Free The Kraken King by Meljean Brook

anymore. Only sails. And everyone knows that kraken fixate on their prey. That ironship should be covered with tentacles. Yet there are none.”
    “You will write that to your friends?”
    “Yes.”
    He gave her another long look. “They drag nets full of jellyfish beneath the ship,” he finally said. “The venom stuns any kraken or sharks that come too close.”
    Jellyfish. Incredible. She jotted the answer. The governor remained silent as he walked beside her. Did he think her rude? She hoped not. If she could accept his blunt manner, then he could wait for her to write a few notes when inspiration struck.
    She tucked her notebook away again as they rounded the kraken’s cone. A stream of black ink darkened the sand.
    Zenobia sighed. She needed ink. And more pens. She’d had the sense to bring Archimedes’ letters and her work—those would have been irreplaceable—but there was still so much that needed to be replaced.
    “I don’t suppose that ink is usable?”
    “No. But we’ll extract what’s left in the sacs.” He stopped to look down at her. “Would you like some?”
    “Yes.” And she would write an adventure using the ink from a kraken. Simply wonderful. “Thank you.”
    “You’re easily pleased. But so am I.” His gaze dropped to her smile before lifting to meet her eyes again. “I’ve been thinking of your valet.”
    “Cooper?” Startled, Zenobia looked to the mercenary. He’d followed them around to this side of the kraken, keeping her in his sight. “Why?”
    “Because he’s not with your husband.”
    “My husband?”
    “Your friend called you Madame Inkslinger. You are married?”
    “Oh, yes.” Sometimes she forgot. “But Cooper is not just a valet. He fulfills many roles.”
    “Except the role he was hired for. Your husband isn’t with you.”
    “No.”
    “Is he a fool?”
    “No. He’s dead.” Zenobia expected some response to that announcement—sympathy, surprise—but she hadn’t anticipated the governor’s smile. “ That pleases you?”
    “Are you still in mourning?”
    “No.”
    “Then it pleases me. I feared I was too late.”
    “For what?” she had to ask. Her heart thudded when he stepped closer.
    His voice lowered. “On the flyer, I liked the feel of you against me. Now I’d like to feel you beneath me.”
    Her lungs became a vacuum. She stared up at him, her mind just as empty. Had he truly said that? With no apology or hesitation in his expression—and no humor now, either. He watched her struggle for an answer, his intense gaze focused on her face.
    “You’re very bold, sir,” she finally managed.
    “Yes.”
    Only a few minutes ago, she’d found his bluntness refreshing. Now she wasn’t certain whether to be flattered by his interest, or to be insulted that he thought she could be so quickly had.
    But her sense was returning, and she realized there might be more to his request that hadn’t been said. “Is this a condition of our staying in this town?”
    A frown darkened his face. “No. I ask because I would enjoy it.”
    Of course he would. He was a man. It was common knowledge that they always did.
    She pursed her lips. “But would I enjoy it?”
    He gave a short laugh that spread into a grin. “If you’ll have me, I’ll make your pleasure my only goal.”
    “Then I’ll consider it,” she told him, even as she told herself, I won’t .
    Oh, but despite that quick resolution, she already was considering it. This could be an adventure of another sort. She was an independent woman. Everyone believed her to be a widow. Her reputation wouldn’t suffer. And like the kraken, lovemaking was something that she’d read about but had no real experience with of her own. What harm would it do to know firsthand?
    So perhaps she could be tempted. Her body already was, with these flutterings and tightenings. Her attraction to him made little sense, but rejecting his offer didn’t make much sense, either. An opportunity like this with a man who