I raked a hand through my blond hair, which had grown longer than I preferred over the last few days, while emotion churned inside me. I shouldn’t have reacted that way—now they’d all suspect there was a reason for my vehement response. Perhaps I should have made up a story to placate them, but I couldn’t lie to Kira. And she’d have to learn the truth eventually.
Kira came through the hatch and joined me below deck, her lovely face showing concern and her red hair a little wild from the wind. “I’m sorry about all that. Please ignore Jasin. He’s simply trying to get a rise out of you. You know how he is.”
I turned toward her and frowned at the worry in her eyes. Perhaps the time for truth was now. “I know. The problem is…he’s right.”
“What do you mean?”
I drew in a deep breath. “I’ve never been with a woman before.”
She blinked. “You haven’t?”
I rested my hands on her upper arms and gazed into her entrancing hazel eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was waiting for the right moment, but it’s hard for me to admit that I am lacking the knowledge or skills I require. Especially in something I wish to become an expert at.”
“You don’t need to be ashamed. Until the other night, I was inexperienced as well.”
“Yes, it’s probably fortunate that Jasin was the first one and not me, even if it made me jealous knowing he was claiming you.”
She slid her arms around my neck and pressed a soft kiss to my jaw. “Don’t be jealous. Soon we’ll reach the Air Temple and then we will be bonded too. We can become experienced together.”
“It’s not as simple as that,” I said, shaking my head. “A man is easy to please, but a woman…a woman takes skill and practice to satisfy. At least, that’s what I’ve learned from the books I’ve read on the subject.”
Her lips quirked up in an amused smile. “Books?”
“The library in Stormhaven has a selection of books dedicated to bedroom skills. I’ve studied them all, so I know the theories and such, but I suspect it will be a different matter entirely to put what I read about into practice.”
“Oh, Auric.” She laughed softly and then pulled my mouth down to hers. Her lips were sweet, but as her tongue slid against mine I took control of the kiss, taking it deeper. I may have been inexperienced in bed, but kissing? That I was an expert on.
Kira’s hands slipped under my shirt as I tugged at her lower lip with my teeth. While her palms smoothed across my chest, I trailed kisses down her neck, finding the spots that made her sigh. If nothing else, I was a fast learner—and I was going to make Kira my new object of study. I would explore her own body until I knew it better than my own. I would uncover every way to make her cry out my name in pleasure.
But there was more I had to tell her first.
I caught her face in my hands and met her eyes. “Kira, there’s something else too.”
“What is it?” she asked.
Before I could speak, Jasin dropped down into the cabin, interrupting me. I didn’t pull away from Kira. Let him see that she was mine too. Though if he was bothered by it, he didn’t show it.
“Sorry about all of that earlier,” Jasin said, surprising me with his sincerity. Jasin and I had never gotten along, but perhaps he was making an effort now that it was clear we were both going to be a part of each other’s lives for good, especially since we both loved Kira. Which gave me an idea.
“I didn’t mean anything by what I said, and I should have let it go,” Jasin continued. “You don’t owe the rest of us anything, especially me. If you want to keep part of your past a secret, that’s none of my business.”
“Thank you for the apology.” I hesitated, considering my next move. “But perhaps you can help me with something.”
His eyebrows darted up. “Help you? How?”
“I need you to teach me the art of pleasing a woman.”
Jasin burst into laughter. “Oh Gods, that’s hilarious.” He laughed again, but then noticed Kira and I were not in on the joke. His smile dropped into a frown. “Wait, you’re serious. Oh. Wow. So you truly are inexperienced. Damn.”
“I am, yes. You were correct. I’ve never had a first time.” I gave Kira a heated glance. “Not yet.”
“But…how?” Jasin asked. “You’re a good-looking guy and a prince too. I can’t imagine you couldn’t find a woman or three to take to bed.”
“It’s tradition in the Air Realm for the nobility to remain virgins until marriage, both men and women. I’ve had plenty of opportunities, but I wanted to wait until I found my forever mate.”
“I’m honored,” Kira said, giving me a warm smile.
Jasin raked a hand through his already messy hair. “But why me? You and I barely get along as it is. I doubt getting naked together will help.”
“It has to be you,” I said. “You’re the most experienced of us all and you’ve already bonded with Kira. Besides, we both know Slade and Reven would never agree.”
“True.” His gaze shifted to Kira. “Are you okay with this?”
She considered us both, her eyes dancing with interest. “The Fire God did say you needed to learn to work together…”
“Somehow I doubt this is what he meant,” Jasin muttered.
“Jasin, despite our differences, we both want Kira to be happy,” I said. “Though I realize this will be awkward at first, eventually all four of us are going to be sharing her. Maybe at the same time, if that’s something she wants.”
“Is it?” Jasin asked her.
Her cheeks flushed with obvious desire. “I think so.”
Oh yes, she definitely liked the idea of us sharing her at once. The thought aroused me as well, but such a thing was fairly common in the Air Realm. My older sister had two husbands, and both my parents openly shared their beds with others on the side. I was more surprised that Jasin, from the uptight Fire Realm, was even considering this plan.
But he seemed satisfied by Kira’s answer. “All right, I’ll do it.”
I gave him a respectful nod. “Thank you. I promise I’m a quick study.”
“Then let’s get started.” He grabbed his shirt and yanked it off, then tossed it aside.
“Now?” I asked, shocked by his boldness.
Jasin shrugged with a wry grin. “Why wait?”
“Are you sure we’re all ready for this?” Kira asked, even though her eyes were roaming all over Jasin’s naked chest like she’d never seen anything better in her life.
Jasin stepped close to her. “We won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”
Following his lead, I tugged my shirt over my head and was satisfied by the way Kira’s gaze began to devour me too. She ran her tongue along her lower lip in the most alluring way, and there was no mistaking her arousal.
Jasin snaked an arm around Kira’s waist and yanked her against him, then captured her mouth in a hot, passionate kiss. I watched them intently, studying the way she melted against him and how his fingers dug into her hips possessively.
But then she broke away and reached for me, pulling me close. Her lips found mine again and I skimmed my fingers across her nipples, feeling how hard they were through the fabric of her dress. Jasin kissed her neck at the same time, trapping Kira between the two of us.
I began to think this plan to involve Jasin might be one of my best yet.
