The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1)

by Jeanette Lynn

  "No!” Her mascara-smeared raccoon eyes widened and she sputtered. “Pfft! Why would I do that?" Glancing around worriedly, she laughed weakly, face scrunching up again.

  "You, uh, okay? You're acting awfully funny."

  "I'm much better now that... Ack! He's alive!" Gaping, she jumped and screeched, bug-eyed, popping about like she was about to hop right out of her skin. "Don't let him touch me!"

  "Candy, no!" I grunted as she jumped at me and tried to climb all over my poor body, pulling at my dark brown locks with her claw-like jagged, cracked fake nails. She was acting like a damned panicked howler monkey as she shrieked, squeaked and squealed as Tarnk slowly approached us.

  At the sight of her, his brown eyes widened. “Candy?”

  Veck growled at her, a deep warning growl, drawing all eyes to him as she jerked back, cowering. Lips pulling back in an angry snarl, he reached out to pluck her off of me.

  Turning with her flailing and screaming in his arms, he set her on her feet, his gaze shifting back to meet mine as Candy stumbled back. Gasping and pale, she burst into loud, noisy tears as she mumbled non-sensical gibberish.

  Big body crowding around me, my big bad beastie pulled me close. "Meanie has babies.” Grunting at Candy, Veck gave her a stern glare. “Careful, Candy." Kirch and Bia flanked me on either side of him, their hands going to cup my tummy protectively.

  "Babies? OH MY GOD! You mean you actually had sex with one of them?!"

  "Three of them, actually," I said dryly. Cocking an eyebrow challengingly, I placed my hands over theirs.

  Veck’s chest vibrated in a deep, rusty purr, and I leaned back, soaking up the comfort and warmth of his strong, solid chest. Glancing over at Tarnk, Veck motioned for him to collect his mate.

  "No! I don't want him! Don't you touch me, you vile creature!" she spat, pulling an ugly face that had the poor male flinching. “I’m not his mate! I’m not!”

  Tarnk backed up from Candy reluctantly, hurt brimming in his large brown eyes over her vehement, brutal rejection.

  "You said that's why you wanted to come here. To be a mate to one of the Lo denaii," I argued, a hint of steel in my voice.

  "I changed my mind.” Candy sniffed, sparing Tarnk a spiteful glance. “I could never let myself be with one of them." Shuddering, she clipped her words out disgustedly, shuddering in revulsion.

  Tarnk’s expression shuttered and I watched as he shut down. It pained me to watch.

  "You should have thought about that before you let Tarnk claim you," I barked at her, putting my hands on my hips as I pursed my lips in equal parts irritation and anger.

  "I want to go home now." When it looked like no one was willing to hop up and do her bidding, she pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, tapping her heeled boot on the ground impatiently.

  "Where have you been?" I asked suddenly, my curiosity having gotten the better of me. I want answers, damn it.

  Blowing out a long breath as she brushed her bedraggled bangs off her face, she huffed, "I was lost."

  "Yeah, but where? How did you eat? Where did you sleep?" How did the little tart survive?

  Her eyes widened and she stiffened. Dipping her chin, she stared down at the tips of her boots. "I don't remember. Look, I just want to go, like, now!" she squeaked out angrily.

  "Why are you in such a rush to leave?" Nothing was adding up and she was acting strange. Antsy and fidgety, she kept glancing around at the woods, way too agitated for my comfort. Why? “Candy, what’s really going on? Seriously, what’s the deal? Are you-”

  "Are you going to help me or not?" she demanded, stamping her foot stubbornly in the snow.

  "Not," I gritted out, pissed, turning my back on her to leave.

  "If you aren't going to help me, then you have to take me with you!" she screeched desperately, grabbing my arm in a surprisingly strong grip to halt me.

  Eyes drifting from her hand on my arm to her face, I stared at her, lips pursed, eyes narrowed, not saying a word until she slowly released me and took a step back. "Why should I?"

  She didn't answer, her eyes filling with genuine tears as her lips quivered in a tell-tale tremble. Frowning over at her as she hunched in on herself, her shoulders heaving as if to hold back a sob, I noticed then her hands were shaking hard.

  "Candy want go home?" Detret asked as he approached her slowly.

  "Oh, yes! Can you take me?" She jumped at the chance, staring up at Detret sweetly, batting her lashes for effect.

  Inching away from me, she sidled up to the large male, eyes wide in her pale, dirty face as if he’d hung the moon. Detret looked unhappy, but nodded.

  Tarnk, standing just off to the side, made an unhappy noise in his throat.

  "Let's go, now!" she practically shouted, grabbing Detret’s arm to tug him along.

  Tarnk snarled and stalked off angrily, growling at anyone who greeted him or even dared to look in his direction. Poor guy. I felt kinda bad for him.

  "We can't let her go yet," I told Veck, tugging at him. "There are too many gaps in her story and I just know she's hiding something."

  "Candy broken. No help Meanie," Veck told me as he watched Detret leave.

  Staring off after the departing pair along with him, I took a minute to think about that. I had to admit, he had a point.

  While I honestly doubted Candy would be willing to tell me anything more, there was still that nagging doubt in my gut, and I just knew she could. Ugh. Talk about frustrating.

  Pointing off after her, I shook my head. "You're probably right, but it doesn't make any sense. She didn't even look like she'd been lost in the woods."

  "Maybe she was hiding in the caves," Bia offered thoughtfully.

  "Maybe…" I was feeling way too strongly about the whole thing to agree, though.

  "Meanie worry too much," Kirch chided as he held his hand out to me.

  Once again, however, my answer was a big fat maybe. I took his hand and held mine out to Bia, who took it in his. Hmm. Maybe they're right. Maybe I am worrying too much. It just seemed so odd, though, and there was no doubt about it, she was definitely up to something.

  God, just listen to me! Maybe I am being a bit too paranoid.

  Thinking only happy thoughts, I tried to relax as we started walking home. Tomorrow, I promised myself, I'll worry about it all tomorrow.

  We strolled along, hand in hand, the weather much colder today than it had been since I'd come here.

  Swooping in, Veck rushed in behind me and scooped me up, running off with me as Bia and Kirch grumbled at him from behind, irritated at being swindled.

  “Hey!”

  “No fair!”

  Grinning, I wrapped my arms around his neck, waving at Kirch and Bia from over his shoulder as they cursed and grumbled at my mate-husband.

  I couldn’t help laughing at their antics. It was kinda hot having three males playing keep away with me, fighting for my attention, trying to outdo each other in everything. I shivered excitedly at the idea, my core throbbing to life with sexual heat as I mentally replayed some of our more exuberant experiences.

  Veck’s head dipped and he inhaled deeply, sniffing at my neck. Liking what he found, he growled and his grip tightened.

  "Soon, wife, soon," he crooned, licking the shell of my ear.

  "Run faster!" I urged, sifting my fingers through his fur, giving his hair a little tug.

  ✽✽✽

  We made it back to the cottage in record time.

  Veck didn't even give me a chance to get my clothes off, he just yanked my pants down, bent me over the table, stuffed one of my furs under my stomach, and thrust into me.

  I gripped the table hard, my breath catching, the sound turning into an ecstatic moan as he gripped my hips and pleasured me with his hard, ruthless pace.

  "Meanie." He groaned my name. "Veck's Meanie." Pawing at me impatiently, he yanked my dress over my head, pausing only long enough to let me get it the rest of the way off. Reaching around, he grabbed my breasts, sque
ezing them in tandem as he tunneled harshly into my sheath. "Kirch stupid mate," he babbled, groaning into my neck, "Veck want Meanie forever."

  "All yours, husband," I purred, thrusting back against him.

  "Wife!" He growled on a shout, hissing as I tightened my inner muscles around him, clamping down on him tight, setting him off. Thrusting deep, his cock throbbed, jerking as he pulsed deep inside of me.

  My body was still humming with unspent passion, but I didn't mind. The idea that I'd made him so restless and hot for me he couldn't hold it back anymore—made him lose it—made me feel very proud of myself. My own orgasm reached or not, I was very pleased.

  Kirch and Bia slammed into the house then, growling at each other as they took in the scene at the kitchen table.

  Kirch tossed Bia out of the way and yanked a still-pumping Veck off of me.

  "Kirch, you can't expect me..."

  "Meanie no talk!" Kirch snarled as he flipped me over and gripped my legs, sliding my ass to the end of the table. Fingers shaking hard, he pulled my boots and pants off, tossing them over his shoulder.

  Glaring down at me hungrily, he loomed over me and gripped his shaft, his bright yellow eyes full of untamed passion as he took himself in hand and pumped, teasing my nether lips with the head of his cock.

  “Oh, Kirch. Please.” I tried to wiggle around and get him inside of me, where I wanted him most, but he slapped me on the ass for my efforts and growled at me.

  Veck, snarling behind him, yanked Kirch back and put him in a headlock. Teeth bared, expression fierce, he started snarling at him in Lo denaii, pissed at Kirch for interrupting us.

  Bia swooped in then, scooped me up, and stepped over them. Tossing me on the bed, following me right after, he pounced on top of me.

  “Hello, love.” Waggling his eyebrows playfully, he chuckled, blue eyes bright with mischief.

  Taking my lips, he kissed me hard as he entered me immediately, slamming into me with short, deep thrusts, grinding himself into me feverishly.

  "I love it when you do that," I panted out, burying my hands in his fur.

  Rolling us over, he pumped up into me, loath to break our intimate connection as we effortlessly switched places.

  "I love you." He smiled up at me sweetly, his large hands reaching up to softly pluck at my nipples.

  "I love you, too." Arching into him, I returned his smile, but it turned into a moan as he thrust up—rubbing me just right—his cock pressing determinedly against that special spot deep inside of me that makes me see stars.

  Kirch came up behind us as Bia thrust deep, hot and hard as he laid his erection against the crease of my bottom.

  "Kirch, I don't think...”

  "Meanie give Kirch. Kirch fit," he said adamantly.

  "No, really. I don't think... Eep!" I jumped when I felt something cool massage over my tight, puckered hole. "What is that?" I gasped as it started to feel tingly and warm wherever he rubbed it in.

  Kirch said something, but it wasn't English—I had no clue.

  "It's a plant we use to sooth sore muscles," Bia explained as he pumped up into me again, giving my aching nipples a gentle tug. I moaned and wiggled, arching into his touch as he distracted me.

  All too soon I felt Kirch, hot and hard, pushing into my tight rosette slowly, so slowly, as my body tried to accommodate his girth.

  Biting my lip, I stifled a whimper as he worked himself in, Kirch panting harshly behind me as he tried to get his fat cock past my tight outer ring.

  "Meanie so tight," he said heavily, kissing my neck and shoulders, switching to his own language as he murmured sweetly, growling low as he tried to take things carefully.

  His hands were soon rubbing over my hips, gripping and releasing them as he slid in, all way to the hilt, then he slowly started to pump in and out in time with Bia.

  My lips parted, heart pounding, I looked up to find Veck stroking himself, staring straight into my eyes. Licking my lips, I crooked my finger, motioning for him to join us.

  Veck climbed up, a low, husky growl rumbling his chest, and I gripped his cock, pumping it once, twice, urging him closer for a better reach. Once I had him right where I wanted him I took him into my mouth.

  Suckling the crown as I pulled back, I moaned, eager for more. Veck let off a harsh groan, hips jerking as he gritted his teeth. My mate-husband liked when I teased him. But I knew he liked this even more. Taking him deep, humming around his thick, throbbing manhood, I sucked hard as Bia and Kirch became more ardent.

  We all three groaned simultaneously when I tightened my inner muscles around them, squeezing Bia and Kirch as hard as I could. Veck growled as I pulled back to work the head of his cock, paying that particular part of him extra special attention, and took him deep again.

  Shuddering as his thighs started trembling, Kirch slapped my ass warningly and leaned in, bending down to nip at my neck. My pussy involuntarily clamped down on them both again at the pleasure/pain of his love bite, and I sucked harder on Veck, swirling my tongue around his pulsing shaft, relishing the salty sweet taste that's uniquely his, mixed in with my own, as he gently cupped the back of my head and urged me on.

  Veck mumbled encouragement, his hips jerking every so often to let me know how much he enjoyed my efforts. It didn’t take long before he groaned and let out a choked cry, spilling his seed down my throat. I licked him clean, swallowing every last drop, refusing to release him until he'd started to soften.

  As he pulled back and his shaft slipped limply from between my lips, I gave the head one last slow lick. Glancing to one another, the look I gave my mate-husband as our eyes met was nothing short of wicked. Purring contentedly, he bent down and kissed me, tasting himself on my lips as his tongue snuck in to swipe at mine.

  Kirch and Bia growled at Veck and both of them pushed him away. Bia took my lips prisoner then, and Kirch latched back onto my neck.

  I thrashed around restlessly, impaled on them both, trapped—deliciously so—trying hard to move around without possibly dislodging someone.

  Veck's hand snuck between me and Bia, his thumb mashing down on my clit so it rubbed against Bia with every thrust.

  With a sharp tug of his free hand, Veck yanked Bia's head back and latched onto my nipple. Harsh, tugging pulls on my breast had me screaming as I exploded, black spots dancing in my vision as sexual euphoria swept through me. My body pulsed, bursting with pleasure, my sheath quivering in the aftermath of such sweet ecstasy.

  Kirch growled his pleasure, coming deep inside my forbidden depths as Bia shouted my name and filled my throbbing sex.

  I giggled suddenly, sated and happy as I lay sandwiched between my two very virile mates.

  Kirch nipped my shoulder, purring his happiness against my back as he rested his cheek on the very top of my spine.

  "What make Meanie laugh?" he asked, once he found the strength to lift himself up from his sated slump.

  He was careful as he pulled the rest of the way out of me slowly, placing kisses along my back. Rolling to his feet, he hopped up and disappeared to wash off, promising to return with a cloth for me, as well.

  Bia rolled over with me, laying us on our sides, Veck crowding in on my other side as Bia's sated cock slipped from my depths.

  Kirch crawled up between my thighs moments later, hands sliding up my legs to part them for him. Reaching out, I went to take the cloth he held aloft, but he pushed my hand away and gently but methodically cleaned me off. "What make Meanie laugh?" he asked again.

  "It worked." I sighed happily, snuggling between Bia and Veck.

  "What worked?" Bia asked, playing with a strand of my hair.

  "My plan to get you all to seduce me." I laughed, smug, my arms behind my head, smiling in satisfaction.

  "Meanie tricked Kirch?" Kirch asked, frowning at me.

  "You didn't really think I was going to let you leave me alone for nine months, did you?"

  "Meanie little body, big spirit." Veck chuckled, reaching over to cup my breast. />
  I ran my fingers over his chest, tracing the muscles along his abdomen, following it up to his pecs, circling around his nipple to pinch it teasingly.

  "Meanie bad mate," my mate-husband purred, then dipped his head, licking my nipple in return.

  "Yes," I agreed eagerly. "Very bad. You should punish me." I felt Kirch's hot breath fan over my nether lips, then shivered in anticipation.

  "This might take a while," Bia warned, right before turning my face towards his, capturing my lips.

  It was a long while before we talked anymore, and I must say that I was thoroughly punished.

  Now what can a gal do to get in trouble again?

  Chapter Nineteen

  "I

  still don't see why you have to go check," I grumbled as Veck kissed me.

  "Veck, Tarnk, Detret, and Kirch are our best trackers, my sweet. If anyone could find who hurt Tarnk, it’s them," Bia assured me.

  "Shot," I corrected. "Whoever shot Tarnk."

  Kirch chuckled and pulled me in for a big hug. "Meanie no worry. Kirch watch Veck for Meanie."

  Veck snorted, unaffected by Kirch's jab.

  "You're both old," I added helpfully, smirking. "Maybe you should watch out for each other."

  Kirch growled against my lips and gave me a quick, hard kiss. "Be good, Meanie. Stay with Bia. Kirch be back."

  Watching as he pulled back, I sat down in Bia's lap, my nerves on edge as they grabbed everything they'd need and headed out.

  Weapons. They’re taking weapons. That’s good, right? But is it enough against a gun? They were ready to find out who was wreaking havoc on their otherwise peaceful little village. Aside from the whole bride snatching thing, of course. Can't forget that.

  Last night was the last straw for everyone when someone started firing off shots from the woods. Whoever was responsible was close enough that everyone heard the shots, loud and clear. So now I'm sitting here—the following night—worried out of my head, watching as two of my mates prepare to trek off into the wilderness to hunt down a gun happy idiot. At least I hoped there was only one gun toting creep.