Courted: Hyacinth Brides Box Set

by Bree Cariad

  “I missed you, too,” she whispered. “Don’t leave again.”

  Chuckling, he placed a finger under her chin and lifted up her head. “I can’t promise that, but I can promise to come back.”

  After a moment, she asked, “Little dove?” She liked the phrase and hoped it had special meaning.

  “Yes. Doves are nurturing, self-sacrificing creatures who care for and bring peace to those they touch. Just like you.”

  Loving the sentiment from her knight, she nodded and then smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. “I love you, Deeka,” he murmured against her lips.

  The words wiped all worry and pain that was left over away and with a cry of pure happiness, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When they parted, she beamed up at him. “I love you, too.”

  “Even after that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Deeka blushed thinking of her overheated backside. As she looked up at him, she had no doubt he had just solidified their relationship into something amazing. Curtis was the perfect man for her. “Especially after that.”

  Epilogue

  10 months later

  Shifting back and forth, Deeka kept looking at the large clock on the wall. There was still fifteen minutes left. She wasn’t sure if she could wait that long. Just fifteen minutes and she would be able to walk down the aisle and become Mrs. Curtis Brenten. The bride’s room at the church was nicely decked out in the colors she had chosen for her wedding, mint green and silver. It was a strange combination for a July wedding, but she didn’t care. So much had happened over the last year, but those two colors seemed to signify the relationship that would be solidified today.

  Looking into the large three-way mirror in front of her, she smiled. Her father had paid for Stephanie Triton to design and make her bridal gown and the end result was amazingly beautiful. With an empire waste, the white lace made her feel like a bride from the 1800s. But underneath the sheer lace, was a satin lining made of a shimmering silver. A small train had been added that attached directly to the waist of the dress in the back—it could also easily be detached. Shimmering mint green, silver, and white satin flowed behind her in a wave and Deeka loved the result. The dress was both classy and unique.

  Glancing up at the clock, she huffed. Still fourteen minutes left.

  Ever since Curtis had spanked her for the first time, their relationship had grown steadily closer until she could not imagine her life without him. At the same time, it had been nice to watch her father and DeLynn’s mother become closer. When they got engaged on January first, both Deeka and DeLynn cried with happiness. Even Charity was thrilled. In fact, all of the Straynar siblings seemed taken with her dad which made Deeka very happy.

  But her joy at seeing her father engaged was nothing in comparison to the day Curtis proposed to her. He had been house hunting. Having rented a place for six months and knowing he needed to buy a home for the two of them, Curtis hoped to find a home that wouldn’t have to be changed too much to accommodate his wheelchair. But that didn’t seem to be working well.

  At the end of March, all of that changed. As if it was happening at this moment, Deeka could recall every nuance, every shade of that wonderful day.

  “Dad!” Deeka called, coming out of her bedroom. “Have you seen my blue t-shirt? I can’t find it.”

  “Was that the one lying in the bleach?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at her. She smiled as she spotted him. Their kitchen was a wonderful place. The counters were moveable from a height Curtis could use them up to where she and her father felt most comfortable. The new sink was shallow but had been moved lower so as to accommodate Curtis when he was over, which was most days. Every appliance her father had purchased had been with the man in her life in mind. When the kitchen was first finished and she saw how easy it was for Curtis to use, she had hugged her dad hard.

  “Oh, drat. I’d forgotten about that. Okay, I’ll wear something different.”

  “Curtis taking you out tonight?”

  “Nope. We’re staying in. I’ve been marinating pork chops.”

  “Well, I’ll be over at Liz’s tonight. She wants her kids to get used to having me around.”

  Deeka beamed at him. “They love you.”

  “Charity has a love/hate thing going on with me,” he snorted. “But that girl can get herself into the worst scrapes.”

  Giggling, she nodded. “She’s the only one who has never had a father figure.” And from what she had seen, the girl adored Barrett. Sometimes Deeka wondered if she got herself into trouble just to receive his attention.

  The two of them talked back and forth as she prepared the vegetables for dinner and made a jug of a new kind of lemonade she had tried as a joke just one month earlier and Curtis had loved. Mint and chillies had become his favorite food combination. Hearing his car crunch over the gravel road, she quickly dried off her hands and rushed to the front door.

  “Hey, honey,” she murmured as he pushed his chair up the ramp and leaned forward, meeting her lips in a warm kiss.

  “Little dove, you look very nice,” he said in an approving tone as she backed up so he could enter the room.

  “Thanks. I thought pork chops tonight. Sound good?”

  “Wonderful. Come here for a second.” He rolled his chair into the living room and she followed him, aware her father had come out of the kitchen but was being quiet. Reaching for her hand, Curtis pulled her gently onto his lap. His warm green eyes met hers and she smiled. “Beautiful Deeka, you have lit up my life, do you know that? Your smile, laugh, caring, and your total trust and love for those you care for is staggering. Especially being on the receiving end. Months ago your dad told me not to underestimate you and he was right. You own me heart and soul, Deeka Brea Williams. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you let me take care of you for the rest of our lives?”

  Nodding, unable to say a word as she knew if she tried she would burst into tears, Deeka watched as he removed a small ring from his pocket. White gold, it had a solitary diamond in the middle and a small emerald on each side. After slipping the ring onto her finger, his hand supported the back of her head as he pressed his lips to hers. “Thank you,” he murmured, pulling back.

  Beaming, with tears falling down her cheeks and not even caring, Deeka wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him.

  Her father had been effusive in his congratulations, thrilled Curtis was now, “A member of my family. About time.” His eyes met Curtis’s and Deeka looked between them, knowing something was up. Clearing his throat, Barrett looked back at her, love shining from his eyes. “Deeka, honey, you and I rebuilt this house and have made it into a home. Considering the fact that I’ll be making my home with Liz in July, Curtis approached me with an offer to buy this place. I think this would be the perfect place for you two. If you’d like it.”

  Wiping the tears already making their way down her cheeks, Deeka took a deep breath to steady herself. That had been a very welcome surprise. Their home was so perfect for both her and Curtis. He had paid for a couple more changes to be made, including expanding the bathroom so that it would be easy for him to use. Liz and Deeka’s father had married in a quiet family ceremony just three days ago, neither of them wanting to bring a lot of fanfare to their wedding and possibly overshadowing hers. Deeka was thrilled with her new step-mother. She had always liked Mrs. Straynar and having her around had made planning her own wedding much easier. The woman was a whiz at planning events.

  The door opened and Deeka looked over her shoulder, grinning at the two who entered. Wearing matching dresses in mint green and silver, her two friends walked into the room.

  “Are you ready, sister of mine?” DeLynn said, beaming.

  “Definitely.”

  “Does Curtis have any brothers?” Chrissa asked, seeming unable not to reach forward and fiddle with Deeka’s veil, making sure it sat right.

  “No. He’s an only child. Why?”

  “Well, i
t’s not fair. I want to be related to you, too.”

  Giggling, Deeka hugged her. “You’re still one of my two best friends. And I consider you my sister.”

  “I’ll take it.”

  “Are you excited?” DeLynn asked after a couple minutes.

  “Yes, but time is dragging.” Deeka peeked up at the clock, pleased it now said four minutes.

  “Soon enough you’ll be Mrs. Brenten and on your honeymoon. Speaking of which, where are you going?” Chrissa asked.

  “He’s taking me to Disney World.”

  “You’re so lucky!” DeLynn said. “I’ve always wanted to go.”

  Knowing she was incredibly lucky, Deeka nodded. “I guess we’re spending a couple nights in Seattle before flying out.”

  The door opened again and Deeka turned, beaming.

  “All right, you two,” her father said, smiling at her bridesmaids. “Better get ready. All the guests are here.”

  The both squealed quietly, hugging her in turn before darting out of the room.

  “Well, daughter mine?” Barrett said, walking forward and taking her hands in his. “I’m very happy for you. I cannot imagine a better husband for you than Curtis.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I love him.”

  “I know. Kind of strange that both of us found love at the same time, huh?”

  Laughing, she nodded, unsure of what else to say. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she knew it was finally happening. In a few minutes she would be Curtis’s wife. Liz had sat her down and told Deeka things she had previously been unaware of about everything that would happen on her wedding night. She almost wished she hadn’t. It had just made Deeka more nervous. While she’d held a vague idea, the semantics had not been clear to her until now.

  Her father held out his elbow and she wrapped her hand around it, following him out of the room. As soon as they reached DeLynn and Chrissa, the music started. It all seemed magical somehow, gliding down the aisle on her father’s arm, her eyes on the amazing man at the end of it. Curtis was in a black tux. Seated tall in his chair, he looked like a knight on his steed and she wanted to fly into his arms. Barrett, holding onto her hand in the crook of his elbow, stopped her.

  The words were firmly spoken, their vows freely made. As Curtis slipped her wedding ring on, a match to her engagement ring, she wondered how she had been so lucky as to win his heart. When she slid his ring on, he squeezed her hands and she almost burst into tears as she saw matching tears of joy in his eyes. But the most amazing part was when Father Jeffrey said “You may kiss your bride.”

  Curtis placed both of his hands on the arms of his chair, standing tall on his feet as he leaned down and kissed her, his right hand tangled in her hair as his left rested on her arm, shaking slightly. She grabbed onto that hand and placed it on her shoulder. “Lean on me,” she murmured, kissing him back. His body weight increased a little as he did so and in that moment, she felt married. It was a strange realization but as she helped him balance, it all felt real and perfect to her.

  When he sat back down, she beamed at him and laughed as he pulled her down onto his lap.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Brenten?”

  DeLynn and Chrissa rushed forward to unhook her train so it wouldn’t get messed up with the wheels of the chair and Curtis rolled them down the aisle.

  The reception was noisy and fun. To her surprise even Wally was there. He had apologized several months ago for his behavior and from what she could tell, he looked up to her husband very highly. She figured if he kept going the way he was, he would make some girl a wonderful husband someday.

  “Let’s go get you changed,” Chrissa whispered in her ear.

  Glad that time had come, Deeka kissed Curtis and then left with her friends. There was a lot of laughter and teasing as they helped her out of her gown and into her going away clothes. She had chosen a simple cotton dress in mint green.

  “What is it with you and mint green?” Chrissa asked, shaking her head.

  DeLynn burst out laughing. “Haven’t you noticed? Curtis’s eyes are that color.”

  “Oh!”

  Her husband had changed into slacks and a button-down shirt by the time she walked past their well-wishers to meet him. “Ready, little dove?” he asked and she nodded. Her father opened the doors and walked with them down to Curtis’s car. While her husband put his chair on the back of the car, Barrett opened up her door.

  Once she slid in, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Be happy, my beautiful daughter.”

  Beaming up at him through tears that had been falling off and on all day, she nodded. “Thanks, Dad.”

  The ride to Seattle seemed quick and next thing she knew they were shown to a nice suite on the top floor of a hotel. “Wow,” she whispered, walking over and looking at the skyline. The sun was down and all the lights made it kind of look like a faerie kingdom.

  “Hungry?” Curtis asked, sliding up behind her and pulling her gently onto his lap.

  “No. I ate too much cake at the reception. You?”

  “I’m hungry for you,” he said in a husky voice, his lips sliding over hers. Any possible doubts she might have harbored about him being a sexual being because of Chrissa’s words or Wally’s were put to rest that night. Curtis was an accomplished and kind lover who took her to heights she hadn’t even known were possible.

  As she lay in his arms afterward, sated and blissful, she hoped each time would be this amazing. She also hoped each of her friends found someone as amazing as he was.

  “What are you thinking about?” he murmured, his hands drifting lightly over her back.

  “How happy I am. And how I hope DeLynn and Chrissa find someone just as wonderful as you,” she answered honestly.

  “Mmm,” he said, kissing her. “I hope they do, too. But if you can think that clearly, I haven’t done my job.”

  “Your job?” she asked in confusion, squealing out a giggle as his fingers slid over her waist.

  “Are you ticklish?” he asked in delight.

  “No.”

  Laughing, he ran his fingers over her waist again, grabbing her hands that tried to stop him as she squealed again. “My job in taking you to such a place where you cannot think or feel,” he said as he tickled her again.

  “Curtis!”

  Grinning, his lips crashed into hers and as his hands spread out over her body, bringing her to a place where she could only feel, she stopped thinking for a very long time.

  The End

  Courted by Time

  In Hyacinth, Book Seven

  Bree Cariad

  ©2015 by Blushing Books® and Bree Cariad

  All rights reserved.

  No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Blushing Books®,

  a subsidiary of

  ABCD Graphics and Design

  977 Seminole Trail #233

  Charlottesville, VA 22901

  The trademark Blushing Books®

  is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

  Bree Cariad

  Courted by Time

  EBook ISBN: 978-1-62750-984-8

  Cover Art by ABCD Graphics and Design

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

  Author note

  Courted by Time includes references to Hawaiian culture, food, and language. I did a ton of research, so I hope I did them justice. To be honest, before I was even done writing the book, I decided that someday I have to go to Hawaii and experience them.

  Chapter 1

  “Lynnie,”
Blaine hissed.

  Lifting up one eyelid, DeLynn slowly focused in on her brother who was peeking through her door. “What?” she mumbled. As it was still dark out, she knew it had to be the middle of the night. What was Blaine doing?

  Tip-toeing into her room, which later on she would think was ludicrous as he was almost six feet tall, he lay down next to her on her bed, just as he’d done since they were kids when they wanted to talk in the middle of the night. “How can you sleep?” he whispered.

  Blinking her eyes and pushing herself up onto her forearms, she stared at his blurry form. “Because it’s nighttime?”

  “But there’s a man in the house.”

  Snickering, she let herself flump back onto her pillow. “It’s just Barrett, Mom’s new husband. Of course he’s gonna be in the house. It isn’t like he would stay at his old home which is now Deeka and Curtis’s home.”

  Flumping onto the bed next to her, he shook his head. “It’s weird. I mean, I like Mr. Williams. He’s a nice guy. And Charity has totally changed since he came into our lives. But still.” She had to agree with him. Their youngest sibling had been a terror until Deeka’s father became involved with their mother and married her.

  Reaching around, DeLynn found his hand and squeezed. “I miss Dad, too, but it’s been eight years, Blaine. Mom deserved to find happiness. So did Barrett.”

  “I don’t regret them getting married,” he said in a rush as if afraid she would think so. “It’s just…I don’t feel comfortable going into Mom’s room now.”

  Giggling, DeLynn pushed her face into her pillow to muffle the sound.