Silent Storm (8 page)

Tipping the bag over, he allowed the smooth stone to fall into his palm. He sensed her through it, knew that no matter where she went, he’d be able to follow her. Some of his people believed the stones could guide them. That it held a tiny piece of home to draw them back to hearth and safety. He knew it was more, that the magic in the stone was not between a person and a place, but between two souls.

He cupped the smooth rock and rubbed it between his fingers. Eyes closed. Picturing Laurin in all her seasons. All her roles he’d come to appreciate—teacher, friend…lover. Partner in discoveries, playmate in their off-time. She’d been a support to him as he served his people, always open and willing to negotiate the differences between their cultures.

He’d learned so much from having her around. Her impulsive hugs and bursts of enthusiasm shook his deliberate approach to life. The way she could flare up with anger and just as quickly offer forgiveness—the first few times he’d been sure he would never be able to understand her. Now he saw there was strength in spontaneity that could benefit his people.

Stillness.

Quiet.

From far beneath the waves slapping the sides of the
Stormchild
, he absorbed the peace of the ocean. Breathed it in and allowed it to become a part of him. Waiting, like only the People of the Sea knew how. Water could wear down the mountains, turn them into a soft sandy beach, if given enough time.

He remained at rest. Reached out, sent his love, offered his support to allow Laurin to find her own peace. The wind flapped the furled sails lightly, the deck rose and fell easily.

Tranquility.

Calm.

A change occurred, first sensed on the air. That awareness he had of her ripened, turning lush and fruitful, and his hopes rose. With a rush she approached, lightness and elation surrounding her. He turned his face skyward and laughed as she joined him, shifting back to human a meter above the deck and tumbling into his arms. She knocked him to his back, kissing him madly, warm skin covering his.

“I love you. Oh, Matt, I love you so much. I want to stay with you, and be with you. I know it now, I
know
it…”

And his heart grew a size, filled with her presence and her confession. It was going to work out. He squeezed her tightly before forcing her back far enough to look into her eyes again.

“I love you too.”

She grinned, face radiant, the worried creases at the edges of her eyes gone. She scrambled to her feet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to knock you over.”

“I didn’t mind at all.” He replaced his necklace, coming to stand at her side. She tucked up to him again, breath warm as it fluttered past his chest. Her hands smoothed in circles on his back, the fiery trickle of desire rising between them. As easily, as beautifully, as always.

Laurin leaned in and kissed his chest. “I…”

She turned her face upward and he swore softly. Her magic snapped around them, vigorous and powerful, ready to be unleashed. Held in only by a thread of control.

“Laurin?”

“I want to heal Kallen. I don’t want to hurt you, but I care for him. As a friend, and I…” Her mouth opened and shut a few times before she grimaced. “Why is this so hard to say?”

Matt laughed, taking pity on her. “Because even after months with my sexually charged people, you’re still a modest air shifter.”

She blew her bangs out of the way and nodded.

He tugged her back with him, sitting on the deck head and nestling her between his legs. “Shall I help you say it?”

“Do I need to say it?” she whispered. Fidgeted. Wiggled, her embarrassment clear.

She was adorable. A little teasing wasn’t going to hurt. Could lighten their situation even. “I need to know specifically what you want of me—so yes, you need to say it.”

Laurin’s cheeks flamed red, and she glanced into the sky. Kallen had remained above them. He circled the ship, his wings barely moving but for slight changes in the wing tips. “He’s a good man, Matt. But I don’t feel anything for him like what’s inside me when I think about you.”

Happiness bubbled up. It was more than contentment that filled him at knowing he was her first choice. Allowing another to touch her—he could handle it with her full gift of love so willingly given. “Then we should heal him.”

She shimmied between his thighs, brushing his limbs with her smooth ones. The familiar tingle of desire that never really left him when she was around returned in full force, his body reacting. He rearranged his position until their torsos connected.

“You said…we need to…make love?”

He nodded.

She swallowed. “You don’t mind?”

It was the same question she’d asked before, only the intent this time was so much different. The first time she’d been shocked, dismayed even, that he might allow another to touch her. Now, the interest she felt wasn’t an either/or, and he smiled.

“I don’t mind that you find him attractive. You need to let your caring for him be strong. It’s the only way the magic will work.”

He kissed her. Reassured her of his love through the contact. Slowly her body relaxed, her fingers against his chest moving to explore. Slipping over his shoulders, dropping to outline the ridges of his abdomen. Their tongues stroked together, slowly, smoothly, tasting the pleasure of each other as if it were the first time. She nibbled her way along his jaw, tiny flicks of her tongue blessing his skin and heating his blood. Together again as they belonged, the whisper of an earlier lovemaking session meshed in, and he let the thrill of it spill back to her.

They were so much more than mere lovers.

It would be so easy to pick her up. Scoop her and carry her back to their bed. But in light of what needed to happen—and how tiny the berth truly was—Matt chose to stay on deck. Somehow, it was proper. The backdrop of the mountains rose behind them, the sunlight sparkled on the water. Both their spirits could be at peace here, and the magic could heal Kallen.

Matt drew Laurin to the side, leading her carefully to the foredeck, stopping to open a chest and pull out a thick blanket. Her eyes widened, and she flicked a glance skyward, suddenly nervous again. He grinned.

“Kallen landed already. He’s behind you.”

She twirled. Laurin covered her breasts with an arm, one hand falling in an attempt to maintain her modesty as Kallen stalked toward them. Matt held his breath. Was she really ready for this? It was one thing to have lost her inhibitions during the summer ceremony a couple months ago. There had been the wild pulse of the community egging her on.

Now, she had to make the deliberate choice to put aside her reticence.

Kallen slowed. Stopped a respectful distance away. Dipped his head, and waited.

Matt checked his own internal barometer. He’d been torn apart by jealousy not even a day ago, but try as he might, he could muster no grudge or anger toward the man. All his jealousy had been washed clean by the strength of Laurin’s love.

She turned to face him. Straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin. The soft cough as she cleared her throat made him hide his smile.
Brave, brave woman.

“My love, shall we heal our friend?”

A flash of magic shot out with her words, lighting the area, fluttering the flags on the rails. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an “O” as she blinked rapidly.

“I think we had better, before you use that wild magic and we find ourselves flying in the
Stormchild
to your Rocky Mountains.”

The slight fear in her eyes faded, and she mouthed the words
I love you
. He winked before stepping forward and bowing to Kallen. Matt turned Laurin slowly, seeing the air shifter’s response as he admired her fully.

There were no more words needed. Matt kissed her cheek, then pressed Laurin forward, his hand on the small of her back directing her unsteady limbs toward Kallen.

The emotional roller coaster made her heart pound out of control. It was one thing to come and confess her love for Matt. Every cell in her body acknowledged that truth easily. To take the step and admit her admiration for Kallen? And now to witness his desire for her as well?

It was unnerving and frightening, and so sensual she could barely breathe.

He approached, wary. Like a hunter stalking a deer. She felt every bit the hunted, and yet the desire to turn and flee rapidly disappeared. The rising urge to envelop him in her arms and eat him alive grew faster than she thought possible. Laurin peeked over her shoulder. Matt had laid the blanket on the deck, and he stood to the side, watching. The most incredible expression covered his face.

Desire for her was plain. No denying it at all. But there was interest even now in his gaze as it shifted back and forth between her and Kallen, and she remembered his words from their loving the previous day. How he would like to see her in another man’s arms, receiving pleasure, if he knew her heart belonged to him.

It did.

She took another step toward Kallen. His muscles flexed in anticipation as she approached. His dark eyes flashed, gaze dropping over her body. Another pulse of heat flushed her and yet she paused. There was something just not right. No matter how much she admired the man…no. Not like this. Her hand rose of its own accord to reach for her lover.

“Matt?”

There was no hesitation. He was there, his fingers meshed through hers. He stayed behind her, his mouth making urgent contact with the tender spot beneath her ear. Goose bumps formed instantly over her entire body. Her nipples tightened, her core grew wet and she ached for him to take her.

Before her, Kallen waited. His expression hunger-filled. His body taut and ready—fight or flight. Or a hard driving desire to join with her. Kallen’s face revealed more than he probably wanted. That it wasn’t simply his need for a cure—her power alone—that attracted him. With Matt at her side, she could do this.

She held out her other hand to her fellow air shifter, and the final distance between them disappeared.

He let his fingers envelope hers, gentle yet firm. With his right hand he touched her cheek, a fleeting, delicate caress as he stared into her eyes. At her back, moisture painted her skin as Matt licked her shoulder blade. Kallen’s nostrils flared momentarily, as if sensing the fresh flush of arousal Matt’s touch had provoked.

Kallen leaned forward and kissed her. Lips solid and confident in the contact. Laurin waited for guilt to arrive, but in its stead, a blaze of yearning ignited and she was lost.

The kiss deepened, his tongue stroking hers, lips and teeth involved. Hands caressing, tugging, lifting. Swirling and coaxing a response harder and hotter than she’d expected.

Because it wasn’t simply Kallen. It was Matt as well. His mouth,
his
hands, his attention focused one hundred percent on her. Giving her pleasure. Stirring up the sexual flames inside to the point there was little left to consume without her burning up completely.

How, with only their hands on her skin, could they trigger such a response? Their mouths, the faint brush of the air from their lungs, the gentlest of touches from the pads of their fingertips—none of them in themselves overpowering, but as a united front?

Urgency grew great in her core. Needing—something more—and Laurin let her head drop to the side. A slow twist rubbed her torso against the smooth skin of Matt’s chest as he pressed intimately close. Near enough his arousal was obvious, hard and hot in contact with her hip.

Kallen’s breath sped up as he cupped her breast, warm air feathering over the peak a split second before his lips made contact. He sucked, and pleasure dropped like a heavy anchor from his mouth to the aching place between her legs. Laurin glanced down to watch, letting the eroticism of seeing him lick and suckle drive the experience higher. Her heart pounded, the tingle of her orgasm far too close to deny even after only the short time of lovemaking.

She’d been on edge since Kallen had arrived. Hell, in terms of being sexually needy, her entire world had ridden the height of pleasures ever since she’d gotten together with Matt.

A sudden gasp escaped her lips as her lover scooped her up and lowered her to the blanket, his body covering hers briefly as their mouths met. His taste—so familiar, so enticing—filled her senses. Memories from earlier days together swirled through her mind, and the ache in her body refused to be diminished. He chuckled softly as she kissed him back fiercely.

“I like how you cling to me, Moonshine.” Matt’s words tickled in her ear, his lips fluttering along the rim as he rolled them to the side. Laurin flushed as she untangled her fingers from his hair. She hadn’t realized how quickly she’d taken possession of him. Another body joined them. Kallen crawled alongside her, stretched out at her back.

Trapped between two men—one who held her heart, one who she admired and desired. The last lingering twinges of her modesty fell away, and she smiled, staring at Matt.

“I’m ready.” She levered herself up slightly to take hold of the firm muscle in his neck, licking it and suckling. Leaving a mark with her teeth and tongue to show
he
was
hers
. At the same time with her top hand, she reached back. Catching hold of Kallen’s hip, she tugged him toward her.

Their response came in a flash. Both men groaned, the utterances rising low and rumbling from deep in their chests. The sounds were primal and primitive, and Laurin welcomed the answering shot of lust that made her wetter than before.

Kallen rocked against her, his shaft heating her skin, moisture from his cock brushing her ass cheek. Matt returned to her lips, hands falling to her breasts to plump and mold them as the heat between them increased. The gentleness of moments before dissipated and the ride kicked up a notch.

When Matt left her mouth and turned to her breasts with his lips, forcing her to her back, Laurin fought to contain her cries of pleasure. That worked for a moment. Just long enough to notice Kallen was no longer at her side. Then her thighs were separated and Kallen buried his tongue in her sex.

“Oh. Oh yes.” Flustered, yet needy, she willingly drew her knees farther apart.