Water Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 2) (5 page)

His sister by mating shook her head. “I fear that I am months from my next heat.” She shrugged. “Although you never know. These things are erratic.”

Torrent felt himself frown. “Let me know if anything changes. It is one of those things that is out of our control.”

Sky smiled. “Yeah, if only we were like humans. One or two heats a year is nowhere near enough. Is it true that they come into heat every month?” She raised her brows.

“Yes.” His balls ached.

Sky’s eye widened and she averted her gaze. “Go and visit your female, my lord… I mean… if it pleases you, my lord.”

“It does.” His voice had turned husky with longing. Torrent turned and strode from the room.

His need increased all the more. All this talk of a female in heat. It made him think of losing his seed into the female. Of making her writhe with pleasure. Of filling her belly with his young. Even if she wasn’t entirely to his liking, just thinking of getting her with child was aphrodisiac enough.

He paused midstride. The human was timid. She had no understanding of their ways. None whatsoever. She had initially thought that he had planned to force her. That if he rutted her, she would be ripped apart and unable to take his size.

Bullshit!

Torrent understood that she had been misled. He got it. This situation was as fucked up as they came. He picked up his stride but stopped outside her door. Shit! He was still hard. The human thought the worst of him. He needed to convince her otherwise. It would be impossible with a hard-on—the size of a large battering ram—in his pants.

He was tempted to find one of the few available dragon shifter females to slake his need. It had been far too long since he was with a female. Nah, he was here, might as well get this over with. Hopefully she would be willing once he explained things. Hopefully she would come into heat soon. This line of thought was not helping his painfully hard situation.

Torrent pictured his grandmother’s kind face. The way the corner of her eyes wrinkled when she smiled. The way she scolded him for bringing back an unconscious female. His grandmother had scolded him even more for snarling at everyone to stay away from her. They had all assumed that his protective skills were in overdrive, and strangely enough that was true. Which was warranted, but moreover, he didn’t want anyone getting close enough to scent her properly.

Fuck!

When he looked down, his dick was at half mast. It was working. He thought of the worst day of his life. The day his father died. His dick shriveled like a sea cucumber in the sun.

Torrent knocked twice.

“Come in,” she called. Candy. Her voice was bright and sunny. He liked hearing it.

Torrent walked in and stopped dead in his tracks. What was she doing?

Whatever it was, he needed her to stop doing it and right fucking now. She was bent over, her feet slightly parted. She touched the ground with her finger tips, then came up a bit and then reached back down.

She was wearing tight black pants that molded her ass. Torrent suppressed a groan. Her butt wasn’t plump. Not at all. It was small. Two tiny orbs. It was tight as fuck. Seeing that she had such a small ass wasn’t a shock. He had carried her back to his lair yesterday. The female weighed nothing. What he hadn’t expected, was to like such a small ass, but he did. Dammit, he liked it a whole hell of a lot.

His dick paid attention as well.
Think about other things, thing about other things.

She was talking. “What excuse did the jerk give this time? Why isn’t he here?” An exasperated sigh as she continued to bop up and down… up and down... Torrent was forced to turn away.

“I’m fine. One hundred percent. I mean look at me…” He could hear that she was still doing her ridiculous movements. He didn’t have to look to know that she was fine indeed. Do not look!

Think of other things.

She huffed out a breath. “I’m even working out again. I like being in shape.”

In shape… yeah… that’s what she was.

“Why the silent treatment, Sky? Cat got your dragon tongue?” He could hear that she had stopped moving. Then she gasped.

Torrent lifted his gaze and looked straight into the eye of the storm.

“You,” she pushed out, putting her hands on her hips. “About freaking time wouldn’t you say?”

Torrent couldn’t respond because his tongue was currently stuck to the roof of his mouth. He might never be able to get it unstuck.

Beneath all of that grime and mud was a beautiful female with high cheekbones and delicate feature. Her lips were like rubies, her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were as blue as the deepest ocean. Her breasts… lord help him.

Torrent couldn’t help but growl softly as he eyeballed the fuck out of her. Such big, plump mammary glands on such a tiny wisp of a female. How was it even possible?

She crossed her arms over her chest, blocking his view. “Eyes up here, asshole. You men are all the bloody same.”

He made a groaning, growling noise. It ended on a soft whine. He sounded like a human pet. A dog. He sounded just like a begging dog. Next thing, he’d wag his tail and start drooling. Except it wouldn’t be a tail he would wag. Oh no! There was another far more interesting thing that wanted to wag.
Woof! Woof!

This female was tiny. She was scrawny. Sticks for arms. It didn’t change anything. She was fucking exquisite. Beneath all that dirt was a treasure.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She cupped her mammary glands with her hands. Although he couldn’t see her pink nipples outlined through the t-shirt anymore, the way she held her breasts accentuated them even further.

“You should put on more clothes if you don’t want me to look.” His voice was gruff. The statement was utter bullshit. As a shifter, nudity was not a big deal. He’d seen every dragon shifter female across the the four kingdoms naked. He’d seen many human women naked. Whether she was clothed or not should not have been of any consequence.

She pursed her lips. Lips he had sampled. Delicious, succulent, decadent. He could think of a hundred more such terms to describe them. Candy narrowed her eyes on him. “First off, I wasn’t expecting you and secondly, no one bothered to supply me with under garments. It’s not my fault I’m not wearing a bra, you asshole.”

“You gave me permission to enter and I entered.”

“I didn’t know it was you. How the hell was I supposed to know that? Turn around. Do it now.” She widened her eyes.

Torrent frowned. It should bug him that she was throwing commands at him. It didn’t.

“Turn around so that I can go and put some more clothes on.” She made a noise of frustration. “Why aren’t you at least looking away?”

“I’ve already seen you, so what is the point? Besides…” he paused. “I’m going to be seeing a lot more of you, so you can relax.” He smiled at her. “You don’t need to cover up.”

Her eyes bugged out of her skull and she made a spluttery effort to talk. Then she sucked in a deep breath and looked at the ceiling for half a beat before turning her eyes back on him. “If you are telling me that you have seen me without my clothes on, I’m going to have to gouge your eyes out of your head.” She tapped her foot. “While we’re on the subject, why did you…” She looked away. Her eyes clouded with… hurt.

What the hell?

Candy bit down on her lower lip for a second and then turned her gaze back to him. “Why did you pull my dress up and… what happened after I passed out?” She held up a hand. “I know nothing actually happened. At least, Sky assured me that we didn’t… you know, but...” She didn’t say anything more. She looked stricken.

Torrent hated the way that made him feel. “We didn’t,” he said. “You were injured and afraid. You passed out. There is no way in hell I would rut a female in that state.”

Her whole stance relaxed. She nodded once. “I needed to hear it from you.”

“I didn’t take advantage.” He shook his head.

She huffed out a breath and seemed to relax a smidgen.

“As to why I pulled your dress up, it was to—”

“Turn around. I need to put more clothes on and then we can talk.”

Torrent shook his head. “It is unnecessary.”

“Humor me.”

“Fine.” He growled as he turned to face the other way. “I’m going to see you naked by the end of today anyway so I’m not sure what the big deal is.”

H
is ass was just
as yummy as his… not going there.

His back was just as beautifully sculpted as his front. Hard meaty glutes encased in those thin pants. They looked to be made from cotton. Loose fitting. Black. The color contrasted with his bronzed skin and light hair.

Damn.

The guy was hot, as in smoking. He also had a colossal ego. Sky wasn’t wrong on that one.

“I’m going to see you naked by the end of today anyway so I’m not sure what the big deal is.” And there you go, that same arrogance. Evenly dealt. He completely believed what he was saying.

Candy didn’t answer immediately, she pulled a sweater out of the closet and pulled it over her head. It was miles too big. The sleeves came over her hands by a few inches and the bottom hung to mid thigh. “You are delusional if you think that is even a remote possibility.”

She turned and came almost face to face with all seven foot of him. At least, he seemed that tall. It was almost laughable. Candy came up to his chest. She was like a child next to the huge beast of a man. A sexy beast though, if she said so herself.

No!

It didn’t matter. His looks had nothing to do with it. She’d never met a man with hair that color though. The most sun-kissed blond, it was practically white. His eyes didn’t seem as pale, not nearly as hard. Fanned by thick, black lashes which contrasted with his coloring. They were intense and seemed to look right into her soul.

Even the stubble on his masculine jaw was light. His cheekbones were prominent. His mouth… oh that mouth. It didn’t help that she knew he could kiss like a cupid-possessed demon.

His mouth quirked into a half smile and he raised a brow. “I think you may be the one who is delusional. I could hear that you were finished dressing, I wasn’t sneaking a look. Though, by the way…” He sucked in a breath. “We are mated so it is my right as a male to claim my… what is it you humans call it…? Ah yes…” He paused and raised both brows. “My bride.”

She choked on nothing. Maybe it was spit. Either way, her throat closed and her lungs seized and she had a coughing fit that forced her to cover her mouth with one hand, and to bend over her middle.

When she finally managed to gain a semblance of control, she raised her gaze to meet his. His expression had morphed to one of concern. Torrent took a step towards her, his arm outstretched, he stopped just short of touching her. “Are you okay? I can understand why you are having a hard time with coming to grips with everything that has happened in a short amount of time.”

“Oh, can you now?” Her voice was low. “I take it you’ve been abducted, chased and manhandled. Thrown in a room…” She looked around her. “May as well be a jail cell,” she whispered more to herself. “And then told that you’re married… mated… whatever… to a complete stranger. One that is not even your species.”

Torrent flinched. Good. Let him have some sort of an idea of what she had been through. “Can we sit? Maybe have some tea?” he asked.

“Tea. You want tea?” What the hell was wrong with this guy? “You want to sit and sip tea at a time like this. Pinky up too I suppose.”

He frowned for a beat. “No.” He lifted his arm and this time he did touch her on the side of the arm. It was a light brush of the fingers. Everywhere he touched, those cells seemed to spring to life. Her skin warmed. A moan hovered on her lips.

“Don’t.” She shook her head, looking pointedly at his hand.

Torrent dropped his arm back to his side. “I think we are highly compatible. It is a good thing.” He nodded, looking pleased with himself. “I think that going through the motions of making tea will calm you down.”

“Nothing will calm me down. The only thing that would help is if you took me home.”

He shook his head. His jaw tightened. “No can do. I think I will make us some tea now. Would you mind?” He gestured towards the kitchen area, which was situated to the one side of the big open area. It was modern, with gleaming surfaces and stainless steel appliances. It contrasted with the rest of the space but somehow worked.

She shrugged. “Go right ahead.” She choked out a laugh. “I can’t believe you are actually asking my permission.”

He had already begun to make his way towards the kitchen and turned. “I gave you a choice from the word go.”

“Except for the part where I was abducted.” She folded her arms.

“Except for that part.” He put the kettle on and grabbed some mugs. “Can I make you a cup?”

She shrugged. A hot drink sounded good but she didn’t know if she wanted one from him.

He smiled. Good lord, he was even more good looking when he smiled. He was like those models on the covers of men’s magazines about health and exercise only more good looking. It irritated her that she was attracted to him.

Torrent ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll go ahead and make you one.” He threw another teabag into a teapot. Then he turned and folded his arms.

Biceps aside, his forearms were huge. His shoulders were broad and… nope. She wasn’t looking. Candy turned to face the beautiful view. The one that was outside, not inside.

“I’m sorry you were abducted and that you suffered at the hands of those she-dragons. Please know that I have reported the matter to the fire king and the females will be punished.”

“Punished?” She turned back to Torrent.

There was a loud clicking noise as the kettle switched off. He poured some of the steaming liquid into the pot, stirred and closed the lid. “Yeah, I am not sure what he will do to them.” He looked thoughtful for a second. “You must realize that we have very few females. They have always been held in high regard. Revered and cherished. None of the kings has ever punished a female before. Blaze is not sure how to proceed. If it were a male that pulled such a move, he would be lashed with a silver tipped whip or put in the cages, or both.”

Shit! She tried not to react. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask about ‘the cages’ but she bit back the question.

He put the pot, cups and spoons onto a tray and gestured for the sitting area. “If the crime is bad enough, he might be put to death.”

“That seems pretty over the top. Are you telling me that there’s no trial?” She took a seat, choosing a wingback chair.

He smiled. The guy had one hell of a smile and one hell of a body. Muscles galore. Apparently he’d carried her the whole way back to his lair. It took the entire night but he’d done it. Candy couldn’t remember much. She’d been warm and more tired then she’d ever been before. There were a couple of times where she’d tried to wake up but couldn’t.

Torrent sat on the couch opposite her, choosing to sit in the seat closest to her. “There is a trial of sorts. We are an honest society. Questions are asked and answered and fates decided. It is simple and it works. It has been many centuries since someone was put to death.”

“What type of crime would warrant that?”

He poured tea into each of the cups. “Sugar?”

She shook her head.

He handed her one of the cups. Candy nearly dropped it. “Shit, that’s hot.”

“Sorry.” He smiled and she felt herself smiling back. “I’ll put it down here for you.” He placed the mug on the table in front of her. “If a male were to kill another male and it is found to be on purpose, with ill intent.”

“Murder?”

He nodded. “Yes. Another serious crime is if a male forces himself on a female. In most cases that male would be killed.” Torrent took a sip of his tea. His knee was almost touching hers.

“Or castrated.” She shivered. “I think it’s fitting.”

“There has only ever been one such case that I am aware of. We do not force females.”

“I thought you said that females… women are in short supply.”

“They are. We go into one of the neighboring human towns twice a year to… let off steam.”

“Oh.” So they were familiar with humans. That’s why Sky knew with certainty that dragons and humans could be together… sexually. “I wouldn’t be ripped apart then?” Her eyes widened and she dropped her gaze to her lap. Shit! Why had she said that? She didn’t plan on having sex with him, with any of them.

“No.” His voice was deep and husky. “Any notion you have of sex would be ripped apart. It would be that good.” He threw her a casual smile.

“Arrogant much?”

Torrent shook his head. “It is a fact. I have been with many human females, we are better endowed and far more in tune with a female’s body.”

She snorted. “Yeah right. Whatever.” Her body hummed at his words.

“It’s true. Our senses are far more developed. We can hear every heartbeat, every hitch of the breath. We can see even the tiniest goosebumps and dilation of the pupils. Our sense of touch is second to none.” He leaned forward in his chair. “I would find your g-spot in seconds. I would feel for that bundle of nerves. I could make you come in less than a minute and with just my dick.”

What the?
Holy hell! “Too much information.” Her voice came out high pitched. “We don’t even know one another. It’s rude to speak about things like that.”

He gave a small shrug of one shoulder and took a sip of his tea. “I can scent that you are aroused by my words. I can tell that you are attracted to me. I am greatly attracted to you as well.” He looked confused. Why would such a thing confuse him?

Then she remembered that he had originally been after the brunette. What was her name? Julie. They were polar opposites. The brunette was tall for a human. She was curvy with boobs, buns and thighs, where Candy had more of a slim, athletic build. Okay, fine, she was pretty skinny. The only thing that was curvy were her boobs and only because they were fake. Men seemed to love her figure. Human men. She’d heard that the non-human guys preferred curvier women.

Torrent had practically been forced to take her. He hadn’t been the least bit interested. Why did that make her feel…? She wasn’t sure how she felt. She was attracted to him. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t be? It didn’t mean that she liked him. “If you say so.” She finally blurted. He had wanted Julie. It didn’t matter. Why was she even wasting her time thinking about this? “This whole marriage mating thing, it ain’t happening. I want to go home.”

To Ellis?

To her old life?

She’d learned a few hard truths in the last while. School started in less than two weeks. She needed to get back before then. Once she got to her house, she’d pack a bag and find somewhere new to live. Maybe she could find a roommate closer to campus. She’d put her old life behind her. A fissure of fear caused her throat to tighten. Ellis wasn’t going to just let her walk away. Then she remembered his motionless body. She didn’t feel sorry for him but at the same time, she didn’t wish him dead either. Not even Ellis deserved that.

Torrent shifted in his chair. “Too late. The whole marriage thing has already happened.”

“Well, we need to undo it then. I want a divorce. Hold up.” She made a snorting noise. “I didn’t say ‘I do’ so technically…”

“Yes, you did.”

“You’re crazy.” She huffed.

“I have many witnesses. You publicly chose me and I you.”

“You’re talking about when you were on top of me and all those guys were getting ready to… I thought I was about to be raped, torn apart. You took advantage of that.”

“I didn’t know all of the bullshit stories you had been fed. It was my understanding that you were fully briefed. It is done, we are mated.”

“Just like that?” She felt panicked and confused. “No damned way.” She could recall that there was talk of being mates. She had admitted to having chosen him and he her but that was all… “I just said that to make the others go away. I didn’t mean it.”

“It does not matter. Your words are binding. I pulled up your dress to make them think that I was claiming you and I would have done so too”—his jaw clenched— “with your full consent, but you were in such bad shape. The point being, the others believe that we are mated. It is only a matter of time before word spreads. The water dragons already know.”

“I don’t care.” She reached for her tea and took a small sip, keeping the mug in her hand, which shook slightly. “I thought that they planned on raping me. I thought I needed your protection. It turns out I didn’t. You just told me that forcing a woman is punishable by death.”

He nodded.

“You lied to me by withholding information.”

“I had no idea you weren’t aware of the rules. You begged me to choose you, to help you. I assumed that you wanted me.”

“You were wrong. All I wanted… all I still want is to go home.”

“It’s too late for that.” His voice was deep and menacing. “We are mated and I will need to make that official as a matter of urgency.”

“Official?” She raised her brows and took a sip of tea.

“Official, as in we need to rut.”

Candy choked —again—tea came squirting from her mouth and even out of her nose. She put a hand over her lips and coughed.

“You look shocked.” He looked amused. “Rutting, it is what mated couples do.”

She still had her hands over her mouth. There was tea everywhere.

“I want to get to know you. Everything about you. We can start with your likes… in bed… or, we could use the tub or the floor, or up against the wall. You tell me how you want it.” His hand tightened over the mug. “Once we have both relieved our tension, we will be in a better position to get to know each other in other ways.”

She used the sleeve of her sweatshirt to wipe her face and watery eyes. She tried hard to get her breathing back under control. It was the choking that had winded her, not his words.

Torrent licked his lips. “I want to know what drives you crazy. The things that make you writhe and scream. I want your pussy on my mouth and…”

Candy made a noise that expressed her shock. She was shocked at what he was saying but also at how her body reacted to his words.

No damned way, Candy.

Thankfully he stopped talking. She’d spent so long making others happy. Sex was never about her. It was about her clients. She hadn’t had sex with many men since becoming an escort but it was always about them. Always. Hearing his words made her mouth dry and other places soaking wet.