Forbidden Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 5)

by Charlene Hartnady

  “But the cab already left.”

  “I took his card remember? I’m sure he didn’t get far. Here,” he handed her his business card. “Call me in the morning. We can go to lunch or dinner.”

  Louise shook her head. “I told you, I’m not in town much anymore. My work—”

  He shrugged. “I don’t care. Call me.” He squeezed the hand that was holding the card.

  “And Louise …”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I kiss you?”

  “I … I guess so.” She was so lame. Lamer than lame.

  Todd leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. It felt good. It felt nice. He pulled back and she waited for butterflies to explode in her stomach. It didn’t happen. She felt absolutely nothing. Zip. Nada.

  Todd had his eyes glued to her lips. It looked like he was going to come in for round number two, maybe deepen the kiss this time. Panic welled. “I’ll call you in the morning,” she practically yelled, quickly pushing the key in the door. “Thanks so much.” She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. The cheek! Oh god, but she was lame.

  Her whole face felt hot. Not a good hot. A bad hot.

  Todd smiled and nodded. She turned the key. Once inside, she ran until her apartment door closed behind her.

  She was going to call Todd in the morning and try again. The guy was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There was something wrong with her. It was all her dammit. Once she figured out what was going on, things would be awesome. She and Todd would be awesome.

  Chapter 10

  Three days later (Monday) …

  Granite paced from one side of his chamber to the other. After several minutes he put a hand to the glass window and took in the view. Vast, open, beautiful. Normally enough to calm and center him.

  It didn’t work.

  Not today.

  He silently growled and paced back towards the door. There was a quick knock and the human entered. Same bun, same coat, same serious demeanor. He was actually happy to see her and it pissed him the fuck off. “It’s about time. I called for you two and a half hours ago.”

  “I was busy with a treatment.”

  “If I call for you, I expect you to drop everything and to come immediately, am I clear?” He was too afraid to approach her. Too much of a pussy to scent the air. Instead, he took small breaths through his mouth. He’d been desperate to see her and now that she was here he was tempted to send her away without finding out. Forget that! He needed to know.

  The doctor shook her head. “Drop everything? Impossible. I had already started a therapy session. Once I begin, I need to be there until the end. Furthermore …” she continued before he could interject, “I need to monitor my patient for a time afterwards, as well. You should know all of this.” She set a file down on a nearby table and put her hands on her hips. “I know you’re used to people bowing down to you but I’m not one of your subjects. I thought that we were being cordial to one another. Working as a team and all that.”

  Granite couldn’t help the snort that left him. “Teamwork? The only time I work in a team is when I’m fucking. That’s it!”

  The human’s eyes moved to the ceiling for a moment or two before locking back with his. She mumbled something that sounded very much like ‘Give me strength’.

  It was time to grow some balls … and a dick for that matter. He closed the distance between them and sucked in a deep breath through his nostrils.

  Thank fuck!

  Granite was so relieved that he almost said the words out loud. Thank fuck! He’d spent the entire weekend in a foul-ass mood because he couldn’t stop himself from picturing this little female in bed with another male. It irritated him that he cared, but for some reason he did. It wasn’t like he was actually attracted to her … or was he? No fucking way.

  Point was, she hadn’t listened to him. Then again, why the hell would she take his advice? That would have been way too easy.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” She was frowning. Her full lips pursed together.

  How was he looking at her? Shit! He just may have been staring at her plump bottom lip. Okay, so her lips were decent; so were her eyes but that was it. That was fucking it. “You don’t listen, do you?”

  She raised her brows and pointed a finger at him ‒ he loved her sass. “Listen …” He could see her thinking it over. Carefully considering what it was he could be talking about. “Oh flip!” she covered her mouth with her hand. She made a groaning noise that hit him straight in the groin. The Stag Run was this weekend, he really needed a female. Any fucking female. He wasn’t going to be too picky this time around. “I totally missed my appointment with Dr. Rhodes. With everything that happened ‒ or didn’t happen ‒ I forgot all about it.”

  “What are you talking about?” What happened? What didn’t happen and who was Dr. Rhodes?

  “More like what are you talking about? I thought you were referring to my not being on a contraceptive. It would help with the way I scent … you know, all ‘needy and achy’ …” She pulled a face like he was full of shit. “Breeze was kind enough to explain to me that it’s because I’m not on the pill. I was supposed to see a gynecologist but I missed my appointment.”

  A pill. Really? Not a chance would a pill help this female. Not unless it was in the shape of a dick. Granite shook his head. “Yeah, it would help some if you were to take such a pill but not nearly enough. What you need is sex, Doctor. You can try and deny it all you want.” What the fuck was wrong with him? Why was he pushing this? Pushing … all he could think of was pushing up her white coat, tearing off her panties and showing her exactly what she needed. He wanted to make her come and hard and more than once. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed them with his thumb and forefinger. “Please just do as I say. You are a distraction to my males.” She was a distraction to him and he didn’t like it. He didn’t want her but couldn’t seem to get her off of his mind. It was her scent. It was maddening. She needed to sort that shit out.

  “That’s the biggest load of nonsense I ever heard. I thought that we were done having these types of conversations. It’s inappropriate and—”

  “There is a Stag Run this weekend.” He’d heard her excuses before.

  “Yeah, so what does that have to do with me? Look, why did you even call me here? Was it so that you could lecture me about the way I smell? So that you could make me feel bad about my pathetic sex life? Or lack thereof … Not that it’s any of your business.” Her eyes blazed.

  “You’re going back to Walton Springs this weekend and you’re not coming back here until you’ve taken care of your problem.”

  “My problem? You cannot be serious! You’re ordering me to have sex or else?”

  He folded his arms. He wasn’t going to answer her question. He didn’t answer stupid questions.

  She folded her arms as well and narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m going to email Blaze. This is bullshit.”

  “Run to Blaze! Do it! See if I give even a small fuck. Why not stand on your own two feet for a change instead of running to that male.”

  “I cannot believe you. My sex life is my business. Mine. You have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do when it comes to my private life.” Her cheeks were flushed and a strand of hair had escaped the prison that was her tight bun. He was sure that wasn’t the only tight thing on her.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I can tell you what to do if it affects the way things run here. You are an interference. So try me, Doctor. I dare you!”

  “You would love to have me fired wouldn’t you?” That finger was back up and wagging at him.

  “Actually, I happen to think that you’re a really good doctor. You take your job seriously. You care about your patients. Firing you is that last thing I want but you are driving my males mad and that cannot be tolerated.”

  He could see her mulling it over. “You think I’m a good doctor?” She was frowning like she didn’t trust him.

  He gave a no
d. “I do.” It was true.

  She started to say something and then stopped. “I hadn’t noticed … my being a distraction.” She said it like it was a foreign concept. She also seemed concerned. Agitated even. “The guys all seem fine to me.” Then she sniffed her armpits. He had to stifle a laugh. “I don’t smell anything … Okay, maybe deodorant ‒ the antiperspirant kind but that’s it. Are you sure?”

  He gave a nod and took a step closer to her. “Your scent is fucking amazing.” He gave a sniff and groaned. His dick reacted. How could it not?

  Her eyes were on his and she was breathing hard. Her pupils dilated when he nodded. They tracked the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed. “It is, really?” her voice was soft and timid.

  “Yeah.” He took another step, putting him almost flush against her. “Like peaches and cream.”

  “Peaches and cream …” Her voice was dreamy. “And peaches and cream scent of need and achiness?” She frowned.

  “You also scent heavily of pussy.”

  Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated some more. “Oh!” Her pink mouth rounded and his dick hardened.

  Granite gave a small nod. “Hot and wet … so fucking delicious …”

  Then the small human did something completely unexpected. She reached up, all the way up. Had to be on her tiptoes and then some. Maybe he met her somewhere in the middle, he wasn’t sure. Next thing her pink, cherry-flavored lips were all over his. Soft and clumsy.

  So fucking sweet. With a low growl, he gripped her hips and yanked her against him. He tilted his head to the side and took control of her mouth, took control of the kiss. He sucked on her lower lip first, then her tongue, then plundered that mouth of hers. The doctor moaned. It was laced with enough need to have him shooting off there and then. He held onto the tiny bit of control he still had left. Who was he kidding? Control did not factor. Not when she moaned into his mouth for a second time. Not when she rubbed up against him.

  One taste.

  One touch.

  One.

  Granite pushed up her coat and the skirt of her dress underneath and cupped her ass. Tight yet lush. Encased in a full set of panties. Cotton, from the feel of it. His dick was so hard it physically hurt.

  She gave a loud groan. He pulled back slightly. Her eyes were completely glazed over. Her lips wet and swollen. She leaned back in. She took back his lips. Who would’ve thought? Not stuck-up after all.

  Not nearly. She was vocal and so damned receptive.

  One touch.

  One.

  He half-expected her to slap his hand away when he reached between her thighs and cupped her sex. Soaking wet. Dripping. His cock throbbed when she arched into him and moaned long and loud.

  Fucking hell!

  “I’ve got you,” he whispered as he shoved the cotton aside. Her clit was huge. So swollen and ripe his mouth watered. If he looked down, there would be pre-cum all over his pants. Of that there was no doubt.

  “Yes!” she moaned. “Yes!” she cried out, as he rubbed his thumb over its swollen edge. Another rub. She moaned and he took back her mouth. He gave the swollen flesh a light pinch followed by a slippery rub and she came apart. Just like that. Done. Her back bowed and her body went rigid. Her short nails dug into him. Her loud moans and wails were muffled by his kisses. He kept up the slip and slide on her clit.

  All he could think of doing was picking her up and putting her against the wall, of filling her. He had yet to put even the tip of his finger in her pussy but he knew she would be tight as fuck. Granite moaned at the mere thought. Her hips rocked against his hand.

  He’d fuck her against the wall, then on his desk. Then he’d take her to his bed and take his time. Draw out her pleasure and make her beg. He’d never had a female in his bed before. Or his chamber for that matter. For a few seconds he was so tempted to have her that he shook. He physically shook. The vibrations moved through his body.

  No!

  There was too much at stake. He should never have let it get this far. Should never have touched her in the first place. He hadn’t been unable to help himself. The sooner she found proper release the better. The sooner he could get back to life as he knew it.

  Granite pulled away, keeping his hand on her hip. Her eyes were closed. She leaned forward, pursing her lips. Cute as fuck! No, looking like an idiot, he tried to convince himself. He pushed her underwear back into place and pulled down her coat.

  Her gorgeous ‒ average ‒ eyes flashed open. “What? When …” She even swayed a little on her feet but quickly righted herself. The human licked her lips and smoothed her coat.

  He made sure that her eyes were on his. “That should not have happened but in a way I’m glad it did. You’re going to Walter Springs this weekend.”

  Her jaw tightened and her hands clenched at her sides. Her scent turned peppery. If she’d been a dragon, smoke would’ve come out of her nose, but she didn’t say a thing.

  “You need to take care of your scent problem. This whole … thing … that just happened proves it. I don’t think I’ve ever made a female come so quickly before.” He had loved it. She might be a bit stuck-up but she was sexy as fuck anyway.

  Her face turned red before his eyes. From a light pink to all out ‘tomato city’. She was about to snap. In fact, he thought she might hit him or kick him. It didn’t happen because she pulled in a deep breath instead, and removed some lint from her impeccably white coat. Her composure had returned in full force. What a pity. “Thank you for bringing this … problem,” she paused, “to my attention.” She even smiled at him.

  The fuck!

  “Sure.” Granite could feel that he was frowning. He hadn’t expected this reaction. “I would say come back anytime but it’s against the rules,” he chuckled, sounding like an idiot. “I won’t say anything if you won’t.”

  She twisted her fingers against her lips and smiled wider. “No … my lips are sealed. Let’s put this behind us. It’s never happening again so no need to bring it up … ever,” she put emphasis on the word. Even acted like it was the worst thing that could’ve happened to her.

  The fuck!

  “Right!” he growled. Shit!

  “You were right by the way,” she nodded a couple of times.

  “About?” He felt so off-balance it was scary. He was also sure why he felt like this, which was way scarier.

  She blinked a few times. “I think I do need to go home this weekend. I met a guy. We got close, maybe it is time to seal the deal. No! It’s definitely time to seal the deal. Thanks for showing me that today.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m going to pack a bag. I’m feeling pretty excited about it.”

  “Good,” another growl. Who was this male? Maybe he should have her followed just to be sure she was safe. No! She was a mature female, capable of making her own decisions.

  “Oh, I almost forgot,” she raised her brows. “Why did you call me here?”

  “I wanted feedback on the Resistance Therapy.” He didn’t feel up to discussing it with her right now. He had more important things to do. “But, you can email me a summary.”

  “No problem!”

  “Good!”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He gave a nod. She didn’t seem phased by what had just gone down. Good! She was going to take care of her scent problem. Wonderful! Fantastic news.

  She said her goodbyes and left. Granite turned and hammered his fist against his desk. It splintered into about a million pieces. Thank fuck it was his turn to go on the Stag Run this weekend. He sucked in a deep breath. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough as far as he was concerned.

  Chapter 11

  She felt hot all over. Hot and rubbed raw. The shower was great. More than great. She’d made the water scalding and had scrubbed and scrubbed until her skin felt raw. Her hands still shook though. She still felt unclean. Really, really dirty. She couldn’t help the clench of her core as she thought about her orgasm.


  It had been a doozy. She was sure it had ripped her clean in half. That’s how hard Granite had rocked her world. She was willing to give up everything in that moment. Every darned thing. Her job, her career, her life. Everything just to have hardcore sex with him. Sex with Granite would be hardcore and good. Really, really good. He knew exactly what he was doing.

  He was also an asshole.

  Such an asshole.

  As well as an arrogant ass. She wished like mad she hadn’t kissed him. She’d made a move on him! Shame coursed through her. She’d never made a move on a guy in her whole entire life. They always chased her. Not that many guys chased her but those few who had been interested, had chased her. Not the other way around.

  She had kissed him first. Louise put a hand against the wall and stopped walking for a moment. Arghhh! She couldn’t believe she had done that. He was arrogant enough to begin with. The last thing Granite had needed was an ego stroke. She’d given him one hell of an ego boost and she felt sick because of it.

  Thing was, when he’d said ‘pussy’, it had detonated something inside her. It wasn’t just that, it was the way he was looking at her as well. Like he wanted to eat her whole. Like he wanted to tear her into pieces, but in a good way. His intense dark eyes had moved from her mouth to her eyes and back. His nostrils kept flaring as he’d taken in her scent. Fucking delicious. Hot and wet. The whole thing had turned her brain to mush.

  Her cheeks heated when she thought about her orgasm, how little effort it had taken for him to get her there. A few seconds. Ten tops and she had unraveled. It was the best orgasm of her whole entire life and it had taken the guy all of ten seconds. How was that for another ego stroke? One he did not need. That was why she had reacted the way she did. Like she didn’t care. Like he had helped her. Gag! That pity orgasm he had given her made her feel nothing but pathetic. He’d even commented on how quickly she had come. He looked amused. The jerk! He probably thought there was something wrong with her. It had to be a turn off. No wonder he hadn’t been able to get away from her quick enough. Shame churned inside of her. All she’d wanted was more. Thankfully it hadn’t happened.