The Kraken's Sacrifice (A Deal With a Demon #2)(35)

Except I’ve awoken.

“Thane, I swear to god, if you’re about to say something gentle, I might scream.” Catalina’s voice is ragged, her fingers digging into my tentacles. “Please don’t ruin this.”

I understand in that moment that she won’t accept kindness from me. Not tonight. Not like this. But I know what she will accept. I take a breath and let this strange mood settle over me. I don’t know what it means, or if it means anything at all. Maybe Catalina is simply the catalyst for my breaking out of unending grief. Even now it’s there, lingering along the edges. I don’t think it will ever go away, and part of me never wants it to.

I can give her this, though. I don’t know if it’s what she needs, but it’s what she’ll accept, and that’s almost as good. “Catalina.”

She presses her lips together and then seems to make a decision. She relaxes into my hold. “Yes?”

“You may be as loud as you like.” I relish the surprise on her face, but only for a moment. My goal is far too close to hesitate now.

I lift her until her body is even with my chest. Then I do what I’ve been thinking about since the day I brought her to my tower. I press my mouth to her pussy. Her gasp is as perfect as her taste. I drag my tongue through her folds. You taste like the sea. Like home. Later, that thought will concern me. Right now, I need more.

There is no careful control as I feast on her. Every cry from her lips only spurs me onward. I don’t know when I closed my eyes, but I try to open them, to watch her. Catalina is completely lost to the pleasure I’m giving her. She writhes among my tentacles, her body shaking and ragged sobs sounding in the air between us.

More.

I’m so hard, I can’t think straight. It’s a state I’ve become much accustomed to in the past couple of weeks. Every time I close my eyes, I see her, feel her, hear her. I’ve imagined this very moment more times than I want to admit.

“Thane, please.”

I press my forehead to her stomach and try to focus. My hands are shaking. Why are my hands shaking? “I will give you my cock, Catalina. I promise. But allow me to bring you to release first.”

“I can’t wait.” She shifts restlessly, and it brings me far too much satisfaction to tighten my hold on her oh so briefly. To keep her legs splayed wide and her pussy available to me. It pleases me so much, I lick her again and move back up to her clit. Catalina cries out. “Your cock! Please, Thane!”

“In a moment.” It’s been months since my last regular bed partner. Too long. When I finally sink my cock into Catalina’s wet pussy, I don’t have much faith in my ability to keep myself from cumming on the spot. I’m shaking just from having her in my arms, and my cock is so hard, I’m getting a little worried about blood flow. The very least I can do is ensure she reaches completion first.

Next time will be better. Next time, I will fuck her until I feel her cum around my cock.

Next time.

I press a single finger into her. A few careful strokes, and then I wedge a second finger into her pussy. I’m not small even by my people’s standards. Compared to Catalina, I’m practically a giant.

This has to be good for her. I don’t want to hurt her in my eagerness.

Even so, it takes every sliver of control to maintain my position, my mouth against her clit, my fingers buried inside her, until she goes tense around me. “Thane!” Catalina’s back bows, and I loosen my grip around her waist to allow it.

But only for a moment.

I need her too much to allow her to recover. In fact, it’s likely better that she’s still limp with pleasure as I lower her until our hips are even. Goddess, she’s beautiful in every way, but especially in this moment. Her cheeks are rosy with pleasure, her eyes heavy-lidded.

I fist my cock and give myself a rough stroke. My fingers are still wet with her desire, and the scent drives me wild. Still, I manage to control myself. Barely. “Yes?”

“Now. You promised.” She wets her bottom lip and meets my gaze. “Please.”

I don’t need further encouragement. I lift her in the air and angle my cock to her entrance. The size difference looks almost obscene, and if I hadn’t been intimate with humans in the past, I would doubt she can take me. As it is, the struggle will be to take it slow, to ensure her body has time to adjust to mine. My cock is adaptable by nature, but I want to make this good for her.

“Try to relax,” I murmur. After one last check of her expression, I lower her onto my cock. Slowly. Agonizingly slowly. It seems to take forever for my broad head to breach her entrance, but when it does, we both gasp. Tight. Too fucking tight. “Catalina.”

“I’m trying.” She breathes so hard, her breasts shake with each exhale. I pulse my tentacles against her nipples, increasing the suction a little, and she gasps. “Keep doing that.”

I slide her down another inch. Agony. This is agony. I never want it to end. “You feel so good.” I move my tentacles over her body, but I can’t say if I’m trying to soothe her or stir her. “Let me in, Lina.” I can’t stop staring at her pussy, at how my cock spreads her almost obscenely.

And yet she takes me deeper yet.

I make my cock pulse inside her. Just a little bit. Testing her response.

“Thane.” Catalina shakes, thrashing her head back and forth. “Oh fuck, I think I’m going to cum again. You’re so big and whatever you just did feels wonderful.” The words pour out of her without artifice or intention. “It’s . . . I . . .”