Their last night…

Her eyes lit up as she walked outside and a smile slowly curved her full lips. She clasped a hand to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. “I thought you said you weren’t doing any romantic bullshit.”

“I’m not.” He shook his head.

“What’s this then?” She looked around the patio. “Fairy lights, flowers, candles, wine and soft music.” She laughed, the sound music to his ears. “I hate to break it to you, Golden Boy but this is plenty romantic.”

Storm shrugged. “I wanted our last night together to be special. You’re special, Jolene.” He walked over to her and clasped her hands. “I’m sorry I ruined things for you.”

“No, you didn’t, you—”

"Wait, hear me out." He squeezed her hands. "I kind of did." He sucked in a big breath. "No ‘kind of' about it. I ruined things for you. I was a selfish asshole, but I'm happy to say that I think I've changed for the better since meeting you, so something good came of this."

"Maybe a little selfish in the beginning but you're ultimately a good guy. You were right, by the way, I was too pushy and too anal. I was far too serious about things, and that was most likely a very big part of why men couldn't commit to me in the past. I scared them away."

“They weren’t good enough for you.” Storm felt angry that those faceless males had turned their backs on this gorgeous, funny, sexy female. It was their loss. “If I was ready to settle down, I’d snap you up in a heartbeat.” He meant it too. Every word. Her eyes clouded for a moment, but she blinked a few times and it was gone.

“Shall we eat?” He let her hands go, pulling out her chair and pushing it in as she sat.

“Venison carpaccio.” He put a plate down in front of her. “With a plum jus. I put some parmesan on yours.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” He sat down.

“How is your nephew doing?” she asked, picking up her knife and fork.

“Great. He’s already put on some weight.” Storm had to smile just thinking of the squirming little baby. “Fjord looks exactly like Torrent. I’m sorry you never got a chance to meet the little one.”

“No,” she put her knife down, “don’t worry about it. There wasn’t enough time in the end. How is Rain? Has she warmed to the baby?” She put a small forkful into her mouth.

Storm chuckled. "Like you won't believe. She's driving her mom crazy because she wants to do everything. She wants to bathe him and change him."

“I’m so glad.” Jolene smiled. It was warm and beautiful. Her chocolate eyes were bright and so damned beautiful.

“If I ask permission, would you stay?”

Her eyes lightened up and she seemed to hold her breath.

“I mean for another week. I know you said you don’t have any more leave, but do you think your boss would let you stay?” He pulled in a breath. “You could meet little Fjord. I know Candy, my brother’s mate would really like to meet you and Rain has asked about you as well.” He put down his cutlery. “What do you say?” His heart beat wildly. He didn’t think Torrent would agree but his brother could go to hell. It was only a week. Only seven days.

Jolene sort of smiled. She looked down at her food for a moment before locking eyes with him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? You’ve had fun, haven’t you? We can finally go swimming.” The humans had found the aircraft remains and hadn’t been seen since. They seemed ‒ at least for the time being ‒ to have backed off.

“I need to get back to my job, to my life. I enjoyed myself. I enjoyed spending time with you, but…” she bit down on her lip, “I can’t stay. You know that. I told you about my pending promotion.”

“What about it?” Storm leaned forward, listening to her every word.

“I’m up for a promotion. Carla Jackson and I each manage the sales and marketing department. That’s what our company does. I’m not going to bore you with the particulars.”

“Not at all. You can tell me more.” He meant it. He wanted to know so much more about this female.

Jolene smiled. “You’d die of boredom.”

“I would not.”

“What I do isn’t important,” she laughed, “I’ll get into that some other time.” She must have realized what she had said because her eyes clouded. There wouldn’t be another time. There was a heavy pause. She pushed out a breath. “Anyway, Carla and I are both up for an Exec position. We’re pretty evenly matched. Carla is cutthroat…bottom line, she’s a bitch. I would have to leave if she got the job. I couldn’t tell my boss that of course.”

“Why not?” he blurted. Jolene was far too nice.

She shrugged. “I just couldn’t. You don’t do things like that.” Jolene took a sip of her wine.

“Of course you can. You should tell him like it is. Stand up for yourself. This Carla female sounds like she would do the same.” She sounded like she walked all over Jolene, which made him want to do something about it but there was nothing he could do. It frustrated him.

“She’ll do a whole lot more,” Jolene mumbled. “She’s an ass-licker of note.”

Storm felt horrified. “She likes to lick ass?” Who was this female?

Jolene burst out laughing. “Not literally.” She chuckled some more. “It means she likes to suck up. She sucks up to my boss all the time. It might win her the promotion. It doesn’t help that I left to come here at a crucial time.”

Storm felt like a dick all over again. “I’m so fucking sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?”

Jolene shook her head. “You don’t have to keep apologizing. I’ve had a good time. It was…dare I say, fun.” She smiled brightly.

“Stay then,” he urged.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “Please understand.”

“I do.” He nodded. “I had to try one last time. I suppose it would be delaying the inevitable and I want you to still have every shot at that promotion.” He swallowed thickly. “I really meant it when I said I would grab you and never let go if I was ready to take that next step.”

She shook her head, smiling. There was this look in her eyes though. “What makes you think I’d be interested?”

“Your body, Sweet Lips…your body tells me all the time how interested you are.”

She snorted, her smile widening. “Good thing my body’s not in charge then, Golden Boy.”

Storm choked out a laugh. “Eat up.” He picked up his fork and pointed at her food. “Before it gets cold.”

Jolene rolled her eyes. “Carpaccio doesn’t get cold.” She laughed.

Storm had planned on going with the last piece of advice Crystal had dished out but, how could he? It wouldn’t be right. As much as he wanted to be the best. As much as he wanted no male to ever match up, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it to himself and he definitely couldn’t do it to Jolene.

Worship her body, the she-dragon had said. Worship every part of her. Take your time. Make it about her. It’s not a race, or about how many times you can make her come. Once is enough if you put your all into it. If you put everything into it.

Only, that sounded too much like making love. Who was he kidding? That was making love and as much as he longed to make love to the sweet human in front of him, he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair because he couldn’t keep her.

“What are you thinking about?” Jolene asked, putting another forkful of food into her mouth.

“How I can’t wait to get done with dinner and about how much I’m looking forward to dessert.”

“Oh, and what’s for dessert?”

“You are.” He let his eyes dip to her cleavage before moving back to her gaze. “I was just wondering if you were particularly attached to that dress and if this table can take a bit of a hammering.” He gave it a little shake, pretending to check it.

Jolene giggled. “You’ve gone to so much trouble. We should enjoy it.”

“Screw the food. I’m going to miss you.” He meant it. He really and truly meant it. Maybe it was a good thing she was going.

Her pupils dilated.

“To hell with it,” he growled, standing and swiping the plates, cutlery, candles and all the other crap from the table.

Jolene stood up as well, chest heaving. Eyes wide. He could scent arousal. He gripped her hips and turned her, so that her front was on the table, her ass in the air. Oh, that ass. Rounded and plump. “Fucking perfect,” he growled as he pulled her dress up. “No underwear?” He could hear the shock in his voice. “That’s fucking rude, a lot naughty…and I love it.” He slapped her ass just enough that it would sting just a little. Jolene squealed and then giggled. The scent of her arousal grew stronger.

She groaned when he found her clit and rubbed softly while pulling at his pants and freeing his cock.

He was desperate to be inside her. Like his life depended on it. He snarled as he pushed inside her. Snarled again as he began to thrust. He pulled the zipper down on her dress, continuing to work her pussy. Loving the mewls and whimpers she was making.

Her channel was slick and tight, pulling him in. Clenching him hard. His balls slapped against her ass, which bounced with every hard thrust.

He peeled her dress down, her tits spilling out. Storm reached around and cupped her breast, her nipple hard against his palm. His balls were already pulling tight.

With one hand, he held her down. With the other, he found her clit and pinched it softly between two fingers. Jolene sobbed as her pussy spasmed around him. He roared her name as he came. His body jerked with the severity of his orgasm. He finally slumped over her, his dick still buried deep inside her. They were both breathing deeply. “Are you ready for the next course?” he asked.

Jolene shook with laughter beneath him. “How many courses are we talking?”

“A whole lot.” He grinned, kissing her back. “First the chicken.” He pulled out, making a grunting noise. “And then I’d like to finger your ass again,” he whispered in her ear, then pulled himself up, so that she could move.

Jolene pushed out a throaty laugh. “You are so crass,” she said, standing. She began fixing her dress. Tucking all her gorgeous curves away.

“But you love it.” He grinned, bobbing his brows at her.

She nodded. “It’s grown on me.” Her eyes clouded but she looked away. If she was so sad about leaving, why didn’t she stay? Storm knew he wouldn’t be able to change her mind. The only thing he could do was make the most of the time they had left.

“Here, let me do up your zipper.”

She turned around, holding up her hair. If only he wasn’t such a damned pussy. If only things had been different.