Free Silent Storm by Vivian Arend Page A

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