Part 21 (1/2)

”We should rut. I am a skilled lover. I have made humans weep from the sheer pleasure.”

Julie pretended to yawn. ”Tell someone who cares. I wouldn't have s.e.x with you if you were the last person left on the planet.”

”I am not looking for love.” His eyes clouded and he frowned. ”I”-he swallowed thickly, pausing for a moment- ”we... could work. No love or any of the other emotions. Let's test compatibility. We could mate and procreate. I would look after you. It could be a win win.” He looked totally serious.

”More of the same bulls.h.i.+t!” She yelled. Then she choked out a hysterical sounding laugh. ”You a.s.sholes are all the same. What's so wrong with love? Why don't you want it? Love is amazing. It's wonderful. To feel like that about another person is-”

”Heartbreaking,” the water king growled. His face contorted in pain. ”To let someone else in enough to break you. No. It is a mistake. One I will not make again. Get on the bed. We are rutting now.”

”Heartbreaking.” She looked up in thought. ”Yeah, I suppose there's that too.” Why had she forgotten that part? ”You don't want to have s.e.x with me.” She spoke more softly this time.

”I do. You are almost in heat. You have a delectable scent.” Torrent glanced out the window and then ran a hand through his hair. He sucked in a deep breath.

”You really don't.” She couldn't help but notice that he wasn't in the least bit interested in her unlike Coal who sported a hard-on for the last week and almost non-stop.

The big s.h.i.+fter clenched his teeth. He looked distraught.

”What happened with Candy?”

He growled, the sound anguished. ”I don't wish to discuss it. She is gone and you are here.”

”Oh my G.o.d. You're in love with her.” A lightbulb went on. He was being a guy and trying to forget about the person he really wanted by sleeping with another.

His eyes burned more brightly. ”No. I feel nothing for her.”

”Rubbish. What happened between the two of you? Maybe I can help.”

”It doesn't matter. She is gone. She's not coming back.” He moved to the nearest sofa and sat down heavily. His shoulders were slumped.

”It wouldn't help, you know? s.e.x with me.”

He glanced her way before looking at his hands, which were interlaced on his lap. ”I feel empty inside.”

Julie felt sorry for the poor guy. ”s.e.x with me will only make you feel worse. When you finally stop moping and go after her, she might actually forgive you if you don't screw anyone else. You have no hope if you fool around with other people.”

He lifted his gaze to her. ”I don't wish to rut anyone but her. I am a fool. I won't go after her though. She made her decision when she left me.”

”You really should put your pride aside and go after her. You have it really bad.” Julie smiled.

”No.” He shook his head. ”I did something I should never have done. She won't forgive me for it.”

”She will if she loves you.” Julie felt something lift inside her. It only brought feelings of confusion. She was really angry with Coal. Her trust had been misplaced. Why was she so shocked that he had betrayed her? Why did she have this feeling that there was a rational explanation? This need to forgive him. Argh! She was so weak where he was concerned.

Torrent shrugged his huge shoulders. ”Maybe. I will think on it.” Then he paused. ”Would you like me to take you back now?” He sort of smiled. It only made him look more upset.

”You can take me to Walton Springs. Do you know it?” The last thing Julie wanted was to go back but what other choice did she have?

His face clouded again. ”It is where Candy lives.”

”I'll tell you what, drop me off and go after her. Two birds with one stone.” She held up her fingers.

”You have given me advice and I feel that I need to do the same in return. Coal loves you.”

What? ”No. You're wrong. Do you know that he asked someone else to mate with him just the other day? He goes through women like I go through shoes. Not that he wears shoes but... you know what I mean.” She mumbled the last part.

”I know that people make mistakes.”

”He lied, a lot.”

”I don't know what happened between you two, but I do know what I saw. That male was a like a puppy dog in your hands did I say that human saying correctly?” He raised his brows.

”Yes, it's only because his brother commanded him to mate me though and...” She didn't finish the sentence.

”Nope.” Torrent looked to be deep in thought. He shook his head. ”He was desperate and needy. He is in love with you. It doesn't matter about previous females in his life or things he didn't tell you, probably to protect you. The male is desperately in love with you. He looked completely pathetic. Maybe it is better that the female is gone.” His whole frame tensed. ”I don't ever want to be that pathetic.”

He already was, but she didn't say anything. ”It's not better that Candy is gone and you know it.”

He looked like he was deep in thought but didn't say anything. She knew that her feelings for Coal had grown by the day. She had let him get under her skin and now she was paying the price. Blaze had also mentioned that Coal had feelings for her. Feelings were one thing, but love. Love was another thing entirely. Love was intense. Love was all consuming. Love was as trusting as one person could get with another. It was scary. More scary than the highest mountain or the steepest cliff. That was falling good and proper.

Julie huffed out a breath. She'd spoken about love earlier like she was an old hand at it. Like she understood it's dynamics. The truth was, she had no idea. None whatsoever. Did she?

She needed to see Coal. She owed him a chance to explain. She owed it to herself as well.

”Are you ready to go?” Torrent raised his brows.

She nodded once.

”I take it I'm taking you back to the fire prince?” Torrent smiled. Now that she was no longer in fear of life and limb, she realized that he was actually quite a good looking guy. s.h.i.+fters were gifted with some really good genes.

”How did you know I'd changed my mind?”

”You gave a little smile just now and your cheeks are flushed. I can tell that you were thinking about the male. It seems that you have it just as bad as he does.”

She shook her head, preparing to deny it all but sighed instead.

Torrent laughed and although she first rolled her eyes, she couldn't help but smile along with him. ”Let us go.” He put his hand on her shoulder as they walked towards the balcony.

The double doors leading to the balcony flew open. Gla.s.s exploded out as both panes of gla.s.s were obliterated. Coal stepped into the wide opening, taking up the whole s.p.a.ce. He was a bundle of tension. Every muscle was corded. Smoke curled around him. Small flames erupted from his nose and mouth. His eyes were slitted. His frame enormous, just barely contained within his human skin.

Julie sucked in a breath.

”Get your filthy hands off of my female!” His voice boomed. He'd never looked more alluring. So d.a.m.ned hot, in every aspect of the word, that her mouth dried and her throat worked. His whole stance evoked both fear and excitement and in equal measure.

Torrent took his hand from her shoulder. She couldn't see him because she was a step behind him. ”I'm glad you are-”

His words were cut short by Coal. ”Step away from him, Julie. Do it now.” His words were barely understandable.

”No... you don't...” Julie tried to reason with him. She tried to...

Torrent gave her a light shove which sent her sprawling to the right. She landed a few feet away with her knees on the rug. She felt a sharp pain as she skidded over the woolen surface. There were better ways to get carpet burn. This was not one of them.