The ground was a blur below her. “Put me down!” Jolene yelled for what felt like the hundredth time. Her throat felt raspy. Her head felt like it might explode since all of her blood had congregated in her skull.

“Put. Me—” She gasped as he did as she asked.

Thankfully, Golden Boy held onto her arms, or she would've flopped onto the ground. The earth spun. Dizziness hit, she put out a hand, planting it on him to keep from tilting to the side and crumbling to the ground. More spinning and dizziness. Her hair was plastered to her face, which felt hot. Her head felt swollen. She didn't think it was actually swollen, but it sure as hell felt that way.

Golden Boy had run with her like that over his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes, for what felt like forever, but in reality was probably thirty or forty minutes.

The shifter chuckled. He wasn’t in the least bit out of breath. “You okay?” he asked, in that smooth, easy baritone of his. At least he had the good grace to sound concerned.

Jolene’s mouth felt dry. She licked her lips, hair catching her tongue and mouth. Her breathing was hard. “That was horrible,” she mumbled between pants.

“Do you want to sit down for a couple of minutes?” He held onto her arms, still holding her up.

Her hand was still planted on…on steel. Ripped steel. She cracked open one eye. Yup, her hair was covering her face, but she could see through a gap in the strands. Her hand was splayed across the top part of his abs. His skin was very warm, almost hot even.

Jolene removed said hand and used it to swipe the hair from her face and mouth. Where was the band that had held it in place? Somewhere in the wilderness behind them. “Yes, sitting sounds like a good idea. Wait a minute though,” she quickly added. “You weren’t supposed to take me.” She shook her head. “It was decided. Christina was the lucky winner. You should take me back. More slowly this time.”

“You were right.” Good lord but his eyes were a beautiful color. A vivid light amethyst. Humans didn’t have eyes that color. The color of gemstones and fanned by thick, dark lashes. “It was ultimately up to me to decide who I was going to choose. I chose you!” Like it was a done deal.

“No.” She shook her head.

Golden Boy frowned. “What do you mean no?”

“It’s not going to work out. This is all a game to you…I can tell. I’ve been around enough players in my time to know one when I see one. You are one alright.” She could almost see a neon sign on his forehead.

“Player?” He shook his head. “I’m unfamiliar with the term.”

“You like to mess around. It’s all about sex and a good time. I’m here to find myself a man.”

One side of that mouth…oh, that mouth…quirked up. He looked down at himself. At his chest, his guns, lower. “I’m pretty sure I qualify, only I’m a shifter which means I’m much, much better than a mere man.”

Jolene tracked his gaze, following along the contours of all that muscle and brawn. Those cotton pants these shifters wore did little to hide their package. Yes…he was distinctly manly. A very manly man…a shifter. “You know what I mean.” She snapped her gaze back up to his when she realized she was gawking.

“Not really.” He shook his head.

“I want friendship and respect.”

“Noted.” He folded his arms. “Those I can do.”

Jolene was trying hard not to come on too strong but hell, she was here on serious business. These shifters weren’t supposed to mess around. “I’m going to just say it.”

When she didn’t continue he nodded. “Go ahead. I like females who are upfront about what they want.”

“I want commitment. I want children…in the not too distant future. If these things scare you, then move on. Go find someone else to track down and to throw over your shoulder. I’ll sit right there.” She pointed to a fallen tree. “I’ll wait for someone who wants what I want. I don’t need a prince, thank you,” she mumbled.

His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed just a smidgen. They seemed to darken. “Those things don’t scare me in the least.”

That came as a shocker. Golden Boy was a player…he had to be. Everything about him screamed it. His royal heritage, the fact that he was gorgeous and strong and…just plain yum. More than anything, his whole attitude screamed it. He ran a hand through that thick mop of tousled hair. It looked silky soft. "I also want a female and young."

“Oh…okay.” She wasn’t sure she was buying it. Why was she sensing a ‘but’ here?

“Only…I don’t want all of that just yet.”

Hah! She knew it! “Why did you take part in this whole hunt then? It is called a bride hunt, isn’t it?” Jolene felt herself frown. “Bride as in partner, wife…mate? Do I need to explain to you how a bride hunt works? I thought a dragon shifter would know.”

Golden Boy removed her backpack from his shoulders, setting it down at his feet. Somewhere along the line it had fallen off of her own back. Being jostled upside down would have that effect. She was just lucky she hadn’t lost her lunch as well.

He nodded, seeming to think his answer through. "You were straight with me, and I will be straight with you as well."

“I should hope so.”

He smiled. It was the first genuine smile she had seen from him. “I think I might like you, Jolene.”

She felt this warm fuzzy feeling inside. She was such a girl. Did he really like her? Players played games, so she still couldn’t be sure. The warm fuzzy feeling stayed, even if she was a little confused and a whole lot irritated.

“I’m not ready to settle down.” He went on, looking sincere, “If I was, you’d be just the female for me.”

That made her want to snort and roll her eyes. Such a charming thing to say. Too charming, like he was buttering her up. He didn’t even know her. He went on. “I took part in the hunt to have fun. I wanted to see what it was all about. I wanted to spend some time with a human. I would love to spend some time with you.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, holding onto it.

That warm fuzzy feeling only magnified. This, despite Golden Boy being a player of note by his own admission. Jolene pulled her hand away. “Well then, head on up the creek, bucko. I’m not interested in you.”

“Not interested.” He snorted. “You do find me attractive and you would like me to fuck you.” He said it like it was a fact. No question marks in sight. “That spells interest right there.”

Her mouth fell open. The need to choke on nothing also hit but she managed to suppress that urge. Only just. “I find you both attractive and an asshole,” she finally spluttered. “The one counters the other, so I ultimately feel nothing for you. As to the other part of that equation,” she shrugged, “I’m not really into sex.” All true.

“What? Not into…?” Golden Boy looked completely out of sorts, which was out of character for what she knew of him so far. “How can you not be into sex? You’re young and attractive and single and…fuck me!” He continued to shake his head, looking lost. “No, I don’t get that. You need to explain please.”

“There isn’t much to explain.”

“Please try.”

“Fine! I don’t mind sex, it's okay. If I'm in a relationship, then we do it, and if I'm not, I don't miss it. There's nothing wrong with it per se. I don’t need it though. It’s not important to me.”

She watched as his jaw slowly dropped as she spoke. It was comical to watch.

“So there.” She shrugged. “That’s it! Not much to explain and no, I don’t particularly want to fuck you.” Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. Call it curiosity. She’d never been with someone this gorgeous. That in itself would be worth the whole sticky business of having sex. Only, it wasn’t enough. Not anymore. She wanted burning love. Two bodies coming together out of passion, pure and unrelenting passion.

“You don’t want to fuck me?” He quirked a brow, managing to look both comical and sexy. Then he straightened up, his broad shoulders pulling back. Two deep grooves appeared between his eyes. “You have no idea, do you?”

“No idea about what?”

“How good fucking can be. How amazing we would be together. How—”

“Good lord!” she muttered, her eyes on his cock. “You’re getting a hard-on.”

“You’d better believe it. Just thinking about fucking does this to me.” He pointed at his…well, there, not in the least bit embarrassed at how hard he was getting. “Thinking about being inside you…making you cry out…making you come.” His voice was impossibly deep. “It’s turning me on in a big way.”

She should feel weird about this conversation. She should find him creepy. It didn’t happen. Her nipples tightened…They tightened. Her girl part did something as well. Gave a clench. That’s it…her vagina clenched tight. Her clit did this throb, throb thing. It made her feel…needy. It made her feel like sex. Pity Golden Boy was so arrogant and full of himself. Guys like him made the worst lovers. Not that she was thinking about having actual sex with him, mind you. He was a player, so that was out!

Golden Boy grinned. His nostrils flared a couple of times. “You’re aroused.” He grinned some more.

What? Good lord, but he had good senses. She had a three-second freak-out, and then Jolene took in a deep breath. "A momentary loss of my faculties. I'm over it."

His eyes turned stormy. “No, you’re not.” He sniffed again, making this groaning noise. “You have an amazing scent…like candied apples. I wouldn’t mind diving right in.” He licked his lips. The bastard licked his lips using languid strokes, his eyes burning holes in her.

More throbbing. More clenching. More tightening. What the hell?

Golden Boy's nostrils flared, and he grinned. "I can tell you'd like that, Jolene."

“I’d hate it.”

“Your body says different.”

"My body isn't in charge here, I am. Now, please leave so that whoever heads this way knows I'm available."

“You’re not available.” He seemed to tower over her. Gone was any trace of humor. His jaw was tight, his eyes filled with intensity. Sex on legs and yet emotionally unavailable What a waste! Golden Boy was the bad apple. All these perfectly lovely apples. All buff and attractive and she had to get saddled with the bad apple of the bunch. The asshole.

“You’re right, I’m not available,” she countered. “At least, to you I’m not, I—”

Golden Boy wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. Against all of his hot, hard muscle. He covered her mouth with his. Good lord but his lips were soft. Then his tongue was pushing between her lips, delving into her mouth. Her feet were being lifted off the ground. Right off. Her. Jolene had always felt attractive but at the same time, she wasn’t tiny. She was average height and she had curves. Hips and ass, with maybe a side of thighs. Right then, in his arms, she felt like a feather. The way he kissed her, made her feel like she was the sexiest creature alive. Her chest pushed up against the hard planes of his chest. Her hands dug into his shoulders. She knew that she should pull away. She really did. Instead though, she moaned. All out moaned.

Golden Boy pulled back, his cocky grin back on his face. “See, this could work.” He winked at her.

The human made a throaty noise. Her eyes were wide. There were both golden and green flecks within their dark depths. Very pretty. Her cheeks were flushed. Her mouth swollen. Fucking beautiful. Any second now, she was going to beg him to fuck her. Humans were like that. They enjoyed ripping his shirt off of him. Pulling their own clothes off, frantic to have him touch them. Begging him. It was—

She leaned back and cracked him a shot across the cheek. A decent slap for a human. Especially one of the fairer sex. It stung for half a second but was nothing to a dragon shifter. The impact wouldn’t leave even the tiniest of marks.

Her face crumpled, and she cried out in what sounded like pain. Storm put her down. Jolene grabbed her palm in her other hand, her face definitely showed pain. “What are you made of? Granite?” Her voice was shrill.

“Oh shit!” He eased his own hand over the two of hers. “Are you okay? I’m sorry you are hurt. You shouldn’t have struck me. I mean,” he shrugged, “you are welcome to do so but you will need to be more careful, so you don’t hurt yourself.”

“You mean that didn’t hurt you at all?” Her face was still pinched, and she still held onto her hand.

"No, not even close." He could have stopped her twice over, but that would have meant dropping her, which could have hurt her even more. "I take it that you weren't happy with the kiss?" This confused the fuck out of him. Their kiss had been amazing. This female was so soft, so lush and yet so damned fiery.

“Don’t do that again.” She pointed a finger at him, still holding the hurt one to her chest.

“Why not? I aroused you and you enjoyed it. I could tell by the sounds you were making. The scent coming off you and how your heart was beating.”

“I did not get aroused!” She grit her teeth for a moment, looking up. “Okay, it wasn’t bad…it’s just not what I wanted. Definitely not something I would want again.”

“That doesn’t make sense because your body is saying different.” He glanced down at her chest. Her nipples were all over the place. Hard little nubs, trying to rip free from her shirt.

Jolene gasped, her eyes widening like saucers. She cupped her breasts, her small hands doing a terrible job of it. “Don’t look at me like that, it’s rude.”

“Your breasts are pretty much trying to poke out one of my eyes ‒ make that both my eyes. You could say they are looking at me.”

“That’s bullshit! Look,” she sounded flustered, “let’s cut the crap here. We want different things…very different things. I don’t want fun. I want serious. I don’t want to have any kind of sex with you, despite what my body keeps telling you. Go away. I’m waiting for my happy ever after, for my handsome prince and you are not him.” She shook her head, putting her hands on her hips.

Storm couldn’t help the laugh that was pulled from him.

“What’s so darned funny?” She scowled at him.

“Handsome prince?” He quirked a brow and touched a hand to his golden mark.

Her eyes widened when she realized what she had just said. “Fine,” she practically growled. “You’re a prince and you’re…okay looking, but—”

“Okay?” He lifted both brows. He’d seen how she looked at him not so long ago. How her gaze kept dipping to his cock. She could deny it all she wanted but that kiss hadn’t lied. Their lip-lock had been scorching. She’d loved the hell out of that kiss, hence her adverse reaction.

“Back to the part about you being an asshole and a player and that makes my attraction to you null and void.”

He should just leave. Turn around right then and head back into the fray. He could easily steal another male’s female. He could do it in a heartbeat. They would come willingly. No work, no fuss. He’d have his cock wet within the hour.

Thing was, he was there for fun. He was there for a little excitement. He was there because he was sick of being bored. Even the stag run was getting tired these days. This female was interesting. She was different. He liked Jolene. Liked everything about her.

A challenge.

That was it. This female was a challenge. He'd never experienced this before, and he fucking loved it. Storm had never been one to back down from a contest of wills, and he wasn't about to start now. "No, Jolene, I'm afraid I'm not leaving you behind for some other male to snap up. You are my prize. I won you fair and square, and that kiss sealed the deal. I plan on having you back in my chamber and under me before the sun comes up tomorrow morning. Back before any of the other three tribes catch wind of you."

Her mouth fell open, but she quickly recovered. “Oh, and this is because you just fell madly in love with me and want me to bear your children? That had better be the reason. Anything else is unacceptable!”

“What?” He frowned. “Have my young? Not a fucking chance. You get me for the next three weeks. I’m going to show you what you’ve been missing out on.”

“I’ve been missing out on love!” she yelled. “That’s all! Love, okay.”

Storm knew he really shouldn’t laugh at her right then, but he couldn’t help himself. “Love? No, love and all that other stuff can wait. You don’t need it right now.”

"How dare you tell me what I do and don't need." Her face was turning a dark red, and her eyes were narrowed. "I know what I need and three weeks of you isn't it."

“If you mated and had children now, you would miss out. Everyone needs to live a little before settling down. It has nothing to do with me per se except that I’m the lucky male who gets to help you out.” He rubbed a hand over the stubble on his jaw.

“I’m not sure what you’re on, but it looks like it’s some good shit.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Now…are you paying attention?” Before he could answer, she went on. "I. Know.” She paused. “Exactly. What. I want.” She spoke slowly and carefully. Like he was a whelp.

"You have no clue, Jolene. These males from your past could not even class themselves as males." His voice dropped a few octaves, but that couldn't be helped. He moved in closer. "You can't settle down until you've had a decent fuck. One that blows your mind several times over. Until you—"

Crack!

He had to give it to her, her reflexes were fantastic for a human. Her pain threshold, on the other hand, was terrible. Jolene yelped, cradling her hand all over again.

“I told you not to do that.” Storm shook his head.

“Oh good, it hurt this time.” She smiled, even though her face was still contorted in pain.

“It hurt you.”

She tried flicking the hand. “I reckon you must be made from granite for real. I think I broke something.” She bounced from one foot to the other. “Oh god, it hurts.”

“Let me help you.” Storm picked her up.

“No, you don’t!” she yelled.

“Stop fighting me for a second.” He held her to his chest and sprinted. Within minutes they were at the bank of the river.

“Oh, wow!” Jolene sighed as he put her down, noticing that he still held her hand. “How beautiful.” She looked around them, her pain temporarily forgotten.

"Come to the river bank, the water is icy, it will soothe you."

Jolene nodded, she followed him to the river’s edge and placed her hand in the current.

“You shouldn’t keep hitting me.” No-one had ever struck him before, outside of battle. It was fascinating that she stood up to him in that way.

“You were rude. I’ve never struck anyone in my life.”

“I spoke my mind,” he countered.

“Exactly. You have a seriously dirty mind.”

Storm shrugged. “Females normally like dirty talk.”

“Not me.”

“If you say so. And?” he asked. “Feeling any better?” He glanced down at her hand. It was still in the water.

“Much.” She nodded. Her shoulder slumped. “Just let me go, please. I’m asking you really nicely.”

“I take it that even though you are attracted to me, I’m not your type.”

“I don’t even know your name and no…” She clamped down on her lower lip for a moment. “We want different things, so that means you’re not my type at all.”

“Well then, you have nothing to lose.”

“I have a whole lot to lose. I came here to find myself a future. My clock is ticking. I need to get married and to have children, one of these days it won’t be possible anymore. I love cats. I don’t have any, but I love them.”

He wasn’t sure what felines had to do with any of this. Storm frowned.

"I don't want a whole house of them though, and I don't want to be alone." She looked around them. "I love it out here. I want to stay. I want to fall in love. I want more than you can give me."

“I’m not saying you can’t have those things but waiting three weeks longer for them to happen won’t make too much of a difference, will it?”

“Yes, it will make a big difference!” she practically yelled. “If you’re suggesting I stick it out with you for the prescribed three weeks then yes, it will absolutely make a huge difference because I’ll have to go home and this will have been for nothing. I left everything to come here.”

“You won’t have to go home. You can move on to someone else after three weeks. The males would clamber for a chance. You’d pretty much have your pick.”

“I can move on to someone else if things don’t work out between us?” She looked like she was mulling it over. “I didn’t know that.” She frowned, shaking her head.

“It’s not something we advertise but yes, you could move on. Jolene…” Her heart-rate picked up when he said her name and her pupils dilated. This female was far more interested in this than she realized. “I’m keeping you for the next couple of weeks. You’ll share a chamber with me, a bed with me—” She tried to talk. “Let me finish. It’s going to happen whether you like it or not. No male will dare try to touch you during that time because I would kill him.”

"That's a bit harsh." Her breathing became a little more elevated, and the scent of apples surrounded them. Aroused at his talk of violence. Interesting!

“No, it’s not in the least bit harsh. I will kill anyone who touches what is mine, even if it is a short-term arrangement.”

“Can I talk yet?”

“No.” He shook his head. “We’re going to fuck and often.”

She shook her head, gritting her teeth. Her eyes filled with venom.

“You’ll love it!” he growled.

She rolled her eyes. “You’re so damned full of it.”

“No, I’m not. I’ll make a deal with you, you let me fuck you just once, if you don’t like it, you can leave.”

“I’m not agreeing to anything.” More candied apples hit his nose. She wanted to wrap her legs around him. She wouldn’t admit it though. Not yet.

“The offer is on the table. We fuck, have fun and then you go on to the next shifter. The next one will be your mate. He can love you and the two of you can make babies.” He waved a hand. “Blah, blah, blah, and all that other stuff. You may already be…how old did you say you were?”

“I didn’t. I’m thirty-four. I don’t have time for—”

“You might be thirty-four, but I can tell you’ve never really lived.”

Jolene snorted. “How can you tell something like that by the ten or fifteen minutes we’ve spent together?”

Storm smiled. “You can’t let your guard down and relax. You have no idea what a decent fuck is all about and it’s been over an hour.”

Jolene rubbed her face and made a groaning noise. She sounded frustrated. “I still don’t even know your name.” She shook her head.

“Storm.”

“Well, Storm…” She lifted her eyes in thought for a second. “I must say, I prefer Golden Boy.”

He choked out a laugh. “Where did you hear that?”

“It’s what I’ve been calling you inside my head.”

“I’m inside your head?” He looked down at her lips. Of course, he was inside her head.

“Don’t smile like that. It’s not like that. It’s not an endearment, just a reflection of your ego.”

“Whatever you say, Sweet Lips.”

“What the hell is that?”

“It’s what I’ve been calling you inside my head and I’m not talking about the ones on your face, although—”

She whacked him on the side of his arm. Not hard, thankfully for her.

“What?” He feigned innocence, unable to help his grin. This female was something else.

“You’re a pig.” Her lips twitched. Jolene was holding back a laugh, a smile at the very least. He was getting to her.

“So, what do you say?” He raised his brows. “We enjoy ourselves for a couple of weeks and then…” He shrugged. “You still get what you want. We both do.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Just leave me here. Pick someone else. I—”

“No can do, Sweet Lips.”

She yelled when he picked her up again. Yelled even louder when he began to run in the direction of his lair. No water dragon would try to take her, but a male from one of the other tribes just might. A large group of males would be hard to beat in his human form. One thing was for sure, he was keeping this female for their allotted three-week period regardless of what anyone wanted. Storm had no doubt that he would very quickly change her mind about wanting another male, maybe ever again…That last part could be a problem, for her at least. As long as he kept reminding her it was a temporary situation, she wouldn’t fall for him. Jolene was smart, mature and extremely serious. She just needed to unwind a bit. Make that a whole hell of a lot. He was just the male to help her do it.