Stormchild: Pacific Passion, Book 1

by Vivian Arend

  “Ahem.” Mama Tanis stood on the dock with her heavy fists planted on her hips. Laurin straightened with embarrassment. Invading another person’s boat, no matter how attractive, was uncommonly rude.

  “I’m sorry, I—”

  “I see you’ve discovered the ride I arranged.”

  Laurin let her delight shine through. “Oh Mama T, I love you.”

  Hearty rolls of laughter sprang from the matriarch’s throat, and Laurin joined in, suddenly feeling wonderfully alive. The wind whipped her hair across her eyes and she pulled it back, tucking it up with an elastic from her pocket.

  The matriarch stared for a moment. She nodded as if in approval. “You’re ready early.”

  Laurin hopped the gunwales and returned to the travel bag she’d dropped on the platform and bowed carefully. “There’s no use in waiting. Tide turns in thirty minutes. If I’m here we can leave as soon as the owners are ready.” Mama Tanis raised a brow, as if waiting. Laurin shrugged uncertainly. “Is something wrong?”

  “I fail to understand how a bright young woman like you can be so bullheaded and lacking in common sense.”

  Laurin frowned. She glanced around in confusion. “What have I done?”

  “Such a complete lack of curiosity. You haven’t even asked who the pilot is for your vessel.”

  The traveling bag slung over her shoulder, Laurin stepped aside to let the man who had brought her case on board pass her. He nodded politely then hurried up the dock and out of the gathering wind. “I’m pleased with whatever arrangements you’ve made for me.”

  Mama Tanis chuckled loudly. “Really? You seemed to have had troubles with other earlier arrangements I made for you.”

  The appointment. Damn, she’d hoped to get away before Mama T discovered she’d ditched the checkup. “I’m fine. I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”

  They stared at each other. The other-worldliness of the people rolled out from the matriarch and Laurin stiffened her spine. She would not succumb to the mystical—accept it, yes, but never did she consent to let the animal nature rule her human side. She didn’t want anyone to know her powers. She hesitantly braced a wall between them, not allowing the orca clan leader to read any sign of her talents.

  “You resist? How can you…?” Mama’s voice was a whisper, shock lacing her words.

  Laurin thought quickly. “I’m just a visitor. Your authority can’t force me like it would a local under your protection.” She dipped her head respectfully, cursing she’d had to show a hint of her own abilities.

  Soft chuckles broke from the older woman. “So hesitant to share. I will say again, sometimes what you need is much closer than you think.”

  A deep rich laugh rang out that Laurin’s body instantly recognized. She scanned the dock frantically, trying to see where the hell he was when a shiver teased her spine.

  His voice boomed directly behind her. “Mama T, are you still taunting me? What I need is not cryptic words, but my passenger.”

  Laurin turned in time to see Matt pop out from the wheelhouse, his bright blue eyes flashing his surprise as they raked her from head to toe.

  *

  The close quarters of the boat grew even closer after three hours, and Laurin felt the tension like a gathering storm. They spoke little, both distracted with their own thoughts. The graceful vessel moved slowly through a dangerous section of shoals and sandbars. Matt concentrated diligently at the helm as he studied the radar scanner and the map spread beside him. The waves had grown in height as time passed, the sky slate grey and heavy with the coming moisture. Whitecaps peaked higher and higher to splash over the boat’s sides, soaking the deck.

  Laurin paced to the door and splayed her fingers against the glass. The cold moisture condensed on the pane did nothing to ease the heat rising in her body. Something inside her longed to break free and soar into the wild wind. She wanted to challenge with wing and claw to reach the calm above the storm. The urge to shift grew increasingly frantic and it took everything in her to fight it down. Shifting wasn’t possible right now. She had to resist.

  She turned from studying the darkening sky to stare instead at Matt’s profile. He was every bit as gorgeous now in the day as last night. Oh God, last night. Her skin tightened, her breasts ached. The wheelhouse was too small to contain the two of them and her memories of them tangled intimately together.

  Matt cleared his throat. “This is going to sound strange, but could you please stop? I can’t concentrate with you…” He jerked the wheel to the side and the scrape of sand rubbing along their starboard side sounded briefly. The ship rocked between the unbalancing waves and their narrow escape of the shoal.

  Rubbing. She wanted to rub on him. This time, with no time limits about when they needed to stop. No fears of being discovered. Just time to explore his body, admire the firm muscles and let him—

  The motor cut off, breaking her reverie. Suddenly he clasped her arms and spoke directly in her face. “Laurin! Enough. Please. Go below into the main saloon, or the galley, and let me navigate through this mess before we get in real trouble. The storm will peak soon and I need to find a safe harbor.”

  She fled like a startled bird.

  When he was out of sight, her overwhelming sense of urgency weakened. The need to touch him remained, but at least once again her mind was her own. The motor restarted, the familiar hum calming her. She put on a kettle of water for coffee, latching it safely in place against the rocking motion of the ship. Doing something normal in the midst of the chaos was what she needed. Laurin drew a long, slow breath.

  What the hell was happening? Ever since she’d spotted him on the boat, the feverish desire to roll herself all over him had grown to epic proportions.

  Back on the dock she hadn’t said a word of protest. Hadn’t let even a blush indicate she’d already known who he was when Mama T introduced them. A wry smile hit her lips as she dug through the cupboards of the galley to find the supplies she needed. The rich scent of coffee beans hit her nose and eased her soul a little. She hadn’t known who he was, and that was the point. In some ways it was comical her one-night stand happened with the only man in the settlement who wasn’t staying.

  A shaman. She had to pick a damn shaman for her first sexual encounter with the People of the Sea. She snorted in derision. If you had to screw up, screw up big. He was the most likely candidate to be able to unravel her secrets. Although letting him discover all the things she hid potentially meant a lot of fun. They’d need at least a few more rounds in bed, and possibly even…

  She jerked herself upright. What the hell was up with her hormones?

  Laurin enjoyed sex. Not in the “need it, gotta have it” daily kinda way like her caffeine or dark chocolate. But ever since she’d laid eyes on Matthew Jentry, she’d been like a homing pigeon trying to come back to roost. She imagined his capable hands on the wheel, guiding them through the dangerous passage. Better yet to imagine his hands on her body, smoothing up her torso to cup her breasts, his dark skin contrasting with her fairness. He’d roll his thumbs over her nipples while supporting the aching globes in his palms.

  Laurin leaned back on the short countertop and closed her eyes. God, she could almost feel it, the tingling sensation from her tight nubs trailing through her body to fire her core. She rubbed her breasts in an attempt to stop the throbbing. The sensation felt so wonderful she trailed a hand down her belly, slipping under the elastic waistband of her shorts to press on her aching clit. Desire wrapped around her like a cloud on the mountaintop and she was powerless to stop it.

  Curses sounded from the deck above her and she startled, suddenly realizing she was fondling herself where Matt could walk in at any time. Heat flushed her face and she hurried to deal with the now-singing kettle. Her heart thumped in her throat and her hands shook as she poured the water into the French press she’d found. Then she leaned her forehead on the cool glass of the small round window in the saloon, trying to calm her soul. By the time the c
offee was ready she was back to being agitated instead of direly horny. She stirred an extra spoonful of sugar into her travel mug in the hopes the calories would help her deal with the stress.

  She stared at the second cup in frustration. She didn’t know how he liked his coffee and she was scared to death to go up the four steps to the wheelhouse and ask him. That would require actually looking at his face. Speaking to him.

  Oh hell, she was screwed big-time.

  The engine sound faded and she turned in a panic to face the door, her hands clutching her cup protectively in front of her like a shield. Solid footsteps paced away for a minute, a loud splash sounded, and then the steps returned. The door opened smoothly and his sandaled feet appeared as he took the stairs toward her two at a time. He stopped at the base, his chest heaving. His nostrils flared as he glared at her with his cobalt eyes.

  He slowed his approach. One step. Two. The third put him toe to toe with her and she shrank back against the counter. He loosened her death grip on the cup, reaching past her to place it somewhere behind her. Their torsos touched and scalding heat flashed. Laurin realized she held her breath and she released it slowly, a puff at a time. He shifted and his firm chest brushed her already erect nipples. He caged her, one arm on either side of her body before deliberately pressing his hips into her. Oh hell, his erection felt huge against her belly. Moisture flooded her passage and she whimpered.

  Matt leaned into her harder, every inch of their bodies in contact. He tilted his head and approached her mouth. She was sure he must hear the roaring beat of her heart. He touched their lips together, his eyelashes brushing hers like a butterfly’s kiss and she exhaled with a little moan.

  She was on fire. This wasn’t what she’d expected.

  Matt spoke against her lips, his voice shaking. Every word punctuated with a soft kiss. “You’re…driving…me…insane.”

  Then the storm broke between them and his gentleness vanished. She flung her arms around him and pulled his lips to hers. Lightning flared between their souls, the frenzy of her needs whipping like the whitecaps outside on the ocean. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and she accepted it, sucking it in uneven pulses. Their hips ground together and she wrapped a leg around his hip, opening her body in an attempt to line up her clit with the tempting rock of his erection. He thrust into her, lifting her hips slightly to help and then it was there. Just what she needed—the angle, the pressure. She groaned into his mouth and he swallowed the sound. The air around them heated, rippling with magic as he lifted her to the surface of the counter. Behind her the coffee mug tipped, rolling harmlessly into the sink with a clatter. His hands were busy, unsnapping her shorts, tugging at her T-shirt.

  “I need to touch you. I need to see you.” He growled and stepped back, shaking his head like a wild beast. The lightning came from his eyes and she stared in fascination as he leaned on the wall across from her. They were all of three feet apart and it seemed like a mile. “I don’t understand this. I will stop if you ask me to, but God I hope you feel like I do. I have to have you again.”

  Panic hit. Then delight. Fear followed rapidly by desire. His need poured over her, echoed by her own arousal. Now? Here? “The storm…”

  “The ship is anchored in a bay. We’re as safe as we’re going to get.” His hands clenched into fists, his entire body rigid. A wave of magic floated past her again, overwhelming her senses. She reached deep to try to counter it. It had been so long since she’d used that part of her nature her skin burned. The answering flash of passion that exploded from within was not what she expected. Instead of cooling her ardor for the shaman watching her with lust in his eyes, her fascination grew.

  He was willing to stop? Oh God, if he stopped she would die.

  Chapter Four

  He waited impatiently, uneven breaths racking his body. Her eyes were huge—giant pools of midnight to step into and drown in delightful passions. He didn’t understand the attraction between them, but it was innately right. At the very least, there was nothing wrong with them both enjoying another round of exceptional sex.

  She nibbled on her lower lip for a moment. His heart skipped a beat as she answered him wordlessly. With a sultry smile, she shimmied her T-shirt over her head, reaching behind her to slip the clasp on her bra. She tossed the items in his direction, but his arms were too heavy to react fast enough. Laurin laughed as her clothing hit his abdomen and fell in a heap at his feet. He stared unblinking at her, his vision suddenly too full. Long slim legs, tapered waist. Her breasts were full and firm, red areolas crowning the gentle curves.

  “You are so beautiful.” He swallowed hard, unable to tear his gaze away.

  “Your turn. I want to see your body as well.” She slid off the counter and reached for him. He held out a hand to stop her. Any contact right now and he’d be embarrassed before they even started. He removed his shirt and she whistled approval, a sweet smile teasing the corner of her mouth. He longed to kiss the spot and inched closer. They met in the center of the small space, the heat of their skin touching before the actual moment of physical contact came.

  Slow needy kisses followed, their mouths and hands and torsos meeting. There was no turning back, no stopping where this would ultimately take them. Matt thrilled at the taste of her, the sensation of her hands as she stroked his ribs. Her caress stayed firm and controlled, a fingertip flicking his nipple, trailing through the dusting of hair on his abdomen. He lifted his hands to cup her breasts and her sigh of satisfaction made his toes curl.

  They stood for a long time, touching, caressing. Wrapping around each other, their bodies and souls melting together. Slowly it became too much to wait, his need making him hot and hard and aching.

  When she dropped to her knees before him he swore the walls vibrated with the pulse of adrenaline that drove through him. The light kisses she planted on his belly taunted him, his cock tightening impossibly against the khaki fabric of his shorts. She slipped his button free and maneuvered open the zipper, his cock so sensitized she could have been brushing his skin. When she took his erection into her hand, he thought he’d die with the pleasure of it. The confident way she stroked him made a streak of jealousy rise at anyone else she’d ever touched.

  “I want to taste you.” The way her big eyes shone as she stared at him made his knees weak. She lapped the sensitive slit, cleaning off the bead of precome that pearled there, and he trembled.

  “Yes. Oh God, yes. No wait…we need to talk.” The boat rocked from side to side in the rising ocean, and this wasn’t the time or place. Whatever magic drove them—the timing couldn’t have been worse.

  She kept eye contact as she licked a circle around the crown of his cock. “Talk later.” Then she wet her lips and sucked him in. The moist cavern of her mouth enfolded him, enticed him. He slid his fingers into her hair, the soft texture rubbing his palms like a fountain of silk. She rocked slowly, and each brush of her lips, each stroke of her tongue drove his need higher until he had nothing left but arousal and fire. Still she moved over him, sucking with dark pressure on each withdrawal. When she lifted a hand to fondle his balls, he held on to his control with a fine thread.

  “I’m close. If you don’t want me coming in your mouth, you’ve got to stop.”

  She wiggled below him, winking one eye before swallowing his cock to the back of her throat. It was the most glorious sight, her mouth spread wide around him, lips glistening with saliva and the tracings of his seed. She tilted her head slightly, adjusting her angle and his shaft slipped in a little deeper. Then she swallowed and a buzzing started in his ears. A low, persistent pressure that built to volcanic levels. And when she clasped his hand and locked his fingers in her hair, motioning for him to take control back, he lost it.

  He cradled her head gently, but firmly, rocking his hips with increasing speed as she groaned and adjusted her body. She cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples tight before reaching up to roll his sac in her fingers. She hummed, and his release detonated. H
e held her still, his groin pressed tight to her lips as she swallowed and moaned, suckling his cock as his seed shot down her accepting throat.

  His vision blurred, his heart raced. He’d never come so hard or long before in his life. She nuzzled her nose into the tender crease between his thigh and groin, then planted a final kiss on his abdomen. Matt stepped out of his shorts and scooped her into his arms. They stood there, wrapped together, breaths mingling. She buried her face in the hollow of his neck and purred with delight. There was barely enough room to move in the tiny galley as he rotated and opened the small door to the sleeping berth with his hip.

  “Your turn, Moonshine.”

  His large bed was tucked tight under the foredeck, the mattress filling the awkward vee-shaped berth to its best advantage. He lowered her tenderly, brushing a strand of her hair back from her forehead. His skin tingled where they touched, and he reached out with his shaman magic, trying to come up with an explanation for the emotion and passion that drove him. Drove them both. She caught his hand in hers and brought it to her mouth, kissing and nibbling on his knuckles. Her pink tongue teased him, slipping between each digit in turn. The contrast between the teasing touch and the desire it stimulated shocked him.

  He laughed and stole his hand back to remove her shorts, the pale yellow shimmer of her silky panties evoking an instant reaction. In spite of just having come, his cock filled again as he stroked a finger down the center of the damp fabric.

  She shivered.

  He smiled and repeated the caress, sliding under the edge of her panties and pulling them from her body. He was going to enjoy this as much as she would.

  “I need to touch you, Laurin. I need to taste you.” The boat rocked violently and she pulled him to the relative stability of the mattress.

  He licked his way down her body, kissing her ribs, planting butterfly kisses on her soft belly. Every taste, every touch built his anticipation until with a sigh he settled between her thighs. He couldn’t wait to take her over the edge again. Without warning, without build-up, he lowered his mouth to cover her moist core. Laurin arched into his touch as he buried his tongue in her body.