Forbidden Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 5)

by Charlene Hartnady

  “Thank you.” Louise touched the side of Breeze’s arm. “For trusting me enough to tell me. I think we could be friends too and I’m happy for you guys.” She didn’t want to put the other woman under any more pressure about her pregnancy. “Now, tell me … how did you meet Volcano? Was it love at first sight?”

  “My brother, the Air king, gave me to the Earth dragons.”

  “Gave you, as in, like you were a possession?”

  Breeze shook her head. “You should see the look on your face. Times are tough. The females of our kind are dying out.” Breeze’s eyes filled with tears. “Our royal heritage might end up lost. Thunder asked if I would be willing to mate with Earth royalty and I agreed. I was always meant for Volcano but I was allowed to choose which prince I wanted. I was permitted to return home if none of the males was to my liking. To answer your question, yes, it was love at first sight. It was for both of us but Volcano is a stubborn male.”

  Louise rolled her eyes. “He and Granite are very alike in more than just looks.”

  “They are and they are not.” She smiled. “Volcano wanted Granite to take me as his queen. I thought that it was because he didn’t have feelings for me but I was wrong.” She shook her head. “I thought I hated him a whole lot back then too. We fought about everything. He was so stubborn and wouldn’t listen. He eventually admitted his feelings for me and accepted that Granite and I were not suited for one another. Anyway, both Blaze and Thunder would’ve declared war if Granite had taken me as a mate. I was destined to be Volcano’s mate.” She rubbed her belly.

  Louise decided not to ask why war would’ve been declared. She suspected she wasn’t supposed to be hearing all of this. “How long have you been together?”

  “Almost a year. The best year of my life. I never imagined love could be like this.” Breeze sighed, her eyes had a faraway look.

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  “You’ll find love too. You just need to be open to the possibility.”

  “I live here now and will be for the foreseeable future. Relationships with dragon shifters are forbidden so …” She shook her head. “Nah! I’m fine on my own.”

  Breeze gave her a look that told her she was full of shit. She sniffed the air. “If you say so.”

  “I do. Although, I might just hook-up with someone when I’m next in Walton Springs. It’s been far too long since I had male companionship … if you know what I mean.”

  Breeze nodded, she gave the air a sniff.

  Louise had to roll her eyes. “Don’t tell me I smell needy and achy.”

  The other woman pulled a face, then she frowned. “You smell like you’re about to go into heat.”

  “Excuse me?” she choked out the words.

  “I can scent that you are about to go into heat. The good news is that the Earth males are not as badly affected as the other three tribes.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “A female in heat can drive our males a bit mad. They will all want to mate with you.”

  “Oh, my dear god!”

  Breeze laughed. “Don’t worry too much about it. It is my understanding that human females come into heat every few weeks so this will be the second time since you arrived here. I can’t give you a proper explanation but Earth males are not nearly as affected as the other dragon males. Not for most of the year at any rate. You will be fine.” She looked pointedly at Louise. “You should get some human medicine that prevents your heat though.”

  “You mean a contraceptive?”

  Breeze looked thoughtful for a second. “I’m not sure what it’s called but it will help our males feel more comfortable around you.” She frowned. “Someone should have told you about this.”

  “Yeah, they really should have.” Louise drank some of her water, putting the glass back down on the coffee table.

  “We alternate the Stag Runs. Sending different groups in at a time.”

  Louise wasn’t sure what Breeze meant by that. She made a noise of agreement.

  “What that means is,” she lifted her eyes in thought, “it’s going on six months since the last time many of our males have found release with a female. For others, it will be just a month or two, but it’s really hard on them.”

  Why was Breeze telling her this?

  “Non-humans are highly sexual. Dragon shifters are no exception. Our males only rut twice a year in total, they suffer greatly.”

  For whatever reason, Louise’s thoughts turned to Granite. He could have dragon shifter women but he chose not to. This meant that he hadn’t had sex in a while. No wonder the poor guy sprung an erection at the drop of a hat. No wonder he was so moody.

  “It’s been a year-and-a-half since my ex and I broke up. I’m doing just fine. Well, mostly.” She had been feeling a bit ‘needy’ and a bit ‘achy’ as of late and all because of one brooding, rude asshole of a shifter.

  “You poor thing,” Breeze looked shocked. “That’s so unhealthy.”

  “I’ll make a concerted effort to remedy things on my next trip to Walton Springs. The only problem is that I’ve never really been one for one-night stands. I like to get to know a guy, to have a relationship. I don’t have sex for the sake of having sex.”

  Breeze gave a nod. “I understand, but you said yourself that a relationship would be impossible right now, so you have to do what you have to do. Maybe that means having a …” she frowned, “one-night stand.” She said the words carefully. “Why do they refer to it as standing in that saying? They should call it a lie-down. It would make more sense.”

  Louise had to laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t make much sense.” Then she grew serious. “You are right about the other as well. We’ve only just started the Resistance Therapy so I’m going to be living here for the foreseeable future. At least another year, if not longer.” Could she survive a whole year without that kind of physical contact? No. Not a chance. Out of nowhere her mind conjured up an image of Granite … naked. From his strong wide chest to his six pack. Ridges and valleys that could bring a girl to her knees. Her very dirty mind also pulled up an image of his thick cock. Long and jutting. Her cheeks felt hot, her whole body felt flushed and needy … very needy. She hated that Granite had been right about that. Hated her attraction to him. He might not have had sex with that shifter woman this morning, but it didn’t mean that she liked him any better. Next time she was in town she was taking care of some very base needs. She was sure that this attraction she felt for the rude king would evaporate once she took care of those basic desires.

  Chapter 8

  The next day …

  Every hair on her head had been pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. Clips held the orange strands in place. He could scent some type of hair product. It was the gloopy, sticky stuff humans used to hold their hair in place, almost like a glue.

  At least her skin was radiant and free from the rubbish humans used to hide their faces. There were freckles scattered everywhere, they were more concentrated over her nose and cheekbones though. It wasn’t something he had seen on many females but rather something that was uniquely her.

  Her lashes were long and fine, they reminded him of strands of light silk. Her eyes were a plain green. Not vivid and sparkling like emeralds. They were much more understated and yet somehow beautiful nonetheless. Probably her greatest attribute, which wasn’t saying much. She was wearing that shiny lip covering that humans loved so much. It highlighted her lush pink mouth. It scented of cherry, making his mouth water but only because he enjoyed the fruit. Not because he wanted a taste.

  All in all, she was … Granite came up blank, he wasn’t sure what to think of her. She was not someone he would give a second look. Hell, he wouldn’t look a first time. Yet, she was different. She was interesting to him. From the flaming red hair to the smallness of her frame, to her fiery nature. He found himself looking forward to his session today. Looking forward to being stuck with pins …the fuck?

  So he
re he was, laying down on the bed. A device hooked to his finger. A bedpan in his hand. Getting ready to be stuck with silver until he passed out and he was … enjoying himself. He needed his head examined. That was for fucking sure.

  The human had said very little to him since he had arrived. Her jaw was set and her body tense. She was trying to avoid eye contact.

  Her back was ramrod rod straight and her chin was cocked defiantly. “Turn your wrist palm up,” she instructed, using a no-nonsense tone and looking at his hand. Then she fired off a list of questions about his health and general wellbeing while setting out her supplies on the stainless steel table next to them.

  She made some notes in a file. “Let’s get started.” Still avoiding eye contact. Apparently the far wall was much more interesting than he was. “Are you ready?” Eyes on the needles.

  He gave a nod. “Yes.” It came out as more of a grunt. He wasn’t feeling thrilled about the silver part of this whole process ‒ not surprisingly.

  “Same number of needles, only we’ll keep the time at thirteen-and-a-half minutes instead of fifteen since you didn’t quite make fifteen in your last session.”

  “Let’s try for fifteen. I’m feeling lucky.”

  She rolled her eyes. He could see her mentally counting to ten. After only five seconds she met his gaze. Finally. Her green orbs gave him a scathing look and she shook her head. “Why do you insist on making things difficult? I would prefer it if you didn’t pass out this time.”

  “Let’s try for fifteen anyway. I told you I wanted to push it.”

  She shrugged. “Sure thing, it’s your funeral.” She pulled a pair of latex gloves on.

  “Still afraid I’m going to contaminate you with sex juices?” That was one of the funniest things he had ever heard. Sex juices. Never in all his years.

  Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. “No,” she mumbled, eyes on his arm. “Hold still and stay relaxed.” She picked up the first needle and jabbed it into him.

  Fuck!

  “You’re still angry at me. Is it because I had a female in my bed or is it something new this time?”

  Her cheeks heated, bathing her freckles in a warm glow. She pursed her lips. “I’m not angry.” She jabbed another needle into his arm, using more force than what was needed. Not angry! Yeah, right. He knew an angry female when he saw one. His arm hurt like a bitch but he didn’t so much as flinch. She pushed in another and then another. By the time she reached fifteen, she seemed to have calmed down … for the most part.

  The little doctor pushed the timer. Then she exhaled. “May as well get this over with.” Her gaze met his. “I’m sorry I yelled at you yesterday and that I called you names. I’m sorry I assumed you had sex … not that it matters, because it doesn’t. Thing is, I was worried about you. I’m a doctor and you’re my patient.” She groaned. “I’m making a mess of this.” She shook her head before looking away.

  Granite had to bite back a grin. Fuck, she was a laugh a minute. If he wasn’t getting ready to puke he would totally laugh at her.

  “I know you didn’t sleep with her … that shifter.”

  Volcano had told him that the human and Breeze had spent some time together. It looked like he had been one of their topics of discussion. “I wanted to say sorry. For the record, you can have sex with whomever you want.” She finally lifted her eyes to meet his. “Whenever you want. Whatever. As your doctor though, I need to advise you to refrain from any strenuous activities for twenty-four hours after a treatment.” She gave him a tight smile and pretended to be absorbed by something in his file.

  “Why are you still so angry?” He could feel sweat bead on his brow. Could feel his limbs weaken.

  “I’m not.” Another glance his way.

  Granite raised his brows.

  She made a small noise at the back of her throat. “Okay … maybe I am still angry. You could have told me you didn’t have sex with that shifter lady. You allowed me to make a complete fool of myself.”

  “What difference does it make if I rutted her?”

  “It doesn’t.” She looked calm and collected. “I told you I don’t care either way.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Flip, I need to take your blood pressure.” She grabbed the armband unit and walked to the other side of the bed. Next, she put the armband around his arm and pressed a button that made it tighten.

  He didn’t like that she didn’t care but he wasn’t sure why. “Good, because who I rut and when I rut is no concern of yours.”

  “Do me a favor and knock yourself out ‒ just don’t do it after a therapy session because then it does become my business.”

  “Fair enough.” He clutched the pan tighter, trying hard not to throw up. His stomach churned. The area where the needles stuck into him burned. He swallowed thickly.

  The device beeped and she made a note of the reading. “It’s clear that we don’t like each other much, so I think it’s best that we keep things strictly business going forward.”

  “So it wasn’t strictly business before?” Fuck, but he felt dizzy. The room spun. “If I had known, maybe we could’ve done something about you being so stuck up.”

  “It’s that kind of comment you can keep to yourself going forward.”

  Despite the pain, the dizziness and the nausea, he had to bite back a smile. Oh, how he loved rattling her perfectly coifed cage. It was a small cage at that. A small cage with thick bars and about a hundred locks. The female needed to let loose once in a while.

  “It’s strictly business from now on.” She lifted her lids and peered into his eyes. “Please, let’s try and keep it cordial going forward. I’ve never called anyone a male slut nor have I called someone an asshole. I was tired and not thinking clearly. I’d just sat up half the night worrying while you—”

  “…were passed out.” His voice was hoarse and his breathing far too rapid. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath.

  “I didn’t know that,” she paused scrunching up her nose. “I felt bad after losing my cool. I don’t normally act that way.” She clutched her forehead. “I’ve never called anyone an asshole.”

  “I’m glad I could be your first.” He felt the sweat pour off of him. By now he was panting hard.

  “I apologize. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

  “Don’t! You can call me whatever the fuck you like … just do your job.” If nothing else she was a good doctor. He’d come to realize that in that last few days. It wasn’t that she knew her stuff, or the awards she had won ‒ he’d finally taken a look at her file ‒ it was that she cared. She didn’t like him much but she still cared and that was something.

  The female put a hand to his forehead. “You’re burning up. Two more minutes to go.”

  “You might want to turn around.”

  She shook her head. A look of concern filled those beautiful green eyes. As much as he tried not to, he gagged. Way to go Granite, king of the Earth dragons. Weak fuck! His stomach continued to pitch and roll. Fucking hell! He felt like he was five again. Like the time he’d eaten too many chocolate chip cookies. He gagged a second time, tasting bile. He felt weaker than a whelp. “Turn around,” he managed to choke out.

  Instead of doing as he asked ‒ because that would be too easy ‒ she clutched his shoulder while he emptied the contents of his stomach. Thankfully there wasn’t much in there. He’d preempted this little party with the bedpan and had foregone lunch.

  She whispered words of encouragement while he gagged some more. The little human rubbed his back until he was done. Then she handed him a warm wet cloth and took the pan from him, replacing it with a clean one.

  Granite let his head fall back and closed his eyes.

  “Are you feeling a bit better?”

  “My stomach … yes. Everything else …” he shook his head.

  “Tell me what I can do.” Even though he was fucked right now, his first thought was of those pink, glistening lips around his cock. Bad idea!

  “Nothi
ng,” he groaned.

  “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  Granite gave a nod. He must have passed out because he was roused when she was removing the needles. There was an instant relief but not nearly as much as he needed. His limbs still felt heavy. His breathing weak.

  “Are you still with me?”

  “Yes,” a groan.

  “Do pink elephants eat cheese?”

  “Elephants …” he barely got the word out. “What the fuck?” a slur.

  “Good answer,” she gave a soft giggle that warmed him. It was the fever. He wasn’t thinking straight.

  “I’m going to bandage your wound and then you can sleep it off.”

  He didn’t answer. Was too damned tired. Too sick to his stomach.

  Her soft hands clasped his forehead. Her cool touch felt good against his skin. Then her fingers trailed across his scalp. His hair was short. Her touch felt good. So good. It relaxed him.

  “Sleep,” she whispered and he did.

  Chapter 9

  Two weeks later …

  The cocktail bar was bustling. It was a Friday night so some of the patrons had come from work. The business suits were a dead giveaway.

  Louise took another sip of the sweet, sugary concoction. “What is this called again?”

  “It’s a …” Deb picked up the menu and scanned the contents, “Death by Pink.” She snorted out a laugh.

  “Mine is a …” she lifted the menu back to her face, “Chocoholic’s Dream … and it sure is.” She took another sip and made a sound of sheer bliss, her eyes drifted closed.

  Louise laughed. “Anything with that much chocolate is—”

  “I can’t believe you guys started without me!” Hillary had her hands on her hips and a pretend scowl on her face. She looked at each of them in turn.

  Louise jumped up. “Hills!” She grabbed ahold of her friend and hugged her tight.

  Hillary hugged her right back. “Okay, okay, I forgive you.”