Water Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 2)

by Charlene Hartnady

  “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.

  Torrent sniffed. “You seem to like the thought of my mouth on you.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Your body sure as hell does.”

  “My body doesn’t have a say in the matter. I can’t help…” She let the sentence die. Candy wasn’t about to admit to being attracted to him. His ego was big enough as it was.

  “You don’t want to admit to your urges. The fact that you’re attracted to me.”

  She made a noise of indifference. “You’re not bad.” She lied through her teeth. “Whatever.” She added, knowing that she sounded like an idiot.

  “Human females find me irresistible. All females want me. You are no exception.”

  “You might have some attributes that are appealing but your whole ‘look at me’, ‘I’m the greatest’ thing you have going is nauseating. It’s not attractive in the least.” All true.

  Torrent stood, towering above her. His eyes were stormy and his whole stance tensed. “I am a king. The purest royal blood runs through my veins.” He fisted his hands and raised them. “You should feel privileged that I chose you to be my mate. Privileged that I am here—”

  “Screw you! I don’t ev
en know you. I didn’t ask to be here. I don’t know your stupid dragon rules. Further more, you’re an asshole. Just so you know, it’s a rule of mine, I don’t have sex with assholes.”

  He tried to talk but she cut him off.

  “I want to go home.” Candy rose to her feet as well.

  “Forget about going home.” He said it on a snarl that had her stepping back. Her ass hit the window. “We are mated, Candy.” Much softer this time. “I’m not letting you go.”

  “Why not? We don’t even know each other.” There was a desperate edge to her voice

  “You are mine. I don’t give up on what is mine.” He clenched his jaw.

  She shook her head and made a snorting noise. This guy was too much. “I’m not yours. You can get that right out of your mind.”

  His whole stance became even more tense. His body seemed to vibrate raw energy. Torrent made a growling noise, low in his throat. He turned and headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?” Why had she asked him that? It was good that he was leaving. Fantastic! Besides, she didn’t care.

  “I will come back when you are in a better mood. A more agreeable mood.”

  “In that case, don’t bother coming back.” She shook her head.

  “I’ll be back, mate.” Torrent put emphasis on the word mate.

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “It’s what you are.” He stopped abruptly and turned, closing the distance between them in an instant. Torrent gripped her hips gently in his big hands and pulled her towards him. He covered her mouth with his, forcing his tongue between her lips.

  Candy made a sound that was laced with shock. Her eyes widened and she put a hand against his chest, intent on pushing him away. Bastard!

  Torrent stroked his fingers through her hair and cupped the side of her face. He pushed her up against the window with his big body. He adjusted the angle of his head and stole the air from her lungs, the sanity from her brain.

  Next thing, her one hand was wrapped around his neck, the other one was curled around his bicep. Her breasts were plastered against his chest. She whimpered into his mouth as she kissed him back. Giving just as much as she was getting. He moaned. It was a delicious sound that reverberated right through her.

  Torrent broke the kiss and put her down. They were both breathing hard. Wait a minute! He put her down. As in, her feet had been off the floor. That was so hot!

  No it wasn’t.

  How could she even think that? She should never have kissed him back. It sent the wrong message. The big asshole had blindsided her though. “That was rude,” a whisper.

  He licked his lips. “That was amazing. It was also nothing in comparison to what I have planned for you. Get some rest. You’re going to need it.” He kissed her forehead and walked out of the room. She heard the lock click back into place, reminding her that despite the fact that her clit throbbed and her nipples were as hard as stones, she was still a prisoner.

  Chapter 6

  Torrent practically vibrated as he walked down the hallway towards his chamber. His whole body felt tense. His balls ached.

  There were only two options right now, take a shower and relieve some of the tension himself, or expel some of the energy in his dragon form. He was going for the latter. Torrent planned on spreading his wings and flying and flying until he dropped. Then he might take a refreshing dive into the ocean. If that didn’t cure the longing coursing through his veins, then nothing would.

  First he needed to lose the hard-on… again. Shifting with a dick the size of a tree trunk was difficult, to say the least. It was also painful.

  A female dragon turned the corner up ahead and picked up her pace as soon as she spotted him. “My lord.” She dropped her gaze for a few seconds in a show of respect.

  “Ocean.” Torrent nodded his head. Her eyes were the most beautiful green. She was one of his favorite females and a regular bed partner. Or at least, she had been until recently.

  The she-dragon giggled and pointed at his erection. “Is your mate still unwell?”

  Torrent nodded his head. “Human females are timid. They are easily damaged and take a long time to heal.” He sighed. That was the story he was telling and for now he would stick to it. Surely he could convince Candy to accept his advances. The female was attracted to him whether she liked it or not. If the others found out that he hadn’t fully claimed the human yet, he would be a laughing stock. Not only within his kingdom, but across the four kingdoms. Torrent had not been over exaggerating, he had never had a problem with securing a female. He wasn’t about to start now. His mate would come to her senses and she would do it soon.

  Ocean nodded. Her long black hair hung loosely about her shoulders. She was tall, only a head shorter than him. Her body was well muscled, her breasts full. She smiled up at him. “Yes, I have heard that they can be timid. Did you break her when you rutted her for the first time?” Her smile widened. “I know how wild and enthusiastic you can be.” The female winked at him.

  “Of course I didn’t harm her. I’m not some kind of animal.” His voice was a low growl.

  She laughed. “I beg to differ.” She raised her brows when his frown deepened. “I’m only joking, my lord.” Then she ran her hand down the side of his arm. It made him feel uncomfortable. “I could help you with that.” She looked down at his dick.

  Torrent felt himself frown. “I’m mated.” He wanted to keep on walking but she blocked his way.

  Ocean shrugged. “Your mate is unwell. You are the king.” She put her hand on his chest and proceeded to stroke him with the tips of her fingers, trailing her way down. “It would be perfectly acceptable if…”

  He gripped her hand as it was about to push below the elastic of his pants. “I am mated. What kind of a male would I be if I rutted another female?”

  She looked down at her hand and he realized he was squeezing her fingers. Torrent released her.

  “Your mate can’t be very nice if she expects you to remain celibate while she is healing. A she-dragon would never require that of the king.”

  “Do not speak of your queen in that way. Candy is just about as sweet as they come.” His mouth twitched with the need to smile. Sweet. Not by a long damn shot but it was none of this female’s business. “For the record, my mate has not demanded anything of me.” Unfortunately. He could think of a whole list of demands he would love to hear fall from her lips. “I do not wish to be with any other females. I have one already. That is all, you can go now.”

  She gave a curtesy. “As you wish, my lord.” She stepped to the side and he moved past her. “Please don’t hesitate if you change your mind.” She called after him.

  Not likely.

  Torrent picked up the pace and turned the corner that led to his chamber. Fuck! What now?

  Tide leaned up against the wall next to his door. “Your little plaything was waiting outside your chamber.”

  “Let me guess, you offered to take my place?” Torrent opened his door and stepped back to let his brother in.

  “Of course, seeing as you’re a taken male and all. Ocean is meeting me later.” Tide chuckled. He stopped and sniffed the air. “So, your female is still not well? She didn’t seem that injured when she arrived.”

  “She is much improved but we have decided to take things slowly.”

  Tide burst out laughing.

  Torrent felt his blood heat. “What? She is human. Humans are different to she-dragons. They need more time to—”

  “I heard that all of the other humans are rutting like rabbits on… what’s the name of that human drug that keeps the males hard for extended periods?”

  “I can’t remember,” Torrent grumbled.

  Tide waved his hand around in irritation. “It doesn’t matter. They’re all rutting up a storm. As far as I know, none of them are mated yet.” He laughed again. “You have mated the female already, yet no sex. You?” He shook his head. “The one male I know that can crook his finger at any human and
she’ll come running.”

  “I can’t wait until you win a human female of your own. Then you’ll understand. Candy is not some quick fuck. She’s not just any human. She’s my mate, I need to treat her with respect and to get to know her better. I’m not putting her under any pressure. I need to be more than sure that she is well, that she is ready.”

  Tide frowned. “You’ve already rutted her, you’re acting like you’re still trying to win her.”

  I am.

  Fuck!

  He was. Torrent had never had to win a female before. He wasn’t sure how to go about it.

  Tide waved his hand in front of Torrent’s face.

  “Stop that,” Torrent said.

  “You disappeared there for a moment. Lost in thought?” He smirked.

  “Like I said, I can’t wait until you go through this. I’m going to take great joy out of watching you beg and crawl.”

  “Forget that! My female will be all over me, like white on rice. Like green on scale. Like—”

  “Enough. You’re giving me a damned headache.” Torrent removed his pants, throwing them over the back of a chair. He opened the large, sliding door and stepped out onto the balcony. Tide followed him.

  “I expect you to win a female at the next hunt.” Torrent said.

  “I was this close.” Tide held his fingers a millimeter apart. “This fucking close. That bastard Coal beat me to her by seconds. Shit!” His eyes glazed over. “That human was so sexy. So damned hot I still have wet dreams about her. All that dark hair and lush…”

  “Enough.” Torrent expected to feel something at the mention of the dark beauty. She had been his first choice and the type of female he always went for but there was nothing. Just like with Ocean, nothing. It seemed that he wanted Candy. His mate. Although she wasn’t officially his mate, not yet anyway.

  Soon.

  “Forget about that human. She is gone. By now claimed.” He took in a deep breath and moved to the railing. The air was thick with salt and humidity. It invigorated him. The water looked inviting. The open skies looked just as appealing. He turned his head back to where Tide was standing. “Be ready for the next hunt. Train hard. As the first prince and next in line for the throne, I expect you to win a mate.”