Gage’s hand automatically went to his neck.
“I think it’s beautiful,” Serena said with a wink. Gage had to agree, even though he couldn’t really see it for himself. Anything that came from his mate was beautiful in his eyes.
“Just think,” she said, “after this we get to go home and plan another wedding!”
Serena laughed again and Gage couldn’t help himself, he laughed with her. “I hope you want a wedding,” he told her. “My sisters wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“And you didn’t believe me,” Jade beamed.
Rakimesh heard the tinkling voice and his head immediately snapped around. It was the voice from his head! This time, it was right here, in the same room. He practically dragged Delia behind him as he sought out the owner of that voice. He was genuinely surprised to see that it belonged to a young vampire. No, not exactly a vampire. After some quick studying, he determined the voice belonged to a human and vampire hybrid. Angel Knight’s daughter.
“You have been driving me insane,” he told her.
Jade did not even flinch. “I did what had to be done,” she told him matter of factly. “I had to make sure you knew what was what.”
“I could have you killed for that,” he said with narrow eyes.
“You could,” she replied, “But you won’t.”
“You nearly drove me to madness,” Rakimesh said harshly, “I thought I was losing my mind. And when I was sure I was not crazy, I couldn’t figure out who had the guts to invade my mind.”
“You’re welcome,” Jade said with a smile.
“You are a powerful, annoying, pain in the ass,” he said, and then he smiled. “And for that, I thank you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Serena twirled in her dress in front of the mirror. This was the second time in her life that she was looking at herself in a wedding dress. The difference was, this time she was happy. Her dress was a simple white sundress with enough flair to fan out around her legs when she twirled.
She couldn’t help herself, she giggled like a little girl.
“You look amazing!” Brea told her. “I’m so jealous of your hair!”
Serena rolled her eyes, but looked at her hair in the mirror. It was loose around her shoulders and hung down her back in loose waves. She had even allowed Brea to pin a little white flower in it. Jessica had given her a necklace to wear for the ceremony. It was a small, gold butterfly charm. “Something borrowed,” Jessica had told her.
Frankie helped pull the garter up her thigh. “Something blue,” she said.
“This is something new,” Leigh said, as she attached little pearl earrings to her ears.
And then Brea took her turn. “This is something old,” she said as she revealed the treasure in her hands. It was a silver cameo broach. “It belonged to my mother,” Brea told her. “My father bought it for her one year for Valentine’s day. I can’t imagine she wouldn’t want you to wear it today.”
“Oh,” Serena said, her eyes filling with tears. She knew that Brea’s parents were dead, and she knew how precious this little bauble must have been to her. These women, who had polished and buffed her body from head to toe, made her feel more loved than her own family ever did. She felt like she belonged.
“Oh, no crying!” Frankie squealed. “You will wreck your make-up!”
“I’m sorry,” Serena said, sniffling back her tears. “This is just too much,” she said.
“Nonsense,” Leigh told her. “You are part of our family. I, personally, owe you my life and the life of my mate. Not to mention my brother that you are marrying today. You will look beautiful and you will like it. No more arguments.”
“Yes ma’am,” she said.
There was a knock at the door and Serena’s stomach tightened up. It was Angel. “It is time ladies,” he said with a wide grin.
“Ok, see you downstairs,” Brea said, planting a quick kiss to Serena’s cheek. She and the other women quit the room and left her alone with Angel.
“Thank you,” Serena said softly.
Angel smiled at her. “I assure you, you are welcome,” he said. “You look beautiful. You are only missing one little thing.” He handed her a box that she hadn’t noticed he was holding before.
She took it from him and placed it gently on her vanity. When she opened it, she gasped. It was a crown. It was small and delicate, but it was still a crown. It had to be made of diamonds, it sparkled so damned bright. “Oh, no,” Serena stammered.
“You are marrying a king,” he told her. “You will be our queen, and the queen wears her crown with pride and courage.”
“I don’t know about this,” she said.
“Well, your mother expects you to be acting like a queen, so put it on, at least until enough pictures are taken to satisfy her and the press. Then you can never wear it again if that is what you wish.”
“It must have cost a fortune,” she said as she lifted it from the box.
“Yes, it did. But Gage designed it and had it made especially for you.” Angel took the crown from her hands and lifted it to her head. He placed it gently on top of her head and brushed her hair to the side.
“And it is almost as beautiful as the queen who will wear it.”
Serena turned to look in the mirror. The tiara fit perfectly, and it shined like the stars in the night. It twinkled when she moved, and seemed alive with light; it was beautiful, and she felt beautiful wearing it. Every girl dreams of wearing something like this one day, and she was no exception.
Angel extended his arm to her and when she took it, he led her out of the room and down the stairs, where Gage and her future were waiting for her.
Gage waited patiently with Rebel, Jacque, and Sebastian by his side. He heard the music start and his heart jumped into his throat. He watched as Leigh walked down the aisle with Toni in her arms. She was lovely in her green dress that brought out the stark blackness of her hair. She was smiling, as if she knew a secret that no one else was privy to.
He watched as Brea followed in the same color dress. Her red curls hung low on her shoulders and made the dress seem brighter and greener, if that was even possible. She was so happy that it made Gage smile.
Frankie came next. She had embellished her dress with small symbols that were meant as a blessing for the union. He could feel her watching Jacque and knew they were going all mushy inside their heads.
Jessica came next. She had such a light step that she almost appeared to dance down the aisle.
Gage let his gaze travel over the small gathering of friends and allies that had come to witness his day. There were so many of them that he knew, and had been there for one another over time, and he was happy to see them.
Jade came next and she was carrying a small basket full of rose petals. She was having entirely too much fun scattering those petals all over the floor. The group of guest couldn’t help but laugh at her fun, and Gage found himself sharing in her pure joy. It was at that moment that he realized he wanted children. Lots of them. Hordes of them, even.
His mind went completely blank though when he saw what was next. The huge doors leading into the banquet hall opened and Angel walked through with the most beautiful creature ever created on his arm.
He had no words for how stunning she looked. She shined from head to toe, and not because of the tiara he had made for her. She glowed from the inside out, as did the mating mark on her shoulder.
When she was finally at his side, Angel kissed her lightly on her cheek and placed her hand in Gage’s.
He offered his brother a wink before taking his place beside him.
“I thought you were officiating,” Gage whispered.
“Change of plans,” Angel whispered back.
“I will be officiating, if you will have it,” a lovely voice said from his right. Gage turned and saw Azerial standing where he had expected Angel to stand. “I thought as a gift to you, I shall bless your union,” she said.
“Thank you, Goddes
s,” Serena said, and bowed her head.
“Yes, of course,” Gage said, bowing as well.
Azerial instructed them to fall to their knees and Gage and Serena obliged her. She spoke in a language he didn’t understand, but for some reason, reminded him of the sound of children playing. She placed her hand on top of both of their heads, and he felt warmth spread throughout his body.
“Stand,” she said, and they did. “I bless you both in your most holy of unions,” she told them. “You will love one another for now and always. Never will you be jealous or unkind. Your love is a beautiful life of its own, and you shall nurture it always.” She continued to speak of love and joining, but all Gage could see was Serena’s eyes. She was so happy. She was beautiful, powerful, strong, and best of all, she was his.
“I, on this day,” Azerial said, “Bless you both into the covenant of marriage as is bound by the thread of life.” She wrapped a thin rope around their intertwined hands. “Blessed be,” Azerial said. “You may kiss her,” she whispered, for Gage’s ears only.
He nodded his thanks to Azerial and wrapped his arm around Serena’s waist to bring her close to him.
His lips touched hers, and fire broke out in his veins as he kissed his wife in front of God and everyone.
He didn’t even notice when the guests erupted in applause.
The rest of the party passed in a sort of blur for both of them. It was at one point, when they were dancing together, that Gage knew it was not going to last much longer. “I am so happy to have you home,” he told her.
“I know,” she said knowingly. “You have told me many times already.”
“I can’t say it enough,” Gage reminded her, pulling her closer to his body.
Serena giggled.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m not wearing any panties,” she whispered in his ear.
Gage’s cock punched instantly and violently against the fly of his pants. “Are you fucking serious?” he growled, allowing his hand to slide down her back and cup her butt. Sure enough, she was telling the truth. “We need to go,” he said. “Now.”
Serena didn’t get a chance to reply. Brea found a microphone and started talking. “It’s time to throw the bouquet!” she announced. Serena looked at Gage and then back at Brea.
“Let’s get this over with,” she told him, sending him a mental image of what she wanted to do to him once they were alone.
“Go,” he said, smacking her backside.
Serena stood with her back to the crowd and waited for Brea to give her the go signal. She then tossed her flowers over her shoulder and into the group of waiting females. She had to turn and look when she heard sounds that sort of sounded like fighting. They were in a tangled mass, pushing and shoving for the coveted flowers.
“Ok, let’s go,” Gage said and started to lead her away.
“Wait!” Brea announced. “Gage, you still have to toss the garter!”
“Oh fuck me,” he groaned, as he reluctantly turned back toward the party. He pulled Serena behind him, and even though he heard her laughing, he couldn’t slow down. He had to get this shit over with so he could ravish his wife. He only entertained the silly traditions to make his sisters happy. When they were in the middle of the room, Gage turned to face her.
“Be still,” he told her as he dropped to his knees in front of her. Cat calls and whistles filled the room, and only got louder when he ducked his head under her dress. Holy God, she was bare underneath. He licked the inside of her leg as he slowly pulled the garter down and around her ankle. He reluctantly removed his head from her dress and looked up at her with blind hunger in his eyes. She mirrored his expression. Gage finally could wait no more.
He stood and tossed the garter in the general direction of Samuel, just because he thought it would be fun to rag him about it later. Then he bent so that he could toss his wife over his shoulder and ran with her out of the hall and into the privacy of their bedroom. The hoots and cat calls followed, but he no longer gave a damn.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
He gently placed Serena back on her feet. She kicked the high heels off her feet and Gage pinned her to the wall. “I have been trying to be patient,” he growled.
“I like this dress,” she reminded him. Gage smiled and reached behind her to slowly lower the zipper that ran the length of her back. The dress slid off her torso with ease and he stepped back to admire her perfection.
He knew she was just as eager as he was by the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. His hands traveled over her body of their own accord, and she leaned into his touch. Her breasts filled his palms and she laid her head back against the wall.
“You are mine,” he said.
“Yes,” she agreed. “And you are mine.”
He dropped his head to lay hot, open-mouthed kisses on her shoulders before moving to her breasts. He kissed all around the sides and bottom of both of them before taking one nipple into his mouth. Serena knew she was as hard as diamonds in his mouth, and when he gently bit the little nub, she gasped out his name. “This is going to take a while,” he told her. “I am not letting you out of my sight until I have explored every single inch of your luscious body.”
And he got right to work on that. He kissed her breasts slowly, savoring every second of contact. Serena was lost in sensation. Every place that Gage touched sent fire right to the very core of her. She could feel the wetness pooling between her legs and she was pretty sure it was running down the inside of her thighs.
When his ministrations ventured to her flat stomach and further south, she had to place both hands on the wall to steady herself. He pushed the dress over her hips and left her bare to his touch. He crouched down and raised her leg in his hand. He kissed the inside of her ankle and even that sent little shivers down her spine. He kissed her calf, and then ran his tongue up her thigh, before starting over with the other leg.
She needed him to do more. She needed him inside her. As if he could hear her thoughts, and she thought he probably could, he ran his hand over her leg and messaged the cleft between them. He spread her wetness over his hand and then slid two fingers inside her aching core. “Oh fuck Gage,” she cried out. He moved his fingers in and out slowly, not enough to make her come, but enough to drive her insane with need.
“Please Gage,” she begged him. He knew what she wanted and flicked his tongue over the bundle of nerves just north of his fingers. He stopped all pretense of teasing and began to move his hand forcefully as he kissed her intimately.
Serena knew it was coming and she anchored herself by grabbing two fistfuls of his hair. She shattered for him and rode the waves as he lapped up all she had to offer. When he finally gave her a moment to catch her breath, she pulled him to stand in front of her.
“You are wearing too many clothes,” she told him matter of factly. “Take them off.”
He smiled at her in that boyish way that made her insides go all mushy and gooey. “Don’t you want to do that for me?” he asked.
Serena shook her head. “I want to watch you strip.” She raised both of her perfectly arched brows at him and waited.
Gage laughed out loud. “I am here to please,” he teased her. He kicked off his dress shoes and turned his back to her. He slowly unbuttoned the vest and shimmied it down his arms for her entertainment. It hit the floor and he remained with his back to her.
“Keep going,” she encouraged him.
Gage shook his butt for her a couple of times and then spun around to face her. He made sure to sway his hips as he unbuttoned the dress shirt. He pulled it open, but didn’t take it off. Instead, he unfastened his pants and made a show of pulling the zipper down.
Serena bit her bottom lip while she watched. He was perfection. His broad shoulders and toned abs were drool worthy in and of themselves, but when his cock sprang free of his pants, she thought she might swoon right there. It was the most perfect piece of anatomy any man had ever been graced with.
Una
ble to wait to touch him any longer, Serena moved quickly to stand directly in front of him. She ran her hands under the lapels of his shirt and then pushed them aside so that they fell down his arms. She ran her hands over his perfect chest and dropped to her knees in front of him.
“Oh, what are you doing?” he asked innocently.
“Shut up,” she replied as she took him into her mouth without further warning. She was so hot, and her mouth was so tight, that Gage thought his knees would buckle from the pleasure she was doling on him. She ran her tongue the length of him and then moved further south.
When she sucked one of his balls into her mouth, he nearly lost it right there. He reached down and grabbed her by the shoulders. He lifted her as gently as he could muster and tossed her onto the bed. He couldn’t stop himself from growling as he took her mouth in an almost violent kiss.
“I can’t wait,” he told her between breaths.
“Do it now,” she begged him. “I need you.”
Gage pushed her legs apart and settled himself between her thighs. He felt his cock brushing her opening and with one well aimed push, he entered her to the hilt. He wanted to do something along the lines of making love in a slow and civilized fashion, but all that fled his brain as her heat enveloped him.
He crashed into her with fervor and she encouraged him with her nails raking down his back. “Yes baby,” he moaned into the side of her neck. His fangs were elongating more every second, and he knew he had to get inside her in every way possible.
She turned her head to the side without him asking, and he struck hard. His teeth sank into her neck and her rich, sweet blood filled his mouth. He was possessing her in every way he could, and she finally belonged to him in every way. As they both fell over into ecstasy together, Gage finally felt whole.
EPILOGUE
“You look so handsome,” Serena beamed at Gage. “Especially with the crown.”
“I didn’t know you had jokes today,” Gage grumbled as he finished buttoning his suit jacket. “I feel ridiculous.”
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