by Vivian Arend
Suspicion colored Matt’s response. “What kind of agreement?”
Kilade straightened, one hand dropping to massage his kidneys. “Do you claim the witch girl?”
Matt snorted. I wonder if Laurin likes her nickname as much as I like mine. “Laurin? She and I belong together. The only agreement I will make is for that decision to remain as it is.”
A grin broke across Kilade’s face. “Done.”
He held out a meaty hand and Matt hesitated. This was not possible. Damn air shifters… “Why would you fight, only to give up so quickly? Why challenge in the first place?”
“Perhaps I wanted to be sure she had a strong enough provider.” The air shifter threw back his head and laughed out loud, the deep sound of his tainted mirth rolling back off the nearby trees with haunting echoes.
Matt let go his control and swept his mystical awareness over Kilade, seeking his motivation. What he found surprised him almost as much as the rapid conclusion to the fight. Damn. The man wasn’t lying. “You truly do want her to be with me.”
The man raised his brow. “I am of the mountains, you are of the sea. There is no need for us to contest. She has made her choice, and I will abide by it, now that I know you are eager to keep her at your side, safe from all who would threaten her.”
Kilade stepped back and turned to face Laurin. He bowed deeply. She deliberately turned away, refusing to accept his honor. Kilade snickered and spoke to Matt. “At the same time I hope you are strong enough to beat some respect into her.”
Before Matt could retaliate for his insult, Kilade shimmered, shifting back into a huge golden eagle, his eight-foot-wide wingspan beating the air hard as he mounted into the sky. He circled over the beach once, twice. The third time he dipped his wings and headed back for the mainland and the British Columbia interior.
The others perched in the tree took to the air. Those still circling far overhead wheeled as one, and the whole mismatched flock of them followed behind Kilade’s retreat.
Their rapid departure en masse left no time for anything other than a gasp of pain as Matt’s own bruises made themselves known.
Laurin raced across the beach toward him, sand kicking up from her feet as she closed in. She skidded to a stop and shook her head sadly, her gaze darting over his face and torso. His lip throbbed as it swelled, vision in one eye diminishing.
“What am I going to do with you?”
Her touch was light, but he still winced as her fingers brushed a raw cut on his cheekbone.
She slipped back to the water’s edge, stripping off her shirt as she went. When she returned, it was to press the ocean-soaked fabric against his aching eye. He leaned into her, using her strong body as a support under his arm. When she stroked her fingers through his hair, he groaned. In spite of the pain in the rest of his body, the sensual touch was too powerful to ignore, especially with her naked body so near, and his cock woke up. A good fight always encouraged good hard follow-up sex.
Then she tangled his hair in her fingers and yanked his head back. Hard.
He squawked in pain. “Ouch, shit, what was that for?”
“You ass. I had to stand there like some helpless creature and watch you get pounded. I couldn’t move for fear I would distract you at the wrong moment. Why didn’t you simply use your powers?”
Matt laughed, drawing their lips together. He kissed her softly before staring into her eyes. Dark, mesmerizing. Inside them he saw her concern and the care she felt. It wasn’t love, not yet, but it was enough of a start he would take it.
“Why didn’t I simply flash them with my super shaman power?” He couldn’t tell her that it would have been too effortless, and he needed to stake a bigger claim. On his territory, and yes, a bigger claim on her. She wouldn’t understand the driving need in his veins to defend and make her completely his. He cupped the back of her neck and touched his mouth to her forehead. Satisfaction filled him as he smiled over her head, her warm naked body snuggled against his chest. “Let’s just say there are times that a little honest physical threat goes a long way.”
Chapter Three
The Stormchild rocked gently. Laurin hung onto the railing as Matt secured the anchor, and they were once again vertical and seaworthy.
“I can’t believe there’s not more damage to the ship.” She ran her hand along a bulkhead, admiring the woodwork. After having spent almost twenty-four hours tilted on her side on a sandbar, the single-masted yacht appeared relatively unscathed.
Matt glanced around, a proprietary smile on his face. “She’s a sweetheart. Strong and beautiful, all clean lines and sensual curves.”
Laurin found herself at his side. “Hmm, I think I feel jealous of your former love.”
His brow went up. “Oh, no. I’m sorry to have tell you there’s nothing former about my love affair with my ship.”
He danced out of reach as she swung at him, their laughter carrying on the breeze. She chased him good-naturedly, darting out her hands to tickle and tease. When they reached the wheelhouse he twirled and captured her in his arms, pressing her against him tightly.
He’d shifted to return to the ship, and the change into a dolphin had healed the wounds he’d gained in the fight. She ran her fingers over his torso, appreciating the softness of his skin over the firm muscles, the individual bundles flexing and stretching as he explored her body as well. The expression in his bright blue eyes made her breath hitch. Then he lowered his head and took her lips with his.
The kiss was soft, a blessing of his mouth against hers, his fingers tugging through her hair to allow him deeper access, his tongue dancing across the roof of her mouth. A moan of desire escaped her, the need for him to touch her growing by the second. Her breasts felt full and heavy, an aching emptiness between her legs.
It might be sexist, but watching him battle earlier, fighting on her behalf, had really turned her on.
He stroked her cheek. “We can set sail in the morning, and still make it to Bella Coola by dinner on Saturday. Does that give you enough time to prepare for teaching this coming week?”
She thought quickly. “All of Sunday to finish the final adjustments to my lesson plans? Fine by me. Will you be okay for setting up for visits?”
“Easily. Someone is arranging the general drop-in clinic ahead of time. I won’t see individual patients until midweek.” Matt lowered his hand to cup her butt again like he had at the start of the fight. His fingers traced the edge of the bikini bottom she’d pulled on after flying over to the ship. He whispered against her lips, “Why’d you get dressed?”
“I didn’t think you wanted me hanging out while we were getting the Stormchild underway.”
He nodded his understanding even as his fingers massaged her butt cheeks. “Well, for what it’s worth, rest assured I have no issues with you hanging out, ever, around me. No matter what we’re doing.”
Laurin popped open the button on his shorts. “Ditto. Well, I don’t think I want you naked when you’re treating patients.”
He caught her hands in his and pressed her open palms against his rising cock. “You want to play doctor with me?”
The image that popped into her mind had nothing to do with him in a lab coat, but everything to do with an intimate encounter. Did he want to play? Maybe he could take her from behind, pressing her against the raised decking, the glowing sunset shimmering off their bodies. She lowered his zipper and released his cock, smoothing a stroke down the hard length. Capturing the fluid leaking from the tip on her thumb, she lifted her hand to her mouth and sucked it.
He watched her, mesmerized. Pupils dilating. Breath increasing in pace.
The salty taste of his seed splashed over her tongue and she remembered the feel of taking him in her mouth earlier, during their first trip on the Stormchild. Of him filling her, controlling her, and she groaned out with need. She’d loved every second of it.
“Damn it, Laurin.” He dropped his head back and thrust into her fingers. “I can see what you�
��re thinking.”
What?
He hissed his pleasure out, cupping a hand around hers to tighten her grasp. Every rock of his groin forced his shaft through her fingers from tip to root. “It’s not your hand I see. It’s your mouth. I’m fucking your mouth and it’s so hot and wet and tight. I’m dying here.”
Laurin smiled. He had mentioned that yesterday, and this morning, that he saw her fantasies. She’d never heard of such a thing. Hmm, maybe this was something they should explore in more depth. A mischievous thought overtook her, and she pictured herself on her knees before him, breasts supported only by her bikini bra. Like watching a movie trailer, she zoomed in from a new angle, to see herself looking up, her tongue extending to touch the tip of his erection.
His body jerked at the moment of envisioned contact.
Under her fingers his cock was hot and hard. In her mind it glistened with her saliva as he plunged into her mouth repetitively. Matt groaned aloud, his head dropping to her shoulder, her hands encasing him.
“Oh God, it’s not enough. I need…” His words faded away, his rhythmic thrusts breaking tempo.
His breathing grew frantic but she wasn’t ready to stop. Her mind’s view changed to her lying face down over the raised section in the forward area of the Stormchild. She mentally opened her legs wide, showing him touching her from behind, his cock pressing into her slick opening.
Matt lost it. He pulled her hands from his body and lifted her into the air.
“Matt!”
It was only a few steps later he dropped her to the decking, twirling her around and yanking her against his body. He dragged a hand down her torso, caressing her breasts before fitting between her legs to cup her mound. The very obvious, and very full, length of his erection fit between the cheeks of her ass as he ground against her.
“I need to be in you, Moonshine, not simply watch the pretty pictures.” His fingers slipped to her hip, and he snapped the sides of her bikini with ease. The tatters of fabric fell to the ground. “No matter how incredible the pictures may be.”
He forced her forward, her upper body coming in contact with the smooth wood of the cabin roof. One hand between her shoulder blades locked her in place. He used his knees to separate her legs farther. Then his cock rested at her entrance and she held her breath. He’d placed her in the same position she’d imagined moments before.
“Show me,” Matt demanded.
The visual images returned, this time mixed with the very tactile additions of reality. Not only did she see herself bent over, ass in the air, ripe for his possession, she felt—everything. The solid wood under her torso as her body warmed it. The press of his hand on her back, the cooling breeze off the water dancing over her heated skin.
The exquisite pleasure of his shaft sliding into her sex.
Laurin closed her eyes to absorb the bliss invading her system. The ridged head of his erection pushed through the throbbing lips of her labia. He stretched her slowly, and completely. No escape, no quarter given. She attempted to picture some other kind of lovemaking…face to face, her on top…but this time he laughed.
“Oh no, you troublemaker. I think I’ve got your number. We’re not going anywhere but here.” He cupped her hips tighter, holding her firmly as he increased his drives into her willing body. Laurin called out in delight as an orgasm flashed—her passage clutching his cock. She hadn’t expected to come this quickly and the electrifying release swept her entire body.
“This is so good, Matt. Feels so good.”
“Oh, Moonshine, this is better than good.” He found a way to get a hand underneath her, and his fingers pressed her clit in time with his thrusts. “Try awesome. Fabulous. Incredible.”
Each word meant another plunge into her core, deep and demanding, and the tingling sensation that always accompanied her climaxes shot to the heights again. Laurin squirmed, trying to give back, squeezing tighter on his shaft, pressing into his groin as his balls slapped against her. Time paused until there was nothing but the physical sensation of being possessed. The sounds of their bodies joining created a wet and sensual counterpart to the sounds of the ship. The musical chimes of the wires against the mast, the flapping of a flag, the smack of the water against the sides.
When she cried out again in pleasure, he went as well. His seed splashed into her depths, hot and wet, his shaft jerking within. It was a long time later the hands clutching her hips eased, and he rubbed gently at the slightly bruised skin.
Endorphins raced through her body, her muscles limp. She opened her eyes to peer at him over her shoulder. The blissful expression on his face—she was sure it mirrored the one she wore.
“So…?” There was no way to miss the satisfaction in his tone.
Laurin laughed as he withdrew from her body and scooped her off the platform. “So?”
“Better than good?” He nuzzled at her temple as he carried her back the wheelhouse.
She stroked her hand down his face and let the contentment she felt be her answer.
The heavy mooring rope thudded onto the deck, followed by the landing of a dozen feet. Matt wiped his smile from his face. The otter clan did nothing without a full contingency of supporters. Even now he saw the official greeting committee waiting on the dock. The entire clan must have turned out.
“Matt!” A pair of arms wrapped themselves around his neck followed by hard slaps to his back. He twisted to look into the eyes of a close friend from his university days.
“James, you devil. What are you doing here?” Matt gave him a quick hug. James had switched tracks from medicine to pure science, and Matt hadn’t seen him in months.
His friend grinned. “If I need to research algae, can’t I at least do it in the comfort of my own clan’s territory?”
Damn, it was good to see him again. Matt snorted. “I suppose. Personally, I think if you’re going to study algae you should have your head examined.”
James punched him good-naturedly in the shoulder. His gaze darted past Matt, and his eyes widened. He whistled softly. “Excuse me, mate. Angel needing assistance.”
The other man snuck around him before Matt figured out what had caught his friend’s attention. When he did turn, a string of curse words rose to his lips and he bit them back in rush. Laurin had gone below to grab her bag and had just appeared up the steps into the full sun of the late afternoon. Her blonde hair shone in the light like a halo, her pretty face and tidy dress drawing attention to her trim body and firm breasts.
Fuck.
The otter folk clambered around the ship deck, fastening the Stormchild to the pier, grabbing medical supplies from the cargo section, and generally snooping into everything. Through the chaos, all Matt saw was James hanging over Laurin like a lovesick sea cow.
He should have expected this to happen. Of all the clans, the otter folk were the most blatant in their sexual appetites. Not that any of the People of the Sea were shy, but the otters—they took the whole definition of sensual to new levels.
“Thank you, but no.” Laurin twisted James away and pushed between his shoulder blades to direct him toward the pier.
“Troubles?” Matt called, fighting his way through the extra bodies on the deck to her side. It was hard to believe they’d been the only two on the ship ten minutes ago. It felt like forever since they been alone.
Especially when she turned and gave him that look—the one that said she had something very naughty in mind. He concentrated on keeping his body in control. He did not want to sport a massive hard-on when he met the greeting committee currently marching toward them. It could be too easily misconstrued, and he didn’t need any immediate offers of “servicing” from one of the many willing volunteers.
A cool breeze floated past his mind—that light touch he was beginning to associate with Laurin’s connection with him as a Hawáte. She winked, then smiled sweetly. Damn, he was going to paddle her butt. She knew what she was doing to him.
He cleared his throat and focused on the
issue at hand—his friend, who was as close to a sexual bomb as anyone could possibly be. Matt stared pointedly at James. “Laurin? You having trouble with anything? Anyone?”
Even as she shook her head, she pushed James’s hand off her shoulder. “No, no troubles in particular. Why would you ask?” She tugged James’s fingers off her waist.
James pressed against her back and leered over her shoulder, not even attempting to hide the fact he was peeking down the front of her dress. “I’ve missed you, sweet teacher. I’m longing for more advanced lessons than you gave me last time you visited.”
More? What the hell had the bastard done with her? Matt shoved James away and tucked Laurin against his side. He glared hard, sending out all the warning signals he could. “There will be only lessons in pain if you try to seduce my woman.”
James froze. “Really? She’s with you?”
Matt nodded, thankful for once Laurin added nothing in response. “Really.”
The otter shifter held up a hand. “No worries then, mate.” He paused for all of two seconds before his face brightened. “Of course, if you need a third, you know where to find me.”
The man just didn’t give up. Matt pulled Laurin toward the pier. She leaned closer to whisper in his ear. “Third? You’ve been doing kinky things I need to know about?”
Sweet Jesus. That was exactly the kind of question he wanted to avoid having to answer with a full formal greeting about to occur.
Although—this was the otter clan, and he had his suspicions about exactly how this greeting was about to run. Could she really not know what to expect? “I thought you said you’d visited here before.”
She grinned. “Well, since you’re aware James already propositioned me, you should know the answer to that one.”
Any response he would have made was lost as the rest of the clan moved forward to greet them.
“Shaman. Be welcome here.” The leader Willam held out his hand, shaking Matt’s firmly before turning to face Laurin. “And teacher. You honor us with your renewed presence.” The man clapped his hands and called out loud, “Come, give them greeting, then we can lead them to their quarters.”