command my body to do exactly that.
But I don’t leave.
Instead, I stand there and wait to see what she’ll do next.
6
CATALINA
There’s something wrong with me. I’ve been told this enough times over the course of my life to start to believe it. In this moment, there’s no other explanation for the fact I’m sidling up to a man with blue-gray skin and tentacles. I half expect his skin to be clammy, but it’s cool and pleasant. It almost feels a little rubbery, but not in a bad way.
“I almost killed you.” His voice is low and cold, but at least he’s still talking to me.
If I were smart, I’d use his obvious guilt as leverage for a bargain just between us. One that involves getting whatever I might possibly want to make the next seven years in this place tolerable.
But I established a long time ago that I’m not smart.
“You could make it up to me.” I stare into his face, all hard lines that stop him from being anything as tame as pretty. He’s as harsh as the ocean itself. His eyes are inky black, but they’re not emotionless. Not when he’s staring at my mouth in something like agony.
The Kraken King wants me.
The thought thrills me, which only confirms that I really am a fool. I wet my lips, and he follows the movement, his whole body tensing in a way that sends a thrill down my spine.
“How?” He clears his throat, and when he speaks again, his voice is lower. Rougher. “How would you like me to make it up to you, Catalina?”
Turn back.
Turn back now!
I ignore the little voice inside me. “Will you give me your tentacles, Thane? Make me feel good?” I don’t know why it feels safer to ask for them than his cock, but it does. I meant what I said about not having kids, and while I’m on the pill, none of my stuff made the transfer with me to the demon realm, so I’m not protected right now. Reckless as I may be, even I have lines.
“You want sex.” His voice gets colder even as his eyes go hot. “I almost killed you, and now you want orgasms.”
It takes far more effort than I’ll ever admit to shrug as if I’m not holding my breath. “Seems a fair trade.”
For a moment, I’m sure he’ll tell me to fuck right off with that twisted logic. I almost hope he does. It is twisted. He doesn’t mean me harm—of that I’m sure—but that’s a long way from caring about me. Thane obviously doesn’t. He doesn’t even like me.
It only makes me want him more.
I know it will hurt in the end. It always does. The knowledge has never stopped me before, and it’s not going to stop me now. “What do you say?”
“If you want me to stop, say stop.”
I barely have time to process his words before he moves. Or, rather, his tentacles move. They surge up my legs and catch the hem of my dress. One jerk from either side, and they rip it right up the center. It was too tight to wear anything underneath, so there’s not a single scrap of fabric to protect me from the intensity of Thane’s stare.
He wraps a tentacle around my waist and lifts me before moving us both toward the bed. Once again, he keeps a careful distance between us, standing at the edge of the bed as his tentacles slide over my body. They circle my wrists and tug them over my head to pin me against the mattress. Two more tentacles wrap around my thighs and press them wide.
Gentle. He’s so damned gentle with me. It doesn’t matter. I pull on his hold, and I might as well try to fight against iron for all I can move.
Desire surges, so strong that it takes my breath away. “That’s a start.”
His brow furrows. “You talk too much.”
I ignore the sting of the statement. Mostly. “That’s only because you’re not doing your job properly. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to talk at all.” I take a breath to keep going but moan when the tips of two tentacles prod at my pussy.
He parts me, and as exposed as I feel right now, I can’t stop looking at his face as he stares at the apex of my thighs. Thane looks . . . tormented.