[Phantom Islanders 02.0] Storm Revealed

by Ednah Walters

  I let that sink in.

  “Has Captain Storm convinced you that he is your true mate?” someone asked, and the others laughed.

  “He’s working on it,” I said and received more snickers.

  “Did you feel the pull toward him when you first met?” another called out from the back of the group.

  I remembered how annoying Storm had been. “Oh yes, but he pissed me off. He’s arrogant, stubborn, and thinks he has all the answers.” The women looked at each other and laughed.

  “So no scent?” the same woman asked.

  “Oh, he smells so good, and he’s hot. Unfortunately, he knows it.” More laughter. “But he’s also noble and an extraordinary man. He cares about his people and the island, and would do anything for them.” I had them. “And just so we’re clear, he is also unavailable because he is mine.”

  They hooted.

  “Do you believe in true mates?” one asked.

  “I’m still on the fence on that, but like I said, it’s his job to convince me I’m his, and he’s doing a darn good job of it already. So think about it, and give a potential mate out there a chance.” They started talking among themselves. I overheard comments that made me smile.

  “I love the dresses. I was thinking of going into fashion. Might as well apply that here.”

  “I was planning on premed. Now I’ll practice medieval medicine.”

  “Not so medieval. More like seventeenth century medicine.”

  “Or none at all. They use magic.”

  “When are we meeting the men?” Andy asked.

  I liked her. “Next week at Selection,” I said, grinning. My job here was done.

  I was almost at the door when Rita said, “What about Skylar? Can I see her?”

  Damn. I turned to face her. “I’ll ask Storm when he comes home.” I waved and escaped. Kai was waiting on the other side of the door and pounced.

  “It’s his job to convince you he is your mate.” She chuckled. “That’s bold.”

  Not sure whether she was really amused or making fun of me, I said, “That’s how I feel.”

  “Storm is your true mate,” she said. “Scents never lie, and our men are never wrong. Walk with me, Storm’s lass.”

  “Lexi,” I corrected her as we headed toward the stairs.

  “That was a good speech.”

  “I improvised.”

  “Do you think you can convince the other one to behave?”

  “Skylar?”

  “Yes. She’s in Captain Deck’s tower. I can pick you up when I’m not busy. If you can get her to behave, I’ll owe you one, Storm’s lass.” She stopped walking, and I did, too. “Does he know you think he’s hot?”

  Warmth crept on my cheeks. “You really shouldn’t listen to conversations that don’t concern you, and my name is Lexi, or Alexandria if you prefer it. I’m more than Storm’s girl.”

  Her expression changed at my rudeness. “And I’m in charge of security on the island, so everything concerns me. If you are more than the captain’s lass, prove it.”

  What the hell did that mean? “Okay. I want to train under you.”

  Surprise flickered across her face. “You’ve discussed this with the captain?”

  “I don’t need his permission if that’s what you’re asking. But if you must know, we discussed it. He wanted to ask you if I could join, but I told him not to. I wanted to ask you myself, without him influencing your decision. So here we are. May I join your group of trainees?”

  Kai pursed her lips and studied me. Then she smiled. “I’ll think about it.”

  It wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, but I didn’t push. “Fair enough. What will they do with the bodies of the dead women?”

  “They’ll bury them at sea, as is our tradition. The crew is preparing a ship right now, which I’ll personally captain since Captain Ryun can’t. The gods will be waiting. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lexi.”

  At least she used my name. I watched her walk away, then headed to Delia’s.

  The two of us had a quiet dinner. I kept seeing the bodies of the dead girls. Other than my father, I’d never been that close to a dead body. I couldn’t remember seeing Mom’s body. All my memories of her were when she’d been alive.

  “Thank you for talking to the women, lass,” Delia said. “They seemed different during their meal. We had them say good-bye to their friends before we took the bodies away.”

  Lightning pierced the sky just as we finished dinner, and she sighed. Now that I knew Storm caused it, it didn’t bother me.

  I walked to the window and studied the gathering clouds. The lightning acted strangely, shooting across the sky instead of moving toward the ground. A few times, two collided, causing huge balls of explosions.

  “He knows about the deaths,” I said.

  Delia nodded. “Aye, lass. He knows.”

  Chapter 7

  Sleep came hard for me. The second I finally succumbed to it, a clap of thunder rocked my room.

  “Delia, open up.”

  I bolted upright. Not thunder. Storm was home.

  “Is she here?” The panic in his voice had me jumping off the bed. “Is she one of the girls…?” His voice trailed off in anguish.

  “She’s here.”

  I reached the bedroom doorway, and my eyes found Storm. He stood by the door, shirtless, his pants shredded, and seaweed clinging to his wet hair. His eyes, dark and turbulent, clung to mine, but he didn’t move toward me.

  “Go to him, lass. He’s not sure whether you are real or not.”

  I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around his waist. His muscles were bunched up as though he was exerting all his efforts to hold it together, and his usually hot body was freezing.

  “I’m okay, Storm. See?” I squeezed him. “I’m real.”

  He crushed me to him, his face sinking into my hair. For a moment, he didn’t speak. When he finally did, I strained to hear him.

  “I thought I lost you. The mermaids described one of the girls, and I thought she was you.”

  “I’d never do that to you,” I whispered, rubbing his back. “Remember what I said? I’m going to stick around and make your life miserable.”

  He lifted me up, and I looped my arms around his neck. Without saying a word, he turned and started down the hallway toward the front hall and the stairs leading to our tower.

  I removed the seaweed from his hair and murmured soothing words. My eyes met Levi’s. I hadn’t noticed him standing in the hallway. He wore a robe and carried one. I had a feeling he’d tried to give it to Storm. I gave him a tentative smile and received a nod. He entered Delia’s while I continued to soothe Storm, rubbing circles on his back. He started upstairs for the tower.

  “I’m okay.” I kissed his neck, and a shudder shook through him. When his body continued to shake, I knew reaction was setting in.

  How far had they swum to get here? His temperature was still low.

  He almost broke the door to get inside our tower. Candles flickered on with a pop as though in tune with his dark mood. He made it to the bedroom and sat on the bed, his arms still tight around me. His shaking got worse. Not sure how to help him, I leaned back, gripped his head, and tilted it toward me.

  “Look at me, Storm. Please, look at me.”

  His eyes were still tortured. “If I ever lose you…”

  I kissed him, and he took over right away. He wasn’t gentle. His mouth was hard and demanding, like he needed to hold on to something and stop his nightmare, and I was it. I was glad. It hurt to see him so torn up at the thought of losing me. He tore his mouth from mine and palmed my face, his hands still shaking.

  “If I ever lose you, I’d make a deal with Manandán mac Lir to ferry us both to the Underworld,” he vowed.

  “Good, because we belong together,” I said.

  “Repeat that,” he whispered. The silver in his eyes glowed with heat, and his body was warming up fast.

  “I belong with you, Storm Orat
h,” I said.

  He let out a string of Gaelic words, which I assumed were endearments, and kissed me again, his tongue tangling with mine. He pushed me back onto the bed and joined me, his hand stroking my side until he reached the hem of my nightgown. He pushed it out of the way and reached for my knee. I was happy I didn’t have any underwear on. I needed to connect with him.

  He lifted my left leg, wrapped it around his waist, and trapped the right one between his without breaking the kiss. Anticipation rushed through me when I felt his erection press against my thigh. It was hot and hard, and I wanted to know how it felt. I wanted to touch him. Maybe even taste him.

  I ran my hands up and down his arms, loving how his muscles responded to my touch. I moved to his chest and down to his abs. His stomach contracted, the ripped muscles becoming even more defined. I reached under the elastic band of what was left of his pants to touch him, but he moved lower, raining kisses on my jaw and neck.

  He tugged the neck of my nightgown down and bared my breasts. He lowered his head and loved them, lapping the sensitive tips with his tongue and driving me crazy with his teeth.

  I bucked against him, a familiar ache between my legs growing as sensations scuttled straight to the sensitive button. I wanted him to touch me there. I didn’t care what he used. His mouth. His hands. His cock. I was ready to be his mate in every sense of the word.

  I pressed against him, lifting my hips, silently begging him to make me his. He squeezed at my nipples with his teeth, and I cried out. He let one go only to latch onto the second one. His fingers stroking their way between my legs.

  Despite his rough kisses, his touch was gentle. He caressed me like I was a fragile flower to be handled with care. I cried out his name and pressed against his hand. He delved into my folds as though memorizing the shape of my nether lips, deliberately avoiding touching the throbbing flesh in the middle begging for his attention. I growled in frustration.

  “Please, Storm,” I begged.

  “Tell me what you want, Lexi,” he whispered, his breath warm on my skin.

  “Make the ache stop!” I dug into his shoulder.

  “That I can do.” Slowly, he eased a finger into my wetness and groaned, his eyes closing as though he was in pain. A low moan of pleasure escaped me as blinding sensations surged and swelled, crushing through me in slow adulation. Was this normal? To feel this amazing and alive. He had gifted long, thick fingers, and boy, did he know how to use them. I wanted the one inside me to stay there forever.

  “So hot and wet,” he whispered achingly. “So tight.” He pushed farther inside, and I stopped breathing as the sensations intensified. He moved out, then pushed back inside, his thumb stroking my nub. Sensations slammed through me, sucking my breath.

  “Storm,” I whimpered, nearly pushing him off me.

  I gripped his arm to anchor myself, yet craved his touch with growing intensity. I rocked against his hand, meeting his strokes with the thrust of my hips.

  “So sweet. So responsive. I can feel your maidenhead, my innocent Lexi. To be your first was something I’d hoped for. You are mine. Made for me by the gods, and there’s so much I plan to show you and teach you.”

  “Teach me now,” I begged.

  He groaned and scooted lower. “I would love nothing better than to bury myself deep inside you, but it can’t be tonight. I’m not rushing your first time. When we mate, we’re never leaving this room.” His finger sunk into my wetness again. “You feel so amazing. I want you to come all over my fingers, Lexi.”

  His naughty words added to the sensual haze wrapping around us. My world became focused on this man, his voice, his fingers, and the way he made me feel. He owned every one of my senses, putting me completely under his power, and I loved it.

  The pressure kept building, until I was dizzy with it. I grabbed his head and kissed him, using my tongue to imitate what he was doing with his fingers. I caressed parts of him I could reach.

  A ringing started in my ears. I wanted to grab his wrist and push his finger harder inside me. As though he knew my thoughts, his movements became frenzied. The intensity of the pleasure increased until my eyes rolled in the back of my head and my toes curled.

  “That’s it, mo grá. Don’t fight it. Let go.”

  “Storm!” I screamed his name as I spiraled over the edge and my world exploded.

  I was free-falling into a new existence filled with sensations and new discoveries. As though he knew I didn’t want to stop, Storm moved lower and his mouth closed over the center of the sensations. I bucked and gripped the covers, so scared that if I went for his hair, I’d surely scalp him.

  When he shifted up and settled beside me, I was still shaking. He pulled me into his arms, stroked my sweat-coated body, and murmured more endearments in Gaelic. When he kissed me, it was sweet and slow. He took his time as though he was rediscovering my taste and couldn’t get enough of it.

  “This was worth the hours I spent in that frigid water.”

  I heard him as though from afar and lifted my head to study his face. His silver eyes still had the warm glow I associated with arousal. I became aware of a few more things. My poor nightgown was bunched up around my waist, and my legs were wrapped like a pretzel with his. I could feel his erection pushing his shredded pants. I pressed against him, wanting him to introduce me to a different kind of intimacy.

  “How long were you in the water?” I asked, shimmying out of his arms.

  “About three hours. It would have been longer if Levi hadn’t come. Dragons are even faster than Kelpies in the water.”

  “He gave you a ride?”

  He ran his fingers along my side. “Aye, he did. It was embarrassing to say the least, but I had to find you.”

  “He kept you safe. That’s what brothers do.” I pulled up my pajamas and slipped my hands through the sleeves. Without missing a beat, I lowered my head and kissed his chest. A shudder rocked his large frame. It amazed me I had that kind of effect on him. He reached down to stroke my hair.

  “What are you doing, Lexi?”

  “I’m tasting you.”

  “I can’t—”

  He groaned when I grazed his nipple with my teeth. They were sensitive. I took one in my mouth like he’d taken mine, copying everything he’d done. He was my first and my teacher, and I was eager to learn.

  His muscles leaped. Encouraged by his responses, I got bolder and moved lower, nibbling and savoring him. When he tried to stop me, I nipped him. He hissed, his entire body tensing.

  I shimmied lower, watching him. His expression was tense, white flames leaping in the depths of his gray eyes. I gripped the elastic band of his tattered pants and pushed them down, baring him. Were all men this long and thick? I couldn’t wait to hear the story behind the tattoos.

  Refusing to be intimidated, I wrapped my hands around him. He pulsed and appeared to grow. I looked at him from under my lashes and pressed my lips on the crown. His hips jerked up.

  A lick and he growled, “Kraken’s breath, that feels good.”

  His reaction sent an intense need through me. I did it again.

  “You’re killing me, lass.”

  A growl rumbled through him, his hands clenching. If he had them on my hair, he’d be pulling it. Like I’d pulled his. The thought sent a thrill through me.

  This was crazy. Even watching him react to my touch and kiss was turning me on. Was it always like that for women or was I just weird? When his hips lifted and a shudder coursed through him, warmth pooled between my legs. His hand landed on my head, and he played with my hair, pushing it out of the way when it fell forward. Realizing that watching me heightened his pleasure, I pushed my hair aside and showed him.

  His breathing became raspy as he encouraged me with endearments. He gripped the beddings and cried out my name when release swept through him. Watching him, I grinned like an idiot.

  He reached for me, but I shook my head. “I’m not done. Turn around.”

  “Lexi?”
r />   “I told you I’m claiming you. That means a nice chunk of your butt is mine.”

  Silver eyes twinkled before he burst out laughing. Mesmerized, I watched him. How different he looked from the man who’d panicked at the thought of losing me. My intense attraction to him and the way he made me feel confused me at best, so I wasn’t sure what to call my feelings for him, but I loved seeing him like this.

  “Mo grá, you don’t have to bite my ass,” he said, cupping my face. The kiss he gave me was languid.

  “Nope. No double standards in our bedroom. You bit mine, so I bite yours.”

  “You please me, lass. You are beyond my hopes and dreams.” He kissed me on the lips, then pulled away from me and rolled over onto his stomach, kicking his tattered shorts off. He had a perfect butt. Taut, masculine, and tattooed on one cheek.

  He glanced at me and cocked one arrogant eyebrow. “Well?”

  “Just admiring your butt,” slipped out before I could stop it, and he laughed. My face warmed.

  “Five seconds, lass, or we’ll do this another time. I still have to swim back to my ship before my crew wakes up.”

  “Don’t hurry me,” I reprimanded. “This is important.”

  A pounding sounded on the door.

  “Kraken’s breath. Go away, Levi!” The pounding stopped. “Come on, she’lahn.”

  For the first time, that word sounded like an endearment. I went for a nice quick, but hard nip. He growled something under his breath. I barely lifted my head when he was on me, kissing me with a passion that left me lightheaded.

  He dragged his mouth from mine and fell back on the bed, arms tight around me, even his legs wrapped around mine as though to absorb me into him. Something must have happened when I bit him because he was behaving strangely.

  I let him have his moment. Maybe I shouldn’t have bitten him so hard. Too much enthusiasm on my part, I supposed. But damn it. I wanted to claim him the way he’d claimed me. Openly and without reservation. I opened my mouth to ask if he was okay, when Levi banged on the door again.