“Thank fuck!” the voice snarled.

Jolene sat up in bed, her heart racing. A figure stood over her. “Hail,” she stammered. “Has something happened?” She tried to see his facial expression, but it was too dark. Why was he standing over her like that? She couldn’t see him clearly, but she could feel anger rolling off of him. Why?

“U-um…” Hail stammered. Her eyes tracked his voice. The figure looming over her had not been the one who had spoken. Her blood ran cold when she realized that Hail was at the foot of her bed. If that was Hail, then who was this?

“I’m taking the female,” the foreboding figure snarled.

“Storm?” Her voice was laced with confusion. “Is that you?”

“As you wish, m-my lord,” Hail stammered.

“What are you doing here?” She pulled the blankets off, sliding her legs off the bed.

“We’re leaving.” Storm’s voice was deep. Scary deep. He was using that commanding tone. The one that had gooseflesh rising up on her arms, her legs, her whole body. It could also be the cold causing the physical response. Yeah, right!

Jolene shook her head. “No.” She sounded as confused as she felt.

“Yes, we are.” He took a step towards her.

“No, we’re not.” She shook her head, fiddling with the light switch and turning on her side lamp. Jolene gasped when she saw he was naked. He looked angry. Muscles bulged and his frown deepened by the second. “What’s wrong with you, barging in here like this?”

“Let’s go.” He gripped her by the elbow, hoisting her to her feet.

“Let me go.” It was her turn to snarl; she tried to pull free, but he held on firmly.

“It doesn’t seem like the female wants—” Hail began, sounding petrified.

Storm snarled at him. A terrifying noise that reminded her of a show she’d seen about lions of the man-eating variety.

Hail stood his ground. By his silhouette, she could see his shoulders were bowed, his head tilted down. “But, my lord—”

“But nothing,” Storm growled as he picked her up, reminding her of how he had hoisted that she-dragon over his shoulder just hours earlier. Anger bubbled through her veins.

“Put me down!” she yelled. “Have you been drinking or taking drugs or something?”

Storm ignored her and began to walk to…not the front door, but to the balcony.

Hail stepped into their path. “I’m going to have to ask you…” he looked at his feet, “beg you…to let her go. Please, my lord.”

“Move or bleed.” Gone was all trace of growling and snarling. His voice was calm. In many ways, it was even more terrifying. Storm tightened his arms around her. The muscles on his neck roped and his jaw clenched. His eyes were a dark purple, swirling and angry.

“It’s fine, Hail.” She could tell that Storm was taking her whether she liked it or not. Fighting it was futile. She only wished she knew what he wanted.

Hail’s blue eyes flashed to hers. She read uncertainty there. “Are you sure?”

Jolene forced a smile. “Yes.” She didn’t want to see a nice guy like Hail get hurt. When Storm said he would make Hail bleed, she knew he meant it. That he would do it.

Especially since the dragon prince seemed to vibrate with anger. Literally. He even ground his teeth. What was he so angry about?

She sighed with relief when Hail stepped to the side, his eyes still on the ground at his feet. Storm strode out onto the balcony.

He put her down as he changed, his limbs lengthened. Scales sprouted up from beneath his skin. His jaw elongated. His arms stretched out into impossibly wide, yet soft looking wings. Within seconds, a formidable dragon stood before her. Eyes tempestuous and zoned in on her.

Jolene shivered when he picked her up in his claws. It had nothing to do with the chilly wind that hit her skin.

Her stomach gave a lurch as they took to the sky. Her nightgown whipped around her legs, as did her hair, which stung her cheeks. Within seconds they were freefalling. Jolene bit back a scream. Storm’s great wings beat slower as they neared the ground. Slower and slower still until her feet touched the soft sand. They could not have been in the air for more than a minute. She could smell salt in the air. Could hear how the waves beat against the rocks.

Jolene hugged herself. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked, watching as Storm folded in on himself. It was only his eyes that stayed the same. He turned those on her. With just a half moon to light the night sky, it was difficult to make out his expression. He stood tall. His muscles still bulged.

“He didn’t touch you.” Storm sighed, his voice still had a guttural edge.

She swallowed. “Is that a question?”

“No, it’s a statement of fact. I can’t scent him on you.” Storm paced away, before walking back to her. He seemed relieved and yet agitated.

“Why would you even care?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “Why did you bring me here? What are you doing?”

“I couldn’t stand the thought of him touching you,” Storm growled out the words. “I would have killed him if he had.”

“You have no right to even say something like that.” She pointed at him.

“You are still mine.” He advanced on her.

Jolene took a step back. “Don’t come near me.”

He didn’t listen. Storm gripped her nightgown in clenched fists and began to tug it up. “Stop!” She pushed at his chest. “Isn’t one woman in one night enough? You disgust me,” she spat.

Storm let her clothing go and raked a hand through his hair. He pushed out a humorless laugh. “I didn’t touch Mist or anyone else. I couldn’t.” He sounded angry. “All I could think about was you.”

“What?”

“Of how happy the two of you looked at dinner.” It sounded like he was gritting his teeth.

Wait a minute. Jolene frowned. “You’re jealous?” She couldn’t believe how happy that made her feel. Jolene had lain awake for hours picturing Storm with the she-dragon. Picturing all the things they would be doing. She’d been wracked with feelings of jealousy herself, only to find out that it hadn’t happened. He’d been jealous this whole time too. Maybe he’d lain awake picturing her and Hail doing things together. She shook her head, could hardly believe it possible. “You left with her though. I saw you.”

“I didn’t touch her. I told you! I wanted to but only to try to forget about you. I couldn’t.” He shook his head. “I’m seriously fucking jealous. I saw you holding his hand. It made me half lose my mind. I’m keeping you. Hail can go to hell!” he snarled, grabbing at her nightgown again and yanking. It shredded like paper between his fingers. Falling in tatters at her feet.

The cold air abraded her skin. Her nipples tightened. “You can’t just—” She wanted to hug herself but didn’t, forcing her arms to stay at her sides.

“I can,” he insisted.

“Whatever happened to asking?” His whole alpha vibe shouldn’t turn her on, but it did.

"I don't ask, I take." She could see that his chest was heaving, he looked down at her body, and she had to work all over again not to cover herself. This was the first time he was seeing her naked from head to toe. "Fucking beautiful." She didn't have to see into his eyes to know that he meant it.

Her heart raced. They shouldn’t do this. They should sit down like rational adults and discuss things properly.

She yelped when Storm plopped himself down in the sand in front of her. Like he’d read her mind. Maybe about the sitting part but not about the talking part. His hands gripped her thighs lightly. “Ride me.” His voice was gruff. So sexy.

He pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him. She put her hands on his shoulders. His finger immediately found her clit.

Screw talking.

Her head fell back and she moaned.

“I want you so badly.” He kissed the pulse at the base of her throat as his finger breached her. He somehow managed to rub on her clit and finger her at the same time. His hot mouth found one of her nipples. He suckled her, hard before nipping at her flesh. She yelped feeling the sting. Then mewled as he licked the same spot better.

Then two, maybe more fingers were crooked inside her. She panted and moaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

“Ride me,” he commanded again, placing both hands on her hips so he could lift her. She fumbled for his cock. Desperate to have him inside her. “Yes,” she moaned as she circled his thick girth. “Oh yes!” she moaned louder as his tip breached her.

Forget going slow.

Forget her setting the pace.

Forget her doing much of anything.

Storm yanked her down, thrusting up simultaneously with his hips. She cried out, thankful he had prepared her. Not enough though. Her flesh stretched to accommodate him. Her ass hit his thighs. She bit down on her lip as pain blossomed.

Storm grunted loudly. “Fuck yes,” he snarled, lifting her and thrusting into her again.

She yelled again as his cock hit deep inside. Hitting nerves that sent her spiraling out of control from the start. She yelled even more loudly on the next thrust. Her boobs bounced. She tried to take over the movement, but he wouldn’t let her. He growled, low and deep, a warning, his fingers digging into her hips. It turned her on. His thrusts became more urgent. Her body seemed to suck him in, it made wet noises. Her breasts jerked hard. She grit her teeth, trying to hold on. Her orgasm close. They had only been going at it for less than a minute. She couldn’t come so quickly, so easily. Could she?

“Now,” Storm groaned. “Come for me,” he snarled.

It was like he owned her body because it obeyed; an orgasm ripped through her. Jolene groaned. He kept thrusting. Then his finger was rubbing on her clit. It was too much. Sensory overload. “Again,” he demanded.

“No,” she bit out.

“Yes.” His finger moved quickly but softly. His dick thrust deep and hard. “Now,” another growled command that sent her tumbling over the edge all over again.

Jolene shouted his name. This orgasm was harder and faster. It tore through her, taking no prisoners. She finally slumped against his chest, forehead damp, breathing heavily.

Storm rubbed her back. He kissed the top of her head. It was almost tender. She didn’t know what to make of this.

Storm felt better inside Jolene. He wanted her again. Maybe this time on her back with her legs hooked over his shoulders. Then again, he had enjoyed watching her ass bounce when he fucked her from behind. “I told you it was a mistake to leave me.”

“You didn’t put up much of a fight.” She sounded like she was smiling. He pulled back a little so that he could look at her and her full lips were indeed curved in a smile.

“I didn’t want to hold you back.”

She nestled back into his chest. “And taking me from my bed in the middle of the night isn’t holding me back?”

Storm chuckled. “You didn’t hold back. My ears are still ringing.”

“Hey.” She whacked the side of his arm.

“I rescued you.” Storm grinned.

“What did you rescue me from exactly?” Jolene sounded skeptical.

“Hail is boring as fuck.”

She tensed up, a frown creased her brow. “Don’t say that, I happen to like him.”

Storm felt everything go cold. His muscles turned hard as steel as those same feelings of jealousy returned and with a vengeance. He snarled as he tossed her onto her back. The sand would be soft against her skin. “You can’t possibly…like Hail.” Not a fuck! “Tell me you don’t actually feel something for the male.”

“I do like him but not in that way. I think he’s a good guy.”

Something eased in him. “I’m surprised your ears didn’t bleed earlier. The way he went on and on about tactical movements and perimeter patrols.” Storm rolled his eyes.

She gasped. “You listened in on our conversation. That’s rude!”

Storm chuckled. “Just to some of it. It was too boring to get into.” He smiled. “You think everything is rude.”

“Everything about you.” She smiled.

“And you love it.” He moved inside her, pushing a little deeper.

Jolene gasped. “Wait, we should talk.” Her voice was strained. Her heart-rate picked up.

“Talking is boring.” He leaned in and captured her lips, surprised at how much he liked the feel of them. Storm had never been much of a kisser.

She tasted good. Felt good. Jolene moaned and he ate up the sound, loving the feel of her tongue entwined with his. Her pussy was so snug and wet. So tight it almost hurt to take her. Storm made small circular thrusting motions. He broke the kiss and pulled up onto his elbows, admiring her for a moment or two from his position above her. Jolene’s lips were parted. Her eyes were hazy with desire. Her cheeks were flushed. Her hair a mess. He rose to his knees and lifted her legs, holding them together. Then he hugged them against his body. With her legs closed, her pussy tightened and Storm groaned. She felt so damned good.

There was no lasting with this female. Not a chance. He pulled out for a second, pushing his thumb inside her. Within moments it was wet with her juices. He pushed his cock back inside her, hugging her legs tighter, thrusting hard and deep, loving her moans and pants. Then he moved his thumb to her other hole and pressed.

“Oh god!” she yelped. Shock and surprise very evident by the sound of her voice.

Storm smiled. This was going to be new for her. He could tell. He kept fucking her, keeping his movements hard but easy. Not too fast. He pushed a little harder with his thumb. Breaching her ass but only just. She yelped. Another push and his thumb went to his knuckle. “Oh god! Oh god!” She panted out the words. It was almost impossible but her pussy tightened even more. Storm groaned.

He felt his balls pull up. It was as if his skin shrunk around his muscles and bone. Like somebody turned up the heat because sweat formed on his brow.

She was making the most amazing noises. Music to his ears. One more push of the finger and he was all the way in. “Ooooooh,” she moaned and then groaned his name, it sounded like a warning. One he was going to ignore. Storm grit his teeth and fingered her ass. In, out, in, out. Jolene went off like a rocket, shouting something garbled that sounded very much like ‘asshole.' It was hard to tell since she was screaming her release.

Asshole.

Storm would have laughed right then since his finger was buried very deep inside hers. Problem was, his balls were exploding with an orgasm that sucked the air out of his lungs. He grunted and his body jerked. Sweat dripped, his knees dug into the sand. His body shook with the intensity. It rushed through him. Fast and yet slow. Like a flood and warm molasses all at once. He hugged her legs, continuing to move for a while. Jolene was panting and mewling. It sounded like she'd enjoyed it just as much.

He smiled as he pulled out his thumb. He opened her legs, letting her feet plant into the sand on either side of him. He grunted when he pulled out. Storm placed his head on her chest. And what a magnificent chest it was. Like built-in pillows that felt good and looked good as well. She was trying hard to catch her breath, which was good because so was he.

After a few minutes, she swallowed and licked her lips. He could hear her do it. “I can’t believe you did that.” She sounded incredulous.

“Did what?” He grinned, knowing exactly what she was referring to.

“You know…what you did.” She choked out a laugh. “I don’t like anal.” She sounded sheepish.

Storm choked out a laugh. “You might not like anal, but your body likes the fuck out of it.”

Jolene shook beneath him as she laughed softly. “Okay,” she moaned the word. “It was really good. It just seems a little dirty and I don’t know…”

“Dirty and rude are not always bad things.” He lifted his head from between her breasts so that he could look at her. “Dirty isn’t always bad. It can be pleasurable too.”

“I guess.” Her cheeks went from pink and glowing to all-out red. Then she sighed. “We probably shouldn’t have done that without talking first.”

“Not everything should be planned and discussed. Sometimes things just need to happen.”

“Not things like this.”

“Why not? You have to admit it. That was the best sex you’ve ever had, right?” Why was he asking her this again? Why was it so important to him?

Her eyes clouded and she looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Damn.

Fuck!

By claw, she wasn’t about to say what he suspected she was. Jolene shook her head. “It was good. Really good. Shockingly good, can’t we leave it at that?”

No! Now that he had asked, he needed to know. Even though he knew what she was going to say, he still had to hear the words. He kept his eyes on hers.

Jolene shook her head, she tried to sit up. Storm could cage her in. He could hold her down if he wanted to, but he didn’t. He moved so that she could sit up. Hair mussed and covered with sand, she was still beautiful. Exquisite even. “It was good. Great even but, if you really must know, it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. I’m sorry if that bruises your ego. Is that what this was all about?” She looked down, chewing on her lip. She looked upset. Then her big brown eyes flashed to him. “Was this all about you proving to me that you are the best lover? Because you’re not. Sorry! You can stop trying because you’ll probably never get it right.” Then she pushed out a heavy breath, looking crestfallen. “You might be jealous but you have no intention of doing anything about it, so we may as well drop this.” Is that why she was upset, because for a second there she thought he might have changed his mind about settling down? Thing was, Jolene didn’t want him in that way, so that couldn’t be it.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Storm looked at her head on. “I did do something about it.”

She raised her brows. "Sex is…well, it's sex, it's not ‘something.'"

“It was good wasn’t it?” He didn’t understand her. Not even a little bit. Was this why she intrigued him so much?

She laughed and shook her head and looked sad. “I think you should take me back to Hail.”

“Fuck that!” he snarled. The venom in his voice shocked even him.

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “I don’t get you,” she finally said. “You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either.”

Storm shrugged. “I guess. I’m not sure I understand it myself.” He looked out at the vast ocean, at the rolling waves, before looking back at her. “Why can’t you just relax and let go for a while? Stop with all the planning, all the preparing and just let go. Breathe. Live. Be.” Shit! He was beginning to sound like a pussy, but he didn’t care. He wanted this for her.

“I’m too anal for that,” she blurted. Then she chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes glinting.

“I can help with that.” He winked.

She laughed but quickly turned sober. “Why can’t you be a little more serious? Take things a little more seriously?”

“I get bored easily.” There was no need to think on an answer. “I hate being bored. Life is too short, even for a non-human. With you being human, life is very fucking short. Have you thought about that?”

“I think about it often. That’s why I want to settle down so badly. I also happen to like planning. I enjoy being prepared. I know what I want and I like going for it, whether it’s job-related or relationship-related.” She sighed, her eyes lifting in thought. “I realize I can come on a bit strong. That I’m too serious at times.”

“Okay, I realize I can be a loose cannon at times and that I don’t always consider others.” He gripped her hands in his. “I don’t want you to go just yet. I can’t make any promises beyond the next two weeks. I just can’t. All I know is that I want you to stay.” He blew a breath out through his nose. “I’ve never begged a female before for anything but I’m begging you now to consider it.”

“It can’t all be about sex though.” She shook her head.

“We can have sex though, right?” he blurted feeling panicked. “Often, that is?”

She laughed. “Yes, we can have sex, but we need to do other things as well.”

“What kinds of things? Are you going to make me set up a candle-lit dinner?” He made a gagging noise. “Please don’t make me do that.”

“No, it doesn’t have to be romantic dinners. It doesn’t have to be romantic anything. Just anything other than sex. If I stay, we need to have fun outside the bedroom as well. Outside your apartment would be nice.”

"I'm sure I can think of a couple of things." He nodded, his mind working. Something fun. Something that would get her right out of her comfort zone. "You can't get pushy about a relationship and a future though. You can't get on to me about being an asshole and about being a commitment-phobe."

"I never called you a commitment-phobe." Then she laughed but it had a hurt edge to it. "Even if you are, don't worry, I'll cure you of that problem. You'll marry the next girl you meet for sure."

Storm recoiled at the idea. “Like hell. This should be about having fun and…” He pushed out a breath. “Maybe extending ourselves beyond our comfort zones just a little, but again, no serious future talk allowed.”

“Of course not.” She sounded affronted. “I know anything serious is not your style, Golden Boy.”

“You would be welcome to try to change me.” He raised his brows and smirked at her.

“No thanks.” She shook her head. “Not interested.”

“You can try to change me, and I will make it my mission to be the best lay you have ever had. That, and to show you the best time you have ever had.”

“So, my only option is to stay with you?” There was a joking edge to her voice and something else that he couldn’t quite pin down.

His good old mate jealousy made a quick comeback. “Or, you could go home right now because I’m not allowing another shifter anywhere near you.”

“I know I’m not supposed to call you out on it, but that was a seriously asshole thing to say.” She tried to make light of what she was saying but it didn’t work.

He touched his chest. “I am who I am. Do we have a deal? Two weeks, come on Jolene, let’s have some fun together and then you can go on with your boring as fuck life.”

“Hey, that’s a rude thing to say.”

Storm shrugged. "Maybe after this, you'll change your outlook a bit."

“Maybe you’ll change yours.” She raised her brows in a challenge ‒ and Jolene knew how to challenge him like no other.

Change. It was something he was afraid of. Love and settling down were not on the cards for him…not yet anyhow, but change wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for either of them.

“You never know, maybe you’ll have turned me into a boring pussy by the end of all this.”

“Maybe you’ll turn me into a reckless wanton.”

“A guy can hope.” He held out his hand.

Jolene laughed, she looked down at his outstretched hand for a few beats before taking it and shaking it. “I’m probably going to regret this.”

“Not a chance.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. Then he nibbled on the tip of one of her fingers. Jolene giggled. When he sucked on the digit, she bit down on her lip. “Now that’s how you kiss a female’s hand.”

“You were jealous of Hail kissing my hand?” She made a face, a smile tugged on the corners of her lips.

“I’m still considering cutting his lips off.”

She gasped. “You can’t be serious.”

“I won’t hurt him.” He gripped her by the hips and flipped her onto her knees. “Not if you make it up to me.” Her heart-shaped ass was covered in sand. Gorgeous. He gave it a light slap, watching the sand sprinkle onto the ground. Jolene yelped. She giggled straight after and he scented arousal.

Then she swallowed thickly. “What did you have in mind?”

“Your question should be,” he found her clit and started on it, “what don’t I have in mind? Because I can tell you…” he lined his cock up with her opening, “I have so much in store for us.” He thrust inside her. Loving her surprised gasp. Loving the feel of her tight around him. “And most of it is dirty and as rude as fuck.” He grunted. “You’re going to love it.”

Jolene moaned something that sounded like, “Doubt it!’

The game was still on. Only the stakes were higher. More fun that way.