“Your brothers are desperate to help you.” Skye watched Soren pace the length of his bedroom. She settled in on his large bed, still tingling from what he’d done to her in the bathroom.

For the first time ever, she wanted to be lying naked on these silky sheets, with him doing more to her.

She blew out a breath. But he was right. They needed to find a way to stop Apeliotus and let the Warriors of the Wind send the Tempest Winds back to their prison once and for all.

“What about my brothers’ vices?” Soren asked.

“They’ve already succeeded in beating their vices and banishing their Tempest Winds.”

He spun. “How?”

“They found their Aurae.”

A frown knitted his brow. “The seasonal breezes.”

She nodded. “Your Venti horse trainer, Riley, joined Lorenzo on Isola del Vento and helped him survive when the Tempest Winds first escaped. They suspect she has Aurae blood. Dante found Samia in Rome. Well, actually she was an assassin sent to kill him, but she helped him instead. Antonio discovered one of his art historians, Sophia, is an Aurae descendent. And Luca and my sister, Rayne…well, they collided in Venice. She’d been sent by our mother, the head of the Aurae, to monitor him. We were worried with such a volatile vice like anger that he would succumb.”

Soren turned away to the window. “Instead, it’s me who’s on the verge.”

Skye stood and went to him, swamped by a desperate need to help him. “Our records say the Warrior who hunts his Tempest Wind the longest is always in the most danger of falling prey to his vice.” She pressed a hand to his back. “There’s no point in blaming yourself. Turn your energy to defeating Apeliotus.”

Soren turned, his eyes burning. “Aurae calm the Warriors.”

She nodded.

He reached out, fingering her still-drying hair. “I haven’t seen you use your breeze, or sensed your power.”

Her gaze dropped to the carpet. Her greatest shame. “I lost my ability…a long time ago.”

“You came here, into my villa, to give yourself to me.”

She snapped her head up to look at him. “I came here to help you, but I told you, I came here for myself first.”

He brushed his thumb over her lips. “Good.”

One tiny brush and the fight drained out of her. “I know what it is to be trapped and suffering.” Dark memories stirred. “I know how terrible it is when a monster lurks in the darkness.”

A strong hand cupped her jaw. “Who hurt you?”

A part of her didn’t want to tell him. Even after years of therapy that had helped her heal so much, it still made her feel horrible to talk about it. She knew it wasn’t her fault but sometimes she just wished she didn’t have the baggage.

She looked into eyes that reflected nothing but patience. “My father died when I was little. A few years later, my mother met a man.” Skye didn’t say his name. She never said his name. “Everything was good at first. My mother was happy, and he gave Rayne and me gifts.” Feeling chilled, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “When I turned twelve, he started coming to my room.” Her stomach turned over. “He raped me.”

She watched Soren’s hands clench.

“I’m sorry, Skye. If I could go back and protect you—”

She slid her hands over his. “I don’t want to look back. I came here to move forward. I am so tired of being trapped by my past. I want to move on. I want more.”

Soren gave a hollow laugh. “More isn’t always the answer.”

Stupid, Skye. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

He cupped her face. “It’s okay. I understand wanting to move on, and to have something different than you have now. I think you’re courageous.”

A hiccupping laugh. “Hardly. I’m always afraid.”

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Terrified.” She circled his wrists, holding his warm palms to her face. “But not because I think you’ll hurt me. Because of how you make me feel inside.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “How do you feel?”

“Tingling, shaky, nervous, excited, energized.”

Another kiss, so gentle but electrifying at the same time. Skye felt everything inside her go weak.

His lips traveled along her cheek, up to her temple. Her eyes fluttered closed and his mouth pressed gently to one eyelid. “What do you want, Skye?”

Everything. Here she was with a man consumed by greed and he was the one being patient and caring. She was the one consumed with the need for more.

But she wanted it for both of them. “I want you to make love to me.”

* * *

In Skye’s face, Soren saw desire and determination. “You have to be sure—”

She gripped his arms. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. We’re both lost, Soren. Let’s find each other together.”

In that moment, he realized he’d give this woman anything she wanted. He’d take his wind to the ends of the Earth to make her happy.

He scooped her up and she gasped. He carried her to the bed and set her down in the center. It gave him a gut-deep thrill to see her nestled in his sheets.

Spinning away, he moved around the room, lighting the few candles he had. Then he flicked off the lights, and the candles filled the space with a warm, gentle glow. Then he moved back to her. She was watching him.

He stopped beside the bed and unbuttoned his shirt. Her blue gaze was glued to each inch of chest he bared. When he dropped his shirt on the floor, she reared up on her knees and reached for him.

Small hands skimmed over his chest. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her caress. She was a little hesitant, but she touched him everywhere.

“Take off the rest.” Her voice lowered. “I want to see all of you.”

His eyes snapped open. Her lips were parted and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. He unbuckled his belt, flicked open his trousers, and kicked them off.

She sucked in a breath, her eyes widening. Then she reached for him, her hand hesitating a mere whisper away from his hard cock. He forced himself not to move, not to grab her.

Tentative fingers circled him. Unable to stop himself, he flexed his hips. She smoothed her hands over him and he swallowed a groan.

“So hard but smooth. You’re so big.”

He circled her hands. “You can take me, Skye.” Slowly, he moved her hand on him. Need rocketed through him and he groaned.

Her hand moved quicker. Her fingers brushing over the mushroom head of his cock, then traced a vein down the side.

Soren jerked. Dio, he hoped he didn’t embarrass himself. Distraction. Now. “Can I touch you, bella?”

She nodded, her blonde hair falling over her silk-covered shoulders. He reached for the belt of her robe and loosened it. Just a glimpse of her flat belly, smooth, smooth skin, and the patch of gold hair between her legs had his cock jerking in her grasp.

He reached out, nudged the fabric aside and watched it bare one slim shoulder. He let his fingers trace her collarbone, then cup her breast. “Beautiful.”

She was too intent on exploring him to pay attention to his words. And damn, he liked that. He was the focus of her intense concentration.

“Cara, if you keep that up, I’m going to spill in your hands.”

“Really?” Her cheeks went pink. “I think I’d like that.”

He groaned. “Maybe. But I’d prefer to come deep inside you.”

Her chest hitched. “I think I’d like that even more.”

Stepping closer, he pushed the robe off her, baring every inch of her. He nudged her back, then leaned down to kiss her. She clung to his shoulders, her kiss fierce, and soon Soren forgot everything but the intense pleasure of kissing her. Of losing himself in her.

Desire was a wild, primitive rush inside him. Far more powerful than the greed, far more powerful than anything he’d experienced. He settled his weight on her, sliding her legs apart and letting their bellies meet.

Her kiss turned frantic, her hands sliding into his hair. He lost any thought of keeping things gentle and calm. He gripped one of her thighs and pulled it tight against his hip. His cock nestled against her damp folds.

Then he felt her go rigid.

No. Reining in his need to thrust inside her and claim her, he stared down at her face. She’d turned away, her eyes closed. He felt the small, tight breaths coming from her.

Dammit. He moved off her. When she went to roll away from him, he gripped her gently and pulled her to her knees. They faced each other in the center of his bed.

“Remember what I told you before?” He pushed her hair back. “Whatever you want, whenever you want it.”

“I want this.” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I want you. I’ve had sex before…”

“Hey.” He cupped her jaw. “Just focus on the here and now. Just focus on what you feel when I touch you.”

She nodded.

“Just tell me what you’re feeling. Every step of the way.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer a woman who knows what she’s doing?”

He traced a finger over the seam of her lips. “I prefer you. Just you.”

She released a long breath and he leaned down and kissed her. It started off tender but soon it morphed into something hot and hungry for both of them. Skye’s nails bit into his skin.

Then he let her go. He dropped back on the bed and curled one arm under his head. He wanted to possess, to lay her down and drive his aching cock inside her. But there’d be time for that later, one day when she knew him better, trusted him more.

For now, this was for her.

He held out a hand.

She hesitated for a second, then took it.

He pulled her forward until she straddled his hips and pressed her hands to his chest to find her balance.

“Soren? What are you doing?”

“This way, you’re in control.” He slid his hands over her hips and settled them there. “You control what you want, when you want it, how you want it.”

Her lips parted, a light sparking in her eyes. “Really?”

He nudged his hips up, his cock brushing against her. “You’re the boss, cara.”

She shimmied her hips, testing. Soren gritted his teeth and kept his smile on his face. He wouldn’t ruin this for her. He wouldn’t.

She moved again, gaining speed and confidence. Each move rubbed against his cock, sending him out of his mind.

“Cara.” The word was little more than a growl. “You’re going to kill me.”

Now she stilled, studying his face. “Poor baby.”

The teasing jibe made him freeze. He suspected she’d never, ever been comfortable enough in a situation like this to joke. He studied her pretty face, absorbing every detail. “You going to take pity on me?”

“Maybe.” She scraped her nails down his chest. “I’m not sure how.”

He gripped her hips and lifted her up. “Are you wet? Ready for me?”

Her mouth opened. “I…I don’t know.”

“Touch yourself.”

Light flared in her eyes and a flood of color filled her cheeks. But one of her hands slid down her belly, into her tidy patch of hair. She moaned, her head dropping back.

“Tell me,” he urged, his voice breaking.

“I’m drenched. For you.”

Dio. He sucked air into his straining lungs. “Hold my cock.”

She trembled but her hand moved, circled him.

“Good girl. Now fit the tip against you.”

She did, the hard head of him rubbing against the damp part of her.

“It’s all you now, Skye. Whenever you’re ready—”

She sank down on him.

Soren threw his head back and groaned. She was so damn tight and hot and wet.

“Too full,” she panted.

“Just right. Just wait, give your body time to adjust. Then you can move. Whatever feels good, cara.”

She gave the tiniest move of her hips. Another. His hands twisted in the sheets. He wasn’t going to survive this.

Then she gained confidence. She moved, rocking against him, her breasts jiggling. Dio, he wouldn’t last long.

“Soren.” Just his name and then a husky whimper.

“Ride, cara. Whenever you’re ready. Harder. Faster.”

She picked up her pace, and started to rise and fall. Their skin slapping together. She slid up and down on his cock, making everything inside him tighten.

The look on her face was enough to send Soren skidding to the edge of release. She was completely lost in her pleasure, taking what she wanted. But he refused to come before she did.

He slid a hand across her belly and then between her thighs. He found the tight little nub and worked it between his fingers.

“Soren!”

Her gaze was on him, eyes wide but excited. Another flick and her orgasm hit her. She arched back and her body clamped down on his, milking him hard.

His roar merged with her cry and filled the room as he spilled himself inside her in a violent rush.