Tentacles With Benefits

  Tentacles With Benefits

  Connor Crowe

  Fated Fire Foundry

  Copyright © 2020 by Connor Crowe

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design by Connor Crowe

  A free tale from the world of Nox Bay is all yours!

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  Felix, formerly a professional thief, is adjusting to his new life in pack lands. But when he receives a mysterious riddle and his mate goes missing, Felix must use his skills once more. Join him and the rest of your Nox Bay friends as he uncovers new treasures, new locations, and at the end of it all, a sweet moment with his forever mate.

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  The Crimson Fox (free short story)

  Protecting His Heart

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  Sharing His Heart

  Contents

  Tentacles With Benefits

  Newsletter

  Also by Connor Crowe

  Tentacles With Benefits

  A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

  In my case, that meant picking up a job as a night watchman at the local aquarium. It didn't pay much, but it was better than nothing. Especially since I'd struck out on every other listing in town. What did I have to lose?

  Well, besides my apartment, my bike, not to mention my dignity...

  "Requirements?" I asked the man on the phone, a Mr. Collins that was the only thing left standing between me and a paycheck. "What requirements? It's just a night watch position, right? All I gotta do is sit there, maybe make a couple rounds, make sure no one's up to no good."

  Mr. Collins coughed nervously. "Yes, yes, of course. We've a few new specimens in our collection that are still getting acclimated to the tanks here.” He paused for a moment, and I could have sworn I heard something dripping. “If you hear something beating on the glass, don't be alarmed. It’s quite normal as they adapt to their new surroundings.”

  Well, that wasn't foreboding at all. Just what kind of “new specimens” were they talking about? Still, it wasn't like I had any other choice.

  “Okay.” I huffed. “I’ll be the best night watchman you’ve ever had.” Just hire me. Please.

  The line hung silent for a moment longer, then cut to harsh, high-pitched static. I yanked the phone away from my ear, wincing. What the heck was that? Did I lose reception or something? I was about to hang up when I heard a voice come back on the line, saying those two magical words.

  “You’re hired, kid. Show up at 8 p.m. tonight and not a moment later. I’ll know if you do.”

  Click.

  Ooookay then. That was definitely more than a little weird. But I couldn’t dwell on it too much. I had a job!

  I checked my watch. 7:55. I'd brought along a flashlight, a peanut butter sandwich, and a bottle of water with me. I tossed a paperback in my bag as well. Who knew how boring it was gonna be in the dark aquarium all night?

  I tried to peer through the darkened glass, but I couldn't see anyone in there. I tried the handle -- locked. How was I supposed to get in there to do my job if the doors were locked? They hadn't exactly set me up with a key...or anything for that matter.

  A small red flag leapt up in the back of my mind, but I pushed it aside. Probably just a mistake or a miscommunication. I pulled out my phone and checked to see if I had any messages or missed calls. The dull, empty "no signal" icon flashed up on the screen.

  Great.

  I wrapped my coat tighter around me as a cold breeze whipped through the air. When I let out a breath, it came out as a puff of steam. Where was he?

  I turned around and was about to head back to my bike when I heard the lock rattle and the door open. "Oh, there you are! Come on in, get out of the cold."

  Mr. Collins waved me inside and I followed his lead, discarding my coat on a hanger in a side room. Where the outside world howled with wind and rumbled with the hint of an oncoming storm, the inside of the aquarium was pleasant and still, filled with soft splashes of water and the faintest scent of glass cleaner.

  "Let me just take a moment to show you around. If you'll follow me..."

  The aquarium had always been a lovely, peaceful place. I'd spent many days here as a child, watching the fish glide easily through the water and wondering what it must be like. Unfortunately, the cold reality of adult life had set in and I was no longer the innocent child looking on in joy. I had overdue rent, a streak of bad luck finding a job, and a pile of unpaid bills growing on my kitchen counter.

  I sighed. Why did everything have to cost money?

  "And that's just about it," Mr. Collins finished. I realized then that I had spaced out during the whole tour. Way to go, Evan. "Do you have any questions for me?"

  Did I ever. Instead, I gave him a smile and a nod, shaking his hand. "Thanks a lot, Mr. Collins."

  "Please," he insisted. "Call me Harv."

  "Harv," I repeated.

  "Well, good luck!" He headed for the door and gave me a wave. "If you run into any trouble, the numbers to call are there in the staff room. The keyring's also there, though we should be all locked up for the night. See ya in the morning and give me a call if you need anything!"

  With that, he was out the door...and I was alone.

  I never realized how quiet the aquarium got at night. Every other time I'd been here, there were school groups, tourists, staff, and custodians all bustling about. Not to mention the screaming children, the old grandmas in wheelchairs, and the occasional dog (some people paid no attention to pet restrictions).

  But now...the aquarium was dark. Silent. Just me and the fishes.

  It sent a chill down my spine to think about, though I couldn't have said why. I didn't have any problems spending time alone. Hell, I'd done it my whole life. Let's just say I was never the most socially gifted guy, and I'd grown up an only child to two absent parents.

  Solitude was basically a way of life by this point. Not that I wouldn't mind some company...

  I shook the thought away and got up from the desk Collins planted me at. Oh, sorry--Harv. Even the name made my skin crawl. There was something off about that guy, but as long as he paid me, I couldn't complain. Much.

  It was time for my first set of rounds, so I grabbed the flashlight, the keyring, and set off through the maze of hallways. There wasn't much to see--I mean, much out of the ordinary. I stopped by each exhibit for a few minutes, just taking in the calm beauty of the aquatic life. How serene m
ust it be to glide amongst the waves. How freeing, to swim anywhere you pleased with the flick of a fin.

  I envied them.

  In reality they were the ones confined in these glass cages, but in my own life I felt like I was the trapped one. I sunk down on one of the benches and watched as a school of clownfish sailed by. They had friends. They had a whole school of buddies to back them up. What did I have?

  A shitty shoebox of an apartment, a beat-up old bicycle, and a neighbor that smelled constantly like weed. Yup, living the dream.

  I rolled my eyes.

  Dating? Forget about it. I'd had a couple casual fucks, but I always left feeling even more empty than before. I couldn't put my finger on what, but they were just missing something. So I stayed out of it. No need to waste either of our time when I knew it wasn't gonna go anywhere.

  A noise took me out of my longing thoughts. Strangely familiar. Then it came to me: that was the same mysterious noise I'd heard when on the phone with Harv. It came again, this time clearer. Closer.

  I leapt up and flicked on my flashlight. First night on the job, and already some action. Sweeping it around, I searched for the source of the sound, but found nothing. The high ceilings and glass tanks echoed everything.

  Was this what Harv was talking about? I wondered. He'd talked about some new "acquisitions" causing a bit of noise, but I hadn't thought much of it. Still, it was my job to investigate. I left the huge viewing room and crept down a hallway. I swung the flashlight left and right, still on my guard. My heart beat just a little bit faster, my breaths a little shorter.

  But anxiety and adrenaline wasn't the only thing I was feeling. The closer I got, the hotter I felt. I tugged at my collar and wiped at my forehead. Since when did it get so hot in here? I checked the nearest thermostat. No change.

  That didn't make any sense, but I sighed and pressed on when the noise came again. There was definitely something in here. And, much as I didn't want to admit it, that strange heat affected me in all the worst ways.

  Not only was I burning up, my cock decided now was a good time to come out and play. Talk about bad timing. I knew I'd just been worrying if I'd ever find a good lay, but seriously...

  Focus, Evan. I shook myself and carried on, knowing how bad it'd look if I screwed up this job too. No pun intended. Unfortunately, the more I tried to ignore it, the more naughty thoughts spilled into my brain and clouded everything else. My whole body throbbed with inexplicable need, leaving me powerless to resist it.

  I hissed in a breath through gritted teeth and leaned against the wall for a moment to steel myself. This was ridiculous. Totally ridiculous. I was losing it for sure this time. I'd been watching too much porn lately--that had to be it. And too many monster movies, I thought with a laugh.

  I was a young, horny bachelor. What did you expect?

  With that thought still lingering in the back of my mind, I turned a corner and reached the lab and storage rooms. No one ever came back here except for staff when they were prepping new exhibits or restocking supplies. The closer I got, the louder the sound became, though.

  Yup, it was definitely back here. But where?

  As if on cue, a dim, flickering light spilled out from one of the closed doors. Naturally, the one that said "do not enter."

  Because of course, the one place I wasn't supposed to go was the room I needed to investigate. I took a deep breath and stepped closer, holding my flashlight out in front of me like a weapon. There was something almost...soothing about that light beyond the doorway. It ebbed and flowed in a wavy pattern, almost like the ocean. I found myself drawing closer still, watching the waves until I was right against the door.

  "Here goes nothing," I muttered to myself, and turned the knob.

  I'd never been in this part of the aquarium--and for good reason. The room was larger than I expected, set up with bizarre looking machines and flashing lights. But the real draw dominated the center of the room: a huge, cylindrical tank. Wires and tubes connected it to the nearby machinery, which let off a series of rhythmic beeps. Reminded me of those trackers that they have in hospitals, meant to track heart rate and oxygenation.

  But this was no hospital.

  The floor had drains every few feet and the rest of it was smooth stone. A far cry from the carpeted walkways that lined the viewing tanks, that was for sure. The floors were wet and slick with water, though from where I couldn't tell. Was the tank leaking? Maybe that's why they'd installed the drains.

  I took careful steps toward the center of the room, doing my best not to fall. My heart leapt into double-time and the pounding heat only grew more intense, but I couldn't stop now. A million thoughts and questions wormed their way through my head with zero answers. What was this place? Why was it closed off to the rest of the aquarium?

  And why was the mysterious noise--no, the mysterious force--coming from within?

  I pressed a hand to the glass and leaned in. An overhead light hung above the tank and illuminated the water below, but I couldn't see anything in there. Seemed empty to me. I squinted and pressed my face closer, right up to the glass.

  The slow, thudding sound began again, this time so close it echoed through my bones. The glass shivered against my hands.

  In a slew of rising bubbles, something appeared. Two hands, pressed up against the glass against mine. And oh God, a face looking right at me!

  "Shit!" I yelped and tumbled backward, landing hard on the wet stone floor.

  There was a guy in there!

  I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the control panel, looking for some kind of emergency release. How had someone even gotten in there in the first place? I had no idea, but I couldn't let the man drown. I did what anyone would do in the situation--I sprung into action, pushed the panic down deep, and hoped I could save his life.

  What did all these buttons and dials do? Suddenly I was in some kind of mad science lab instead of a small town aquarium. That disturbing thought aside, I scanned the console till I found a release switch. Someone had taped over it, but I acted on instinct at this point. I ripped it off and pulled the lever, hoping I wasn't too late.

  The tank hissed and water rushed out. Thank goodness for the all the drains in the floor, I realized. The machines went haywire, beeping even louder, but all I cared about was that man in the tank. He flailed around in a panic as the water drained away, and maybe I was just seeing things but I could have sworn I saw fins.

  Or tentacles.

  I gulped at that unbidden thought. Yup, I was 100% going crazy. No doubt about it. Especially since that thought excited me way more than it should.

  Way to go, Evan. Even when there’s a man in danger, you gotta be thirsty.

  The tank drained at last and a hatch hissed open. I crouched down to peer inside and my eyes grew wide.

  That was no man.

  Not completely, anyway.

  The creature in the tank looked to be some kind of fish-man hybrid. Something that couldn’t—shouldn’t—exist. Just in movies, right? Just in stories.

  Just in your dreams.

  Faint scales lined his skin and gave off an iridescent sheen. He sported a human enough face and torso (once you looked past the scales), but once you got below the belt, it was a different matter altogether. His lower half was like an octopus, full of long, squirming tentacles. They wriggled around so much I couldn’t count them, but there was definitely more than eight.

  On top of it all, the man—the creature—was staring right at me with huge, glittering eyes the color of the ocean at midnight. Whatever this thing was, the emotion on its face was clear.

  The poor thing was terrified.

  And that, more than the startling discovery, spoke to my humanity. I had no idea what this thing was or if it was dangerous, but there was something undeniably intriguing in that glossy black gaze. I reached out a shaking hand and pressed it against the glass. “Hey,” I said softly. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

  I didn’t expect much. After
all, I was talking to some kind of mutant in a secret lab that shouldn’t exist. What were the chances it could understand me at all?

  The creature slithered closer and nodded his head slowly up and down. No sounds came out, but the nod was enough. Another thought came then, and with it another one-two punch of guilt.

  Crap, if this thing was a fish and not a human, maybe I actually was drowning it. Only this time with oxygen instead of water.

  “Do you, um, need water?” I tried to put the words together as simply as I could, praying that he’d get the message.

  The same slow head bob. Back and forth this time. No.

  He uncurled one of those long, violet tentacles and pointed it at the door I’d come through. The same door warning not to enter.

  “What’s wrong?” I wondered aloud. “Who put you in here?”

  I didn’t need him to answer to form a theory about that one. It must have been the supervisor, Mr. Collins. No wonder he was so nervous on the phone. No wonder he was in such a hurry to hire someone, and no wonder he barely told me anything at all before leaving me here for the night.

  I watched in awe at the graceful movements of his tentacles, all the way up to the hard lines of his torso, shoulders, and arms. He had sandy, sun-bleached hair that hung in loose curls down to his ears and his curious eyes still watched my every move.

  Who would keep such a beautiful, fascinating creature trapped like this?

  He slithered toward the opening and I backed up to give him space. He crawled out of the hatch and onto the lab floor, gliding across the room like a snail. Despite my earlier worry about him needing water to survive, he didn’t seem to be in any pain. A child’s curiosity took its place as he explored the room, poking and prodding at each object in his reach. He looked back to me often, as if waiting for my reaction.