Kefi Quotes

When love shows up, the only choice you have is to pay attention.

You’re a lot more tolerable with your mouth shut.” She could feel her cheeks flaming bright hot. Damn man kept doing this to her. She didn’t want to blush in front of him, but he pushed so hard. Every time she thought she had control over the situation, he flipped it back to his favor. He grinned, as though he knew her frustrations. “A lot of people have said that to me. But you know what I always say?” “No, I honestly don’t care to hear it, either.” He leaned a little closer, so close that she could see there were faint purple freckles on his cheeks. Just barely visible, like little lavender paint flecks. “You’d miss me if I shut up.” “I really don’t think I would.” “You want me to disappear and leave you here alone?” Immediately panic flared. She didn’t want to be alone in this unknown tower, and she didn’t want him out with those depthstriders. “Didn’t you say it was a hunting night? And you wouldn’t even stay in the water because they might bite you?” “Maybe I just didn’t want you to be alone.” Her droid clinked in his fingers, a slight whirring sound coming from them as though they were humming. “It’s awfully scary in here, don’t you think?” “It’s a doctor’s office.” “But you don’t know who’s on the other side of that door, or on the other side of that window.” His hand came down on his chest, smoothing down the rippling muscles there and drawing her gaze to the movement. “Perhaps you need a big, strong male to keep you safe.” That’s exactly what she needed. One with abs that flexed under her gaze and biceps that made her want to bite them. What? No! She let out a disgusted sound and stalked away from him before she did something stupid. “Shut up, you big oaf!” “Whatever you say, kefi.

Her heart was already beating harder and more heat burned between her legs. She wanted him. She wanted him to move that hand that was on the small of her back even lower so she could feel him grip her ass. That massive hand would have no issue grabbing onto her, rolling her over, moving her against his body as she so desperately wanted. She wanted to grind down on him. She wanted to rock against him so those scales rubbed against her clit in a way she knew would be life changing. Ace just... wanted. He’d saved her life more times than she could count. And as she leaned a little farther back from him, her eyes half lidded and heavy with desire, she saw the same need in him as well. Maketes lifted his hand between them, those thick fingers brushing up her neck and gently cupping the side of her head. There was so much power in that hand. She’d seen him kill people without a thought, and yet he was shaking to remain as gentle with her as he could. “I almost lost you,” he whispered, his words guttural and harsh. “I do not like this feeling, kefi.” “Yeah, me either,” she replied, seeing his gills flutter against the sides of his head.

With a deep growl under his breath, he let his hands wander where they wished. He grabbed handfuls of her ass, feeling the softness, just the right amount that he could grab onto. The plushness in his grip nearly sent him into a void of pleasure and desire from which he would never escape. That growl in his chest grew louder as he used the leverage of his grasp to thrust her even harder against him. Her breasts flattened against him, pressing against his chest as all of her was suddenly against all of him. “Gods, there’s so much of you I want to taste, kefi. But first, give me your lips.” That was all it took. She fell into him, the soft cushions of her lips pressing against his, and it unleashed an animal inside of him. The sound he made was a moan of pure anguish. With lips and teeth and tongue, he tried to devour her. Her taste flooded into his mouth, the sweetest sunshine of her lips that only made him need her even more. He kissed her without skill or talent, only pure desire as he delved between her lips. Seeking more of that taste. Needing to touch her more.

Kefi,” he growled, the words rumbling through him before he could catch them. “I need you to trust me.” “I do.” “Because I know you think I’m an animal, perhaps capable of hurting you even after all that we have done together.” “I trust you,” she repeated, her words breathless. “Good, because for a few minutes, it’s going to feel like I’m trying to consume you.” Then he descended upon her. His hands grabbed onto her sides, holding her in place as his tongue traced along her skin. He licked to the peak of her breast, drawing that rosy tip into his mouth and swirling his tongue along the sun kissed taste of her. The tip beaded against his tongue, and the more he touched her, the more she moaned. Her hands came down into his hair as he licked her, sucking hard enough that she arched against him again. He switched to the other breast, tasting her as he had been begging to do for such a long time in his mind. And still, it wasn’t enough. Maybe the problem was his hands. He grabbed onto her ass again, yanking her against him so she could roll like she had done before.

He leaned forward and nipped at her neck with those sharp teeth, right over the spot that still stung a bit if she focused on it. Then the menace said, “Are you going to ask me about this?” She waited for the original rage and fear to come bubbling up like it had when she’d first touched her neck and realized he’d done something to her. But instead, all she could feel was the smallest sense of warmth and maybe a bit of irritation. But it was irritation that also made her want to tease him. “I guess.” Ace released one hand from his shoulders and touched the soft spot on her throat. “I did notice that something was different here.” “My people have found a way to connect with yours.” His hand shifted under her bottom, one broad finger slowly stroking between her legs before he retreated back to holding onto her. “Besides that, of course.” Her cheeks flamed bright red. “Stop that.” “Stop what?” This time his opposite hand moved up her side, gently brushing against her breast before retreating. “Do you not want me to touch you, kefi?” “No.” Wait — “I mean, yes. It’s fine if you touch me. You’re just distracting me from this conversation.” “Maybe.” Those talented fingers pressed down against her ribs, hauling her a little higher in the water until her breasts were at eye level for him. She could see the heat in his eyes again, and it made something in her squirm. “Perhaps I need to distract you better.

Maketes,” she said, before launching herself at him. His arms came up for her as though he knew what she wanted. Those strong arms caught her with ease, only sinking back into the water a little and only with the slightest “oof” as she kneed him in the gills. But she couldn’t get close enough. She couldn’t hold on to him tight enough to feel like she was finally safe. His clawed hands came around her, clasping her tighter and pressing her underneath his chin, where she was nestled against the cold chill of his gills. He exhaled through them, water spilling down over her body, but she didn’t care. She only knew that in this moment, she wasn’t alone anymore. “Kefi?” he asked, his voice pitched low, as though he was afraid something was in the cave with them. “You’re okay, dear one. You’re all right. I’m here.” She shook her head against his throat. “I don’t know what happened.” “I’m not leaving again.” He flexed his tail underneath her, swimming them to the edge of the water. Then, with a sudden jerk of his tail, he propelled them out of the water enough so that he was sitting on the sand.

Another rumble of thunder preceded him lifting his head, and a bolt of lightning illuminated the look of determination. As though he’d already come to the same conclusion she had just thought of. As though he knew he would tear the world down for her. The first drops of rain hit them. Heavy, thick balls that splattered on her shoulders and down into her hair. They were drenched in moments, staring at each other as an icy wind blew up as well. “Ask me,” he said, his voice low and quiet. “Ask me and it will be done.” “I’m not a murderer. I’m a thief.” “I am a murderer. You have seen me kill for less than keeping those you love safe. The burden will not be yours to bear. It will be mine.” Rain dripped down her cheeks, or maybe those were tears, because they burned hot enough to brand her cheeks. “I can’t ask you to kill someone.” “You won’t be asking me to do that. You’re asking me to save someone’s life, and how I do it is up to me.” He reached up and smoothed his thumbs along her cheeks. “You have to know by now that I would do anything for you, kefi.” She did. And that terrified her because there were so many things she could ask him to do. So many paths down this road that would end in blood and violence.

had a feeling it would be like this,” he murmured. “From the first moment Anya spoke of you, I could feel that the sea wanted to draw me to your side. But I never guessed how this would feel.” “How does it feel?” He traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “Oh, kefi, someday I will tell you that.” “You harbor a lot of secrets, undine.” “Shh.” He pressed that thumb over her mouth to silence her. “Stop talking. You’re going to miss this moment, just like you might have missed the sun.

A soft laugh bubbled out of her, flowing into him with the soft sound. And then she was stroking his hair, like she seemed to always enjoy. He curved into her touch, knowing this was the last chance they’d have for a little while yet. “Maketes?” she said. “Yes?” “What does kefi mean?” “I will tell you when all of this is done. When you have your hands on that key, and when your sister is free from the man who would kill her.” He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her palm. “No matter what happens, you are always my kefi, and I will help you until the very end of this.” He could see how his words hurt her. She flinched as though he’d struck her, but there was also safety in what he said. Because they were a vow. He would protect her and her kin for the rest of his life, even if that was insanity.

The fins around his face flared wide, and even that made her uncomfortable. Just the slightest show of surprise and she was so close to bolting it made her ashamed of herself. With an angry exhale, she stacked everything next to him and tried her best to get control over the feelings. “It’s hard to remember that I know who you are when you’re so... so...” He reached up between them and grabbed one of her flailing hands. “What about me scares you?” She swallowed. “Maketes, I don’t want to⁠—” “Tell me exactly. Tell me what pieces of me scare you so that I can ease your fears.” She shouldn’t be doing this. This was stupid, anyway. There were so many parts of him that scared her. It would take them hours for her to list them all and they were on a timeline. She barely had time to stitch him closed, which was the other thing they should both be focused on right now. Instead, she found her lips moving. “Your claws.” “My claws?” He lifted their hands up so she had to look at them, seeing her fingers coiled together with his. “These would never cause pain. They were made to protect, not to harm.” “But they ripped through that man’s stomach so easily.” “I don’t want you to think of that, kefi. I want you to know that they are gentle with you and that if you need someone to save you, that they are the first weapon you should look for.

Your teeth,” she blurted. There was a reason she was touching him, and it was so she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. So she wouldn’t be scared to lean on him, to use him to keep her safe. “Open your eyes, kefi. If you are afraid of my teeth, then you need to look at them.” She didn’t want to open her eyes. Ace wanted to stay in this world where nothing existed but darkness and touch. But then he leaned closer, hesitating where the heat of his breath brushed against the junction of her shoulder and neck. She heard the ragged breath he sucked in before his lips were suddenly pressed to the soft skin there. She could feel the imprint of his teeth through his lips. The sharp edges of them were dulled by warm heat that spread throughout her body like a wildfire. Then those lips parted. She could feel the sharp tips of his teeth pressing against her flesh before he leaned back once more. Just the barest hint of them, and she was ashamed to admit she wanted more. So she opened her eyes, blinking in the glaring white overhead lights before meeting his dark gaze. He parted his lips, baring those teeth for her eyes. Maketes even let her look her fill before he spoke. “I am made like a weapon. But many of my kind are more terrifying than me. I promise you, with every part of who I am and every part of who I will be, I would never hurt you. You have made every part of me shine with light, sweet achromo. You are brave and wild and free, and I would be a fool to try and dampen that light.” The same hand that held her fingers to his gills took her touch to his lips. Then he released her, never pushing her to do anything she didn’t want to do. Because of that, Ace found she wanted to touch. She gently ran her finger along his plush lower lip, tracing the outline of the cushion of it. She could see where he had been biting the soft flesh, as though he was as nervous about her touching him as she had been. Again, those lips parted. He even opened his mouth slightly so she could run that same finger over the sharp points of his teeth. They weren’t as razor sharp as she’d thought. Perhaps there would have to be more force to a bite to tear flesh like he had with the others. It should have frightened her. Instead, a heat bloomed deep in her body. A heat she almost didn’t recognize because it had been so long since she’d felt it.

I knocked the wind out of myself, you moron! Get off of me.” He leaned into her harder, ignoring how she put her hands on his head to push him away. “No, kefi. You only have one heartbeat. It will not be long now. I will hold you until the end.” Why did it hurt so badly to think he had lost her this early? She had said they were friends. That is what she wanted from him, and therefore, that was what he would be. He’d never wanted to be someone’s friend so badly. Perhaps more, of course. He would have been very happy with more, but he would take what he could get. And if that meant holding her until the end, guiding her soul into the deep where the sea mother would watch over her, then that was exactly what he would do. “Maketes—” “Shh, kefi. I am sorry I failed you. I should have kept you safer.” If he had been here, prepared to enter the room with her, perhaps she wouldn’t have made such a mistake. Perhaps she wouldn’t have risked her life. This was his fault. This was all his fault, and how was he going to live with this guilt? He was usually so good at thrusting aside his emotions, but right now, it was almost impossible to do. Then her fingers carded through his hair. Those talented, thin fingers brushed through the coiled tangles on his head and gently rubbed at his scalp. The same way he’d done to her.