Dragon Hunt (Water Dragons Book 1)

by Charlene Hartnady

  Torrent rolled his eyes. His brother knew bullshit when he heard it.

  “That’s terrible.” Blaze’s eyes turned solemn. “You will need to send her our apologies. We have redoubled patrols in the area. I am discussing doing the same in all four kingdoms.”

  “The time has come to fight back,” Storm said.

  “That would give us away,” Torrent snapped.

  “Yes.” Blaze nodded his head. “I am inclined to side with the Water King on this one. It would indeed alert them to our presence if their aircraft began disappearing.”

  “I think it’s clear that they know we are here. It’s been months and they’re still coming into our airspace.”

  “Still,” Torrent shook his head, “they suspect but they’re not sure. One crashed helicopter is something that can happen. Multiple disappearances would only serve to bolster their belief that they are onto something. They would only send in more.”

  “Yes, and it would also send a clear signal that we are not to be messed with,” Storm said. “They can’t keep snooping around our territory.”

  “We are not far enough along in our silver resistance therapy,” Torrent rasped.

  “Please, can you relay to Storm what you told us before he got here?” Blaze asked Flood.

  The male cleared his throat. His arms were folded over his front. “The artillery was all silver-infused.”

  “So, they know what they are looking for,” Storm growled. “I knew it!”

  “They suspect,” Torrent countered.

  “They know. Why keep coming back month after month? Those bastards know we are here. They’re armed to the teeth with silver weaponry. They’re just itching for a target,” Storm added.

  “And we aren’t going to give them one!” Torrent yelled. “Your flying machine is grounded until further—”

  “What?”

  "Don't you ‘what' me!" Torrent pointed a finger at his face.

  “I do think there is some merit in what your brother is saying,” Blaze addressed Torrent. “I think they definitely know we are here. They know we are non-human. In fact, I think they know exactly what we are.”

  “It would be good to know why they are looking. Why they won’t give up,” Storm said.

  “Who cares?” Torrent shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “No! The only thing that matters is that they mean us harm. We need to convene a meeting. All four of us.” Again, the Fire King addressed Torrent. “We can’t keep hiding. At some point we will need to retaliate. The lives of our families are at stake.”

  Torrent sighed. “Maybe you are right.”

  “It’s only a matter of time before they see something. Before they find one of the lairs…and then what?” Storm hated being the negative one. The kings were playing it too safe.

  “Then we crush them like the bugs they are.” Torrent squeezed his hand into a fist.

  “Yes.” Storm nodded his head, hoping it never came to pass. The damage could be devastating.

  Chapter 19

  Storm angled the knife, slicing the carrot.

  “You seem preoccupied with something. Are you okay?” Jolene asked, stopping what she was doing so that she could turn to face him.

  “I’m just feeling bad we couldn’t go swimming in the ocean like I promised.”

  “That’s okay.” Jolene shook her head. “I don’t mind. This is fun too.”

  “We’re cooking stir-fry for lunch as our fun thing to do for the day,” Storm muttered. “It’s boring as fuck.”

  “It’s not!” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you telling me being cooped up with me is boring?” Then she widened her eyes. “Sex aside of course.” She pointed the knife at him. The one she’d been using to cut chicken with moments earlier. “That better not be what you are saying.”

  “Not at all. I live for chopping vegetables…especially when I get to do it with you.” He chuckled.

  “Now you’re teasing.”

  "I'm enjoying myself just fine. I was just looking forward to taking you out, that's all." After what had happened the day before, they were tightening security around the lairs. That chopper had been far too close to home. It was forbidden right then for humans to leave the safety of the lair. There had been several reports of unknown helicopters scouting the area. They were probably looking for their friends. Hopefully, they found the wreckage soon so that things could go back to normal.

  “Yeah, it was scary. Who were they and what did they want?” She took a sip of her white wine.

  Storm shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You said that it’s happened before. That these people started coming into restricted airspace after the first Bride Hunt?”

  “Yep.” He nodded. “We went about things differently back then.”

  "You said there were fewer background checks."

  “Less! There were no background checks and no contractual agreements. The success rates weren’t as high either. Sometimes a female is not a good fit. We sometimes picked females who were just plain nasty. Females like that ended up going back home.”

  “They knew about you. About this place.”

  “I’m not sure how they managed to pinpoint where we were, we made them wear blindfolds, but yeah.” He nodded. Storm took a big sip of his beer.

  “Well,” her eyes turned up in thought, “I think if someone knew you existed, it wouldn’t be that hard to learn where you might be located. I mean, these are vast areas of wilderness. There’s the ocean and the mountains. I think the main giveaway is the restricted airspace, together with the rest of the facts.”

  If someone was to put all those together. “I think you might be right. The very thing that’s protecting us is also a dead giveaway.”

  "They have no idea, though, where within all these thousands of square miles you are located? Not exactly."

  "Thankfully not." Storm shook his head. "That's why they keep flying over. It's like they're working a systematic grid. If they keep trying hard enough, they might just find something."

  “You have systems in place, right? Patrols that would alert you if they came too near?”

  “Yes, but still. The thing is, even an old military chopper like the one from yesterday could do untold damage to a lair. A silver-infused missile, aimed just right ‒ or wrong, depending on how you looked at it ‒ could take out whole sections at once. What if the royal chamber was hit? We’re all at risk.”

  “I’m sure it won’t come to that.” Jolene’s eyes were filled with concern.

  "We were almost hunted to extinction centuries ago. That was when dragon slayers still carried silver knives and spears. Now they have missiles and bullets. All silver-infused. All waiting to find their mark. We wouldn't stand a chance. Our species could be decimated."

  “Killing for the sake of killing.” She shook her head. “Surely not?” Jolene looked upset. Her eyes blazed. “Then again…I guess it happens all the time.”

  Storm had a good idea of what they would be after. He didn't voice his suspicions. "You're right, it does happen all the time. Bloodlust runs strong in all of our veins, except many humans have no honor."

  “The government would never allow it. They would put a stop to it.” She sounded skeptical.

  “You can’t stop what you don’t even know is happening. According to the world, we don’t even exist. Easy pickings.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “Don’t say that.”

  “That’s why we need to take them the fuck out. We won’t go easily but, hey…” He lowered his voice to a rumble as he walked over to her, putting his hands on either side of the counter. This way he could close her in. “All this talk of war and death. It’s putting a serious damper on our afternoon.”

  Jolene looked up at him through her lashes. “We have a lunch that needs cooking.”

  He leaned in so that they were just half an inch apart, speaking directly into her ear. “And you have a pussy that needs eating.”

  She gasped, he
r face turned pink. Jolene giggled when he picked her up.

  Storm worried about whether or not she could sense his nervousness. He wondered if she would know. His heart beat wildly as he lay her out on the bed. "Let me help you out of these." He peeled off her leggings, placing kisses along her legs as he did. "Your pussy is about to become well acquainted with my lips," he murmured, only because it was something 'cocky him' would say. He didn't want to let on he wasn't feeling very cocky at that moment.

  Jolene smiled, and giggled and smiled some more. Good, she didn’t notice his tension. Storm could relax a little. She was into it…thank claw!

  When Storm knelt down on the bed beside her, she pulled her lip between her teeth and bit down lightly. Her gorgeous brown eyes on his. “Let me help you out of this as well,” he said, tugging on her blouse.

  She raised her brows. “The perfect gentleman all of a sudden. Normally you just rip my clothes off.”

  “There’s a time and a place for everything. This is about being patient and taking things slow.”

  “I like that.” Her voice had turned husky.

  Storm undid the buttons on her top and peeled it off. Her bra was a thing of fucking beauty. It was turquoise and lace. “You have the most amazing tits I’ve ever seen on a female,” he rasped, tugging on the cups so that her boobs spilled over. Her nipples were pink and succulent looking.

  She giggled. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

  “I’ve seen plenty of breasts, so trust me, it’s a compliment.” He leaned in and swirled his tongue around one of her puckered beauties.

  When he pulled up, her smile had widened. “You’re not supposed to talk about previous conquests.”

  “Why not?”

  “It spoils the mood.”

  “Let’s do a quick check.” He pulled her lace panties to the side, feasting his eyes on her glistening pussy. “That’s what I thought.”

  “That’s not…” She moaned when he leaned in and licked her slit. This couldn’t be all that different from fucking. Find her sweet spots ‒ good thing he already knew where those were ‒ and push them. Not too hard. Stroke them was probably a better way to describe it. “Let’s teach this gorgeous pussy of yours how to French kiss.”

  She laughed. “You’re so rude.” Her little nub lay nestled between her folds. He found it and licked it. She whimpered, her breathing turning ragged.

  Good. This was working. Crystal had given him two tips when it came to going down on a female. Just two. He closed his mouth over her clit and sucked on it. The sucking thing was tip one. A female’s clit was the same as the tip of a male’s cock and should be treated in a similar fashion. He needed to give Jolene head.

  “Oh god!” Jolene groaned.

  Bingo! It seemed the she-dragon might know her stuff. He licked a couple of times and suckled on that baby again. “Oh, good lord!” Jolene gasped, grabbing his hair so tight it pulled at the roots.

  Storm smiled against her pussy. This was working. He pulled her legs over his shoulders and shredded the panel of her underwear for better access. “Feels good,” Jolene mumbled, he could hear she was smiling. She was panting too. Panting plenty.

  Everything in him told him to suckle her while fingering her hard. He wanted her to come hard but then he remembered Crystal’s second tip. He needed to prolong her pleasure. He wasn’t allowed to be too impatient.

  He circled her clit with his tongue, listening to how her moans turned slightly frustrated. Then he inserted a finger into her tight channel. Just the one. Slow and easy. Her moans reignited. She even rocked into his hand. One quick suckle had her crying out, but he quickly eased off. Not too hurried.

  Minutes later and she was begging. “Storm, please…oh god…Storm!” she moaned when he suckled on her. She groaned loudly when he let her clit go. “Please…god…please.”

  Aside from loving how she tasted, he loved driving her crazy. It was time, though, to step it up a level, so he added a second finger, plunging them both into her dripping pussy. Her moans turned to keens. "Please, Storm, oh, please." Her hands tightened on his head some more. At this rate, he was going to be bald by the end of this.

  Jolene was close. So very close. At this point, he could be cruel and ease off a whole lot, or he could let her come. Call him impatient because he couldn't wait anymore. Storm grinned before crooking his fingers and thrusting just that little bit deeper. He closed his mouth over her clit, loving how she screamed his name. Her thighs closed around his head. Her hands pulled on his hair.

  He slowed as she came down. Working his hand slower. Using his tongue instead of his mouth.

  When he looked up at her, her head was flung back. Her eyes closed. Her chest heaving. “That was…that was…”

  “Good?” he asked.

  “No.” She shook her head, still lying flat on the mattress. Her legs were still slung over his shoulders.

  “Not good?” Damn, did he screw it up? Did he get it wrong and not even know about it?

  “It was the best,” she mumbled.

  “As in the best you ever had?” he asked, sounding skeptical. It couldn’t be.

  “I know stupid things like that are important to you.” She looked up for a second, letting her head fall back. “So, I’m telling you. Yes, it was the best!”

  “What?” Storm frowned and he frowned hard. “How can I be the best at something I’ve never done before?”

  She lifted her head, looking at him through still hazy eyes. “What? That was the first time you’ve ever gone down on a woman?”

  Storm swallowed thickly. Shit! He hadn’t meant to tell her that. “Yes,” he nodded, feeling like an idiot, “that was the first time.” He shrugged.

  Jolene smiled. It was sweet and shy and yet really sultry all at once. “That explains things.” She let her head fall back onto the mattress.

  “What does that mean?”

  “You wouldn’t understand,” she said.

  “No really,” he climbed on top of her, caging her in with his body. “Tell me.”

  “Nah, I don’t think I will.”

  “Then I might need to punish you.” He lined up with her opening and pushed inside her. So tight. So damn good!

  Jolene’s mouth dropped open. Her eyes hazed over. “I think I might like your form of punishment.”

  “Me too.” He thrust again and again until both of them were spent.

  Chapter 20

  Three days later…

  The door opened. Jolene shrieked, clutching her dress to her front. Thankfully she wore underwear and thankfully the huge guy who walked through the door didn’t seem to care about her state of dress. Or in this instance, undress.

  Her mouth fell open as he strode to her, eyes on hers. “Where is he?” The big guy growled at her. He was formidable, commanding and just plain scary. His muscles roped. His eyes bulged from their sockets. His hands were clenched into tight fists at his side. His chest was gold and gleaming. There were flecks of green in the gold, signifying that he was a water dragon.

  Wait a minute…

  Gold with the green! That meant…that had to mean…yes, he was a member of Storm's family. Now that she thought about it, there was a resemblance. This guy looked older, harder. Also, his hair was blond, but they had similar facial features. Their eyes too. "Who are you?" she finally blurted. "I mean, you must be family to Storm but…I'm sorry, we've never met. I would shake hands, but I'm trying to prevent us from becoming a little too well acquainted, if you know what I mean?" Stop blabbing, Jolene! She pressed her lips together.

  He pushed out a heavy breath, his shoulders easing forward a little. “I’m sorry. I’m Torrent, Storm’s brother.”

  Oh shit! “The king…you’re the king?”

  She did a really bad curtsey since she had no idea how to do one and since she was practically naked.

  His lip twitched. “Yes, that would be me. Do you know where he is?” The anxiety from before was back. There were worry lines on his brow
and tension radiated from him.

  “Storm said he needed to put in some work hours. He felt bad for his teammates because of the extra shifts caused by all of the extra patrols,” she went on. Blabbing again. Jolene cleared her throat. “He’ll be back in about an hour and a half.”

  The king muttered a curse, looking both angry and frustrated.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “No…yes. It’s just that I needed him here. I should have told him not to go anywhere.” He shook his head, looking out the window.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Have him come to my chamber as soon as he gets back. On second thought, I’ll have someone meet his team.”

  “Okay.”

  “I need to go.” Torrent turned and began to walk towards the exit. He stopped almost mid-step and looked back at her. “It was good meeting you. Again, sorry for just barging in.”

  “I’m sure you have a good reason.”

  The king smiled, it was tense. He swallowed thickly. “My female’s birthing pains have begun. It is our second child. It’s going more quickly this time.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, looking worried. “Storm was supposed to look after our daughter.”

  “Oh! He would never have gone if he had known.”

  “I know, I will have one of the she-dragon’s watch Rain. It’s just that she loves her uncle and was looking forward to spending time with him. She seems…apprehensive about having a sibling.”

  “She doesn’t realize it yet but having a brother or a sister will be amazing. It isn’t fun being an only child. Playing on your own isn’t the same. Ask me, I know.”

  “It was good meeting you, Jolene.”

  “Oh, you know my name.” She smiled, feeling like an idiot. “I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself.”

  “Storm has spoken of you. I feel I know you already.”

  "Oh." She frowned. "Has he?" She wanted to ask what he had said about her, but that would be stupid given the circumstances. She could also see that he was still facing the door and pretty much on his way out. Still looking tense. Couldn't blame him with his wife in labor. "I'm sorry," she flapped a hand, "you get back to your mate."