“Come on in and close the door.” Torrent gestured to the chair opposite his desk.

“How is Candy?” Storm asked as he sat down.

His brother smiled, it was weary and yet filled with warmth. “She is doing as well as can be expected. The baby is due any day now. The healers have warned it could still be as long as another week, maybe more, before he comes. She is not sleeping so well and is uncomfortable, but it is to be expected.” There was a tightness to Torrent’s jaw and worry lines around his eyes. “I will be able to breathe a little easier when the baby is here safe and sound.”

“I’m sure. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.” Storm had a little more respect since winning the human. These instinctual emotions could be a bitch.

“Tide will cover for me. Are you still okay with looking after Rain?”

“Of course. I love that little munchkin.”

“It would just be while Candy is in labor and maybe for an hour or two after.”

“I would be thrilled to let her stay at my place for as long as need be.”

“Are you sure about that? I recently received a report that stated you won a female in the hunt. The only Water Dragon to do so. Congratulations!” His brother smiled.

“Thank you.” Storm nodded his head.

Then Torrent frowned. “You might be too busy to babysit.” Then he chuckled. “I really can’t believe that you actually went through with it and won a female. When I saw you’d entered, I didn’t think you’d take part. I thought it was a hoax because I never pegged you as being anywhere near ready to mate.”

Storm didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Jolene is a sweet and kind female, she won’t mind looking after Rain. I’m sure she would enjoy it.”

“Okay…good.” Torrent sighed. “I could ask one of the dragon females otherwise, but Rain loves you so damned much. She will be so happy to spend time with her uncle.”

“Of course she does, no female can resist me.” He couldn’t help but grin. It wouldn’t be long before sweet Jolene gave in.

“Wait just a minute. You almost had me there.” Torrent frowned. “I brought up mating and you changed the subject. You are going to mate this female, aren’t you?”

Not a fuck! “If it works out.” He shrugged.

Torrent looked him head-on for a moment or two. “You do intend to do your level best to get her to mate with you, right?” When Storm said nothing, he went on. “Tell me that you didn’t win a female with no intention of actually mating her?”

“Here’s the thing—”

"Fuck!" Torrent roared. "What were you thinking? I should have known." He quickly changed tack, looking irritated.

“That I’m bored to fucking death. That I haven’t had this much fun since my first stag run. That…”

Torrent shook his head and then stopped. Seeming to be thinking something over. Next thing he knew, his brother laughed right in his face. Why was Torrent laughing? It took a few moments for the male's shoulders to stop shaking. "What? What's so funny?"

“You’re playing with fire and you’re liable to get burned. You know that don’t you?”

“I’m having a bit of fun. I’m going to enjoy the company of a human for a couple of weeks, and I’m going to make damned sure she enjoys her time with me. Then we’ll go our separate ways. Jolene is—”

His brother laughed some more. It was becoming irritating. Torrent finally sat back in his chair and wiped a hand over his face. "You might just have shot yourself in the foot. You tracked this female, you fought for her and then you brought her back to the lair, and in record time, I am told. All of these things are designed to get us here…" Torrent smacked a fist into his own lower belly. "To hit us hard. Right now, you are being driven to mark this female with your scent so that all others will know she is yours. You will be horny as hell and as possessive as hell. You probably think things will get better once you rut her, but they won't." Torrent shook his head, his lips quirked up in the start of a smile.

"Of course they will. It's been a couple of months since I was on a stag run. I haven't rutted any of the dragon females in a long time. Of course I'm horny." Storm chuckled like it was no big deal because it wasn't. It came out sounding strained though.

“Trust me on this. So, this female lets you rut her. Next thing, you’ll be driven to claim her—”

Not a chance! “Hold up!” Storm held up his hand. “You’re dead wrong. Do I want to fuck her? Absolutely. Am I feeling possessive? Yeah, okay, you’re right on that one. I won her and she’s mine. For now,” he quickly added the last. “That’s where it ends though.”

Torrent choked out another laugh. “It has begun then.”

“I don’t want a mate. I’m nowhere near ready. Besides, Jolene hates me. I’m not her type.” He shook his head. “Her feelings for me don’t matter really though since she is attracted to me, which means we’ll have plenty of sex anyway. Quite frankly, it’s a breath of fresh air,” he said more to himself. “Soon, she’ll move onto the next dragon, one who she actually likes, one she wants to mate and have kids with…stuff I’m not ready for. I plan on taking part in a good couple of hunts before that part happens.”

Torrent leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Okay.”

“What? No arguing?” That was too easy. What was going through Torrent’s mind?

“You seem to have this covered. You won the female.” Torrent shrugged, neatening a pile of papers on his desk. “You don’t have to mate her.” He put a large emerald and gold paperweight on top of the stack.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Storm said. “I do have it covered.” He nodded.

“The Lores don’t say you have to mate her or that she has to stay with you beyond the three weeks. A word of caution though, you do need to decide once you hit the end of the three-week period. At that point, you need to claim her, or she needs to go home or to another male. There is no in-between.”

“Three weeks is almost too long.” Storm snorted. Then again, he had a feeling it might take him a couple more days to win her over, so maybe three weeks would be perfect. Any more though…far too long with one female.

“Great! Have fun. I will stay in touch regarding Candy.” His shoulders immediately tensed up.

“It’s going to be fine.” Storm reached over and patted Torrent on the side of his arm.

“I hope so.” Torrent clenched his jaw.

“It will.” Storm stood up. “You’ll see. Let me know if you need anything. I might have won a female, but I am still here for you.”