Page 14 of Taken By the Alien Kraken King
Bourne’s arm curled around me, pulling me close. “My hearts beat for you. Yes. We can. We belong together.” He kissed the crown of my head. “My father used to say the ocean is vast. Even the strongest currents begin with a ripple.” He paused, thinking. “I’d say we’ve already made one.”
I rested my head against his chest, listening to the rhythmic thumping of his heart.
“I agree. I think we’ve got something worth fighting for.”
“Letmetakeyouon a date.”
“A date?” Kendall grinned. “Do kraken date?”
I shook my head. “Not in the sense you’re used to. However, I have a plan. I had our researchers read up on Earth and its customs. The dates sound fun.”
“Some are,” she said.
“Have you been on many?” I hoped not. If she had, I wasn’t sure I could compete, since I was making everything up as I went along.
Kendall shook her head. “No. I’ve read about them.”
“When you were studying other planets’ customs and comparing them to your own.” I nodded sagely.
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “Not quite,” she replied.
“From shows?” I frowned after I asked. Didn’t make sense. One watched shows, not read them.
“No,” she squeaked. “I, ah, well,” she paused and sucked in a deep breath. “You have to understand we had a lot of downtime on the ship. I’m a bit socially awkward, so I read a lot.”
“Right.” I waited. “Did you observe others on your ship and take notes on their courting rituals?”
Kendall shook her head. “No. Oh my, this is embarrassing. I read romance books. All kinds. Historical, science fiction romance, contemporary romance, which to be fair were probably historical by the time I got to them, and,” she mumbled something unintelligible.
“I didn’t catch the last part.”
She repeated whatever she’d said, mouthing the word. My shoulders rose in a shrug and I shook my head. Still had no clue. “I can’t believe you’re going to make me say it.” Her flush climbed from her chest to her hairline.
“Say what?”
“Monster romance. They were my favorites.”
A monster. Unexpected. “Do you see me as a monster?”
She reached one of her tiny hands to my chest. “No. You’re not a monster. Intimidating at first. You’re enormous, at least a head taller than anyone I’ve ever seen. It’s kind of,” she sighed. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like you swam out of the pages of one of my favorite books.”
Fabulous. Reality was even worse than I thought. She was going to hold me to a fictional man, or monster’s standard. Just what I needed. Impossible standards to live up to. A pit formed in my stomach.
“Unfortunately, you’re stuck with a very real monster who has never been on a date.” I extended my arm. “Would you care to accompany me, anyway?”
Kendall smiled and placed her hand in the crook of my elbow. “It would be an honor.”
I led her up a pearl staircase hidden behind a door in our bedchamber. We emerged at the top, and I pushed through a curtain of kelp aside, revealing my private balcony on top of the palace. A table for two rested to the right. A centerpiece of glowing flora rested near the edge, and I’d brought up a meal earlier when I decided to put my plan of wooing my mate into action. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
I nodded. “It’s one of my favorite places. I come here to sit and think. It’s peaceful. I enjoy watching the city at night.” I held a chair for Kendall. “Come. Feast.” I’d prepared a platter of her favorites.
“You did this for me?”
“Of course.” We ate and talked about everything. No topic was off limits. She asked me about my family, and I told her stories of my misspent youth causing mischief with Ahtu. She laughed at my recollection of my first time eating a spiny creature with venom that caused my hands, face and lips to swell, and how I’d denied it to my mother.
Eventually, we lapsed into companionable silence after the tray of food emptied. My eyes glowed, illuminating her face framed by a halo of wavy blonde hair. She looked ethereal, otherworldly. Beautiful. Mine.
Eyes on the prize, Bourne, I chastised myself. Go slow. Don’t scare her off.
