Page 40 of Salt and Knot

“Let me hold you,” I plead hoarsely. “Let me wrap my tentacles around you, Isla. I need to have you next to me. Skin to skin.”

She nods, and I sweep her in so she’s held as close as she can be, aside from the massive ridge of my cock between our bellies.

I kiss the top of her head and stroke her hair, whispering words of love and need about how good she is, and how strong. How I’ll spoil and give her anything she wants, protect her from everything. Even myself.

And then she says the one thing guaranteed to destroy me further.

“Bite me. Bond me.”

Chapter 21

Isla

He goes unnaturally still. “Don’t say things you don’t mean, Isla.” His voice is granite hard.

“I do mean it.” I breathe in the scent of him, and it’s home. Being here with him is the most right I’ve ever felt. That’s worth a lot for a girl like me. And Elaina is right. A fated mate is once in a lifetime, or not even that. A considerate alpha doesn’t happen often. If he has a problematic side? Well. Show me someone who doesn’t. He’s been kind to me, and I’m grabbing this opportunity.

“A mating bite is a forever claim, omega. It means no one else for either of us, ever,” he says seriously. He licks his lips. Is he anticipating the taste of my blood as he bites me and claims me? “And it would bond you to my kraken too.”

“Would he be my bonded mate as well?” I admit, I’m less sure about that.

“It seems from other species that the two are related but separate. You’d have to accept bites in both forms for us to be fully bonded.”

My eyes get big. “Where, exactly, does a kraken keep its mouth?”

“Excellent question.” He smiles wryly. “He keeps his dick at the end of his right third tentacle, and his mouth up, underneath the mantle. About by the waist, where the arms all meet,” he clarifies.

I try to envision it and fail. Ish.

“So it would be being bitten in the dark, surrounded by him?” My pulse races.

“See, and I can tell you’re scared.” He shakes his head sadly.

“I’m…” But I can’t quite say that’s not true. I think of the dark water the kraken was dragging me down into. The shiver is part fear and a bit of excitement.

He continues to stroke my hair, so gently, then takes a deep breath, as though making a difficult decision. “You don’t have to see him. I’ll keep my kraken part away from you. I promise. You can accept and be with the human part of me, and that’s enough.”

My heart throbs. It’ll be incomplete, but…

“Little omega…” He gathers me even closer. “You won’t see my kraken. You’re still in heat. I’ll look after you. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for, and I swear, I’ll protect you from⁠—”

“Bond me.” The words are out, and him being cautious just makes it clearer this is right. “I know it’s stupid, and probably you’ll think it’s impulsive. But you’ve been kind to me in a way that no one else ever has.” I can’t stop it now, it’s pouring out. “You found me at the beach and saved me. You’re helping me through this heat. I’ve felt more at home here with you than I have with anyone, anywhere. You’re my home.”

His grip tightens around me.

“You’re my fated mate, and every part of me recognises you. You said you wanted me to be sure, and take time, but I don’t. I only need you.” I wonder if I might need his other self—the kraken—as well, but that’s too much to think about.

“Isla.” His voice is hoarse, and his breathing has gone ragged.

“I know you think I’m too young⁠—”

“I don’t think that.”

“But I’m old enough to know my mind. I can see the best thing that’s ever happened to me. To recognise my soul mate.”

“Say it again,” he grits out. His muscles are bunched.

“You’re my fated mate. There will never be anyone else for me but you, and I want to know what being fully bonded to the person who is meant for me is like. I don’t want you to have to wait another minute. You’ve waited so long already.”