Cousin knocked on Kraken’s door. Her hair was wet with sea spray. Her leathers dripped puddles in the hall. She shifted her weight with the roll of the ship. The storm was yielding, and Haven had come through undamaged. She raised her hand to knock again.
“Come.”
Cousin stepped into the room, and closed the door behind.
Kraken burned every lantern in his cabin. Sea charts littered the desk and floor. The dark of the storm made the windows behind him black. He looked between the charts and made notes. He didn’t looked up. “Report.”
“The storm is abating. Haven is sound. We await further orders, Captain.”
“How far off course?”
“Not far. The speeder spell kept us near heading, even if it didn’t push us as fast as it would have in calm waters.”
“Is it used?”
“Not yet.”
Kraken turned to look out of the windows. Lightning flashed, highlighting massive cloud formations, then the view was black again. “Use it out. Then we’ll reassess.”
“Aye, Captain.” She turned, opened the door, and gave Ghost the orders. She shut the door, and turned back to Kraken. He looked frazzled. His hand toyed with the hilt of his sword. He chewed his lips. She remembered his guarded smile and bright eyes the first day they met.
Cousin dropped her leathers were she stood. She walked to stand in front of Kraken. The windows were chill against her back. Reaching up she brushed the hair from Kraken’s eyes. He leaned into her hand, his face sad. “I am going no where,” she said. “If anything, I’m more stable. I don’t know how I can know the truth of it.” Cousin shrugged. “I only know that now I feel easier in my skin.”
Kraken leaned in and brushed his check against hers. He stood forehead to forehead with his eyes closed and breathing deep.
Cousin pressed her lips to his, and she was plunged into her core. A vibration of yearning consumed her. Their kiss deepened. Cousin started at the first touch of Kraken’s tongue. Then she met his with hers. The chill of the window was lost to the heat of new fires.
Cousin titled her head back. Her breath came quick. She could feel the sear of Kraken’s hands on her body through her soggy clothes. The desire to touch his skin became a living thing, and she tore at his shirt.
Kraken ripped his shirt off. He ran his hands under the hem of Cousin’s shirt, the feel of her skin a molten ecstasy. A jolt of power drove into him, and he answered with power of his own. He scooped her up and took her to his bunk. He knelt in front of her. He gripped her to him, her braid looped around his fist. His kiss was fierce.
Then he was across the room, breathing hard. “I swore I would never force a woman,” he said, his eyes begged understanding.
“No one can force me.” Cousin held Kraken’s eyes. “No one ever has. No one ever will. Not the way you mean.”
“Never?” Kraken’s whisper was lost to the crashing thunder outside.
“Never.”
Kraken’s shoulders sagged. He ran a hand through his hair.
Cousin stood, and moved toward him. Her clothes vanished.
Kraken had always thought her too thin. He was wrong. Cousin was sinew and toned muscle. Her hips and breasts were soft curves. Kraken held his breath, drinking in the luminescence of her skin.
Cousin walked toward him. She smiled mischief, and Kraken’s clothes fell from him.
The sudden chill on his skin did nothing to damped his desire. He met Cousin, lifted her over his shoulder and took her to bed. He laid her down, and stretched out beside her. “You can . . .”
Cousin put a thumb over his lips. “Shut. Up.” The soft words were a steely command.
Kraken kissed her with a devouring passion. He ran his hands over her body, cupping her breast, caressing her hips and legs. Cousin’s skin responded with trails of subtle shimmering glow where his hands had been.
Cousin opened her perception. Every particle of her body responded. She met Kraken’s kisses with an equal ferocity. She arched under his exploring hands, and explored him as thoroughly. His muscular form was all strength beneath her fingers. She longed to be within that strength.
Kraken suckled Cousin’s nipple. She gasped and clasped his head to her. His erection, rubbing against the silken fire of her thigh, drove all sanity from his mind. He longed to pull that fire into his core. Kraken pulled Cousin beneath him. He held himself up looking down at her.
Cousin looked up at Kraken. She wrapped her legs around him, and pulled him to her. She lost herself in ocean green eyes, tumbling outward. The Ether expanded around her.
Kraken resisted the pull. He met her gaze. Serpent Shadows danced in bottomless eyes. Kraken moved, answering her pull. Their bodies joined, and all else ceased to be. Primal, primordial need drove him, and he released the last of his controls.
Creation exploded around Kraken. He could feel Cousin near him, floating in the Ether. Kraken reached with a desperate urgency not to loose her in the vastness.
Cousin cried in ecstasy. Her body reveled in carnal joy, and her Depth opened. She reached for Kraken, and found him in the Ether beside her. She opened herself to the only man she would ever accept. And then she was everywhere.
All creation, all destruction was Cousin’s awareness. She could feel her body, feel Kraken’s body. They were her tether to the world of matter. In the Ether, when she looked outward, she saw no end.
Kraken saw as Cousin saw. His mind only knew her presence. Cared only about being with her.
Their bodies responded. Their love making became more demanding.
The Ether overwhelmed Kraken, pulling, pushing, stretching, crushing him. His mind could take no more, and he cried out, clinging to Cousin.
Cousin turned to Kraken. She found the strength of his power, of his spirit, and let it flow into herself. She sheltered his mind, and poured herself into his body.
Kraken’s body bucked with a stream of power beyond any he had known. His own power roared in response.
The Ether pulled at Cousin. She saw immense figures of power. The Ancient Gods beckoned her with openness. She felt safe, at home, calm. Their power was her power. She could stay and be apart of them. They opened to her the all and nothing that was. She felt limitless.
Cousin also felt the thrill of Kraken’s touch on her body. She chose.
Kraken moved faster. Cousin answered his pace. Together they found climax and clasped, breathing hard. Their bodies were wet with sweat.
Kraken trembled. Lightning fire burned him from the inside out. His body fought not to dissolve in the current. Cousin ran her fingers through his hair.
Cousin’s body throbbed and tingled and hummed with all that was. Her awareness wiggled into every ounce of her body. The warmth and contentment of Kraken’s form drew her deeper into the moment. She could feel him struggling. She knew he had to find his own way. Cousin could only hold him.
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