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  “Well, I have some other good news for you.”

  “What?”

  He sat on the edge of his desk. “I called Cole this morning since Marin hadn’t stopped by the house yet. It seems that your sorcerer stopped by a few days ago and healed her. Know anything about that?”

  Her brow furrowed. “No, he said he was training me to heal people. Maybe he thought it was too much for me right now?”

  Connor nodded. “Maybe. Your powers are still new and probably a bit unpredictable at the moment. He might have thought it was dangerous for you to try healing something as big as ovarian cancer.”

  Aislinn bit her lip.

  “What is it?” Connor asked.

  “I haven’t seen Eric, have you?”

  He shook his head. “He only appears to you, sweetheart.”

  “Eric!” Aislinn called.

  The sorcerer moved into the room from a dark corner. “You bellowed, my dear?”

  One look and Aislinn knew he was drained. His skin had a gray tinge to it and his eyes were bloodshot.

  “You healed her. Why didn’t you let me help?”

  He gestured to himself. “Because I may look like death warmed over, but you would have died if you had tried to cure her.”

  “But you’ve interfered again. Won’t that get you into trouble?”

  Eric laughed. “Darling, the fates have their hands busy enough without worrying about an immortal like me. Besides, I’ve seen the future and Marin wasn’t meant to die. Which meant that I was allowed to heal her.”

  “But at what expense?” Aislinn demanded.

  “I’ll be fine in another few days. We’ll have to put our lessons on hold until then.”

  She sighed and nodded, knowing it was pointless to argue with him. He was every bit as stubborn as Connor was.

  “Call if you need me,” Eric said as he vanished from the room.

  “I hate when he does that,” Connor grumbled. “Hasn’t the man heard of a door?”

  Aislinn smiled. “It wouldn’t be nearly as dramatic, and I think he loves doing dramatic things.”

  “You mean like curing a dying woman? Or rather, two dying women?”

  She nodded. “He saved me, and for that I’ll always be grateful. But now he’s saved Marin as well. Don’t you think it’s time we considered him a friend of the pack?”

  Connor nodded. “Maybe you’re right. He’s done a lot of good for the pack, even if he is irritating.”

  “Come on, you have work to do and I have files to organize. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can go home.”

  “And plan our wedding?” he asked with a raised brow.

  She smiled. “Yes, and plan our wedding.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Somehow, Aislinn and the other women had managed to plan and arrange a wedding within days. Less than a week had gone by, and now Connor found himself standing at the front of a church. He pulled on the bow tie once more, feeling as if someone were strangling him.

  “Leave it alone,” Gabriel muttered behind him.

  He gave the joint-alpha a baleful glare before looking out over the church once more. Aislinn hadn’t had many friends to invite so Matt and Cassie were sitting on her site, along with the sorcerer and Alisdair. All of Connor’s family, with the exception of Marin and Gabriel, were seated on the groom’s side.

  “She deserves a bigger wedding than this.”

  Gabriel placed a reassuring hand on Connor’s shoulder. “I promise she doesn’t care how many people show up, just as long as you’re here and the preacher is here, that’s all that matters.”

  Connor grinned. “I know. I just want it to be perfect for her.”

  A moment later, the music started and Connor faced the back of the chapel. Aislinn walked down the aisle with Marin on her heels. His bride looked radiant in an off the shoulder ivory gown with roses embroidered on the shoulders and hem. A long veil was held in place with a rhinestone tiara.

  His throat felt tight with emotion as she placed her hand in his. He responded to her tremulous smile with a reassuring one of his own. It had only been a few weeks, but it felt like he had waited forever for this moment, the moment he was able to truly claim her as his wife.

  As the preacher began to speak, they faced forward, but looked at one another covertly, silly grins plastered on their faces. They recited their vows perfectly and swapped rings. When the preacher said, “You may kiss the bride,” Connor gently pulled her into his arms and tipped her head back. Claiming her lips in a gentle kiss, he felt as if he were complete.

  Their family and friends cheered from the pews and Aislinn looked up at him with laughter in her eyes. It was the most beautiful he had ever seen her and his heart constricted when he realized how very much he loved her.

  Escorted to Connor’s truck by their boisterous friends and family, the bride and groom set off on their honeymoon. Not wanting to be away from Alisdair for too long, they had decided to stay

  at a hotel in nearby White Pines, Tennessee for the weekend. It was only a few hours away in case there was an emergency.

  “I already put our suitcase in the backseat, but I thought you might want to go home and change out of your wedding dress before we hit the road,” Connor told her with a smile.

  “While I love my dress, it will be heavenly to get out of it. It definitely wasn’t designed with comfort in mind,” she replied with a smile.

  Connor grinned and hurried home, anxious to get on the road. They still hadn’t managed to make love, which made their honeymoon pretty much perfect. It was going to be a true marital celebration.

  At the house, Connor changed from him tux into jeans and a sweater while Aislinn changed into something similar. Grabbing some drinks and snacks from the kitchen, they climbed back into the truck and started the drove to White Pines.

  Late in the afternoon, after they were checked into the hotel and had eaten a late lunch, Aislinn and Connor collapsed on the hotel bed.

  “Well, it was certainly an eventful day,” Aislinn mused.

  “Yeah, but one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

  She smiled and rolled toward him, draping an arm over his waist.

  “So, how does it feel to be Mrs. Tierney?”

  Her smile grew even bigger. “Like a dream come true.”

  Rolling her to her back, Connor kissed her. “I’m glad. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have by my side.”

  Her eyes grew misty and she returned his kiss. Burying her fingers in his hair, she tugged him closer. After wanting to be intimate with him for weeks, she felt like a nervous ball of energy. She knew being with Connor would be different than being with Hugh, but she wasn’t sure what to expect. By all rights, she was still something of a virgin since Hugh only liked doing it the regular way. Aislinn knew there were many positions from some of the books she had read, but she’d never had a chance to try any of them.

  Her heart fluttered in her chest and she reached for Connor’s belt buckle. Unfastening it, she unsnapped his jeans and reached inside.

  He groaned into her mouth and bucked against her, his cock hard and throbbing against her fingers. Aislinn’s fingers curled around him as she gently stroked him.

  Connor sucked in a shuddering breath and threw his head back. “You’re going to kill me,” he muttered.

  Aislinn gave him a wicked grin and stroked harder. “That’s kind of the idea.”

  Pulling away, Connor quickly stripped off his sweater and jeans. Standing before her in only his underwear, he reached for her, helping her out of her clothes. As he exposed her skin one layer of clothing at the time, his eyes devoured her. He unfastened her bra and slid the straps down her arms, watching as her nipples puckered in the cool air. Next, he reached for her panties and slipped them down her legs.

  Completely exposed to him, Aislinn thought she would have felt vulnerable. Instead, she felt like her skin was on fire. She loved the hungry look in his eyes as he gazed at her.

/>   He stepped closer and gently nudged her legs apart. Aislinn felt the cool air as her pussy was exposed to him and she sucked in a breath. Her lids drooped and her breathing deepened.

  Connor reached out and stroked her with his finger, drawing a gasp from her. His finger felt warm against her cool skin, and it left her feeling even more aroused.

  He quickly stripped off his underwear and climbed onto the bed, lying down beside her. Leaning over, he took her nipple into his mouth and suckled, while his fingers delved between her legs, stroking her swollen clit.

  Aislinn arched off the bed, wanting more of the exquisite torture, wanting more of Connor. She’d never felt pleasure in the bedroom before and she was anxious to see what else Connor would do. He continued stroking her with his fingers, long, slow strokes intent on driving her mad. When he slipped a finger inside, she groaned from the pleasure.

  “So wet, and so sweet,” he murmured against her breast.

  He trailed kisses down her stomach until he was kneeling between her legs. Pushing them open further, he held her open with his fingers and tasted her. His warm, wet tongue took a long swipe of her, grazing over her clit.

  “Connor, I… I…”

  “You what, sweetheart?”

  “I never knew…”

  His eyes narrowed and with a growl, he pulled her hips closer and sucked her clit into his mouth. Nipping, sucking, and licking, he pushed her to the edge. Just when she was about to topple over, he stopped.

  “Why? Why did you stop?” she panted.

  Rising above her, he placed his cock at her entrance. “Because I want to be inside of you the first time you come.”

  Her eyes widened as he thrust inside of her. He made her feel wondrously full. As he thrust into her again, she lifted her hips to meet him.

  He ground his teeth together, trying to hold it together, but Aislinn was so tight and wet that he didn’t think he’d last another moment. “I can’t hold on, honey. I wanted to make this last for you, but I can’t.”

  “I don’t care, Connor. I just want you.”

  With a grin, he thrust into her hard and deep. “Then you’ll have me.”

  Aislinn met him thrust for thrust until she finally tumbled into her first orgasm. Crying out his name, she grabbed at his shoulders as he continued to slide in and out of her. As the spasms slowed, Connor thrust into her one last time, burying his face in her neck he gently bit her, marking her as his own.

  She felt a warmth spread through her and smiled, knowing they could very well have already created a new life. She knew it wasn’t likely, but the idea pleased her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Connor opened his eyes and smiled as he saw Aislinn sleeping soundly beside him, their naked bodies intertwined. Closing his eyes, he pulled her close to his side, reveling in the feel of her next to him, skin against skin.

  Burrowing his nose into her hair, he inhaled her scent, letting it surround him. He stroked her breasts, smiling when her nipples peaked against his palms. She murmured something in her sleep, but didn’t waken. Reaching between her legs, he felt that she was already wet and ready for him.

  Connor rolled Aislinn to her stomach and covered her body with his, entering her with one long, deep thrust. She gasped and her eyes fluttered open, already dilated with desire. Reaching under her body, he teased her breasts with one hand while bracing himself with the other. As he thrust into her, he closed his eyes, the scent of her arousal spurring him on. She whimpered in pleasure and he grinned, feeling his chest swell with pride, knowing he was the reason behind the small noises.

  “Oh,” she breathed. “Connor, I’m … I’m…”

  “That’s it, come for me, sweetheart.”

  With a cry, she shattered, convulsing around his cock as he thrust into her again and again, until he found his release and buried himself deep inside of her sweet warmth.

  Slumping over her, he gathered her close and rolled them to their sides. He kissed her damp neck and nuzzled her ear.

  “I love you.”

  Aislinn’s indrawn breath was a good indication of her shock; Connor only hoped he hadn’t said the words too soon.

  “I love you, too,” she answered after a moment.

  “I don’t want you to feel like you have to say the words,” he told her.

  She shook her head. “I’ve loved you since that first week. I was just too scared to tell you.”

  He grinned and hugged her tight. “Then I’m glad I finally told you how I feel.”

  “When do we have to go back home?”

  Before he could answer, his cell phone chimed. With a frown, he picked it up and read the text message his brother had sent.

  Hope the honeymoon is going well. Heading to California for a bit. See you when I

  get back.

  “What is it?” Aislinn asked.

  “Colin was just letting me know that he’s taking a road trip. He’s heading home to visit our family.”

  Aislinn frowned. “You haven’t mentioned your family before, except for the pack members and their wives. I didn’t realize you had other family.”

  “We have some cousins and an aunt in California. They haven’t come out here for a visit, but maybe we can travel to California after this job is finished. I don’t like to be gone too long in the middle of a project.”

  “I guess our wedding threw a wrench into things,” she commented.

  He kissed her cheek. “It was a welcome distraction, just like you.”

  Aislinn grinned and turned to face him. “You never did say when we had to go back home.”

  “We could probably stay another night…”

  His phone chimed again, and he picked it up with a sigh.

  Alisdair misses his mommy and daddy. He didn’t sleep well last night and is already

  throwing fits this morning.

  Connor groaned. “Or we could head back this afternoon,” he said, showing her the message.

  Aislinn smiled. “I’m sorry he had such a rough night and morning, but it’s nice to be missed. Besides, we have a whole life together. I’m sure we’ll have time alone again before too long. Once he settles into his new life better, he won’t mind spending the night with his Cousin Cole or Uncle Colin.”

  Connor sighed and threw an arm over his face. “I had hoped to have you to myself a little longer, but you’re right, we should head back this afternoon.”

  “Then we should definitely make the best of our time,” Aislinn said as she stroked his chest.

  Connor grinned and pounced on her, making her squeal as they tumbled into another round of love making.

  Later that night, they arrived at Cole’s house to pick up Alisdair. The little werewolf came running across the front yard and tackled Aislinn, nearly knocking her to the ground with his exuberance.

  “I’m happy to see you too, Alisdair,” she said with a laugh.

  “I missed you, mommy.”

  Aislinn’s eyes misted. It was the first time he’d called her mommy, at least to her. She knew he had referred to her as such around Cole, but it wasn’t the same.

  Next, the little boy hugged Connor. “And I missed you too, daddy.”

  Connor swung the boy up in his arms and hugged him. “We missed you too, little scamp. I hear you didn’t sleep well last night.”

  He shook his head. “It wasn’t the same not sleeping in my room.”

  “Well, you’ll get to sleep in your room tonight,” Connor told him with a grin.

  As they settled Alisdair into the truck, Aislinn hugged Cole and Marin, thanking them for keeping the little werewolf while they were gone. She knew it was a lot to ask with a baby in the house, but she was glad they hadn’t balked at the request.

  Climbing into the truck, completely worn out, they headed for home. Alisdair fell asleep in the backseat before they’d even turned onto the main road. Aislinn looked at him and smiled.

  “Poor thing was worn out.”

  Connor looked at him in the rea
r view mirror. “I guess not sleeping will do that.” He glanced at her before looking at the road once more. “I saw your face when he called you mommy; you looked stunned and pleased all at the same time.”

  “I was,” she murmured, closing her eyes. She absently rubbed her stomach. “I can’t wait to give you more children, Connor.”

  He grinned. “If you give me too many of them, we’ll need a new house.”

  “I don’t think we’ll be having that many. But I do want a big family. I always thought that if I would have had a brother or sister, maybe Hugh wouldn’t have picked me, or if he had then maybe things would have been different. He wouldn’t have been able to isolate me like he did.”

  Connor reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry for everything you went through with Hugh, but I’m glad it brought you into my life.”

  She smiled. “Me too. Who would have guessed that something wonderful could have come from something so wretched?”

  After Alisdair was tucked into bed and Connor was in the shower, Aislinn crawled into the bed. As a shadow moved in the corner of the room, she squeaked and drew the covers up close.

  Eric chuckled as he showed himself. “Afraid of shadows?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here, Eric?”

  “I wanted to congratulate you on your marriage.” He paused and looked around the room. “And I had some unpleasant news for you.”

  She sighed. “I knew my new-found happiness was too good to be true. What is it this time?”

  “There’s something big coming, something evil. It’s going to sweep the town of Ashton Grove if you and the pack can’t stop it. You only have a few months to prepare, then it will begin.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I can’t tell you anymore and I won’t be able to help you when the war starts. But you’ve learned everything you need to know in order to succeed.”