Lightning Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 4)

by Charlene Hartnady

  She nodded. “Yup. I left for an appointment which cancelled ten minutes after leaving the office and ended up walking in on them,” she swallowed hard, still feeling pissed off after all this time. Once thing she did notice though was that although she was still angered by his indiscretion, she was no longer upset by it. “He was fucking our PA on my desk. My damned desk. He didn’t even have the decency to use his own. That was the kind of selfish prick he was. He couldn’t believe it when I ended the relationship.” She exhaled sharply. “In the end, he agreed that we would continue our working relationship. I helped build that agency,” she tried not to sound bitter and failed. “We had a good thing going. I was about to be made partner in the business, or so I naïvely thought. I don’t think he ever intended to give me that partnership.” She realized that she was clasping her hands tightly in her lap and forced herself to let go.

  “What happened? I have a feeling it wasn’t good. He changed the lock on the door or fired you.”

  “Worse.” She felt the humiliation flood her body. “I was arrested the next morning for theft and taken to the police station in my pajamas. They put me in handcuffs.”

  “What did the fucker do?”

  “He staged a break-in at our offices. Made it look like I was the one who had broken in … or let myself in as was the case. You see, he and I were the only ones with a key. Whoever had trashed our offices let themselves in. Moreover, the security guy on duty swore that he saw me arriving and leaving three quarters of an hour later. Chris must have paid him off. The footage from our CCTV cameras had been mysteriously deleted. The police were suspicious because of the open and shut nature of the case but there was nothing they could do about the overwhelming evidence against me.”

  “What happened? You said that you were arrested for theft, what was supposedly stolen?”

  She clenched her teeth. If she saw Christopher in the street, she would probably end up being arrested for assault. She knew without a doubt that she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from punching him in the face. “Five thousand dollars was missing from the safe. He and I were the only two people who knew the code for that safe and I sure as hell didn’t steal a cent.”

  Thunder growled low, his eyes were glowing slightly.

  “I was lucky enough to have the charges dropped,” she made her voice sound overly light. “But first, I had to agree to pay the money back and pay for the damages.”

  “I hope you told him to go and fuck himself.”

  She shook her head. “I wish, but I didn’t have a leg to stand on. My lawyer advised me to take the deal. She said I would end up in jail if I didn’t.”

  “Motherfucker.”

  She nodded. “I’ve never met a bigger dick in all my life.” She choked out a laugh. “Although in his case it’s about this big.” She put up her pinky finger. “In that regard, you guys have nothing in common.”

  Thunder didn’t so much as crack a smile. “Yet, I remind you of him.”

  She widened her eyes for a second. “Weren’t you listening to a thing I said? Chris had a couple of really good qualities. Not many, but a couple. You have those qualities and it’s what made me nervous of any kind of relationship with you.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “It sounds really stupid saying it but I was afraid. I still am, although not nearly as much. You are nothing like Chris in ways that count. You’re too sweet, too kind. You have a fantastic sense of humor. I enjoy being with you …” She paused for a second. Be brave, Tammy. Be brave dammit. “I would like nothing more than to see where this goes. To take a chance and risk my heart on us … on you … but we need to take it slow. I rushed head-on once and it was a mistake.”

  “You are in safe hands … I would never let anything happen to you. We can take this very slow. Slower than slow. Now,” his eyes narrowed onto hers before dropping to her lips, “come here.” He touched his lap. His very naked lap. “I want to touch you,” His voice was thick.

  “Um …” She moved closer, kneeling next to him so that they were facing one another. “I thought we were going to wait. You wanted to be sure …”

  “Fuck being sure.” He pulled her onto his lap. “I won’t let Cloud or Blaze or anyone else take you away from me. Just let them try. I’ll fight for you.” He pressed his lips to hers. Soft, warm and insistent. She pushed herself against him, thread her fingers through his hair.

  He felt wonderful, glorious, amazing. “Are you sure about this?” She could hear the hesitancy in her voice.

  “Yes.” He kissed her again. “Do you want me, Tammy? I sure as hell want you.”

  She pulled back so that she could look into his eyes. They’d almost died today. There was no way she wasn’t doing this.

  She nodded, looking down at his lips. Such kissable lips. “Yes.” A sigh.

  “Good.” His hands cupped her breasts and she moaned. So did he. Oh shit! She remembered something important, something she would sooner forget. He didn’t need to know. He would never find out. She had to tell him. Tammy pulled back.

  “What’s wrong?” His eyes were glazed over. They were so filled with desire that she was tempted to ignore the voice inside her head but she couldn’t.

  “There’s something I have to tell you.”

  “You can’t wait to scream my name?” He smiled and tried to kiss her.

  “No, that’s not it.” She moved back so that he couldn’t reach her. “It’s really important.”

  “You,” he gripped her hips, “enjoy multiple orgasms?”

  “I’ve never had a multiple … no, that’s not it. It’s really serious, Thunder.”

  “Serious,” he frowned. “Mmmm …” Then he grinned. “You have a really small, really tight pussy and you’re afraid I’m going to hurt you?”

  “You need to be serious.”

  “I am being serious. You are small and tight but I will fit … I promise. I’ll hit both your G-spots and you’ll love every minute. I’ll make sure of it.”

  She frowned. “Women only have one G-spot.”

  He shook his head and made a sound of disgust. “Human males have no idea what the hell they are doing. Then again, most of them don’t have the tools to reach that second one.” His gaze dropped back to her lips.

  She was speechless for a moment. Her mouth opened and closed. She really wanted him to prove that she had a second G-spot. Hell, she’d be happy if he proved she had just one of the things. She sighed. “I need to tell you something really important. I’m a really bad person and I’m so sorry. I feel terrible.” She felt sick to her stomach.

  “What are you talking about?” He cupped her cheek with his big hand. “You’re not a bad person. Not even close.”

  “I am. Once you hear what I have to say you won’t want anything to do with me.”

  “I seriously doubt that.” He put his hand back on her hip and gave a squeeze.

  “I’m just as bad as the woman from the last hunt. The one you sent packing.”

  She saw his lip twitch but he thankfully didn’t laugh. “Not a chance. I don’t believe it.”

  “I am.” She felt her eyes sting but blinked away the tears. Tammy looked down and spotted his very long, very thick erection. Oh God! She quickly looked up at the sky. Wow! The stars were amazing. Time to man up and confess. She looked at him dead-on. “I’m also a money grabber. The only reason I agreed to be in the program was for the money. I’m so sorry.” She covered her face with one hand. “I haven’t been able to find work in my industry. Not after what Chris did. Everyone believes him. They think I’m an office wrecker and a thief. I can barely make ends meet. I cleaned out my savings paying the bastard back for money I never stole,” she sobbed. “I joined the program hoping to make a quick buck. I never once thought I’d meet a great guy, that I would meet you. I was …”

  Thunder shook beneath her. His body jerked and vibrated. She was too scared to look at him. He was so angry he was shaking.

  “Tammy,” his voice sounded strained.

 

She had to face him. She looked up. His eyes were twinkling and he was smiling … scratch that, he was laughing. He was laughing hard.

  “What’s wrong with you? I just told you how I used you for money … cash. I wasn’t here to fall in love or to find a mate. I was here for the daily allowance I was promised. I’m just like that other girl.”

  “You are nothing like her.” In a quick move that had her breath catching, he turned her so that she was on her back and so that he was between her legs. Every delicious inch of him. This was no time for noticing things like the fact that his hard-on was pushing against her clit.

  “I am exactly like her. I’m a horrible person.”

  “Are you here for the jewelry?”

  “What jewelry?” His eyes were beautiful. His mouth, oh that mouth.

  “That’s my point exactly.” She wanted to say something but he put his finger over her mouth. “I have lots of jewelry.”

  “Dragon shifter men wear jewelry? That’s really strange but I guess I can deal.”

  He frowned deeply. “No. They are family heirlooms passed down from my mother and grandmother. They will belong to my mate one day.”

  “Oh. I see.”

  He looked at her throat and then inspected one of her hands, before inspecting the other. “You don’t wear jewelry?”

  “I’m not much of a jewelry person.”

  He smiled.

  “But that doesn’t mean that I’m not a money grabber.”

  “Do you like designer clothes and shoes?”

  “I might,” she shrugged. “I’ve never owned any so I wouldn’t know.”

  “Are you telling me that you’d shell out a couple of thousand bucks for a bag?”

  “Hell no! What a waste! That doesn’t mean I didn’t come here for the money though.”

  “You were also very honest about not being here to find a mate and about being jaded in the love department. If I can recall,” he raised his eyes. “You pointed that out to me almost immediately. You didn’t want to mislead me.”

  She shook her head.

  “When we get back to my lair, I’m writing you a check for the time you spent here. I’m paying you double what you were promised as a daily allowance, you deserve it.”

  “No way!” she yelled, even though he was right in front of her. “Don’t you dare even think about it.”

  “Why not?” His brows pulled together.

  “Because everything has changed. It wouldn’t be right. I can’t take your money now.”

  Thunder smiled. “I rest my case. You are the best. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

  “I take it you’re not mad?”

  “Not even close. Was there anything else? Because I would like to make love to you under the stars.” Then he frowned. “Actually,” he looked pained. “I’m going to fuck you first. It was a long couple of days holed up in that cave and I thought I lost you today.” His chest heaved against her. “I promise to make love to you right afterwards though.”

  “Okay, I can live with that.” She swallowed thickly. Her core tightened with need.

  “Let’s get you out of these clothes.” His face had a pinched look. “Before I rip them.” By the intense look in his eye, she could tell that he wasn’t joking.

  He helped pull her t-shirt up. It snagged on her head.

  “Fucking hell!” Thunder growled.

  Tammy squealed as his hot mouth closed over her nipple. “I’ve been dying to get my mouth on you.” He thrust up against her, his erection snagging her clit. She moaned some more. Then she realized that the shirt still covered her face so she pulled it the rest of the way off. It was just in time to see Thunder suck on her other nipple. “So damned plump,” he growled.

  “Fuck!” he mumbled before sucking on each nipple one after the other, like he wasn’t sure which one he wanted more.

  Thunder cupped her between the legs, stroking her through her pants which had long since dried. “Holy hell,” she managed to choke out between moans. It had been a long time. Normally when things got a little … tense, she’d take care of herself. It wasn’t something she’d had a chance to do in a while though and things had been really, really tense inside that cave. He rubbed her some more, doing a stellar job considering she was wearing jeans and panties. Her moans grew louder. She was going to explode and really soon. She couldn’t wait to come. Couldn’t damn well wait. Rub, yes, rub, yeeeees, rub … Then he stopped to unbutton her jeans.

  “I hate you!” she growled. “Hate. You.” She was breathing heavily. “So much!” she added when she caught his smirk.

  “Were you about to come?”

  “You know I was.” Asshat. He certainly smiled like he knew it had been about to happen. Like he’d stopped on purpose.

  “I’ll need to make it up to you.” He pulled her jeans and her underwear off. “I’m not going to get you off dry-humping instead of on the end of my dick. I want to be inside you the first time we come. Also, we’ll come together.”

  First time.

  She flooded with wet. As in, if she’d been wearing panties, they’d be soaked.

  His eyes stayed on hers. “Are you good with that?”

  “Yes, good.” She licked her lips. “Really, really good.”

  His cock jutted from between his thighs. Thunder gave her a feral grin before positioning himself between her legs. “I won’t hurt you,” his voice was deep.

  She nodded. She could feel him hot and heavy between her legs. Right there. Oh god! She’d never been so turned on. Never wanted anything more.

  “I promise I’ll fit,” another deep rumble.

  “I know. Please just … please …” He pushed into her, stealing her words. Stealing her mind. “Wait! Stop.”

  He pulled out. There were sweat beads on his forehead. He was so turned on he looked angry. “What is it? Are you okay?”

  “What about a condom? I haven’t been taking my pill and it’s a bit too soon for a baby, don’t you think?”

  “I would scare you if I answered that question,” he paused.

  Did that mean that he wanted a baby with her? It more than likely did. She waited for the panic to set in. For that icy fist of fear to tighten around her insides but it didn’t happen. All she felt was warm all over at the prospect. What the hell was happening to her? It was too soon for feelings like these. That little voice inside her whispered that she was going to get hurt but she ignored it. Be brave!

  “You’re not in heat. You won’t fall pregnant.”

  “Are you sure you don’t have a condom on you?” she smiled. It was a stupid joke to make at a time like this. Roxy had mentioned that shifters could scent if a woman was ovulating. They couldn’t give each other any diseases but it was ingrained in her to have the guy wear a condom. She’d never had sex without one before.

  “Oh shit!” He fake-slapped his forehead. “I totally forgot, I keep a strip tucked into my ass for times just like this one.” Thunder looked completely deadpan, then he grinned.

  If she wasn’t so turned on, so close to coming, she would have laughed. “I trust you,” she whispered, then leaned up and kissed him. “We don’t need a condom.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded, tightening her thighs around him.

  “Very sure?” He circled her clit with the tip of one of his fingers. Tammy bit down on her lower lip and nodded. Thunder pushed back into her.

  Lord up above. Lord! Oh God! Her hips rocked up like they had a life of their own. He moved slowly at first, carefully nudging his way in deeper with each stroke. He rested his weight on his forearms which were on either side of her head.

  Her mouth hung open and her breathing was ragged. When he pushed all the way in, she whimpered. Another stroke and she mewled. Then she moaned. Then she mewled again.

  “You feel amazing,” he whispered it into the shell of her ear. Goosebumps popped up … everywhere. He was moving fast now. In and out in quick succession. Hard and yet controlled.