Claiming the East Wind Read Free Page B

you like to play a game?” he asked.
    She spied the gorgeous silver chess set on a small side table. “Chess? Cards?”
    “How about poker?”
    “I’m not very good, but sure.”
    He moved closer, a glint in his eyes. “Strip poker.”
    Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
    “I enjoyed watching you take your clothes off. It’s mesmerizing.”
    “You didn’t watch me—” she narrowed her eyes “—I was behind the screen.”
    A tiny smile played on his lips. “ Si , you were.”
    She sat up straighter. “I am not playing strip poker.”
    “We can skip the game and go straight to the part where you kiss me.”
    Her heart gave a huge leap in her chest. “You’re crazy.”
    “That’s likely.” He moved even closer, until he was kneeling in front of her chair, crowding her in. “Something about you calls to me and I seem helpless to resist.”
    He was so big. Heat emanated off him in waves. That lean face was more compelling than anything she’d ever seen. He gripped the armrests, caging her in.
    “Have you ever kissed a man, Skye?”
    Dark memories rose, choking her. “I…I—”
    “No.” Soren’s hands cupped her cheeks and forced her gaze to meet his. “I mean have you ever made the decision? If something was stolen from you, that isn’t your fault. Have you ever chosen to put your lips on another’s?”
    “No.” A whisper. Her gaze dropped to his lips. Perfectly shaped and ridiculously full for a man.
    “Do you want to make that choice?”
    ***
    Soren watched Skye nibble on her bottom lip. He wanted her to choose him.
    For the moment, the constant whispers were silent—a reprieve for which he was thankful. With them in his head, they’d demand he take what he wanted from her, heedless of what Skye wanted.
    For some reason, her choosing him was important.
    She licked her lips now, her tongue darting out to tease him. “Yes, I want to kiss you.”
    He scooped her out of the chair and sat with her in his lap. She went stiff for a second but then relaxed. “This is all you, cara . Whatever you want.” He touched her hair. Now it was drying it was once again an angelic shade of gold. “Whenever you want it.”
    She lifted a hand and traced his face.
    Then her hands cupped his cheeks and she leaned forward. She paused, took a deep breath, and pressed her lips to his.
    For a second neither of them moved. Soren’s hands tightened on the armrests and he forced himself not to take what he wanted.
    Her mouth moved over his, gentle and delicate, as she took her time to explore him. Her hands slid into his hair and a tiny moan escaped her. Soren strained against the desire roaring through him. Easy. Easy . He opened her mouth with his and deepened the kiss.
    She moaned again, pressing into him. Her breasts felt so good against his chest. His cock had hardened to the point of pain. He was so turned on, wanted her so much, but he forced himself to take it easy. With great difficulty, he pulled back. “How was that?”
    Her eyes were a little unfocused, her hands still clenched in his hair. “Wonderful.”
    He disengaged her hands and sat back in the chair. She watched him with a tempting look of confusion and frustration on her face.
    “I want you sing for me again,” he said.
    “What?” She frowned, shifting in his lap. “You’re ordering me to sing?”
    “A request.”
    She sighed, and started to move from his lap.
    He gripped her arm. “Stay. If you want.”
    She hesitated, but then relaxed against him. Then she sang.
    As her lilting voice filled the room, Soren settled back against the chair. As the song filtered through him, he watched her face and all the emotion crossing it. It intrigued him, entranced him. He wanted to feel everything she did. More than just the driving greed consuming him.
    A memory burst into his head. Watching three boys running ahead of him. Shouts, teasing taunts, the oldest boy with bright blue eyes holding out a hand to Soren to pull him up.
    The sound of