Undertow (Whyborne & Griffin #8.5)(31)

I certainly didn’t want that either, so I traced a line over her throat, across the opercula closed tight over the gills slits. She moved against me, little thrusts of her hips that pushed her thigh against the hard bud between my legs. Each movement sent a rousing shock of pleasure along my nerves, and I soon moved in time with her.

She kissed me again, her hand cupping my breast as she did so. Her thumb stroked the skin along the side, a place I’d always found sensitive in my own explorations, and I made an encouraging sound into her mouth.

She pulled back, leisurely exploring my neck, working down to my breast. Her lips sucked on one nipple, while she continued to fondle the rest of the breast. I gasped and arched into her. Delight washed through me: her hands on my skin, her thigh pressing into my folds, her mouth on my nipple. I cried out, my breaths coming in short pants as the first crest shuddered through me.

“Let me touch you,” I gasped. I wanted to share this with her, to return the pleasure she gave me.

“Of course,” she said, and rolled away, spreading herself open for me.

Her nipples were darkly pigmented against the pale coloration of her chest, belly, and thighs. Her breasts were small, but I cupped what I could, then plucked at one nipple with my fingers. To my satisfaction, she arched into me in response, her eyes slitted with pleasure. “Harder. Use your nails.”

I did so. Then inspiration struck, and I replaced one hand with my mouth. Surely teeth would be a novel sensation for her there. An enthusiastic groan was my reward, and much of my nervousness melted away. She tasted of salt and smelled of the sea.

“Let me taste you,” she panted. Our legs were intertwined again, and I could feel her wetness against my thigh as she ground against me.

Her fierce teeth gave me pause. But going by her confidence, the ketoi presumably did this sort of thing to one another without any unfortunate incidents. “Yes?” I said. “That is, if you’d like.”

She propped herself up on an elbow and grinned down at me. “I would like. Spread your legs and draw your knees up.”

I blushed, to expose myself so to her. My pulse raced, and my limbs trembled with desire. She stretched out between my legs, leaned forward, and ran her tongue through my folds.

Heat shocked through me, and I jerked involuntarily against the sheets. “Mmm. So sweet,” Persephone said. Her fingers spread my folds apart, and she set her tongue to work.

I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out. This was far better than anything I’d imagined. She licked slowly up my outer petals, one side then the other, before delving further inward.

My moans became audible when she turned her attention to my pearl, lapping first softly, then more firmly. At the same time, I became aware of her tentacle hair winding around my thighs, slithering down close to her mouth. They twined through my folds, and one slipped inside, just as she sucked—

I arched off the bed with a shout. Lights flashed behind my closed eyes, and the pleasure crested and crested, on and on until it broke over me like a wave.

Persephone gave me one last lick, then sat up. “You taste good, Maggie,” she said, her breath coming short and harsh, her eyes dark with lust. She straddled my thigh, slick and hot. “I’m going to ride you now.”

“Yes,” I whispered. Desperate to give her pleasure in return, I slipped fingers in between us. Her folds parted for me, and I slid two fingers into her heat.

I did the things I enjoyed, hoping she would enjoy them as well. It seemed to work; she growled my name, her hips grinding against me. A moment later, she flung her head back, her hair curling tight as she shuddered and shook with pleasure.

I withdrew my hand, and licked my slick fingers. She tasted like the ocean, and I found myself craving more. Next time, I’d kiss her pearl, explore the wet heat of her with my mouth. The thought roused me a bit, and I foolishly found myself blushing.

Persephone collapsed beside me in the bed, one arm tossed across my waist. “Was that good, Maggie?” she asked.

I rolled to face her. My heartbeat slowed, and my limbs felt heavy and relaxed. “It was wonderful.”

She grinned. “You turn pink all over, cuttlefish.”

“Wretch!” I exclaimed, laughing. “A good thing I love you, because you have no idea how to compliment a woman.”

Her arm tightened around me, strong and warm. I drifted off for a little while, curled against her. Eventually, the sound of my downstairs neighbor shouting at tonight’s “uncle” roused me. Seeing my eyes open, Persephone rolled off the bed and stretched. I sat up to admire the view.

“I brought you something,” she said, going to sort through the loose pile of her skirt.

“Another squid?” I teased. “You know I can’t have enough of those.”

She laughed. “It is another squid, though I think you’ll like this one better.”

Persephone slipped a golden bracelet over my hand. It was indeed wrought in the shape of a squid, its tentacles intricately interwoven to clasp my wrist. The heavy weight told me it was solid gold, and my eyes widened as I held it up to admire in the light of the night candle. “It’s beautiful,” I breathed. “But I can’t accept such a gift. It’s far too expensive, surely.”

Persephone sat by me on the bed. “How land dwellers value gold and pearls is not my concern,” she said. She upended a small pouch, spilling out half a dozen pearls, each one as large as a thumbnail. “Mother says these things are of value to your kind. That you can use them to rent a house of your own, near the water. If you wish,” she added hastily, and had she been able to blush I thought she would have.