Pictures were first, and once the photographer got everyone in position Amanda left to deal with a crisis with the centerpieces. It seemed one of them had fallen over, and she was needed to fix it. Then, when the photographs were done, she had to make sure all of the guests found their assigned tables. Dealing with the different dignitaries was not unusual.
Seating a man with blue skin, white hair and gills next to another man with horns growing out of his head was.
But Amanda kept her cool, did her job, and at the end her feet were killing her, she’d barely eaten, and Michaela was smiling so widely her face might crack.
Another successful party courtesy of Fantasy Events. She’d already heard some comments from the crowd indicating that perhaps Leo’s company might wind up getting some business from the fae.
Amanda found a nice, quiet corner to sit in and started slipping off her high heels. The night was almost over, and soon she’d be able to go home.
Caw.
Amanda looked up and saw a raven sitting at her feet. It tilted its head as another raven landed next to it.
Caw. Caw.
A third one joined them, and a fourth, and a fifth. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by ravens, all watching her, staring.
“Hello.” Amanda held out her hand, smiling when one of the ravens allowed her to pet it. “Is Raven coming?”
Caw. Caw. Caw.
“Then I guess I’ll wait here.” She sat back with a weary sigh and closed her eyes. “Oh my God, I’m tired.”
“Want me to fly you home?”
She opened her eyes and saw Raven standing there, surrounded by his pets. His tuxedo jacket and the purple vest were gone, and the top button of his shirt was undone. His expression filled with a quiet yearning she didn’t understand.
She sat up, immediately concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He stepped forward, the ravens moving out of his way. One of them landed on his shoulder and gently nipped his ear. Raven smiled. “You look tired.”
“Ugh, you have no idea.” She grunted and bent to rub her sore feet. “Worse, I get to clean all this up tomorrow.”
He grimaced in sympathy. “We’ll help.”
“I know you will, Snow White.” She laughed at his disgusted expression. She went to stand, wincing when she put weight on her sore feet. “Man, heels suck.”
One of the birds carefully picked up one of her heels. Another grabbed the other one. And Raven picked up Amanda, cradling her gently in his arms. “I promised you a ride home.”
She clutched at him. “No, you didn’t.”
But it was too late. He was lifting into the air, gazing at her with such longing she barely noticed when they cleared the tree tops. “Raven?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
He nodded, but still didn’t take his gaze from her face. “Do you think you’d want to do that someday?”
“Do what?” She found that, if she kept her gaze on him, the fear of flying almost disappeared.
“Exchange vows.”
She blinked. He sounded wistful, as if he thought she might never want to declare her love for him in front of hundreds of people. “Yes, I would.”
His eyes blazed, swirling pools of blue and green light with happiness. “When?”
She laughed softly, glancing down to see they were…
Oh, dear.
She gulped and returned her gaze to his face. “Um. What was that?”
“Never mind.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We can discuss it when you’re not terrified.”
But he didn’t sound like it was all right.
“You mean it? You want to get married?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.” But he wasn’t looking at her anymore, and his grip on her had tightened. Did he think she would turn him down? Hadn’t she just said she would?
Right. She could totally do that. “So…If I were to ask, you’d say yes?” He glanced at her, and she raised a brow. “Well?”
“Are you asking?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Wait, no.” She lifted her chin. “We’re getting married in the spring. You can wear black, but don’t expect me to.”
He blinked, a smirk slowly crossing his face. “Spring, huh?”
“Yup.” She tightened her grip on his neck, feathering her fingers through his hair. “And my bridesmaids are totally wearing purple.”
Raven groaned. “Damn it. I hate purple.”
She knew. She’d seen him moaning and groaning about being forced to wear something other than red and black. “Suck it up, buttercup. It’s my turn to be a diva and I totally plan on milking it dry.” Teasing him was going to be half the fun.
He began to descend toward the Dunne farmhouse. “I’m almost afraid to ask what our vows would say.” He pursed his lips. “I promise not to drop you when we fly.”
Amanda bit her lip, trying not to laugh. “I promise to tease you at least once a day.”
The look he gave her was heated. “Oh?” He wriggled his head when she pinched his ear. “Ow.”
They landed on the roof of the house, his birds landing all around them. Or, at least he landed. He kept hold of her, smiling at her in that wicked way of his.
“What?”
He shrugged, bouncing her. “I was just wondering which one of us was going to say it first.”
She tilted her head, confused. “Say what?”
“You know what.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“No, goth boy, I don’t.” Which, considering they’d just been discussing marriage and she’d essentially proposed to him, was a blatant lie. She knew exactly what he wanted her to say, but damn if she’d say it first.
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t.”
“I can stand here all night if you want.”
She yawned. “Fine by me.”
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Time flew by as they tried to out-stubborn one another.
Pfft. He might be a badass fae warrior, but she was Amanda Fucking Pierson. He was so going down.
“Ow!” Raven hopped, missed a step, and started to fall. His ravens squawked, their wings flapping in agitation as he nearly dropped Amanda. He almost landed flat on his back, but at the last second he flew, the air flowing over them as they hovered barely an inch above the asphalt shingles.
“What happened?” Amanda was clutching him, surprised he hadn’t dropped her.
He huffed out a breath. “I think the ravens are getting bored.”
She coughed out a laugh. “They didn’t.”
“They did. I think they pecked a hole right through my shoe.”
“Serves you right.” She turned until she was lying on top of him, aware of his gentle touch as he helped her. “Big, strong warrior trying to pick on a little girl.”
“Little?” His hands cupped her ass. “Woman, you tried to take on a shadow by yourself with nothing but a stick, and you almost won. You fought a purse snatcher and won. Don’t tell me you aren’t a warrior.”
Okay. That earned him some brownie points. She huffed out a breath. “Fine. I guess I need to be the bigger man in this.” When he opened his mouth, she put her finger over it. “Uh-uh. My turn to talk now.”
“It’s always your turn,” he mumbled under his breath.
She pinched his side. “Shush, you. I’m trying to have a romantic moment here.”
He zipped his lips shut.
“Okay.” She blew a strand of hair out of her face. “You know, I’ve never said this to a guy before.”
He waited patiently, his hands kneading her ass. Which was probably why he was so patient. Typical man. Give him a toy to play with and he was content to wait forever.
Amanda wrinkled her nose. “I’ve said it
to my cat though. He was a guy. Does that count?”
Nothing, other than that slow massage of her ass.
“And I might have said it to my dad a long time ago.” She looked over her shoulder to find the entire flock staring at her. “Fine. You want us to get off our asses and say it?”
The flock nodded as one.
She glanced down at Raven, to find him staring at her and laughing silently. “On three?”
“One.” He pushed her hair back, holding the annoying strand away from her face.
“Two.” She leaned into his hand, loving the feel of his skin on hers.
“Thre— Wait. On three, or after three?”
“Jesus Christ, you annoying piece of crap!” Amanda swatted him on the chest as he laughed out loud, the sound echoing around them.
He hugged her tight, his chest still rumbling with laughter. “Gods, I love you.”
She froze, shivering at the rush of joy that ran through her, then sank against him. She put her head down on his chest and hugged him back. “Ditto.”
He swatted her ass. “Say it.”
“Hah! I win, I win.” She wriggled in an attempt to do the happy dance, but probably wound up being closer to the worm.
“If I have to say it, you have to say it.”
Caw!
“Who says?” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “And tell the peanut gallery to stay out of this.”
“Stubborn woman.” The affection in his tone was clear.
“Damn straight, sweetheart,” she sighed happily. “Now shush, I want to enjoy the afterglow of my win.”
If the Dunnes thought it was weird that Amanda and Raven were still there hours later, surrounded by his pets, none of them said a word about it.
Epilogue
“Sayyid’s in the wind. Rumor has it the Dark Queen wants his head for his failure to kill you.” Liam twirled in his chair, happy to be back in his lair. While he liked fieldwork, he always felt a little off without his babies surrounding him.
“Damn it.” Raven peered over Li’s shoulder and stared at the monitors. “Any idea where he might be?”
“Last I heard? Siberia.”
Raven snorted in amusement. “The human torch must love it there.”
Li smiled. “I’m betting his assets are totally frozen by now.”
Raven clamped a hand on Li’s shoulder. “Let me know if anything new comes up on your radar about him.”
“I will.” Li held up his hand. “Oh, and I’ve got some news on Michaela’s siblings.”
“Oh?” Raven plucked a strand of blonde hair off his T-shirt. He smiled as he allowed it to float to the floor. “How’s Matt?”
“Better. He’s in physical therapy. He told his buddies at work that he was in an accident here, so I made sure the appropriate paperwork showed up in the usual places to back his story.” Li planned on keeping his promise to Melissa Exton, and this was just the first step of many.
“I’ll let Robin know. It will ease Michaela’s worries.”
The Goodfellows were living now in Robin’s mansion near the Gray Palace. Michaela was staying in touch with her family a lot more since the wedding, but it still wouldn’t hurt to let her know that Li was keeping an eye on them as well. “Thanks, man.” Liam stretched and tried to sound casual. “So. When is Melissa visiting again?”
“You’ve got it bad.” Raven grinned. “Anything I can do to help?”
Li thought about that for a moment. There wasn’t any indication that Melissa returned his interest. She’d barely spoken to him during the wedding, and had remained close to her brother Martin during the reception. If she wasn’t by her brother’s side she was by Michaela’s, making it difficult to approach her to ask her to dance with him.
He’d been unable to take his eyes off of her the whole night. He just wished he’d been able to get in one dance, one touch. Hell, one hello would have been nice.
“Nah.” He sighed, turning once again to his monitors. “I don’t think I’m her type.”
“I think you’d be wrong.” Raven pointed to one of the screens, then politely turned his back as Li began to choke on his own spit.
She was…
Oh hell. Gloriously bared skin, pink-tipped breasts, her hair spread around her on the pillows, Melissa slowly brought herself to orgasm with fingers and a dildo thrust between her thighs.
And when she came, she whispered his name.
Liam blinked as the blood rushed to his cock so fast he got dizzy. He was so turned on he actually lost control of his Seeming, electricity dancing along his body in circuitry patterns. His dick was so hard the zipper of his jeans was beginning to smoke from the electricity coursing through him. “I wonder how Philadelphia is this time of year?”
Behind him, Raven cackled as Li began searching for the first flight to the City of Brotherly Love, because if he didn’t get to his truebond soon he might just explode.
About the Author
Dana Marie Bell wrote her first short story when she was thirteen years old. She’s now a USA Today bestselling author with Samhain Publishing and Carina Press. Dana has lived primarily in the Northeast with a brief stint on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix. She lives with her soul mate and husband Dusty, their two maniacal children, two evil ice-cream-stealing cats and a bull terrier that thinks it’s a Pekingese. She’s been heard to describe herself as “vertically challenged” and “a lapsed brunette.” Dana also suffers from ankylosing spondylitis (a progressive inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine), and can be seen walking with a cane or tooling around in her mobility scooter. Her condition was the inspiration for Belle’s hip injury in Steel Beauty.
You can learn more about Dana at:
www.danamariebell.com
danamariebell.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/Dana.Marie.Bell
www.twitter/com/danamariebell
Look for these titles by Dana Marie Bell
Now Available:
Halle Pumas
The Wallflower
Sweet Dreams
Cat of a Different Color
Steel Beauty
Only In My Dreams
Halle Shifters
Bear Necessities
Cynful
Bear Naked
Figure of Speech
Heart’s Desire
Shadow of the Wolf
Hecate’s Own
The Wizard King
The Gray Court
Dare to Believe
Noble Blood
Artistic Vision
The Hob
Siren’s Song
Never More
Poconos Pack
Finding Forgiveness
Mr. Red Riding Hoode
True Destiny
Very Much Alive
Eye of the Beholder
Howl for Me
Morgan’s Fate
Not Broken
Coming Soon:
Heart’s Desire
Warlock Unbound
Don’t miss these other titles by Dana Marie Bell!
When two hearts speak as one, no words are needed.
Halle Shifters, Book 4
Chloe Williams has waited four long years for her mate to acknowledge her. Time and again he has turned her away for being too young, even when she was hospitalized, recovering from a beating that left lingering aftereffects. Now that he’s been turned into a Wolf, his mating instincts are kicking in big time. Chloe has to decide if it’s worth risking her heart yet again.
Ten years older than Chloe and dealing with issues she knows nothing about, veterinarian James Woods is about ready to howl in frustration. He’s been drawn to Chloe since she was a radiant nineteen-year-old college student, but the age dif
ference held him back from making a move on her. Now his Wolf wants what’s his, and Jim is finally in a place where he can claim her.
Between meddling mothers, Hunter brothers, and a mystery that threatens to end Chloe’s life, they might find an opportunity to tell each other just how they feel. Or find themselves separated by more than just misunderstood words.
Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, and two people who finally get their damn act together.
Three hearts are stronger than the sum of their scars.
True Destiny, Book 5
Slade Saeter endured centuries of torture, longing for the day he could claim Magnus Tate and Sylvia Grimm as mates. Now freedom is his, but nightmares still plague this son of Loki, and he fears his lovers will believe him too fragile to bond.
Magnus never thought he could have the woman of his dreams, not when she was broken by his own father, her heart shattered by Thor’s infidelities and their ultimate divorce. But Slade’s determination gives him a glimmer of hope.
Never one to let anything keep her down for long, Sylvia has long since healed from her ex-husband’s betrayals. But accepting her own stepson as a bonded mate? While it’s something she can wrap her body around, her heart is another story.
As three war-weary, damaged hearts slowly find balance among them, they form bonds of surprising strength. But with danger descending upon them with the fury of a Valkyrie, time is the one thing they may not have.
Warning: This title contains explicit sex, graphic language, and the only two people who know for sure if Slade really is hung like a horse. (They aren’t talking.)
The toughest battle he’s ever faced is convincing her she’s the queen of his soul.
Heart’s Desire, Book 3
Gareth Beckett takes the wizard throne in three days, and the woman who stole his heart is missing. Hoping with everything in him that it will call her back to his side, he casts the Beckett mate spell.
One minute, Genevieve Godwin is knocking on Gareth’s door to tell him she’s had a vision warning of a threat to his life. The next, she’s pinned to his sofa, trying to explain her recent absence to one very irate werewolf wizard.
Never More: The Gray Court, Book 6 Page 24