This time there was no Christina to egg her on. To push her to walk one more mile. To go that little bit faster. Nevertheless, she trudged on, putting one foot in front of the other. Boob sweat was still very much a thing. It was happening right then.

Why the hell was she out here? Where was Storm? He was getting a piece of her mind when he finally turned up. This was just like him.

It was all game.

All a freaking game to him.

Once again, her career was in jeopardy because he couldn’t think further than his own damned nose. She stopped and covered her face with her hand and groaned. She’d made her boss ‒ the CEO of her company ‒ reschedule with the board. She’d treated the guy who paid her bloody salary ‒ who held her livelihood in his hands ‒ like her own personal assistant.

Jolene groaned again. She should have refused. Should never have come.

Beck had dropped her off over an hour ago. He'd given her a change of clothing, trainers too and had told her to head out. He'd handed her the backpack and had told her to start walking. She'd demanded to be taken back, but he had laughed, shifted and disappeared into the sky.

Jerk.

He hadn’t told her anything. By the prince’s orders. “He can take his orders and stick them,” she mumbled.

“What’s that, Sweet Lips?”

Jolene yelled and turned, almost falling over her own feet. Storm was right behind her, leaning up against a tree looking smug. He was smirking. Asshole thought this was hilarious. Her heart did beat faster though at the sight of him. His dark hair was tousled. His amethyst eyes bright and exquisite, like the rest of him. So darned handsome it took her breath away, which irritated her. Why? Because she was in love with him…and she was just a game to him.

"I said, you can take your orders and shove them where the sun don't shine, Golden Boy." She narrowed her eyes and pointed at him while she spoke. "You had better have a damned good reason for uprooting my life once again. For dragging me out here. I told the board they needed to reschedule our meeting this evening. I haven't even been officially announced as the new Marketing Director, and I'm already throwing my weight around."

Storm grinned. “You got the promotion? Of course, you got it. I’m so proud of you.”

“I might not have a job when I get back after this,” she grumbled. Truth was, she didn’t care about the stupid job. She was scared out of her wits though. “Why am I here?” It had to be asked.

Storm shrugged. “I’m hunting you.”

She rolled her eyes and groaned. “Let me guess.” She locked eyes with his. “You were bored. Is that right? You needed to liven up your life and so you had Beck pick me up.”

He nodded, folding his arms. “You’re not far off. I was very bored. I’ve been bored to tears since you left. No-one to argue with. No-one to—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know where this is going. No-one to warm your bed.”

He gave her a half-smile. “I was going to say fuck, but,” he nodded, “I guess they’re the same thing.”

She snorted. “Well, you can forget coming anywhere near me.”

“Still playing hard to get I see. This is almost like a repeat of the last time. I’m sorry it took me so long. Over two weeks. If it was up to me, this would have happened much sooner.”

“What? What do you mean?” Why had he said that?

“I would’ve organized this whole thing sooner, only we had to wait to be sure those slayers didn’t come back.”

“You mean the guys in the helicopters?”

“One and the same,” he said. “They haven’t been back since the day they almost caught you.” His jaw tensed and his eyes darkened. “I was beside myself with worry. I—”

“Your brother…” It took her a moment to recall his name. “Tide mentioned that Torrent had to knock you out.”

Storm grimaced and touched his jaw. “He blindsided me with a right hook. Broke my jaw in three places and knocked out two teeth.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my god! Are you okay? You look okay, but—”

Storm chuckled. “It took me an hour to come to and another couple of hours to heal but I’m fine. Good as new.” He flashed her a full set of teeth. “It was too late to come after you though. You were long gone by then and the kings put a strict lock-down on any movement in or out of the four kingdoms. That restriction was lifted this morning. The slayers seem to have backed off…at least for now. We’re not sure what they’re planning but that’s a discussion for another day.”

“Okay.” She wasn’t sure where he was going with this.

He pulled in a deep breath. “I wanted to recreate the hunt.” He looked around them, looking pleased with himself.

“I’m sure you did.” She shook her head, feeling frustrated to her core. “This isn’t a game to me though, Storm. It never was. I did have fun in the end but now it’s over. We don’t want the same things. I need to move on with my life.” She needed to try to get over him, which wasn’t going to happen if they kept seeing each other.

“You told me that males always end up mating the very next female they are with after you.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Why is this even relevant?” Why rub it in?

“You told me that I would end up serious about the next female I caught in a hunt. You said that, didn’t you?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

“What are you saying?” It couldn’t be what it sounded like.

He licked his lips and wrung his hands together before holding them still at his sides. Storm looked nervous all of a sudden. “Well, here we are. I just hunted and caught you, Jolene. It’s my own mini-hunt.” He chuckled.

She had to laugh too. Partly because she was suddenly feeling nervous too and partly because he was such an idiot. A cute, sweet idiot of a man. “We’re the only two taking part so it’s not technically…Wait a minute…we are the only two taking part, right?”

“It’s just us and it’s supposed to be symbolic. A romantic gesture.”

“Flowers and chocolates are romantic. Boob sweat on the other hand,” she mumbled, trying hard to hold back a grin and failing.

“Look,” he swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “when I thought they had you…when…” His eyes widened for a moment. They turned a touch glassy. “It was horrendous thinking that they might get you. What they might do to you if they did. Slayers are not nice people. They’re not scouring our lands for any good reason other than because they know we are here. All I know is that their intentions are evil. They wouldn’t be armed to the gills with silver artillery otherwise.” He pulled in another deep breath, letting it out slowly through his nose. “I’m glad Torrent knocked me out because I wasn’t thinking about anything other than rescuing you, which under the circumstances would have put you in untold danger. All of us in untold danger. I hate that I had to wait two weeks.” He tucked a piece of wayward hair behind her ear. “I decided not to contact you during that time because I wanted it to be a surprise. I wanted to tell you in person.”

“Tell me what?” By now she was holding her breath. She bit down on her bottom lip.

“That you are my next female. You’re my last female. You are the one I’m serious about because I’m crazy about you. I don’t want anyone else. My brother was right…I did know it when you left, and I let you go anyway because I’m an asshole and an idiot and all of the other things you love calling me.”

“You’re not.” She shook her head and sniffed. Jolene quickly wiped a hand over her eyes when she realized she was crying.

"Yeah, I am. I'm an idiot too for running scared. My dad died in a freak accident when I was six. My mom died from a broken heart less than two years later. I watched her pine for him every day and I guess it scared the shit out of me. I was looking at it all wrong though. I looked at it from the negative side. They loved each other so much. I thought that kind of love was bad, but I was wrong. I do want that kind of love…I have that kind of love with you. I’m not running scared anymore. I love you, Sweet Lips.” He cupped her cheeks. “I’m so glad I had the good sense to throw you over my shoulder because you are the female for me. You’re it! You’re mine!” He leaned in and kissed her, taking her breath away.

She grabbed his ass and squeezed, rubbing herself against him. “I’ve missed you, Golden Boy. Missed you so much and I love you too. There were moments…lots of moments over the last two weeks where I wished it wasn’t true, but it is. I’m not sure how it happened but it did.”

“It happened because I’m awesome.”

She choked out a laugh.

He turned serious. “Because we’re awesome together. Does this mean you agree to mating me?”

“What do you think? Because,” she narrowed her eyes, “if you think I’m moving in, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m not giving the milk away for free.”

“No moving in. I want that milk. I want it really badly.”

She laughed and then realized what he was saying and stopped. “No dating?” Her heart beat faster.

“No dating!”

“No?” Faster still.

“Nope.” He shook his head. “I’m making this official! You do agree to mating with me?” He looked at her, chest heaving, eyes wide.

“Of course, yes.”

He hoisted her into his arms and kissed her until she struggled to breathe or think. Then he put her down and stepped away from her.

Jolene frowned “This is the part where you’re supposed to throw me on the ground and make passionate love to me.”

“Um…I wouldn’t recommend it.” He shook his head.

“Why? What’s going on?”

"You didn't think I'd let you wander around alone did you?" Storm raised his brows. "Those slayers could come back." Storm whistled, and a couple of dragons took to the air around them. "I'm not risking your life, but I wanted this to be special. I wanted you to know you're it for me."

“You’re so sweet and I love you.”

Storm kissed her again, his lips brushing hers. “What do you say we head home?”

“Sounds good.” She nodded, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.