The Bridal Hunt (Brides of the Hunt Book 1) Read online

  Back to glaring at him as I gritted my teeth, I held my ground. He wasn’t so big and scary anymore, not after I’d gotten so used to him. He’s a whole lot of show, I thought, baring my teeth at him again.

  "You don't really want me. You just want a willing pussy," I told him bluntly.

  "Only Meanie's," he said after a moment, glancing down my length. His eyes smoldering like melted, sun-kissed citrine, he let loose a heavy purr as he took in the juncture of my mud caked thighs.

  "Bullshit!" I screeched. "You were more than happy to replace me. Remember Candy?! Or have you forgotten already?"

  "Kirch not want Candy!" he snapped, his voice starting to rise with his mounting anger.

  "Then why did you take her?!" I bellowed scornfully.

  Eyes narrowing thoughtfully at my outburst, he paused and simply stared at me for a minute. It was starting to freak me out, as a minute turned to three, then possibly five, his unnerving gaze unwavering, but then he smiled and my stomach flipped. I found the smile more threatening than anything.

  A purr rumbled up in his chest as he shook his head, as if in disbelief, and he chuckled. Lips slowly tipping up, he let out a deep, throaty chuckle.

  Okay... why is he happy and smug all of a sudden? I was not a fan of that look on his furry mug or the laugh. This can't be good.

  "Meanie no like Kirch have other mate.” Eyeing me curiously, bright eyes even brighter, he titled his head, dipping his gaze to peek at me from the corner of his eye. Not only was he hiding a shit eating grin, he was gauging my reaction.

  I blushed, turning beet red. The truth to his words hit home and the tips of my ears felt aflame. I'm not exactly thrilled that I may or may not, for some time, have been harboring feelings for the big, grumpy bastard, and I'm not particularly happy with him at the moment for pointing it out. Our history is not exactly pleasant, which makes this whole thing all the more confusing. I shouldn’t feel anything for him—he’s a human-stealing cretin. He’s the reason I’m in this mess in the first place.

  He saved you from George, I had to remind myself, if grudgingly. He protected you.

  We haven't had the most pleasant of interactions since either but, I’ll admit, Kirch’s rejection of me when he'd been so adamant before, like he was truly interested for whatever reason, had really burned.

  It’s taken me a little while to sort my feelings out about it, and I wasn’t too keen on the fact that the only explanation I could honestly come up with was jealousy. I was jealous he'd wanted somebody else—jealous he hadn't wanted me. Him, of all males, and me, and- gah! But there it was.

  So what do we do when we don't want to face something...? Deny! Deny! Deny!

  I'd never thought it was something I'd ever have to deal with, Veck and I going for the one mate approach. I could’ve just lived in my little half state of denial and gone about my business, glaring at the fuzzy haired menace and exchanging snapping retorts until he mated or one of us died. Because, yeah, that was perfectly reasonable—har-har—and look how well that’s turned out! Now, I might possibly have three mates.

  God... this is all fucked up.

  Chest heaving as I glared at Kirch, I shrieked in frustration. "Gggg-bbbb-ah! I don't care what you do, but you won't be doing it with me!"

  "Meanie cares," he said carefully, unfolding his large frame until he was standing up to his full height. Dipping his chin to stare down at me as he took a step closer, smiling that crazy smile of his that had my stomach doing flips flops, he eyed me possessively.

  "Go right ahead!” I burst out, my feet slipping backwards in the mud. “Go find Candy! See if I care! George didn't really want her anyway!"

  Cheeks stretching so wide his face looked like it might split, he started laughing—a loud, heavy belly laugh from deep within his gut—and it really pissed me off.

  "It's not funny! Stop laughing!" I huffed out indignantly.

  He ignored me and continued. Face scrunching up angrily, my skin grew hot, hotter than before. I was so angry I felt like I was on fire.

  Tears pricking my eyes, I growled at him in frustration, willing him to shut up, but he just laughed harder.

  Asshole, I thought. He’s mocking me! Just standing there, laughing, mocking me like I’m some big joke!

  “Well, we’ll see who’s funny in a minute, furry assed creep.” Dipping down as I muttered under my breath, I gripped a handful of mud and tossed it at his face.

  When a giant glop landed on his forehead, smacking with a sound splat, tumbling down and smearing across his face, satisfaction filled me. It slid, half dirty water, half muddy earth, down his furry, white chest, clumping on its way.

  My mud-ball eventually landed on the ground with a sickening smack, sending small spray back up to sprinkle everything like muddy confetti. The effect, the damage the dirty clump wreaked in its wake, had me smiling like an ass.

  Kirch choked out a gasp and stumbled back. Gaping down at himself, his head lifted and he stared at me in open mouthed surprise. As his gaze strayed to my lips, he glowered, beastly eyes narrowing to thin slits as mine crinkled at the corners.

  Dipping down again, hiding my smirk, I readied another mud bomb.

  "Meanie!" he barked out, offended.

  Pfft. As if he has the right.

  "Kirch!" I yelled right back, testing the weight of the gooey, crumbly projectile in my hand. Muddy earth oozed from my fingers, wet and slimy, gritty as bits fell to my feet.

  Choking on a growl, he snapped, "Bad Meanie!"

  "Don't you chastise me! You... you... stupid... stubborn... BABOON! Who the hell do you think you are?" I spluttered, shrieking in rage.

  Pulling my arm back, I let another mud clump fly. He tried to dodge it, but I still got him. Slap. Plop. And another clump bites the dust. I kept them coming, squatting to ready another the second I let one go, hopping up to toss the next before the first had landed.

  As another dirt blob raced down his chest, Kirch let off a baleful snarl. I giggled a little at the look on his face, ignoring his warning for what it was, eyeing the mud caked all over him, the slimy earth contrasting quite nicely with all of that clean, white fur.

  "Not so funny now, is it, asshole?!" I crowed as I let another clump of mud go, and then another, hitting him square in the neck and chest.

  Another one slapped him right across the eye, temporarily blinding him, his angry bellow taking on a terrifying note. Jumping out of my skin at the sound, I took that as my cue to exit.

  Scrambling around in the mud, I rolled to my feet, hastily snatching up all of my mud tumbled things. Splashing my way through the muddy ground towards a thick patch of tall weeds and a familiar path, I darted straight for the cottage as Kirch bellowed vengefully behind me.

  The male let out an ear splitting, thunderous roar to end all roars from behind me, sending a ringing up in my ears. That ended up cut off by a strangled, “Oomph,” some wet squelching sounds, and an extremely pissed off snarl.

  Hah. Asshole fall down and go boom? Yes, I’m insensitive and, no, I don’t care.

  His angry bellows echoed after me as I raced straight home, butt naked, through the woods, my clothes tightly gripped in my muddy palms, squashed to my breasts.

  Sprinting around the corner of the house, skidding around to the front side, I rounded it to head for the door. Squealing under my breath, I ran past a gaping Bia, not breaking stride as I rushed towards safety. "Take a picture, it lasts longer!" I shouted as I sped past.

  Wrenching the door open, almost smacking into it face first in my haste, I skid inside, slamming it shut roughly behind me. “Damn. Damn. Damn.”

  Veck glanced up at me questioningly as I tossed my things to the side, my arms and legs splaying out, bracing my body against the thick, wood barrier. It was the only thing separating me from an angry mud menace.

  "Now! Now would be as good a time as any to show me how to bolt the door!" I squeaked out, babbling frantically.

  Veck raised an eyebrow but got up, motion
ing me aside, and dutifully bolted the door.

  Kirch's angry bellows soon reached the thick barrier, rattling the wall.

  Leaping into action, I jumped as Veck stood back, dancing off to the side of him when Kirch started pounding on the damned door with one fist, then the other, shouting out my name .

  “Meanie! Meanie! Mea-nie!!” The wood rattled, creaking ominously as the walls shook.

  Squealing like a ninny and not ashamed to admit it, I ran behind Veck, ignoring his questioning stare as I gripped his back. Veck allowed me to lead him back, until I’d put a safe distance between us and the angry beast beating on the house.

  "Don't let him get me!" I shrieked, right as the door came flying off of its hinges, slamming into the opposite wall.

  Snarling like an angry mud monster from Hell, Kirch came storming in. His feet squelched wetly as he marched inside, clumps of mud dripping from his fur as he flung it about in his haste.

  "Meanie!" he bellowed, the thick veins in his neck bulging impressively as his nostrils flared. "Come! Now!"

  Popping my head out, I peered out from behind Veck to see all those fat veins sticking out in Kirch's thick muscles, all along his shoulders and chest, twitching, pulsing heavily, his whole body tensed up and angry.

  He looks so... pink when he's mad, I thought, as I took all of this in. Like an angry mole rat with a crap-load of hair.

  His eyes were glowing a deep, dark yellow, his teeth pulled back in a hissing snarl. Mud caked him from stem to sternum, and his mane of white blonde hair was wild and untamed, fanning out around him in a crazed tangle of leaves and muck.

  Oh, he's so mad, and I am so screwed.

  Veck growled warningly when Kirch stepped forward, snarling, to reach for me. Kirch pulled back and promptly took a step back, balling his fists up at his sides as he glared up at my mate-husband.

  "Meanie, come," Kirch ordered, his voice sounding a little bit calmer, if not more strained.

  I didn't buy it for a minute. "No," I said boldly from the safety of Veck's back. Chicken Little Mina, yes, I am. Bawk-bawk.

  Veck growled something to Kirch in their language when Kirch would have bellowed for me again, cutting his tirade off before it started.

  As Veck held up a hand, making sure he’d finished, Kirch took a deep breath, shaking his head, and responded.

  This turned into some kind of heated argument that lasted for a while, Kirch socking the wall, growling a death growl, and storming off angrily in the end.

  I let out a short sigh of relief as I watched him go from the window, staring after him as he veered off towards a small group of huts in the heart of the village.

  Veck turned to glance at me from over his shoulder, raising his eyebrows as if to beg the question as he peered down at me, but I shook my head. He, thankfully, left it at that.

  Bia walked in a little bit later, taking in the door and me cowering behind Veck. So much for me not being intimidated by Kirch anymore.

  Bawk-bawk, Chicken Mina, was right.

  "Do I even want to know?" Bia asked curiously, winking at me when he caught me watching him.

  "No," Veck and I both said at once.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I

  t was really early in the morning when the bed creaked as Veck got up. I rolled over, giving him my back and drifted off to sleep again.

  A little while later Veck crawled back in, pulling me snugly against him, and I sighed happily.

  "I love you," I whispered against his arm, rubbing the fur on his forearm caressingly as he started purring deeply against my back, responding without words.

  I smiled, content, letting the soothing rumble send me back to sleep.

  ✽✽✽

  I gasped as I woke up, the feel of a hot, hard brand sliding between my thighs, brushing my nether lips, teasing me as it ran through my folds, sending delicious shivers down my spine. The thickened shaft jerked eagerly, rubbing against my clit as my body's natural lubricant ran along his length, slicking him up. A hand reached up and kneaded my breast, strumming my nipple in time to him rocking himself against me.

  Groaning, I let my hand slide down to cup his furry testicles as he pumped against my sex. My fingers slid a little lower, growing bold in their exploration, trailing in feather light touches against the small patch of skin just beneath his sac.

  He grunted and tensed, my beastly lover, moaning aloud when he climaxed, his seed splashing my chest and stomach as he quickly found his release.

  "Meanie," purred the wrong voice against my neck.

  Eyes widening, I tensed, freezing as Kirch brought his other hand around to smear his cum all over my stomach and breasts.

  "Kirch?" I squeaked out, surprised.

  "Mmmm," he mumbled, deep voice rumbling huskily as he painted me with his seed.

  Gasping dramatically, I popped out of my shocked stupor and grabbed his hands, trying to still his au natural foray into finger painting Mina.

  "Stop that," I snapped, pinching his fingers harder when he ignored my death grip and continued to rub it in.

  Sniffing the air, his chest rattled and he purred.

  "Kirch! Ugh! That's kind of gross!" I muttered indignantly. "It's your- And I... Grrr! You're going to make me all sticky now! And just- Ewww!"

  "Kirch mark Meanie. Meanie Kirch's mate," he said simply, like that would explain it all. Oh, yeah, I totally understand now! Not! Thanks for the explanation!

  "Veck doesn't paint me with his semen!" I grumped, trying to shove him off.

  "Kirch not Veck." Kirch growled angrily, releasing me.

  Rolling to the end of the bed, I slid off and popped up. "Obviously," I quipped haughtily, all attitude, cocking a curvy hip. My hand slapped to said hip as I glared at the male.

  “Meanie mine.” Jerking his chin, he motioned to the evidence on my stomach: exhibit A. My stomach glittered, wet and sticky, and I wanted to slap the vile jerk.

  “Where the fuck is a towel?” Sure to keep one eye on him at all times, I glanced around quickly. “A towel, dammit?!”

  Kirch growled, menace lacing his tone as he got on his hands and knees on the bed, catching my undivided attention. "Come, mate," he demanded, pointing at the bed, his erection standing straight up and out, thick and proud, from between his generously muscled thighs.

  Speaking of generous, I tried not to stare at his larger than life—angry red despite his recent release—turgid cock.

  “Come! Now!” His growling demand had my gaze snapping up.

  "You come here," I snapped, clipping the words out, pointing at the spot next to me. See how he likes that, then! Bossy asshole.

  The angry mass of testosterone and fur got up and started towards me, his hackles raised as he stalked forward. Large frame tensed up and determined, he exuded that beast man machismo that makes me cream.

  Snapping his jaws, he sucked in a breath to snarl and stopped. I sucked in a breath of my own as he stilled, my throat working as I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat.

  Grunting, Kirch sniffed the air a few times, his nose crinkling as his nostrils worked, following it up with a chest lifting inhale. I knew, just by the look on his face, he could smell it—my arousal at his display.

  Baring his teeth, he snarled something in his beast language, a deep, predatory growl tumbling from his lips as his nostrils flared. The sound thrummed through me, strumming along my nerve endings, making me shiver as if it had slowly kissed its way up my spine.

  My sex grew slippery wet as his jaws snapped and he made the noise again, longer and lower, his throaty growl tickling my center. It was then I knew I was in big freaking trouble.

  Oh... fuck me.

  "You know what, you stay right there. I’ll, just, ah..." I yelped nervously, dodging him when he lunged and would have snatched me up.

  Twisting to duck again, I burst out into a full out run, leaping sloppily around the room, ducking and dodging him with the help of the furniture and a couple of well-aimed dishes.<
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  Kirch finally caught me when I tripped on my own clothes from yesterday and flew forward, cursing the clumped, mud-encrusted wad. Arms wind-milling, I thumped on the floor, trying to scramble up and untangle myself as soon as my knees hit.

  A large hand pressed me back down, hovering over me as I was forced to the ground. Heat blasted off of him like a furnace, burning into my cooled flesh as it pressed into my back.

  "Meanie," Kirch growled out warningly, his arms sliding along mine to caress the gooseflesh popping up along my pale skin.

  Draping himself over me like a blanket, he placed his much larger frame over mine. One arm snuck around my hips and the other pushed my head down, pinning me in place as he adjusted his thighs, cradling mine.

  Bucking against him, which just served to further his purpose, I squirmed uselessly.

  Kirch leaned in to nip at my neck, biting down hard enough to make me whimper before he pulled back. Panting breathlessly, I felt the head of his erection as he placed it at the entrance to my sopping pussy and pushed, trying to cram his thickened shaft into my tight, unprepared sheath.

  A breathless gasp escaped me as he attempted to force his way in. His shaft being thicker than Veck's, I wasn't quite ready for his sudden invasion. I’d be a big, fat, fucking liar if I said I didn’t want this—want him. The male makes me freaking crazy!

  "Wait." I groaned as he managed to get the head all the way in. "You're too big, and I'm not ready."

  "Meanie Kirch's." He snarled as he froze over me.

  “It... It... just give me a minute.”

  “Trick,” he muttered, shifting restlessly. “Meanie mine.”

  “I just need an effin’ minute, alright, damn it?! You’re dick is like a freaking arm! Try ramming that home, huh? Shove that somewhere and see how it feels.” Not so smooth of me, I’ll admit, but I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.

  Kirch grunted and started to pull out, and I relaxed in relief.

  “Thank god,” I muttered, slumping slightly.

  "Mine," he snarled out suddenly, because, apparently, I’d just somehow said the wrong thing.