The Bride Hunt Box Set: Books 1-3

by Charlene Hartnady

  Torrent smiled. It wasn’t fair. It only made him more attractive. His rugged good looks turned a tad boyish. In short, he was devastatingly handsome. “This? This is nothing. Less than nothing. We are both fully clothed. Now, if we were to remove these barriers.” His eyes darkened and he turned serious. “If I were to touch, stroke and caress you.” His voice both lowered and deepened. “If I were to do so with my hands, my mouth and my cock … now that would be sexual. If I were to make your pussy weep with a need so great that—”

  “Okay, I get it,” her voice shook just a little, which made his mouth twitch and his eyes crinkle a little at the edges. He found her reaction to his words humorous.

  “Believe it or not, I want more than just sex. I want to get to know you. I want to be reasonable about this because, as my mate, you are my equal. I really want you to give this a chance. I’m willing to discuss it.”

  He’d turned down the advances of another woman. He was trying to be nice … well, sort of. She got the feeling that this was being nice for a guy like Torrent. “If that is true, then I want to negotiate one other thing aside from the no sex rule.”

  “It’s not a rule,” he frowned. “A rule would indicate that sex is off the table. I want us to rut. Ideally right now and in as many positions as possible.” He swallowed, causing his throat to work.

  Oh flip! Those crass words were affecting her. She felt overheated, her heart was beating out of her chest and her palms were sweaty.

  “However …” a deep purr. “I understand that you need time and space. I gave it some thought. It would be best if you initiated sexual contact. I will avoid doing so. You tell me what you want, when you want it and how you want it and I will oblige. It would be my pleasure and yours.” His gaze moved back to her mouth and he inhaled deeply.

  This was different. It was also not something she was used to. Normally her ‘dates’ dictated when and how they wanted it. This was new and refreshing. Not that she was going to actually take him up on it. “Okay … fine. We’re mated, so even though I’m not fully onboard, I agree to give this thing a try. I agree to at least getting to know you a bit better but without the pressure of sex.” What did she have to lose? It’s not like there was much for her back home and Torrent intrigued her. He was multilayered, that was for sure.

  He nodded and seemed to relax. Torrent moved off of her and went to sit on the edge of the bed, finally giving her some room to breathe.

  Candy pulled herself into a sitting position, she smoothed down her sweatshirt and tucked her legs underneath herself.

  Torrent twisted his body so that he was facing her. “You said that there is something you wish to negotiate.”

  Candy nodded.

  Her big blue eyes were focused on him. She picked some lint off her baggy sweatshirt. He wished he could rip the garment from her body.

  Note to self, procure some proper fitting human clothing and as a matter of extreme urgency.

  Her agreeing to stay with him was a major breakthrough. They were actually communicating. Excitement coursed through him. It was just a matter of time before she sought to have her needs met. He could scent that she was aroused even though he had barely touched her.

  How bad could her requirements be? If it meant her staying with him, he would grant them in a heartbeat. How bad could they possibly be?

  She licked her lips and took a deep breath. Why was she stalling? He didn’t like it. Candy finally looked him in the eyes. “It doesn’t matter that we are … mated.”

  Yes, it does! He didn’t say anything. He needed to give her an opportunity to talk first. She seemed to struggle with the notion. Although he had never spent any extended time with humans, he had plenty of experience with them. Those who wanted more after one night were normally running away from something. Most were happy with just the sex. There were also those who were somewhere in-between.

  “I don’t see us in that way. As mates.” She licked her lips. “It’s just too soon. I think it’s too soon to live with you, even if the situation is temporary.”

  He baulked at her words, he couldn’t help it. It’s not temporary! He clenched his jaw to keep himself from saying it out loud.

  “You might not like it but it’s how I feel. I’m willing to meet you halfway by staying here but I can’t share a bed with you.”

  It was bad.

  Really fucking bad.

  Torrent squeezed his eyes shut and clutched the back of his neck, which felt like it had gone into instant spasm. He willed calm to come but it didn’t. “You are my mate.” He released his neck. “Mates should sleep together. I won’t try anything.” He held up his hands. “I swear.” He never thought he would ever say such a thing but here it was.

  “If you want me in your space then I need to sleep alone.”

  Fuck!

  The question was how badly he wanted her here. He could sense that this would be a deal breaker. Candy had made up her mind. He couldn’t move in a second bed because everyone would know that his mate didn’t want him in their bed. The best he would be able to do was sneak in an extra blanket. It was a no brainer. He would deal. He had to. Torrent nodded. “Fine, but this is my private chamber. I need to feel comfortable and to be myself in this space. Do you agree to that?”

  She widened her eyes, seeming to contemplate what he had just said. Then she frowned looking confused. Candy finally shrugged. “I suppose that’s reasonable. So … let me get this straight … no sex.”

  “No sex initiated by me. You on the other hand …” He couldn’t wait until that day came. It would be soon if he had anything to do with it.

  Her pupils dilated. This female did want him whether she liked it or not. “Yeah, that.” She breathed in and out a few times. “I get to sleep in the bed ... alone,” she quickly added.

  “Lastly …” She smiled. This female was spectacular. “We need to make a concerted effort to get to know one another. Did I miss anything?”

  Torrent shook his head. “That sounds about right.”

  “I would appreciate it if we could get out. I want to explore this place. I want to walk on the beach and swim and meet some of your people.” She looked animated, excited even. He wished he could give her everything she asked for and more. It would certainly help them get to know each other. It was a pity it couldn’t happen.

  Dammit! He’d expected this to come up but not so soon. “Let’s first concentrate on getting you settled. We’ll enjoy an evening meal together here in my chamber and then, we’ll see.”

  Candy nodded. “That’s fair but we’re going out tomorrow.”

  “It depends,” he blurted. He needed to be completely honest with her and although he’d mentioned this in passing, it seemed, he needed to spell things out for her. Torrent couldn’t allow himself to forget that she wasn’t a she-dragon. They were very different.

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I told you that although we are mated, we still need to make it official.” He raised his brows.

  Her frown deepened. “I think I remember you saying something along those lines. I don’t know what it means though.”

  “I pretended to fully claim you but I never actually did it.”

  She had no idea what he was talking about.

  “I believe you humans call it to consummate the relationship.” He registered shock on her face. He’d already come so far he may as well go the whole hog. “In order for our mating to be binding, we need to rut.”

  Candy laughed. There was a whole lot of shock, mingled with humor. It registered on her face, clear as day. “Are you telling me that there is a way out of this, that we’re not technically bound together?”

  Torrent shook his head. “We are bound, female. I told you that I consider you to be mine. All that is left is to claim you.”

  “What you are saying is that the whole ceremony hasn’t been completed. It’s not done yet. We can still back out.”

  Torrent felt anger course through him. The n
eed to throw her down on the bed and to make her his rode him hard. He knew that he could have her begging him to take her in no time, but he couldn’t do such a thing. Candy would regret it. She would grow to hate him.

  “We openly chose one another. According to our lores, the bond between us has begun to take hold. I know that you can feel it. It is only a matter of time before we can no longer resist one another.” He had to smile. “A matter of time before you give in to me. You won’t be able to help it. Even if I were to take you home, your body would crave mine, just as mine craves yours.”

  Her eyes darkened for a second and she pulled her lower lip into her mouth. Then she snorted. “You’re so full of it.”

  He couldn’t understand her aversion to him or her statement for that matter. His words were true. It was that simple. “You are attracted to me and we are bonded. It is inevitable that things will progress naturally.”

  “This changes things. If we’re not already mated then take me home, I’ll take my chances with the whole ‘craving you’ thing.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t do that. You need to give this a chance. You agreed.”

  “That was before I knew the facts.”

  “This doesn’t change anything.”

  Her eyes widened and a look of horror appeared on her face. “It changes everything.”

  “You are staying right here. I agreed to your terms and you agreed to mine. You stay here, in this chamber until I have officially claimed you. I’m sorry but you cannot leave before then.”

  Her chest began to heave and her fists balled in her lap. “That’s bullshit! You’re essentially keeping me prisoner until I agree to have sex. That’s wrong on so many levels. You realize that, don’t you?” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

  Shit! He hated to see her upset like this. This wasn’t how he had planned for the conversation to go. “You asked me to help you. You begged. I agreed. I helped you, Candy. I didn’t know that you didn’t know the rules. I wasn’t aware that you hadn’t been informed. I didn’t have to choose you. I could’ve left you to the lesser males. I helped you. I bound myself to you in front of them. I was injured and may not have been able to fight all of them and win. It was the only option left to me, to us, at the time. I chose to help you and now I’m asking you to help me.”

  “It was convenient for you.” The anger had left her voice. “You need a mate, right? Someone to have your babies? You didn’t do it to help me, you did it because you had to. You did it for you.”

  Torrent shook his head. “I didn’t have to take you. There is another hunt in a few weeks.” He shrugged. “I could’ve waited. Maybe I should’ve waited but I didn’t, you begged me to help you. I did it.”

  A tear slid down her cheek. Hell! He was making this worse.

  “So I’m a charity case.” She swallowed hard. “Look, I know you actually wanted the other woman. That you and that other dark-haired guy were fighting over her. Her name is Julie.” Another tear slid free and she sniffed. It was as if she suddenly realized that she was crying because she wiped her face using both hands before looking back at him. “Let’s just forget this. You don’t really want me. Let’s annul this thing and you can start over on the next hunt.” Her lip quivered like she hated the idea of him hunting for another female.

  Torrent shook his head. “The fact of the matter is that I did help you. I wanted to help you. I am bound to you now just as you are bound to me.”

  Her big, beautiful eyes were tear-soaked even though no more of them fell. Her eyelashes glinted. She held her lip between her teeth. She looked away, keeping her gaze on anything but him.

  Torrent huffed out a pent-up breath. “Shit, Candy.” He moved over to her and she allowed him to cup her face with his hands. He turned her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “I did initially want that dark-haired female. I won’t lie to you.”

  A tear escaped and her throat worked. It definitely hurt her to hear him say it. She did feel their bond despite everything she said to the contrary. She tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her. “I chose you, Candy. I didn’t have to but I did anyway. I wanted to. It is important that you know that I am attracted to you in a big way. I haven’t so much as given that other female a passing thought since bringing you here. I’m glad things ended up the way they did. Let’s work on it. I really want us to give this a chance.” He moved away from her and gave her some space.

  “Thank you. I appreciate your honesty. I am still struggling to accept that I am stuck in this room …” She looked around her, her eyes widened here and there as they roamed. “As beautiful as it is. I’m essentially a prisoner here until you either let me go or I have sex with you. It’s not an ideal situation. Why can’t you just tell everyone that we’re dating?” She pulled a face that spoke of panic and rubbed her temples. “I haven’t dated anyone in a very long time. This is so … unexpected,” she sighed. “I don’t understand why I need to be locked away. It’s not like I can escape or anything. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

  They were moving forward. He needed to come clean about everything. “Everyone thinks that I have fully claimed you.”

  “What?”

  “My people think that we are mated.”

  “That we had sex?” Her brows lifted.

  Torrent nodded. “If you go out, they will know that it is not true. When we do rut … consummate our relationship, you will scent of me. It will be subtle but there.”

  “You had to—” she paused, “pretend to … you know … the whole dress lifting thing.” She looked flustered. “Is that how they got the wrong idea about this?”

  “Yeah, that. I made those males believe that I was claiming you. I had to. Some of them were water dragons. They came back here and spread the word that I had mated you.”

  Candy nodded. “I see.”

  “I obviously didn’t really do it. You were already half unconscious and I could never …”

  She waved her hands. “Yeah, yeah, I know. So everyone thinks we did the deed.”

  Torrent nodded. “I should’ve said something when we returned here. Set the record straight. It is not acceptable to fool one’s opponents but I felt a need to protect you. I was worried about you. You’d been out cold for a long time. There were short bouts where you opened your eyes but I could see that you weren’t really awake. It scared me. Non-humans are still governed by instinct. It is my responsibility to protect you.” he paused.

  “Once we got back here, I snarled and growled if anyone tried to approach you. Based on the information they had already received and on my actions, they assumed I had fully claimed you. No one got close enough to scent that I hadn’t actually done the deed. I allowed them to assume it. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly. I liked the idea of you as my mate and I didn’t think it would take long to claim you anyway. So—”

  “So … all your people think we’re already mated, I mean, like, for real?”

  He nodded.

  “Tell them you lied. Set the record straight.”

  “I’m their king. They need to be able to trust me. I don’t know why I did it, all I know is that it’s done. We are going to finish this so why cause unnecessary shit?”

  “You’re never going to let me go, are you?” her lip wobbled.

  Torrent clenched his teeth for a moment or two. He wanted to go to her, to put his arms around her and reassure her but he refrained. What would he say? That she was wrong? That she was right? Fuck! This was one hell of a mess. “Let’s get to know one another. I concede that it’s not an ideal situation. I fucked up. I might be a king but I make mistakes. I honestly thought that you would be in my bed as soon as you healed.”

  Candy laughed. “I actually completely believe you. You do realize that your arrogance and that oversized ego of yours are to blame, right?”

  “Does your smile mean that you forgive me? That you’ll work on it?”

  “You’ve been straight with me and I appreciate it. I …” She licked
her lips and took in a breath which she held for a beat or two. “I believe that you are attracted to me, that you see a future for us and that you want this to work. I guess it’s my turn to be honest.” She paused again, clearly struggling to find her words. “I am also attracted to you. Very much so. I also feel a pull to you, a bond, whatever you want to call it. I don’t understand it. It scares me. This whole situation is … different. I don’t know that it is enough to base a whole relationship on but I agree to giving it a try. It’s the best I can do.”

  “Thank you.” Torrent felt elated. “I will make sure that you don’t regret it. I want you to be more comfortable. I need you to write down a list of things that you need. Anything, big or small. You can start with clothing. Make sure you add sizes.” He felt everything in him soften as he looked at her. “It won’t be so bad, I promise. I’m glad you are giving us a chance. I want it to be your choice though. If, in the end, you decide you still want out, I’ll take you back.”

  Candy seemed to relax. “Do you mean that?”

  He nodded. It killed him to say it but he couldn’t be with a female who wasn’t one hundred percent onboard. “Yes.”

  She gave a small nod. “Okay then.”

  Chapter 9

  After knocking, Torrent walked inside a few beats later. He was carrying an enormous tray. The most wonderful aromas wafted towards her.

  Her stomach made a soft growling sound and she pressed her hand against it. She had since showered and changed into another pair of sweats. She’d rolled the sleeves and the pants around the waist. All of the clothes were too big.

  Torrent smiled. “Hungry?”

  How did he hear that? Oh yes, shifters had much better senses than humans. “You have no idea.”

  “Good.” His smile widened. “I brought all of the foods that you said you liked.”

  “All of them?” She could hear the shock in her voice. “That’s a ton of food.”