Tentacles & Triathlons (Leviathan Fitness, #2)

by Ashley Bennett

And as much as I hated that monster, I hated my father more.

Being one of the oldest monsters around, and potentially the last of your kind, could do that to you.

Some days I truly enjoyed being a kraken, but others, I felt like a total abomination. Even by monster standards, I was quite odd.

As I floated, weightless, my thoughts drifted back to the photos of Atlas and Tegan. Would I ever be worthy? Would I ever find that type of love?

Javier Jimenez was the most attractive guy in Briar Glenn and he just so happened to be my subordinate at the parks department. More recently, he’d become one of my closest friends. To my dismay, that put him strictly off limits.

As much as I tried to move past it, I was still haunted by the memories of that camping trip from my childhood. Monsters made me feel uneasy.

Krakens were mythical creatures even among mythical creatures.

The wolven shifted his giant body, and that's when I caught my first glimpse of him.

Reece paid him no attention and instead kept his vibrant green eyes focused on me. This was exactly what I was afraid of.

His skin was soft and warm and as we shook he locked eyes with me. “Pleasure,” he said in a baritone voice that had warmth spreading throughout my body.

As if by its own accord, one of my tentacles unraveled and snaked around his forearm. It was one of my breeding tentacles, my hectocotylus, and the moment it made contact with his skin—I almost came. Oh, gods no. That was a male kraken’s mate bond response.

The three hearts inside of my chest thumped rapidly, and I fought to get my words out, to do anything to hide the fact that Reece Rollins and I were mates.

Of course a man like him would find a monster like me repulsive. And of course, out of all the beings I’d met in my long life, that man was my mate.

I was almost to the opposite end of the pool when my body slammed into something solid. FUCK. Cyrus’s voice. I’d heard his voice in my head.

“Well, Reece Rollins, you’ve got yourself a swim coach.”

I smiled at my phone before sitting it back down on my supply cart. It would be a nice night. Because tonight, I was going to paint another portrait of the most beautiful man I had ever seen, and next week, I’d get to spend time with him.

“You’d have to be out of your gods damn mind not to want what they have. Man or monster, who gives a fuck. Love is love.”

“Cyrus? You alright?” Atlas leaned in closer, his head tilted and his bright yellow eyes searching my face. Oh yeah, Atlas. Just having sexual fantasies about your soon-to-be brother-in-law. No biggie.

Realization dawned on me. What in the goddess’s name had I done? I was going to exhibit a gallery full of paintings of Reece Rollins and hope that no one noticed?

“Ah, yeah. The tongues freak people out a bit, but they’re actually quite helpful. Especially for certain things.”

Never in my life did I think I’d be out to lunch with a tentacle monster, hearing him talk about how good his tongues were for sucking dick.

“Oh, it’s friendly alright,” I mumbled and shoved a piece of sushi in my mouth. This fucking kraken was doing things to me—and I didn’t hate it.

The possibilities were endless. I could fuck his mouth with one mating tentacle, fuck his ass with the other, and stroke his cock with my hand until we both came. I bet he tasted like heaven.

An orgasm and a text message and I turned into a sobbing mess. But these were happy tears.

Fuck. This was happening. It wasn’t just the tentacles. It was Cyrus.

Oh, hey Cyrus! Nice tentacles you’ve got there. Wanna shove them up my ass?

Cyrus was scary when he was angry, but he was also sort of hot. Was I really going to do this? The answer was a resounding yes. I lurched forward, wrapping my arms around his neck, and slammed my mouth against his so hard our teeth clacked.

“Breathe, darling. You’re doing so well.” Darling. I’d never been called something so sweet.

“Come here, my little monster fucker.” I used my tentacle to bring his head forward until his mouth connected with mine.

I’d fucked my mate for the first time in the shower stall of my best friend’s gym. What a whirlwind.

I had a good training session this morning, that’s all.” Fought with my trainer. Kissed him. Got tentacle fucked. You know, a typical Wednesday. Nothing too crazy.

Cyrus: Gods, I get you off AND I have to text first? I can already tell that there’s going to be an uneven distribution of work here. Reece: What can I say? I’m a pillow princess *princess emoji*

Was I really going to send Cyrus nudes while I was at work? Yes, yes I absolutely was.

And with each passing day, I could feel myself falling in love with him.

He could be such a brat. But he was my brat.

“I enjoy every second we spend together, whether you’re fucking me or blowing that fucking whistle at me. I’m not scared anymore. I don’t give a fuck that you’re a monster. I have feelings for you, Cyrus, and I’m sorry it took a near-death experience for me to admit that.”

Because my life was infinitely better with him in it too.

There I was, sharing a meal with monsters. I wasn’t scared of them anymore. I cared about all the beings at this table—but the monster sitting next to me was the most important one of all.

“Open your mouth,” I commanded. If he wanted breath play, I’d give it to him, and get myself off at the same time.

“Take it, my needy boy. I’m going to fill all of your holes. Leave you dripping with my cum like the little cum slut you are.”

He laughed and pulled the sheet down off of my waist, revealing my soft cock. “No more fucking, at least not yet. Have you ever heard of cockwarming?”

I stared at the black screen and a rush of feelings overwhelmed me. It was a confusing mixture of giddiness, anxiety, and adoration. Reece Rollins wasn’t just my mate. He was the love of my life.

“Are you alright?” he whispered against my temple. “Everyone is staring at us.” I looked up at him, my chest heaving as I caught my breath. “Let them stare.” I was so fucking tired of hiding our relationship and letting my fears control me.

“No.” I turned to face him. My tentacle coiled around his forearm, wrapping us together. “When it touched you, it activated my mate response. I—I almost came, right there on the spot. In front of you, in front of everyone. It was completely unexpected.” My voice wavered. “Reece Rollins, you are my mate.”