Title: Cove’s Tentacles
Series: Blood Wet & Tears 1
Author: J Hali Steele
Publisher: Changeling Press
Release Date: October 6, 2023
Heat Level: 5 – Erotica
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 59 pages
Genre: Erotica, Capture Fantasy, Monster Erotica, Gay, Hentai, Shapeshifters, Vampires, Dark Fantasy
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Synopsis
Warning: This is a Razor’s Edge Monster Erotica Story. Expect limited plot and character development, and lots of paranormal heat. If you’re looking for a lengthy plot driven erotic romance, this is not it!
Cove Deville knows he can’t touch alcohol without facing dire consequences. One drink thrown in his face from a hook-up gone embarrassingly wrong and he’s trapped in a large cooler and tossed into a lake. Fresh water will have to do — better than nothing. Wrong. Discovered on the lake’s sandy shore, he’s captured by a bewildering man. Cove’s life, or what’s left of it if he doesn’t find salt water fast, is about to drastically change.
Kilson Arestes can not recall the last time he was held by another. The pain of loneliness has been so great he felt as if his heart was being shredded. Those thoughts are quickly replaced with another kind of sadness when he finds an ocean dweller who should never be in fresh water crawling from his manmade lake. Little does Kils know saving the animal will alter his undead life forever.
Will these fantastic creatures’ existence be changed for better or worse?
Copyright ©2023 J. Hali Steele
As always, Cove was fucking forgiving. He returned to Kilson’s by way of the cliff face. Calmer, he at least communicated. If Kilson had to bet on it, he’d say the octopus triggered Cove’s tranquil demeanor. How?
One part of the incident in Kilson’s cove left him astonished but amused. He recalled the words blasting through his head as the scuba divers were dropped to the boat’s deck.
That is how you rain men, motherfucker.
The kraken had spoken directly to Kilson, and the bastard had a sense of humor.
What Kils wouldn’t give to feel the beast’s comforting… No. Fucking no!
The beast, by not sharing its plans with Cove, had hurt and disappointed him. Kilson, though he understood, didn’t like it.
Am I any better? Kils had done nothing to ease the blow to Cove, whom he watched struggle to command his octopus while they were in the cove. Kils’ sorrow for Cove had to be buried. To see him safe, Kilson would do it all over again.
Kilson decided an evening out would do them both good.
“This is why I asked you to bring a suit.” Kilson took Cove to Catch LA on Melrose in West Hollywood, where he could eat some of the best seafood in southern California.
“You could have fabricated something less funeral looking.”
Kilson nodded. “I could have. I could have gone with the angelic white you favor.” Kilson hunched a shoulder. “But that’s a damn fine suit.”
“Because it’s black and matches yours?”
“At least it is not full of rips and tears and, miraculously, the shirt has buttons.”
“My shirts have buttons. I just don’t use them. They’re confining.” Cove tugged at his collar. “I’d have preferred a red tie, also.” Cove undid the blue-striped tie and dropped it on the table before he undid the top two buttons of the crisp white shirt.
“Blue brings your eyes out.”
“That explains you wearing red.”
“Fuck you.”
A grin slashed across Cove’s face. “A damn fine plan.”
“Jesus.” Kilson snapped his fingers, bringing the room to a standstill. In seconds, Cove wore a suit Kils fashioned in ocean blue. Christ, blue did look better on his ass than black. The red tie looked atrocious until Kils toned the color way, way down. “Satisfied?” The music resumed and people conversed quietly. They even laughed softly.
“It’s cool how you silence a room full of people.” Loosening the tie and undoing three buttons this time, Cove said, “I have to hide my clothes for when I leave the ocean, but you can pull a wardrobe from thin air.”
Kils sighed. “You couldn’t leave your shirt alone for one hour?”
The grin Cove flashed spelled trouble. “What? Scared someone will look at my titties?”
“Where do you get this shit?”
Cove squinted. “You always have a red tie or pocket square. I bet you do own a cape lined in bloodred satin.”
“Christ’s sake. Read the menu.”
Kils ordered a porterhouse with brussels sprouts fixed in a glaze that included bacon and pomegranate.
Cove, after studying the menu, complained, “I’d expect you to bring me to a restaurant that serves grilled octopus.”
“For God’s sake, tell me you never eat octopus.”
“Yes, but it’s not wrangled in someone’s net. I catch it myself.”
Kils grimaced. “Order something else, Cove.”
Their waiter returned twice, allowing Cove time to make up his mind. He lingered longer on each visit. After Cove asked about one item, the server recommended other dishes, discussed sides, and each time he pointed to an item, he touched Cove’s hand. Kilson wanted to haul the bastard into the night sky and drop the son of a bitch. The evening slid all the way to hell when the waiter leaned and whispered something in Cove’s ear before walking away. “If he touches you again, Cove, I’ll kill him.”
“Good God!”
“I brought you out to dinner. You go home with me.”
“Two more nights…”
“And your thirty days are up.” Kils had had enough. “We’re leaving.” He opened his wallet and placed money on the table. “Let’s go.”
“We didn’t eat.”
“Your loss, Cove.”
“Jeez, what is wrong with you? Isn’t it enough that you caused the death of… Whatever. You are worse than the kraken.”
Kilson scrutinized Cove. He appeared uncertain about what had transpired on the boats in the cove. “You speak differently of your octopus now.”
“My octopus was passive. He was satisfied. You disturbed a side of him I have not seen before.” Cove breathed out heavily. “I fear I cannot control it anymore.”
“He takes care of you.”
“You forget he can’t leave the water.” Cove leaned across the table. “What will happen when his anger goads me on land?”
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Growl and roar — it’s okay to let the beast out. — J. Hali Steele
J. Hali Steele wishes she could grow fur, wings, or fangs, so she can stay warm, fly, or just plain bite the crap out of… Well, she can’t do those things but she wishes she could!
J. Hali’s a multi-published Amazon bestselling author of Romance in Paranormal, Fantasy, and Contemporary worlds which include ReligErotica and LGBTQ stories where humans, vampyres, shapeshifters and angels collide — and they collide a lot! When J. Hali’s not writing or reading, she can be found snuggled in front of the TV with a cat in her lap, and a cup of coffee.
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