Claiming the East Wind (4 page)

“Skye? Do you want more?”

Her hands gripped his shoulders, to anchor herself, to give her something to hold her up and keep her from flying apart. “Yes.”

Soren slid one thick finger inside her. She didn’t have time for memories, there was only the exquisite sensations, the here and now.

He thrust into her, out, in. An irresistible sensation. Then he pulled his hand away. “You are so beautiful,
bella
. So sweet.”

He tipped her face until she looked him in the eye.

“I want to taste you now,” he murmured.

She nodded. He turned her around and she gasped, everything in her clenching tight. She couldn’t speak, all she could do was spread her legs a little wider. She wanted this, all this man could give her. More of these delicious, amazing feelings.

“Put your hands on the edge of the tub. And hold on.”

She hesitated. Ghosts lurked but they warred with the new, intoxicating sensations rampaging inside her.

“You have to say yes,
cara
, or I won’t do it.” Soren ran a hand along her spine, making her arch into him. “You have to say yes, or I won’t put my mouth between your legs and give you pleasure. I’ll only do what you want me to do.”

She shuddered. This was her chance. To take what she wanted.

She leaned forward and gripped the cool ceramic, then glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes.”

Intensity was stamped on his face. He dropped to his knees, his hands circling her calves, then sliding up her thighs. He palmed her buttocks then cupped her hips.

She waited, on edge. She felt his warm breath on her most private parts and she shivered.

And then he put his mouth on her.

Oh, God.
She jerked, her hands clenching on the bath’s edge.
So good
. So incredibly good.

He wasn’t rough. His tongue delved and flicked. He sucked on her clit, driving her to the edge of sanity. He knew exactly what to do to push her to the brink.

It felt like seconds but it also felt like forever. Mind-blowing feelings coalesced inside her, until they reached a hot, hard point in desperate need of release.

***

Soren reveled in the sweet taste of Skye. He loved her urgent, restless movements. Her breathy little cries.

Inside, his desire was a hot, raging thing. His cock was so hard it hurt.

But it was pain of the best kind.

He kept working her. Another hot flick on her swollen clit and she shattered.

Skye threw her head back, screaming his name and losing herself to the pleasure. He held her through her release, not wanting to let her go.
Dio
, she was gorgeous. Watching her find pleasure was perfect.

It was then he realized that all he felt was desire. No clamoring greed begging for everything and anything. Just an honest, natural desire for a woman he found beautiful, sweet and strong.

In this moment, all he wanted was more of her.

He turned her around, enjoying the feel of his hands sliding over her naked skin. “You enjoyed that.”

A pretty flush filled her cheeks. She nodded.

He kissed her. Knew she would taste herself on his lips. She leaned into him, her mouth lifting off his long enough for her to say his name. Her hands slid into his hair.

She wanted more. And it was so tempting.

He wanted to lay her out on the hard tiles and pound himself into her. Set her on the edge of the vanity and thrust into her hard. Or maybe take her while she was on her hands and knees, cover her with his body and drive inside her warmth.

Dio
. His cock pulsed and he worried that one touch would have him spilling on the floor.

Soren forced himself to pull back. He didn’t know the details of her past yet, but she’d been hurt and he wouldn’t rush her.

“Wait here.” He hurried out and was back in a minute with a silky pink robe. He tugged it around her and she slipped her arms inside.

Frustration flashed across her face. “Why won’t you—”

“Shh.” He pressed a finger to her lips. “There’s plenty of time.”

He hoped that wasn’t a lie. He hoped that he could defeat Apeliotus and the greed. He had to, because if he wanted more time with this woman, he needed to ensure her safety.

“It’s time you tell me more about Apeliotus.” Soren took a deep breath. “And about my brothers.”

“Your brothers are desperate to help you.” Skye watched Soren pace the length of his bedroom. She settled in on his large bed, still tingling from what he’d done to her in the bathroom.

For the first time ever, she wanted to be lying naked on these silky sheets, with him doing more to her.

But he was right, they needed to find a way to stop Apeliotus and let the WindKeepers send the Tempest Winds back to their prison.

“What about my brothers’ vices?” Soren asked.

“They’ve already succeeded in beating their vices and banishing their Tempest Winds.”

He spun. “How?”

“They found their Aurae.”

A frown knitted his brow. “The seasonal breezes.”

She nodded. “Dante found Samia in Rome. Well, actually she was an assassin sent to kill him. But she helped him instead. Antonio discovered one of his art historians, Sophia, is an Aurae descendent. And Luca and my sister, Rayne…well, they collided in Venice. She’d been sent by our mother, the head of the Aurae, to monitor him. We were worried with such a volatile vice like anger that he would succumb.”

Soren turned away to the window. “Instead, it’s me who’s on the verge.”

Skye stood and went to him, swamped by a desperate need to help him. “Our records say the WindKeeper who hunts his Tempest Wind the longest is always in the most danger of falling prey to his vice.” She pressed a hand to his back. “There’s no point in blaming yourself. Turn your energy to defeating the Southeast Wind.”

Soren turned, his eyes burning. “Aurae calm the WindKeepers.”

She nodded.

He reached out, fingering her still-drying hair. “I haven’t seen you use your breeze, or sensed your power.”

Her gaze dropped to the carpet. Her greatest shame. “I lost my ability…a long time ago.”

“You came here, into my villa, to give yourself to me.”

She snapped her head up to look at him. “I came here to help but I told you, I came here for myself first.”

He brushed a thumb over her lips. “Good.”

One tiny brush and the fight drained out of her. “I know what it is to be trapped, suffering.” She remembered a dark, dark room and the creak of the door. “I know how terrible it is when a monster lurks in the darkness waiting to pounce.”

A strong hand cupped her jaw. “Who hurt you?”

A part of her didn’t want to tell him. Even after years of therapy that had helped her heal so much, it still made her feel horrible to talk about it. She knew it wasn’t her fault but sometimes she just wished she didn’t have the baggage.

She looked into eyes that reflected nothing but patience. “My father died when I was little. A few years later, my mother met a man.” Skye didn’t say his name. She never said his name. “Everything was good at first. My mother was happy and he gave Rayne and me gifts.” Feeling chilled, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “When I turned twelve, he started coming to my room.” Her stomach turned over. “He raped me.”

She watched Soren’s hands clench.

“I’m sorry, Skye. If I could go back and protect you—”

She slid her hands over his. “I don’t want to look back. I came here to move forward. I am so tired of being trapped by my past. I want to move on. I want more.”

Soren gave a hollow laugh. “More isn’t always the answer.”

Stupid, Skye
. “You’re right, I’m sorry—”

He cupped her face. “It’s okay. I understand wanting to move on, to have something different than you have now. I think you’re courageous.”

A hiccupping laugh. “Hardly. I’m always afraid.”

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Terrified.” She circled his wrists, holding his warm palms to her face. “But not because I think you’ll hurt me. Because of how you make me feel inside.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “How do you feel?”

“Tingling, shaky, nervous, excited, energized.”

Another kiss, so gentle but electrifying at the same time. Skye felt everything inside her go weak.

His lips traveled along her cheek, up to her temple. Her eyes fluttered closed and his mouth pressed gently to one eyelid. “Want do you want, Skye?”

Everything
. Here she was with a man consumed by greed and he was the one being patient and caring. She was the one consumed with the need for more.

But she wanted it for both of them. “I want you to make love to me.”

***

In Skye’s face, Soren saw desire, determination. “You have to be sure—”

She gripped his arms. “I’ve never been surer of anything. We’re both lost, Soren, let’s find each other.”

In that moment, he realized he’d give this woman anything she wanted. He’d take his wind to the ends of the earth to make her happy.

He scooped her up, enjoying her excited gasp. He carried her to the bed and set her down in the center. It gave him a gut-deep thrill to see her nestled in his sheets.

Spinning away, he moved around the room, lighting the few candles he had. Then he flicked off the lights. The candles filled the space with a warm, gentle glow. Then he moved back to her, watching her watch him.

He stopped beside the bed and unbuttoned his shirt. Her blue gaze was glued to each inch of chest he bared. When he dropped his shirt on the floor, she reared up on her knees and reached for him.

Small hands skimmed over his chest. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her caress. She was a little hesitant but she touched him everywhere.

“Take off the rest.” Her voice lowered. “I want to see all of you.”

His eyes snapped open. Saw her parted lips and the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Again, he could deny her nothing. He unbuckled his belt, flicked open his trousers and kicked them off.

She sucked in a breath, her eyes widening. Then she reached for him, her hand hesitating a mere whisper away from his hard cock. He forced himself not to move, not to grab her.

Tentative fingers circled him. Unable to stop himself, he flexed his hips. She smoothed her hands over him and he swallowed a groan.

“So hard but smooth. It’s bigger than—” her hands stilled.

Oh, no
. He wasn’t going to let anything, or anyone, intrude. He circled her hands. “Just you and me, Skye. Look at me.”

Such big eyes in a porcelain face.

“That’s it.” Slowly he moved her hand on him. “Just you and me.”

“You and me.” Her hand moved quicker. Her fingers brushing over the mushroom head of his cock.

Soren jerked.
Dio
, he hoped he didn’t embarrass himself. Distraction. Now. “Can I touch you,
cara
?”

She nodded, her blonde hair falling over her silk-covered shoulders. He reached for the belt of her robe, loosened it. Just a glimpse of her flat belly, smooth, smooth skin, and the patch of gold hair between her legs had his cock jerking in her grasp.

He reached out, nudged the fabric aside and watched it bare one slim shoulder. He let his fingers trace her collarbone, cup her breast. “Beautiful.”

She was too intent on exploring him to pay attention to his words. And damn, he liked that. To be the focus of her intense concentration.

“
Cara
, if you keep that up, I’m going to spill in your hands.”

“Really?” Her cheeks went pink. “I think I’d like that.”

He groaned. “Maybe. But I’d prefer to come deep inside you.”

Her chest hitched. “I think I’d like that even more.”

Stepping closer, he pushed the robe off her, baring every inch of her. He nudged her back, then leaned down to kiss her. She clung to his shoulders, her kiss fierce, and soon Soren forgot everything but the intense pleasure of kissing her. Of losing himself in her.

Desire was a wild, primitive rush inside him. Far more powerful than the greed, far more powerful than anything he’d experienced. He settled his weight on her, sliding her legs apart and letting their bellies meet.

Her kiss turned frantic, her hands sliding into his hair. He lost any thought of keeping things gentle, calm. He gripped one of her thighs and pulled it tight against his hip. His cock nestled against her damp folds.

Then he felt her go rigid.

No
. Reining in his need to thrust inside her and claim her, he stared down at her face. She’d turned away, her eyes closed. He felt the small, tight breaths coming from her.

Damn it
. He moved off her. When she went to roll away from him, he gripped her gently and pulled her to her knees. They faced each other in the center of his bed.

“Remember what I told you before?” He pushed her hair back. “Whatever you want, whenever you want it.”

“I
want
this.” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I want you. I want to be able to do this like any other woman.”

“Hey.” He cupped her jaw. “Don’t worry about other women. Just focus on the here and now. Just focus on what you feel when I touch you.”

“When…when I felt a heavy weight on me, it…”

Reminded her of the past. “Just tell me what you’re feeling. Every step of the way.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer a woman with no hang ups? One who knows what she’s doing?”

He traced a finger over the seam of her lips. “I prefer you. Just you.”

She released a long breath and he leaned down and kissed her. It started off tender but soon it morphed into something hot and hungry for both of them. Skye’s nails bit into his skin.

Then he let her go. He dropped back on the bed and curled one arm under his head. He wanted to possess, to lay her down and drive his aching cock inside her. But there’d be time for that later, one day when she knew him better, trusted him more.

For now, this was for her.

He held out a hand.

She hesitated for a second then took it.

He pulled her forward until she straddled his hips and pressed her hands to his chest to find her balance.

“Soren? What are you doing?”

“This way, you’re in control.” He slid his hands over her hips and settled them there. “You control what you want, when you want it, how you want it.”