Wind Kissed, Fire Bound Read online

  He slammed the stall doors shut behind him, locking them together in the small space.

  When he turned to her again, he was surprised to see her standing. Shoulders back, spine stiff. Her eyes blank as frost. The ice princess was back.

  “You had no right to pull me out of the fight.”

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  Chapter Six

  Livia fought hard to keep her face empty of what she was feeling. The memories of her past, stirred up by the winds, festered beneath her skin.

  She lifted her chin. “I have a job to do. If the winds get free, if they kill, it will be my fault.”

  What she wanted to do was cry, scream, run far away. She didn’t want Rafe to see her pain, her weakness. Pressing her hands together, she refused to meet his eyes.

  She couldn’t go back to that dark place. Couldn’t be that broken woman again. She knew in her mind it hadn’t been her fault, but she felt shame that Rafe knew what had been done to her.

  A dark frown settled on his handsome face. “What’s going on, Liv?”

  She bit down on her lip. “Nothing. I’ve told you over and over I must do my duty.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “No way. You can’t go out in this frenzy. They’ll kill you.”

  She tried for her coolest gaze, the one she knew he detested. “Every hundred years, when the powers of the Venti Tempesta have built to critical levels, they try to escape. I will stop them, as I’ve done every century since I became the Keeper.”

  Rafe’s face went blank. “Every century? ”

  She tilted her head. “Luca didn’t tell you I was immortal?”

  “What? No.” Rafe pressed a hand to the stall wall. “How old are you?”

  “It isn’t polite to ask a woman’s age.”

  His hand snaked out and wrapped around the base of her throat. “Livia, I want to know.”

  If he wanted all the gory details, she’d give them to him. “I was born at the end of the reign of the House of Medici. To a family of slaves stolen from the north. I became Keeper of the Winds three hundred years ago.”

  “Mother of God.” Rafe’s gaze skimmed her face. “That’s why you’re blond and blue-eyed. You aren’t Italian at all.”

  “Yes. Aeolus passed the power to me.” She’d never forget the day the wind god had appeared in her room. She’d been beaten, bleeding, and he’d offered her a way out.

  Rafe’s fingers tightened on her neck. “Why you?”

  “He sensed my pain. My need for power.” He’d known she’d been desperate enough to trade her humanity for it.

  “You became the Keeper and your life ceased to be your own.”

  “I had no life before. I traded pain for power.” She spread her arms. “Anger for the wind.”

  “Three hundred years.” His thumb brushed her skin in a light caress. “You’ve lived with your pain a long time.”

  Her stomach rolled. She gripped his wrist. “I have to go.”

  “You know it’s too wild out there, immortal or not.” His fingers brushed over her racing pulse. “You know you don’t have the control you need.”

  He was right. The winds’ earlier taunts had left her vulnerable. She needed time to shore up her defenses. At least while the winds wasted their powers on this tempest, they didn’t have the strength to escape. But once the storm died down…

  Rafe backed her into the wall, his fingers still gentle around her throat. “I see the pain in your eyes. I feel it when I touch you.”

  She shook her head. “When I became the Keeper, I left all that behind. I gave up my humanity to forget.”

  “And dedicated eternity to protecting others.”

  “I’ve been protecting myself!” The words flew out of her.

  He leaned closer, his breath brushing her face. “What do you mean?”

  “Aeolus offered me the chance to suppress my emotions.” Her chest heaved. “Every time I use the power of the wind, it washes away my feelings. It leaves me in control.”

  Sympathy burned in Rafe’s gray eyes. “No pain? No suffering?”

  She didn’t want him to pity her. “That’s right. And he offered me revenge. You aren’t the only one to use their gift to kill. I killed every man who violated me.”

  Rafe brushed a finger across her cheekbone. “But it’s still there. I know better than anyone revenge isn’t good at taking away the pain.”

  Overwhelming hurt rushed into her chest until she throbbed with it. She remembered cowering in the dark, hearing her master’s footsteps coming, him laughing with his friends. Coming to rip her apart again, to degrade her and destroy her soul.

  “Why are you doing this? You told me you don’t want other people’s suffering. You don’t want to be your mother.”

  “I don’t know why.” His smile was wry. “I just know I can’t seem to stop.”

  “I can’t be that broken woman again,” she whispered.

  He pressed closer, his heat warming her skin. He lifted her chin with one finger. “She’s inside you, Livia. Until you confront her, she’ll always be there.”

  She sucked in a shuddering breath. “Why did you come to my island?” She stared up at him, the brutal pressure choking her. “Before you, I’d never felt like this. I never felt at all.”

  He pressed closer. “Don’t you want to live again?”

  She trembled. His words wrapped around her, tempted her, made her stomach jitter. She lashed out. “Like you? Wallow in the anger, burn up with it?”

  A faint smile tugged his lips. “Touché. You’re right. I’ve let it rule me too long.”

  “So what’s left?”

  His hands slid over her. He leaned down until his lips brushed hers. “Maybe together we can find something different.”

  She hadn’t thought she’d feel desire, not after everything she’d been through tonight. Not with the memories so close.

  But this man generated feeling in her despite everything else.

  She pressed her hands flat against his chest. Under them, she felt the steady knock of his heart. Was there really another way to wipe away the memories? Did she have the courage to take a risk?

  His shirt wasn’t buttoned, and unable to stop herself, she shifted her hand until it pressed against his warm skin. Against her will, her finger moved in a caress, stroked one flat male nipple.

  The hard muscles of his stomach tensed and his breath hitched. But his hands stayed at his sides, letting her lead this dance. A trickle of feminine power seeped into her system. Something she’d never felt before.

  “Touch me, Livia.” His words were a seduction. “I need you to touch me.”

  His husky tone shivered through her. “Why?”

  “I need you to chase away the anger. Show me there’s something else.”

  She gave up fighting against the need straining inside her. Her hands slid down his arms and linked with his. “And I need you to make me feel again.”

  Rafe’s mouth crashed down on hers and she moaned. The taste of him was enthralling, more exhilarating than the strongest drug.

  He hauled her closer, shaped her shoulder blades and traced her spine with eager fingers. She let her head drop back, and those clever lips moved down her throat, trailing electric awareness. His teeth nipped at her skin and she groaned, wanted more.

  Hunger grew. Livia hadn’t known it was possible to feel like this. Her childhood had taught her what a man shouldn’t do to a woman. Rafe was showing her something very different.

  She realized he was keeping his hands gentle, not pressuring her. Her heart flipped over. He was giving her control.

  But she wanted the full force of his desire, and she knew Rafe wouldn’t give it to her unless she showed him how much she wanted it.

  With a swift move, she knocked him back, using enough of her power that he fell and tumbled into the pile of hay.

  When Livia lowered herself to straddle Rafe’s lean hips, a smile curled her lips. For the first time, she was giving hers
elf to a man. On her terms.

  She gripped the bottom of her T-shirt. His eyes were drawn there like a magnet. As she slowly dragged it up, baring her flat stomach, she savored the fire in his steel-colored eyes. Another inch, and the catch in his breath filled her with a thrilling power.

  He made her feel so strong. Stronger even than when she called the wind.

  She tugged the shirt off, her bra followed close behind. She grabbed his hands and pressed them to her breasts. “Touch me.”

  She was right. His callused hands felt wonderful on her skin. He lifted the weight of her breasts, flicked a finger over one nipple, then the other. She closed her eyes against the sensations.

  “You have no idea how beautiful you are, Liv.”

  With him, she did.

  Desperate for more of him, she leaned down and ran her tongue over the planes of his chest. She explored all of him, scraping her nails over his tanned skin, studying each scar, sliding her body lower until her lips met denim. She’d never known exploring a man’s body could bring her such pleasure.

  With shaking fingers, she flicked open the top button on his jeans.

  His belly clenched and he hissed. “Careful, Liv. If you go too far, my control might get shaky.”

  She shot him a smile and dragged his zipper down. “I hope so.”

  His erection sprang into her waiting hands. She shaped him. Dio, he was big.

  “Goddess!” he gasped.

  She tormented him, enjoyed every groan that tore from his lips. Then she scooted back and lowered her head.

  His hips bucked, driving him into her mouth. Livia held on, flicking her tongue over him, savoring the empowering feeling of driving him wild.

  “Livia, I…” His hands twisted in her hair. “I want to be inside you.”

  She rose and shimmied out of her pants, helped by his rough hands. She looked down at him, at his half-closed eyes, his lean muscled frame. One gorgeous man spread out for her enjoyment. One strong man, secure enough to let her have control.

  Together they removed his jeans and he kicked them away. She knelt again on his strong thighs, nerves tickling her insides.

  “I won’t hurt you, cara.” He reached out and gripped her thighs.

  The Italian endearment made her smile. She stared at his tanned hand resting against the paleness of her skin. “I know you won’t.”

  She lifted her hips.

  The broad head of his erection prodded at her entrance. The burning heat made her gasp. Inch by inch she lowered herself onto him, the thickness of him stretching her.

  Soon he was fully sheathed inside her. The pressure edged to pain, desire a hot coil resting low in her belly. Her gaze clashed with his. His face was strained, hunger etched on it. His big body tensed under her, like a predator waiting to pounce.

  She leaned forward and pressed her hands flat on his chest. The slight change in position drove him deeper into her. He filled her, big, hot and hard. They both groaned.

  His hands gripped her hips, digging hard into her skin. He rocked her body. “You’re killing me.”

  “I’m not done yet.” She started to ride.

  Her rhythm was gentle at first, a steady rise and fall of hips. But with his rough hands urging her on, with wild desire driving her higher, the pace increased.

  It was a fast, hot race. Flesh slapped against flesh and Livia couldn’t stand the amazing sensation burning through her.

  This wouldn’t be enough. One time with this man would only leave her wanting more. One day, one week, one year—no amount of time would cool her hunger for him.

  Her thighs gripped him and her fingers clutched at his slick skin. Unbearable need tore through her and she held on as it grew.

  Then it hit. She shattered, her body convulsing, and her back arched, driving him deeper.

  Completion slammed into her, a completion she knew would sear her and forever make her his.

  Chapter Seven

  Rafe gritted his teeth as Livia’s body rippled around him. He fought not to find his own pleasure. Not yet. This first time was for her.

  She slumped down on him, her face nestled against his throat. Her skin was now warm and glossy with perspiration. No longer his ice princess.

  She lifted her head. Color filled her cheeks and her lips were swollen and red from his kisses.

  “That was the first time I…”

  When her words trailed off, Rafe realized it was the first time she’d found pleasure with a man. And he’d been the one to take her there.

  Damn. The ground under him suddenly turned very slippery. He’d thought desire and shared pain had drawn him to Livia. Hot and cold chills washed over him. Now he found something deep buried under it all.

  “Why haven’t you…” Her words trailed off again and she moved her hips. His hard erection was still lodged inside her. “Why haven’t you come?”

  His muscles tensed to breaking point. “Are you okay if I take the top this time?”

  She gave a small nod.

  His fingers flexed on her skin. “You have to be sure.”

  “I’m sure.”

  It wasn’t her words that convinced him. It was the flame he saw spark in her eyes.

  He rolled, pinned her down in the hay. At last he sank fully into her body. Her eyes closed and her husky cries echoed around them.

  He pulled back, waited until her eyes met his. Then he slammed into her. The hot, scorching desire eating at him took over. He’d never been a gentle man, and as much as he wished he could keep it tender for her, he wanted her too much.

  She cried out, but he heard the delight in it. Her hands raked his shoulders, moved up and gripped his hair. She lifted her hips and met each thrust with her own.

  He continued driving into her. Desire was fever in his blood. This woman accepted him as he was. She understood what seethed inside him, understood what it was to hold power. Understood how it felt to live with the agony of the past.

  But wrapped up in her, buried in her, he found that all that had slipped away. It was just the two of them and the intensity they brought each other.

  Her muscles gripped him again and he felt her second wave of release. She screamed this time, her teeth latching on to his shoulder.

  With a groan, Rafe gave himself up to the hot release thundering through him and spilled himself deep inside her body.

  The sound of the wind still roared outside the stable. The sound of their heavy breathing filled the inside.

  Livia pressed her face to Rafe’s chest, loving the feel of his strong arms wrapped around her. The smell of hay mixed with the scent of their loving.

  A shadow moved through her contentment. She knew it wouldn’t be long before she had to face the winds.

  Feeling—deep, strong and frightening—fused inside her. Rafe had unlocked it. Her chest constricted, bittersweet sadness welled in her throat.

  But she had to let him go.

  He only had a lifetime, while hers was endless. He had power, but he was human, and she had given up her humanity long ago.

  If he wanted to stay with her, their time together would be short. She couldn’t offer him a home filled with children, something she knew would help ease the anger and sorrow inside him. She couldn’t leave Isola del Vento or her duty as Keeper of the Winds.

  She inhaled his masculine scent, unfamiliar tears pricking her eyes. Even if he did stay, she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to watch him grow old and die. To be left alone with more memories to haunt her.

  He shifted and rolled her on top of him. Those fabulous steel-gray eyes focused on her and a sexy smile curved his lips. “I can hear you thinking.”

  She could do this. She had to. “As soon as the winds have calmed, I will force them back into confinement. Then you must leave the island.”

  His smile disappeared. “Just like that?”

  She tried for her usual expressionless look. “There can never be anything between us. You know that.”

  “No. I don’t.�
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  “I’m immortal and you’re not.”

  “I know I’m on the verge of falling in love with you.”

  She gasped. His words were a sharp, twisting knife to the belly. She shook her head, found it hard to force words past her lips. “What do people like us know about love? No one’s ever shown me love.”

  When she tried to move off him, he gripped her arms and held her in place. “I think I started falling the first time you looked down your nose at me and I saw the shadows hiding in your beautiful eyes.”

  He was tearing her open. “Rafe…don’t do this. It can never be.”

  “Do you love me?”

  She closed her eyes. “I don’t know what love is.”

  He sighed, slid his hand under her chin and tilted it up. “Let me show you. Let me show you how I feel.”

  How could she resist such a plea? “Rafe—”

  He slid a hand down her spine, cupped one buttock. He shifted her hips and once again she felt him, hot and hard, nudging between her thighs.

  He entered her with exquisite slowness and she fought to stop her eyelids from fluttering closed.

  His eyes darkened. “If this is all we have, let me give you something that will last forever.”

  In three hundred years, Livia had never regretted giving up her humanity to become the Keeper. Now she wished she were just an ordinary woman. One who had something to offer the man she was falling for. “Show me.”

  This time the loving was slow. The desire ebbed and flowed, generated warmth along every nerve. His hands ran all over her, a caress, a savoring. Like he would never get enough of the feel of her.

  No one had ever given her love. Her family was a distant memory, her childhood one of horror, and her life as the Keeper one of power and respect. Now with Rafe she was just a woman being loved by a man.

  Leaving him would be the final blow to her already splintered heart. She would mourn the loss of this man for eternity.

  But for now, he was in her arms and she would enjoy every minute of it.

  He sat up, so they were face to face, chest to chest, as close as they could be. She continued to move her hips, continued the intense slide of her body against his. Her hands danced over his firm skin, kneaded his shoulders.