Forbidden Dragon (The Bride Hunt Book 5) Page 13

  Chapter 16

  Fifteen minutes earlier …

  “The Cockpit. The place is seriously called The Cockpit?” Louise had to laugh.

  An engine revved as the cab pulled away from the curb, leaving them stranded. She could hear the sound of music and laughter coming from inside the bar.

  It seemed to be really busy even though it was only nine o’clock.

  “Apparently, and if the gossip is to be believed, some Special Forces guys are here almost every weekend. They’re big and buff and raring to go.”

  Her mind immediately wandered to Granite but she pushed thoughts of him away. The guy was probably already doing the horizontal mumbo jumbo with some or other bimbo. She smoothed down her skirt and took a deep breath.

  “Ready?” Hillary bobbed her eyebrows.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well you look gorgeous.”

  Louise grabbed Hillary’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks again. I know you have better places to be on a Saturday night.”

  “Are you kidding, I never get to go out anymore. Not to places like this. You know how much I love people watching.” She gave Louise a wide smile.

  “Now let’s get in there before we freeze.”

  Louise nodded and they headed into the bar. The place was bursting at the seams. There were so many scantily clad women it was obscene. There were also truckloads of guys.

  Hillary turned to her. “Wow!” Her eyes were wide. “You can’t possibly leave here alone. I think we just arrived at Candy Land.” She clutched her chest dramatically. “Oh my god but there are some gorgeous guys in here.”

  Louise laughed, looking in the same direction Hillary was looking. A couple of buff guys stood at the bar.

  Wow! Not bad. Maybe there was a football convention in town or something because … Wait a minute … wait just a—

  No!

  No way!

  Louise took a step back as she realized that one of the guys was Igneous. Suddenly the guy next to him looked familiar as well.

  Special ops guys?

  The Stag Run!

  OMG! That meant that Granite was here as well. She felt her skin prickle, her whole body felt hot. She turned her head and there he was. His dark eyes were on her, his face impassive.

  He wore a plain, white t-shirt and faded jeans. It was nuts but he was actually more attractive somehow with his torso covered. Maybe because she knew what was underneath those clothes.

  There was a woman talking into his ear. With those long legs and narrow waist, she had to be a model. Her hair was blonde and so straight it was sickening. She turned to her side, showing a curvy silhouette. Make that a swimsuit model.

  She had to get the hell out of there and right now. Louise turned to make an escape.

  Someone grabbed her arm and twisted her back around. It was Hillary. She’d forgotten all about her friend in her haste to beat a retreat. “What’s up? What’s wrong?”

  “Um … I can’t be here.” It was like her eyes were drawn to him. The blonde was pressed against him, still talking. His gaze was still firmly on her. The temperature went up another few degrees. “We’re going.” Louise looked Hillary in the eye. “Now!” she all but begged.

  “Why?”

  “Please, just trust me on this. Please don’t argue.” Please listen to me. Please.

  Thankfully Hillary nodded. Louise huffed out a breath and made for the exit like her ass was on fire.

  Once outside, she leaned up against the wall next to the door and gulped in some air.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m suddenly not feeling well. Please, can we go?” Louise pushed off from the wall, already pulling her cellphone out of her purse to call a cab.

  Her friend narrowed her eyes and scrutinized her face. “I’m not buying it. What’s going on?”

  “Those special forces guys in there.” Louise pointed her thumb to the door behind them.

  “Yeah?” By the spark that had appeared in Hillary’s eye, she could tell that her friend knew where this was going.

  “Well, they’re the same group of guys I share a barracks with. I’m working with them. There might even be one or two of my patients in there.” Granite is here! Adrenaline rushed through her. “I can’t talk about that though. It’s …”

  “Confidential … Yeah, yeah.” Her eyes lit up like the fourth of July. “He’s here isn’t he?”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Louise tried to feign ignorance.

  “The guy you have a thing for.”

  “I do not—”

  The door to the bar opened and noise flooded outside along with a man. A really big man. A man who stole the air from her lungs and made the ground feel shaky just from one look.

  His dark, intense eyes narrowed on her as the door closed behind him. “Doctor,” his voice was deep.

  Hillary grabbed her chest and … swooned. It looked like she might fall over.

  Louise ignored her friend. “Granite,” she tried to keep her voice even. Thank god it worked.

  Hillary made a soft squeaking noise in the back of her throat when she realized who he was. When she realized that she had been right in her assumptions.

  Granite narrowed his eyes. “Where are you going? You only just got here.”

  “Um …” Flip, why did he even care? He should be happy she was leaving. “I just thought I would … get out of everyone’s hair. I didn’t realize …” she let the sentence die.

  Granite frowned. Wow! He was so hot. The jeans hugged his thighs like a second skin and the white t-shirt pulled tight around his chest and biceps. His chest markings were just visible above the V of his collar.

  “Bullshit!” a low growl. Louise was sure that Hillary swooned again. She even put the back of her hand to her forehead. Granite took a step towards her. “You are more than welcome to stay. You have every right to be here. Don’t leave on account of … us.”

  “Yeah, but …” All the guys were all here to hook up. Then again, so was she. It felt weird though. “I don’t want to get in the way of anything or …” She didn’t want to see him with that other woman. Any woman for that matter. She was jealous. How had this happened? “You didn’t have to run out here and leave your date. Go back, go do your thing.” She shooed him with her hands, feeling like a complete idiot.

  “That female is not my date. I’ve never dated anyone … ever.” He opened and closed his hands a few times. It made his biceps pop. “I don’t date,” he added.

  “Oh! Well, date or no date, you left her all alone in there.”

  “She is an adult and can take care of herself. It’s freezing out here.” His gaze drifted down. Her already hard nipples hardened up a whole lot more. Goosebumps popped up all over her body and it wasn’t just because of the temperature.

  His dark eyes flashed back to hers. “You should go back inside before you catch a cold or something.”

  “I … I don’t know about staying,” she stammered, feeling off kilter. She had a thing for Granite. Shit! She had a thing for him. This was not good.

  Granite gave a shrug. “It’s up to you. I think you should come back in but if you wish to leave then, go ahead,” he gestured towards the road.

  “Maybe we should just stay. I’m Hillary by the way.” She held her hand out to Granite.

  Granite turned to Hillary, he looked down at her outstretched hand and back up to her face before finally taking it. “Granite.”

  She grinned like a fool. Louise rolled her eyes. Hillary kept on shaking his hand with no letup in sight. She looked star-struck “You can let go now, Hills.”

  “Oh yeah!” She dropped his hand. “Sorry!” Hillary was blushing wildly.

  “See you later.” He looked at her, his expression was unreadable. Then he was gone, swallowed by the noise and laughter.

  “Oh my god!” Hillary covered her mouth with both her hands. Then she jumped up and down like a nine-year-old girl. “He’s so hot! Oh, my god … you w
ere right about that. I think my panties might be wet.”

  “Hillary!” her voice was laced with shock.

  “You’re going back in there.”

  Louise shook her head. “Nah, that wouldn’t be a good idea. I just …”

  “He really likes you.”

  “More like the other way around,” she mumbled. Granite liked the way she smelled, she almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of it.

  Hillary gasped. “I knew it! You like like the guy.”

  “Maybe … I think it’s more of a lust thing. He still irritates the shit out of me on most days. We would fight like mad if we ever got together ‒ not that it would ever happen.”

  “Just think of the make-up sex.”

  “Even if I wanted to start something with him, he doesn’t date and I would lose my job. It ain’t going to happen. Let’s just go.” She implored Hillary with her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. It was darned cold.

  Hillary made a noise of frustration. “No! Let’s just stay. Forget about Granite. There are so many yummy guys here.”

  Hillary was right. Granite had gone back inside, back to his blonde bombshell. He was going to get lucky tonight. The thought angered her. She hated feeling so jealous. The best thing she could do was meet someone and take the plunge herself. She needed this. More than anything, she needed to forget him. Louise gave a nod. “Okay, but we stay away from …” she almost said the shifters, “the special forces guys.”

  Hillary clapped her hands. “Oh goody! Let’s go and get a drink.”

  They made their way through the throngs of people. Louise kept her gaze front and center. She was going to try to forget that Granite was there. She wasn’t going to look over at that side of the bar. She didn’t want to see that swimsuit model draped all over him, or, even worse, see him leave with her. They might even already be gone. For a second or two, she was tempted to look but she managed to stop herself at the last second.

  Hillary found a space at the bar and raised her hand to the bartender. She ordered them some ciders.

  “Hey, Doc!” It was Igneous. He put up a hand and grinned broadly. There was another shifter standing next to him who nodded at her.

  “Hi!” She didn’t want to get into a conversation. They were staying away from the shifters.

  “Good to see you.” There were a couple of ladies hanging around the guys. Two of them gave her the stink eye. A third acted like she couldn’t care. Like she was too cool for entire world.

  Hurry up, Hills!

  “Good to see you too. Are you having a good time?” Lame question.

  Igneous nodded. “Most definitely.” The shifter let his eyes slide down her body. Oh no! “You look different, Doc. Really different.” He lifted his brows as his eyes locked back with hers.

  “Yeah, well …” she didn’t expand, gave a small shrug instead.

  “I like it.” He looked at her lips. The ones she had recently applied some Super Stay Caramel kisses lipstick to. It was overkill. Total overkill. The lipstick together with the eyeliner and mascara. Sure, her eyes looked huge and her lips as well, but heck, it was overkill. She should have left it at lip gloss and some blush for her cheeks.

  “Thanks,” she smiled. The bartender finally brought the drinks and Hillary paid. Thank god!

  “No really.” Igneous took a step towards her. “It’s good to see you out of that coat. I didn’t know you had such a banging body.”

  He did not just say that!

  She gave a small, tense, smile.

  “And your hair.” His eyes widened and he made a groaning sound. “It’s striking,” he nodded, suddenly more serious. “You should wear it like this more often.” He reached out to touch one of her curls.

  A low growl sounded.

  Igneous instantly pulled his hand back like he had been burned.

  One of the ladies giggled, they all blushed. She had heard that growl before. Her back prickled. Louise slowly turned.

  “I think you males have something better to do,” he spoke so low that she could hardly hear him. She may have lip read what he was saying.

  Granite turned his gaze to her for a moment. “Glad you changed your mind.” Before she could answer, he headed to the bar.

  A lady bartender pretty much dropped what she was doing in favor of serving him. Of course she did. Look at him. Just freaking look …

  No!

  She tore her eyes away. He was buying drinks for his non-date. His booty-call.

  “Hey.” Hillary handed her one of the drinks and then linked arms with her. “Let’s go find us some single guys.”

  “You’re married, Hills,” Louise smiled.

  “Of course I am. The guys are for you.”

  “Guys … Really? I don’t think so. One is enough for me.” All she wanted to do was turn back towards Granite. Was the bartender flirting with him? Was he flirting with her? She couldn’t picture Granite flirting. Not in the conventional way anyhow.

  “Let’s go then,” Hillary said, dragging her away.

  Louise stopped dead. “No way! Isn’t that …”

  “It’s Todd,” Hillary whispered. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  “Oh my word! He had better not see me.” They were rooted to the spot. Todd was with the same group of guys he had been with the previous week. There were one or two ladies in the group as well.

  “Let’s back up,” Hillary whispered. “Slowly,” she added as Todd turned his head. Towards them. His eyes lit with recognition.

  Damn!

  Then he smiled. Smiled. Something eased in her. He wasn’t mad that she had dropped him for a second time. “Hi Todd!” She could hear that Hillary was smiling.

  “Hi!” He walked over to them. “Good to see you.” He gave Hillary a hug and then hugged her too, adding a kiss on the cheek. “This is a surprise. So good to see you.” He let his eyes linger on her before turning to Hillary.

  “You too,” she mumbled. It was good to see him. It reminded her of how cute he was and how sweet. What was wrong with her? Why wasn’t she feeling anything? “Um … Todd, about not calling …”

  “Forget about it,” he said. “We’re here now aren’t we?”

  She smiled. “Yeah, we are.” Todd really was cute in his button-up shirt and dark blue jeans. His hair had that just styled look.

  “What can I get you ladies to drink?” he turned his head to Hillary as he asked. How attentive to include her friend. He was such a nice guy. Louise was going to make more of an effort this time.

  Chapter 17

  Granite couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. He tried to force himself to look around the room, to choose someone else, but he couldn’t. His gaze kept moving back to her. An hour and a half passed and adrenaline still coursed through him. First Igneous and now the human. He felt his blood heat in his veins. If he wasn’t careful smoke would come out of his nose.

  Igneous was one thing. At least he could warn the male off. Fucker! If he allowed him to continue on that particular path, half his males would be sniffing around her in no time.

  Look at her. Just damn well look. She threw her head back and laughed at something the human was saying. The sound was so fresh, so free. Her wild, beautiful hair tumbled about her shoulders and down her back. The color made her stand out head and shoulders above the rest even though she was a tiny thing.

  The male whispered something in her ear and she laughed again. What a little pussy he was. Not much of a warrior. Not much of anything, yet she hung onto his every word.

  Who knew that hiding beneath that coat was a body a male could kill for. His hands curled into fists and he had to force himself to unclench them.

  “Wow!” a female whispered in his ear. She gave his bicep a squeeze ‒ or tried to at any rate. “Do you want to get out of here?”

  He shook his head without even looking at her. “Not with you, I don’t,” he rasped.

  The female stomped off. Her heels clacking on the tiled floor. He could
n’t bring it in himself to care.

  “Why don’t you go over and talk to her?”

  “What?” It was Rock. The male looked amused. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “The human. You are clearly taken with her.”

  “I’m not taken with her,” he snapped. “Okay,” he shrugged, “maybe I’d like to fuck her, it doesn’t mean I’m taken with her though.”

  Rock grinned. “Whatever. You should go over there.”

  Granite shook his head. “She looks perfectly happy with that human.”

  “Bull!” Rock gave a chuckle. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you.” The male put up a hand. “Before you get all weird, she looks at you with lust-filled eyes, not starry ones. She wants you to fuck her just as much as you want to give it to her.”

  “Yeah right!” He put his warm beer down on the bar. “She hasn’t looked at me once since coming back inside.”

  Rock nodded. “Exactly.”

  Granite waited for a few beats but Rock decided not to explain the statement. “What the fuck do you mean by that?” His temper was already flared.

  Rock laughed and he had to fight the urge to punch the prick. Pop him one right in the nose. He clenched his teeth instead. “She hasn’t looked at you once. Not once. Isn’t that a bit strange?” He widened his eyes. “She’s purposefully not looking because she’s into you … She wants you … sexually … that much I can tell you.”

  “Aren’t you hooking up tonight?” Granite asked as the male put his arm around Louise’s waist. Fuck! His blood was almost at boiling point. He could feel it simmering.

  “Nah!” Rock drew his attention back. “My heart is taken. The only reason I am here is because Quartz insisted that I go.”

  A laugh was torn from Granite. “Unbe-fucking-lievable! You and Quartz?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I take it she hasn’t agreed to mating you yet though.”

  “It’s just a matter of time.”

  Granite nodded.

  “Um … my lord.” Rock was looking in the direction of the doctor.