Matt dipped his head in acknowledgement.
A sudden silence fell, and for one brief second Laurin was floored by where she was. What had happened. Naked between the two of them, she had no urge to cover herself. She wanted nothing more than to stretch and preen. To let them start all over again. Maybe even try a few of the other things she’d witnessed during that ceremony. The picture of taking Matt into her body while she took Kallen into her mouth popped into her mind.
Instantly, she felt a grumble rise from Matt. “What are you doing, Moonshine?”
Kallen swallowed hard. “Is that…from Laurin?”
She snapped upright, sure her jaw was hanging open. “What are you talking about?”
Matt chuckled, and she quivered with anticipation at the tone of it. “You’re playing with the dirty pictures again, and this time you’re showing them to Kallen as well? Oh dear. You are the insatiable one.”
She pressed her hands to her cheeks, discovering them red hot to her touch. “What did you see?”
Kallen shifted position and stared over her shoulder at Matt. “I had planned on leaving you two alone, but I’m far more interested in staying. If you have a need for me, that is. More help hunting, that kind of thing.”
Matt laughed even as Laurin struggled to understand. “It’s up to Laurin. Let’s ask her.”
They tugged her to her feet. Matt enfolded her in his arms and guided her to the bow of the ship. The sun was just beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, the afternoon gone and the evening stretching out with all kinds of possibilities. He stopped at the railing and motioned Kallen forward. The two of them stood before her, smiles and admiration written on their faces as they turned to face her.
Confusion hit. What were they asking? Did they think she was going to choose between them? She already had.
“Is Kallen completely healed?”
Matt frowned briefly before touching a hand to Kallen’s throat. There was the brush of his magic and he nodded. “And you don’t have to worry about anyone trying to use that curse again. I left a trace of it behind like an inoculation, tweaking so it will backfire on the caster.”
She gasped. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
He raised a brow. “I probably couldn’t, not by myself. But you were fairly spectacular back there, in more ways than one.”
Laurin flushed and tilted her chin up. “So what now?”
Kallen bowed slightly. “If you’d like, I would love to experience a few more of your ‘pictures’. And anything else you would like to share.”
“As would I…” The hunger Matt shared was real, and Laurin’s throat tightened. He sent her a wave of love, of acceptance. Of desire to see her pleasures exceeded as she’d experienced earlier. But it was up to her.
Did she want more? Now for play, and not for magical reasons? She glanced at Kallen. He was beautiful and strong, and she would love to fool around a little more. But Matt?
Her heart.
They both stood, waiting for her decision, giving her the final choice after making it clear what they wanted.
There was no denying it, and the words burst out as she forced herself to not make it sound like a plea. “Let’s do it.”
Kallen nodded once, then dove into the water.
“What? Where is he…?”
“Getting cleaned up. For the next round.” Matt grinned at her and to her complete surprise, snatched her up in his arms and kissed her. Her legs supported under the knees, one arm under her torso, she felt like a modern-day heroine.
Except for the naked business.
When he finally let her up for air, she licked her lips. “Hmm, I could get into more of that.”
“Of course, after you get cleaned up as well.”
He stepped to the rail and she clutched his neck.
“Matt! No, you’re not serious.” Her protests fell on deaf ears as he tossed her after Kallen. The air whistled past rapidly. She slammed her lips closed to stop the water from filling her mouth, hands slapping the surface as the sharp contrast of her heated skin and the icy water surrounded her.
Bastard. She broke the surface a second later, just in time for the wave from Matt’s cannonball entry to wash over her head and send her sputtering. Then he had her in his arms as he drew her struggling body against his.
Interest rose in spite of the frigid temperatures. He held her carefully, his smirking expression lit with pure shimmering gold as the sunlight hit.
“When you least expect it—that’s all I’m going to say, Mr. Shaman. When you least expect it…” She kissed him briefly, the salt on her lips mixing with his flavor and making her smile.
“Hmm, okay. But for now? You can totally expect a lot more of this.” He rocked his hips against her and she laughed.
“How can you be hard when the water is this cold?”
He tsked in dismay. “Are you cold? I guess we’ll have to warm you up.”
A second set of hands roamed her body, and every bit of displeasure fled.
“Anything you want, Laurin. We’re yours for the rest of the night.” Kallen’s voice had settled back into the firm tones she remembered, and the shiver along her spine had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with anticipation.
It looked like it was going to be a long, and interesting, evening.
Chapter Seven
The ship moved easily as the morning tide turned, and a small yawn escaped as she stood waiting to say goodbye. She was tired in places she didn’t think ever got tired, but wallowing in satisfaction made the lack of sleep all worthwhile.
Kallen leaned in and kissed her. Thoroughly. With enough heat to make her toes curl. At her back, Matt cleared his throat and she couldn’t stop from giggling. Kallen smiled against her lips, and suddenly the passion faded into good solid friendship—the main thing she felt for the man.
“He’s very possessive,” Kallen complained.
Laurin winked. “Sharing me is one thing the shaman doesn’t do easily. Didn’t you notice that? He totally steals the covers as well.”
“Hey, you two.” Matt surrounded her with his warm arm and Laurin sighed with contentment. Boxed between two men who cared for her—how could she feel anything but ready to take on the world?
Kallen leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “We would have been good together, but you and he are better than good. You are in balance.”
A shiver stroked her skin. Enough with the omens. She laid a hand on his cheek and gave him a final quick kiss. “I’ll miss you, Kallen. Be safe—and when we come east, we’ll stop and see if there is anything we can do to support you against your brother.”
The air shifter nodded, his eyes sparkling at her before he turned to face Matt fully. He bowed formally, then grasped hands like kin. “When you stand in need of me, I will return. Or…” his gaze darted back to roam over Laurin’s body and she blushed, “…if you ever wish to play some more, I’m available.”
Matt pushed him on the shoulder, grinning good-naturedly. “Go on. Find your place, but know you are always welcome in our home.”
Kallen stripped off the shorts he’d borrowed, raising his brows briefly in Laurin’s direction before shifting and rising on silent wings into the air. She tucked under Matt’s arm and listened to the sounds of the ship, the noises of the ocean and wind making the ropes sing. Waves splashed against the Stormchild’s sides in a rhythmic pulse that matched the timing of Kallen’s wings in motion. Sunlight sheered off him, and they watched without speaking until his giant eagle form disappeared from sight.
Laurin was going to miss him. Strange how quickly they’d become friends. It wasn’t just the sex, as intimate and wild…and totally exhausting as it had been.