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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Book Details

  Loneliness Ebbs Deep

  About the Authors

  Loneliness

  Ebbs Deep

  Adrian J. Smith

  Rachael Orman

  Kaya has always lived a lonely life, kept sheltered and mistreated. Now orphaned and more alone than ever, she wanders into the forest and to the forbidden lake. There she meets the unusual Helki, an ancient squid shifter who has always strived to live the life of pleasure that's always been forbidden to Kaya...

  Loneliness Ebbs Deep

  By Adrian J. Smith and Rachael Orman

  Published by Less Than Three Press LLC

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

  Edited by Keith Kaczmarek

  Cover designed by Kirby Crow

  This book is a work of fiction and all names, characters, places, and incidents are fictional or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

  Third Edition March 2017

  Copyright © 2017 by Less Than Three Press

  First Edition published 2014, Second Edition published 2015

  Printed in the United States of America

  Digital ISBN 9781620049631

  Loneliness Ebbs Deep

  Kaya inched her way through the tall trees surrounding the small village she lived in. Her hips swayed with each step she took as the sounds of Mama's voice echoed through her head. Before Mama had left, she'd always told Kaya to be watchful, to never wander off without knowing where she was going and to always keep her eyes on where she was stepping. Mama always told Kaya to pay more attention to what she was doing and, most importantly, to follow the rules. Kaya was curious about everything, wanting to know as much as she could, which always got her in trouble with the town elders. Their reprimands didn't deter her, though. She got better at sneaking around and not getting caught.

  Distracted by remembering the many warnings Mama had given her, she didn't see a low-hanging branch. The rough bark scratched the side of her bare hip when she bumped it. Kaya hissed and pursed her lips as she looked down at her side. Scolding herself for being so careless, she shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment to push the stinging burn away then continued on her way.

  Trying to ignore the voice in the back of her mind reminding her yet again she was breaking the rules, Kaya hummed to herself. The old folk song had been passed down from mother to daughter through many generations, and it echoed through the woods as she moved closer and closer to the one place no one was ever permitted to go.

  The dirt under her bare feet mixed with needles and rocks, but she didn't mind since she was used to the feeling. The sunlight from above forced its way through the tree branches, leaving glittering spots on the ground. The sparkling ground made a path for her to follow on her adventure. Lifting a foot, Kaya dipped one toe into the first light spot she found, succeeding in poking a dot into the dirt.

  She giggled as she shuffled forward and did it again and again. Her song was interrupted by bursts of laughter as Kaya jumped from one tree trunk to the next. When she made it to the end of the chorus, Kaya looked up and around, finding herself where she shouldn't be: the outer edge of the village. Surrounded by trees as she was, she couldn't say for certain it was the exact edge, but it was as far as she had ever traveled from the village in the past. No one went farther; it was forbidden.

  Looking over her shoulder and brushing her long brown hair from her face, she squinted. If she tried hard enough, maybe she could see her village through the trees and the hut where she and Mama used to live. But Mama was long gone. Kaya held back the threatening tears and clenched her teeth.

  Instead of turning back like she should, she continued on toward the glimmering in the distance that had caught her eye. She wasn't supposed to head there, but she'd come this far already. If she was caught, she'd be in trouble beyond anything she could imagine. Kaya couldn't help but be curious, as no one knew why it was forbidden to go there. At least, no one would tell her why, and the stories she did hear were varied. The closer she got, the more her skin prickled and her stomach tightened. She picked her humming back up to calm herself. Carefully stepping around raised tree roots and ducking under low-hanging tree limbs, she peered around tree after tree, making sure to keep her eyes on her destination.

  It was as if she was being drawn toward it. She had to get closer, had to find out what it was she wasn't supposed to know or see. When she was finally standing on the shore to the forbidden lake, her breath caught. The glimmering water in front of her was beautiful, reflecting the sunlight back to her. There was no wind, yet the water rippled slowly, breaking against the bank.

  Kaya could think of no earthly reason why such a lovely sight was kept hidden and the villagers warned away from it. Beauty like this should not be concealed. Thick trees formed a barrier around the shore, and when she turned around, she couldn't see any sign of her village. It should have made her nervous, but it didn't. She would never be found if something were to happen, yet she was put at ease by the water.

  Finding a spot clear of any debris or tree droppings, she sat near the water's edge and looked out with a slight smile on her face. It was incredibly peaceful. Not that her village wasn't, but there were always women milling about or children playing. Never was it as quiet as it was sitting near the lake. For a moment, she wished she could stay there forever. No one yelling at her or telling her she was wrong or in the way, no one to get angry with her when her body betrayed her, no one to look down on her like she was a little bug needing to be squashed.

  Kaya wrapped her arms around her knees and settled her cheek down to stare out at the gently moving water. She drew in a deep breath and sighed as a pleasant aroma filled her. The air had a tang to it that ran through her body before calming her, a musty smell that reminded her of the dark caves on the other side of the village. She drew in another breath and licked her lips, tingles running down her body all the way to her toes.

  Hearing a splash, Kaya jerked her head up. The water on the lake had become serene and unmoving—not even the gentle ripples from before lingered. Kaya sat up and unwrapped her legs before she twisted her neck, looking around for any person or animal. Nothing was moving, not even the trees, despite the light breeze.

  Rubbing her arms, Kaya hummed again as she carefully looked around again. If it was anything dangerous, perhaps it would hear her and run away in fear. Humming louder, she searched the horizon for anything out of place. Nothing. Something had to be there to have made the splash, hadn't there? Shaking it off, she breathed slowly and the calm she felt before returned with fervor. The water on the lake resumed its gentle lapping.

  Kaya stood and brushed her backside off. She checked once again over the horizon, noting everything was the same as before. Digging her toes into the warm sand for a moment, she took a deep breath and stepped a bit closer to the water's edge. Something made her hesitate. Perhaps it was the water itself everyone feared. What harm could water possibly do? It wouldn't matter if she touched it real quick—no one would know. Kaya licked her lips and glanced around once more, this time in suspicion rather than fear.

  Perhaps someone was watching her, and the splash had been a warning. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her stomach clenched as she debated. Perhaps Mama's friend was out there throwing rocks into the water to scare her. Mama's friend was supposed to watch her until it was her time to birth, but that wouldn't be for another six cycles. But it didn't seem like something Mama's friend would do, though. More than likely, the harsh woman would throw the
rocks directly at Kaya.

  Laughing bitterly, Kaya shook her head. It was nonsense to think Mama's friend would warn her of anything. Mama's friend had never cared much about Kaya after Mama died. Not wanting to think about her, Kaya slipped back down into the sand, brushing away twigs and rocks before she planted her bottom down. She was acting foolishly—no one was out there but her. No one was supposed to be there, and everyone stayed as far away as possible from the Golden Lake.

  Stretching her legs out, toes pointed to the center of the lake, Kaya relaxed. She leaned back on her elbows after checking the ground for more debris and swiping it away. It didn't make sense—everything about this lake relaxed her. She hummed to herself and ran her fingers up and down her stomach, lightly brushing her breasts.

  There was something arousing about the way the water moved to and fro lazily, seductively. A breeze picked up out of nowhere, cooling the heat as the sun beat down on her bare skin. The pleasant aroma from before grew stronger, the sounds of leaves brushing against each other surrounded her, and her skin tingled as she felt a warmth grow in her belly. Exploring the new sensation, she slid a hand down her side and over her belly, seeking the source of the warmth. When her hand slipped between her thighs, she found herself moist and sensitive. Just the brush of her small fingertips had a moan leaving her lips. Pushing her knees apart, she brushed her fingers against herself again only to find it felt just as good as it had the first time.

  Enjoying the sensation she had discovered, Kaya moved her fingers against herself until she found a firm bundle of nerves, which made her grow wetter even from a light brush. Wanting to see what happened, Kaya pressed more firmly and moved her finger over the same spot again and again. Her head dropped back as she pushed her thighs farther apart to give herself more room to explore.

  Suddenly, she felt like she wasn't alone anymore. Snapping her legs back together, leaving her hand where it was, she glanced around only to find she was still alone. Her body sang to her, wanting her to keep going. The desire to continue exploring herself made her pant. It was forbidden and maybe for a good reason.

  Giving in to her baser needs and laying all the way back on the rough ground, she spread her legs again. The breeze blew over her breasts, making them pebble and ache. Skimming a hand over her stomach, she teased her fingers around her nipple before cupping her breast. No longer able to wait, her curiosity got the best of her, and she started to move her finger again. She hadn't moved it from where it had been, afraid the spot would disappear and she'd never find it. How many times had she bathed but never known this small spot was there, ready to make her feel so good?

  Kaya's hips jerked. She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes, focusing all her attention on that one spot. It was odd, her body moving without her control, but it felt so good. She held her breath and ran her finger in a circle, pressing lightly. She raised her knees, planting her feet firmly in the sand to get a better angle.

  As soon as she moved, the pleasure decreased. Kaya sat up and looked down her body. The water had been barely touching her foot, but as soon as she moved, she was out of reach from the lapping water. The moment she moved her foot back down to the shoreline, pleasure surged through her body. Her skin felt like ripples were moving under it, straight to her core. Kaya got onto her knees and crawled down to the water's edge, dipping her knees and shins in and staring across the rippling surface.

  She sat back on her heels, spreading her knees farther and putting her hand back where it was after washing it in the lake. Kaya stared out at the water, going by feel and sensation only as she manipulated her body. Her hips rolled back and forth as she continued circles around the tiny nub.

  Heat rose in her chest to her cheeks, her gaze blurring over as she struggled to keep her eyes open and focused on the lake in front of her. The waves increased in size as she hummed in ecstasy. Kaya took in a sharp breath, opening her eyes when a surge pulled tightly at her. It felt so good. She couldn't stop if she wanted to.

  Changing the pattern, her fingers delicately moved one after the other tapping the sweet nub she had discovered. Another splash echoed throughout the lake, and when Kaya opened her eyes again, she wasn't alone. She froze. Her heart raced as she remained caught in her pose, legs spread with her hand stuck between them, blush on her cheeks and chest, nipples hard and fingers drenched.

  "Don't stop."

  Kaya couldn't breathe. The beauty in front of her was nothing like she had ever seen before. Kaya didn't move as the beauty glided closer on the surface of the water. The beauty's breasts jutted out from her body, water dripping from them in a constant flow as she stepped on top of the water.

  "Don't stop," the beauty whispered again.

  Kaya didn't know what to do. She shook her head and kept still, wanting to move her hand yet wanting to keep it in place at the same time. The beauty tilted her head to the side and kneeled down in front of Kaya, resting her hands on Kaya's knees.

  "There's nothing wrong. Keep going."

  "Who are you?" Kaya managed to say, the roaring of fear in her ears as she waited for an answer.

  "Helki."

  "Wh-where did you come from?"

  "It doesn't matter," Helki stated as she smiled. She dropped her eyes to Kaya's hand. "Don't stop."

  Kaya hesitated. Her fingers twitched and her body jerked in response. She was still wet and wanting more, wanting to discover where all the feelings had come from. She glanced over Helki's body, eyeing her dark skin and hair, the way her breasts moved with her breaths. Kaya felt her heart race again just from looking upon the other woman's body.

  Kaya shook her head as fear held her immobile.

  "There is nothing wrong with it," Helki stated as she moved to mimic Kaya's position, her knees resting on the surface of the water. "The wise have always known this."

  Kaya was drawn to her, to the way she talked and the way she moved so gracefully. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch the ethereal form before her, but she didn't dare move. Kaya watched intently as Helki rubbed her middle finger in a circle around her own bundle of nerves. Helki's mouth parted and a moan escaped. Kaya licked her dry lips, her heart racing even faster.

  "Nothing that feels this good can be wrong," Helki whispered before she moaned again.

  Kaya did the only thing she could think of as Helki continued. She moved her fingers back in a slow circle, pressing harder with each pass until she tapped her two fingers once more. Unable to control her body any longer, Kaya dropped her chin to her chest, keeping her eyes on Helki's as pure ecstasy rushed through her. Her hips pressed into her hand as she gently pushed against the tiny bundle of nerves one final time. Gasping in air as fast as she could, Kaya tried to get her galloping heart under control. She'd never felt anything like that, and the presence of Helki only seemed to enhance what she'd felt.

  She'd expected Helki to stop when she stopped but was surprised when Helki continued to touch herself. She was positioned in a way Kaya could see exactly what she was doing and just watching had Kaya yearning to touch herself again. It made her burn between her legs and want more of the fantastic feeling she'd just discovered.

  Helki's fingers slipped farther down between her legs and disappeared into her body. Kaya wanted to look away but was completely fascinated at the same time. She scooted farther into the water, letting it completely cover her legs. Something about Helki drew her closer. She should be afraid, shouldn't even be there, but she didn't feel those worries. Excitement and curiosity for her new feelings and the beauty before her pushed away any fear.

  Watching Helki as her fingers slipped through her nether lips to disappear within her body had Kaya tilting her head to see more. Helki moaned loudly, arching her hips toward Kaya, making her eyes widen. Kaya couldn't believe how incredible it made her feel to hear the beauty's pleasure.

  "Do you like watching me touch myself?" Helki asked with a breathy voice. Kaya couldn't find her words, simply nodding her head rapidly. "Come closer. I want y
our lips on mine."

  Kaya couldn't help the pull she felt—even the water seemed to be pulling her to Helki. She had to move closer. Helki kneeled on the surface of the water. Holding out one delicate hand toward Kaya, Helki gave a reassuring smile. Kaya took her hand only to be brought up against Helki's firm body. As she looked up into Helki's eyes, she realized with a start Helki had strange eyes—not brown but a deep orange. Those eyes drew her in, had her lifting onto her toes to press her body more firmly against Helki as her hands slipped around Helki's neck. Helki's hands slithered around Kaya's waist, holding her close as their gazes stayed glued to each other's.

  "Kiss me, beautiful," Helki whispered, her lips only a breath away.

  Taking a deep breath, Kaya closed the distance between them and let her lips land upon Helki's soft, pink ones. As soon as they were connected in such an intimate way, Kaya felt like she was weightless. The world disappeared, and it was just the two of them in the forbidden lake. No village to return to, no Mama's demanding friend, nothing but their exploring hands, soft lips and the desire to know each other's body.

  Helki ran a hand down Kaya's side. Kaya shuddered in response at the soft touch. Kaya's eyes closed when she heard the whisper in her head. She opened her eyes as Helki repeated herself, out loud this time.

  "It will be better if I am in my true form."

  Kaya shook her head, not understanding. Helki stepped back and floated on the surface of the water. Kaya sunk to her chest, her nipples grazing the water as the ripples in the lake brushed against her body. She blinked, realizing for the first time the water was warm and soothing against her skin and the cut from the tree she'd brushed against earlier.

  Kaya heard a splash and looked up to see Helki was gone. Glancing around her, she saw nothing but the peaceful Golden Lake. The trees moved slightly in the breeze, and the ripples continued to come from the center of the lake. Kaya let out a breath, thinking she was alone once again, the mystical woman nothing more than something of her imagination.