All's Fair in Love and Lion

by Bethany Averie

  Mesmerized by Sasha’s beauty, I nearly miss my cue during the vows. Startled back to the present, I repeat the vows to love and honor Sasha in sickness and health, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer until death. Sasha stares into my eyes, softly repeating the promises when it’s her turn. A wave of gratitude washes over me. Sliding the wedding band onto her finger, I repeat what the priest says, then Sasha slips a ring on my finger. The priest continues with the blessing, but I hardly notice. At last, she’s my wife. I swallow and try to control my racing heart when my earlier fears return. Mentally I swear to please her in every way.

  Happiness overflows within me when we walk hand-in-hand down the aisle to a fast-paced instrumental and loud applause. I glance down at her and she gives me a dazzling smile.

  “Sasha,” I say over the commotion around us. “I’d like you to meet my brother, Rowin, his wife, Lela, and their daughter, Mora.”

  Rowin inclines his head. “You’re as lovely as Monroe said in his letter.” He nudges me. “How did you manage it, brother?” I shoot him a dark look. He’s too much like Bast when it comes to humor.

  Lela embraces Sasha. “Welcome to the family. I hope you and Monroe will come visit us.”

  “Thank you. We shall do our best,” Sasha says. She turns to Mora. “Hello.”

  Mora ducks her head shyly. “Hello, Aunt, if I can call you that, Sasha.”

  “Of course,” Sasha answers.

  Mora turns to me. “Will you visit more? Dad increased my curfew now that I’m eleven. He’s teaching me chess. I bet I could beat you, Uncle Monroe.”

  I shrug. “If we can make it, I’ll take you up on your challenge.”

  Lela gives me a wink. “We understand. Delighted to have you in the family, Sasha.”

  “Thank you.” Sasha hugs her back.

  After the photographer finishes, Sasha and I climb into the limo and head for the Fantasy Suites and Hotel.

  I trail my index finger down her arm. “You think anyone would notice if we didn’t make an appearance?”

  She bites back a grin. “They might.”

  “Hmm.” I brush a wisp of her honey-blond hair back from her face. “Too bad.”

  “You read my mind.”

  I enfold her in my arms and the rest of the world disappears as our lips meet.

  The chauffeur clears his throat. “Sir? Are you ready?”

  I glance at Sasha, who stifles a giggle.

  “Of course,” I answer. Taking Sasha’s hand, I get out and help her from the limo.

  Inside, the sparkling lobby glitters, with crystal chandeliers, décor in shades of blue, purple, and white.

  “Monroe, you didn’t tell me it was this fancy.”

  “Because if I had, you’d tell me I was being too extravagant.”

  She shakes her head. “You always are.”

  “Part of my charm.” We head down a side hallway, our feet striding soundlessly on the ivory-colored carpet. Turning to Sasha, I raise my fist to knock on a plain white door. “Ready?”

  “Go ahead.”

  The hotel’s tall, thin wedding consultant opens the door. “Mr. and Mrs. Dubay, we’ll have your DJ announce you.” He steps back and lets us enter the bustling kitchens.

  “You’re not having them address you as Lord Dubay?” Sasha whispers.

  “I thought if I used my title it would raise more questions than we need.”

  “You’re right.”

  At the door between the kitchens and the ballroom, the consultant puts a hand up and we stop. He pushes into the waiting ballroom and after a moment we hear the DJ’s voice say, “And now, for the second time, please put your hands together for Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Dubay!”

  “That’s our cue.” I squeeze Sasha’s hand and we sweep into the room.

  I barely hear Sasha’s gasp over the guests’ applause as we glide across a massive hardwood floor toward a raised platform where a long table covered in white linen with dark pink tulle awaits us. Wooden steps lead up onto the platform and we take our places at the table.

  Once we’re seated in chairs swathed in white fabric, waiters come streaming in with trays of covered dishes.

  “This is beautiful,” Melody says, “Did you pick it, Sasha?”

  Sasha’s gaze travels up the ceiling decked with bronze chandeliers dripping with crystals. “Monroe insisted upon making all the arrangements himself.”

  “What if you didn’t like something?” Melody asks.

  Sasha shifts uncomfortably. “Other than his extravagance, I can’t complain.”

  “I can’t, either. Good choice, Monroe.”

  “Thank you, Melody.” I notice Melody’s focus remains on Sasha. I hope she believes the cover story we fed her regarding my inheritance. Sasha’s convinced Melody wouldn’t believe in the Third Realm. Perhaps Sasha underestimates her. However, I won’t say anything. If Sasha wants Melody to know, she’ll give her the full story.

  Ted leans forward. “Sasha has always been economical. The fact you talked her into letting you plan this says a lot about her trust in you.”

  “Didn’t you hear me say Monroe insisted?” Sasha hides a smile behind her water goblet.

  I reach under the table and clasp her hand. Her beauty shines around her like a soft glow and my mouth goes dry. Surreptitiously, I peek at my pocket watch. Soon I can make her truly mine. Bast gets my attention and gives me a playful wink. I ignore him.

  “You’ve got that glint in your eye,” Sasha says during the first dance.

  “What do you mean?”

  She laughs. “You’re bored.”

  I spin her out, then bring her back into my arms. “I’m not bored.”

  “Okay, what does it mean?”

  I lower my head so my mouth is centimeters from her ear. “What do you think? Could we escape?”

  She runs the tip of her tongue over her upper lip. “There you go reading my mind.”

  I draw her closer. “Well?”

  “We can’t.” I catch a regretful note in her voice. “There’re the toasts left and the cake cutting. We can’t just disappear.”

  “Let the hotel cut the cake.”

  “Ah-ah.” She shakes her head, giggling. “I’ll never hear the end of it from Mel if we leave before her toast.”

  “And I suppose Bast wouldn’t let me live it down.” I sigh.

  “No worries. The moment we can, we will.”

  “Now you’re reading my mind.”

  A half an hour later, after Bast and Melody’s toasts, I lead Sasha quietly out of the ballroom through a side door held open by the wedding consultant. We exit quickly and enter the limousine.

  Sasha cuddles up to me. “I wish we could go on our honeymoon now.”

  “You couldn’t get a substitute?”

  “I want to be with you, but I’ve never missed midterms. When they’re over, I promise, no more work until after Christmas vacation.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.” I shift her closer and give her a deep kiss. Her lips taste like cake, sweet and intoxicating. With a sound, a cross between a groan and a growl, I devour her mouth.

  “Can’t wait, husband?”

  My heart skips. “Say it again.”

  “That you can’t wait?” she asks, puzzled.

  “No, the other part.”

  Her face lights up. “Husband.”

  “How I’ve looked forward to this day.”

  “I have, too.” She directs my mouth back to hers.

  “Now who can’t wait?”

  “I love you, Monroe,” she whispers.

  My jaw goes slack. “What did you say?”

  She peeks up at me. “Haven’t I said it before?”

  Mutely I shake my head.

  Her brow furrows. “Not at all?”

  “No,” I breathe. “I’ve said it. But not you.”

  Her gorgeous smile spreads across her face. “I do love you, Monroe. I have for quite a while.”

  I hold her tighter. “I love you, too.
So much.”

  Hungrily, I sprinkle kisses on her lips, eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead. Joy bursts like the crackle of fireworks deep within my heart. She loves me, and she’s married to me. At last! Heat floods my veins and I can hardly wait to get her home.

  The limo leaves us at Sasha’s apartment. When the elevator opens on her floor, we jog down to her unit and hastily throw open the door.

  Grabbing her suitcases, we rush through the boundaries. The bags drop to the floor with a thud as I swing Sasha into my arms and race down the hallway into our bedchamber.

  “Welcome home,” I say between urgent kisses.

  “Thank you.”

  Desire inflames me. My hand reaches for her zipper.

  Suddenly, she steps away. “Hold on. I have something special.”

  “Hurry,” I call as she disappears into the adjoining bathroom.

  I throw my coat over a chair. My vest follows. Unfastening my cufflinks, I set them aside with my family crest ring. My shoes and socks are next.

  Sasha clears her throat.

  Midway through untying my bowtie, I spin around. My jaw drops. More heat surges through my veins and all thought deserts me. Starting at the bottom of a knee-length pale pink satin nightgown, I memorize the angelic apparition before me. Her shapely legs make my mouth go dry. Her trim waist begs for my hands around it. My eyes make their way over the rest of her until I notice one of the thin straps of her nightgown slips off her shoulders. I gulp, staring at the lace etched into the low V-neckline. The thin fabric stretches across her breasts in perfect detail. My fingers twitch. In seconds I could rip the whole thing off. This vision is mine.

  She sashays over to me, her hips swaying in a sensual dance. As the temperature in my veins rises, I reach up and attempt to loosen my collar. By the Third Realm, I’m done for.

  She runs her fingers up my chest. Of their own accord, my nerve-endings jump to life.

  “Shall I help with your shirt?” I blink, hearing some hesitation. Why? I’m not any more experienced than her.

  A sudden determination crosses her features. She gives the shirt a savage tug and frees it from the buttons. The fabric falls onto the floor. My arms wrap around her. I bury my face in her hair and breathe in floral shampoo. My head in a fog, I pick her up in my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist and between frantic kisses, we tumble onto the bed. There’s no more time for fear. Instinct takes over. Amid the blood pounding in my ears, I hear her soft moans, and I growl. Somehow the rest of our clothing falls away.

  Wildly, I glance down at her.

  “Now,” she says.

  With her gasp and my groan, we become one.

  The dim morning light seeps through the slightly parted curtains. Grunting, I roll over and stretch. I don’t think I’ll walk again after the previous night. Not that I mind. Sasha’s newfound confidence, her declaration of love, and her insatiable passion mixed with my own need and love for her proved an explosive combination. Absolute perfection.

  Feeling movement beside me, I watch Sasha turn over. “Ow! Bad idea, bad idea.”

  “What?”

  She winces. “Trying to move after the night we had.”

  My hands travel over her naked body. “Then don’t.”

  A lazy smile spreads across her lips. “What about food?”

  “We’ll get to it.”

  She bites her lower lip, a grin playing on her mouth. “A shower?”

  “I’ll carry you if you want.”

  “Can you move?”

  I feel my lips quirk into a half-smile. “Depends on why.”

  She laughs musically. “Well, if Lily struck now, she’d find easy targets.”

  “If she dared come near you, I’d rip her to shreds, regardless of how I feel.”

  Sasha shifts herself closer to me, her fingers brush against my skin. “She wants to fight me. I’d give her a battle she wouldn’t soon forget.”

  I trail a finger over her collarbone. “I had a taste of your aggression earlier.”

  She runs her fingertip leisurely across my heart. “Want another dose?”

  Immediately I’m aroused. “If you’re up for it.”

  “My pleasure.”

  She straddles me, her hands like magic on my body.

  I suck in a breath. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  Her tongue flicks over my chest. “I think you’ll survive.”

  I grasp her shoulders and toss her onto her back.

  “Hey! What happened to a second dose?”

  I lower my head and scatter kisses on her neck. “Changed my mind.”

  Her sigh of pleasure drives me to the edge of reason.

  “Think we’ll ever walk again?” she asks between kisses.

  “No, but who cares?”

  “I don’t . . . at least, not at the moment.”

  She lets out a shout when my hands cover her breasts. “Stop procrastinating, won’t you? I can’t hold out.”

  “Bossy, aren’t you?”

  She clenches her teeth and tugs at me, lifting her hips off the bed. “Monroe . . .”

  As she makes contact with me, my body clamors for more. “Your wish is my command.” On the fringes of my mind worry nudges at me. I force it back as I try to refocus on Sasha. But in the background of her passionate cries and my own release, I dread Sasha is right. Lily will come for her and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it. I grind my teeth.

  Damn it! I don’t want to think about Lily.

  Chapter 34: Sasha

  “Hello, Mrs. Dubay.” A voice breaks the silence.

  Startled, I glance up. “Oh, hello, Carl.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t make the wedding. My parents were celebrating their anniversary early since my relatives were in town.”

  “It’s all right. Was the party fun?”

  “My dad cracked bad jokes and my mom turned thirty shades of red. It was a riot,” he answers in amusement. Then suddenly his brows knit together. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t get married the week after exams? You could’ve gone straight on to your honeymoon. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything but being a newlywed.”

  “We wanted December twelfth. Plus, I couldn’t miss midterms.”

  He makes himself comfortable in an empty desk. “Always thinking about the job, huh? Makes me wonder what Monroe would say.” He chuckles. “Speaking of which, how is married life?”

  “I can’t complain. Monroe is a wonderful husband.”

  “You seem very happy. Although, I’m not surprised you’re distracted.”

  “And here I thought I was hiding it so well.” I stifle a yawn.

  “Didn’t get much sleep?”

  “Not that it’s any of your business.” I purse my lips.

  “You’re right. I apologize.” He gets up. “How about I bring you some coffee?”

  Stretching, I stand. “I’ll go down and get it. Maybe the exercise will wake me up.”

  “I’ll join you. I was going anyway.”

  We leave the room and head down the stairs. He holds the Teachers’ Lounge door open. “You’ve had a lot going on, what with the ceremony and all. How’d you manage to stay organized?”

  “I finished writing my class’s exams before the wedding. I knew I would have my hands full preparing for the big day.”

  “I wish I had planned ahead this time. I’ve been dealing with my mother pestering me to settle down and start a family.”

  “That’s too bad.” I pour coffee into my mug.

  “That’s Mom for you. I suppose she means well.” He shrugs. “She’ll just have to wait.”

  “Well, I’m going back to my room. Good luck with the rest of exam week.”

  “You too,” he says as I exit the Lounge.

  I return to my classroom, drinking my coffee. Leaning against the door I try to center my attention on grading the midterms. Remember how much this job means to you. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help. Instead, my mi
nd replays the weekend.

  Hunting with Monroe as his wife was exciting. Our teamwork improved. We took down our prey like we were one being. After we fulfilled our hunger for food, we remained in lion form and satisfied other needs. The experience wasn’t nearly as powerful as in human form, but it made me feel our marriage was complete. Will the desire ever fade? Do I want it to? Hmm. Perhaps when I’m at work.

  “I could enjoy a whole month having Monroe to myself.” I glance bemusedly at my desktop. It was so easy to forget about my students and the classroom. I can hardly believe how my priorities have changed.

  I really should concentrate. Squaring my shoulders, I sit behind my desk. I’m in control. Savagely, I shove aside the desire and passion that dominated the previous couple of days. Good. Now I can work on my students’ grades. A knock on the door yanks me out of my reverie. Without looking up, I call, “It’s open!”

  The door swings open, and I hear movement as someone walks in. I raise my head.

  “Well, well, Lady Dubay.” Monroe leans against the wall beside the closing door, a playful air about him. The fluorescent lights illuminate his handsome face. Languidly, he studies me. “Aren’t you an inviting sight?” The door clicks shut.

  My heart thumps in double-time. Damn, he’s gorgeous. Crisp black pants extenuate his muscular legs, the silver buckle on his belt glints, begging me to undo it. Heat flares in my veins as I notice the top two buttons on his forest-green shirt are unfastened. My fingers yearn to touch the space between the shirt collar and his neck. Maybe undo the rest of the buttons. Responsibility and desire war within me. “Monroe, what are you doing here?” The unmarked exam paper seems to mock me. “I’ve got a test left to mark and grades to input into my computer.”

  “Alice at the front desk told me to come on up after I signed in.” He moves toward me. “Doesn’t look like you’re working.”

  My tongue runs over my lips. “I restarted a minute ago.”

  “Did you?” He kneels down by my chair and runs his hand over my tan skirt.

  Inhaling sharply, I bat his hand away. “Now’s not the time or place.” I pick up my red pen. “What’s the reason for this distraction?” I pause at the serious expression darkening his features. “Something wrong?”