by V. A. Dold
“Of course,” she whispered and grinned at him. Taking his hand, she pulled him to the tree. “Stay very quiet and try not to make any sudden moves.”
He wasn’t sure what she was doing but followed her instructions. He watched as she slowly held her hand out below a thickly leaved branch of the tree. For a few seconds nothing happened, but then he saw it, a glimmer. What looked like a large insect timidly stepped from the leaves into her palm. A tree faerie!
“You can step closer now, but move slowly. They’re very skittish,” she whispered.
Thomas moved as slowly as he could until he was beside her. The tiny faerie was beautiful! Blinking huge blue eyes, it looked as interested in him as he was in it.
Carefully, Julia lifted her palm toward the tree so the faerie could step back into the cover of the leaves.
Thomas leaned close to her ear and whispered, “That was remarkable!”
“They are very curious and mischievous creatures. I sometimes sit for hours and watch them from my back deck.”
Thomas took her hand, and they walked back to the table. He helped Julia with her chair before taking his own. A bottle of red wine was already breathing in the center of the table and ready to be poured.
“Would you like a glass?” he asked as he held the bottle slightly tipped.
“Yes, please.”
Thomas filled hers and then his own. Raising his glass, he said, “To the most beautiful woman in the world and the man lucky enough to claim her as his mate.”
Julia raised her glass and sipped to his toast. As the delicious wine hit the back of her throat, she sputtered. Setting the glass down with a trembling hand she asked, “What did you just say?”
Thomas gazed into her eyes as he took her hand.
“I’ve never shared my heart with any woman. There’s never been any desire to take that chance. But with you Julia, I want to do just that. I really want to take that chance.”
Julia gripped his hands tighter. “Really?”
Thomas gave her one of his rare, heart-stopping smiles. “Absolutely. My heart belongs to you, completely.”
Thomas slid from his chair and went to one knee.
“Julia.” There was a raw love in his voice. Hunger. Yearning.
There was one thing he was utterly sure of. He would never want another woman the way he wanted his mate. She was his be-all and end-all.
“Calendar-wise, I only met you a few weeks ago. But in here,” he thumped his chest, “in my heart and soul, I’ve always known you. You’re the one person I’ve trusted enough to see me. The real me. I’ve let you into places no one has ever been allowed or ever will be again. And despite that, God only knows why you still want me and love me.”
She parted her lips to speak, but he stopped her with one gentle finger on her lips.
Opening the little velvet box to display the platinum band she had chosen at Jack Sutton Jewelers, he asked, “Julia Le Beau, will you be my wife and also complete the ritual with me. Right here in our cottage. Tonight?”
Her lip began to quiver as she whispered, “Yes, Tommy. Oh, yes. I will be your wife! And I’ve been waiting to complete the ritual with you.”
Thomas took his seat again holding her left hand with his right. The ring shimmered in the soft glow of the candles, looking perfect on her finger.
They both turned toward the tree as a golden light twinkled across the garden and floated to the table beside their hands. His shocked eyes shot from the golden and silver faerie with an iridescent crown to Julia. She was staring at the beautiful creature with a look of amazement on her face as well.
The faerie blinked up at him before she gently touched his hand with her left hand then she blinked at Julia and touched her hand with her tiny right hand. In a tiny, high-pitched voice she said, “Julia has been a good friend and ally to my people. I bless this union with a layer of faerie protection. No creature, human or supernatural, will ever be able to come between you. May you experience the love you both deserve and be blessed with many healthy children.”
Then, the faerie touched Julia’s ring. Instantly it glowed as if lit from inside and the tiny diamonds around the edge sparkled rainbows all around them. “If you are ever in need of me, touch this ring and call me. I will come instantly to your aid.”
With a regal nod to each of them, she rose in the air and shot like a shooting star back to the tree.
Thomas stared at Julia with his mouth hanging open. “Was she the faerie queen?”
Julia nodded, still speechless. Finally, she said, “I’ve heard of her existence, but I have never heard anyone tell of meeting her. Not even Etienne.” Her eyes grew larger, and she drew in a little gasp. “A blessing from her is highly prized. You have no idea how powerful she is. With a snap of her fingers, she could level this entire city.”
Thomas sat back in his chair, staring at her as he absorbed what she just said. Then, slowly his gaze moved to the tree, and as if to answer his unspoken question a golden light twinkled once.
“Holy, shit!”
“You can say that again.” Julia nodded.
Slowly the glow subsided until it appeared to be like any other ring. No one would ever be able to tell it was a direct link to the faerie queen.
Before either of them had time to say more, the butler pushed a serving cart toward the table. “Would you like the meal served now, sir?”
Thomas frowned as if making a decision. Then he turned a questioning gaze to Julia and raised an eyebrow.
Are you hungry—for food?
Not really. With all the excitement, I’m not sure I can eat. Sorry.
No need to apologize, babe. My appetite is for other things at the moment.
His eyes grew dark with hunger for his mate. Thomas turned his attention back to the butler. “Please, put the dinners into to-go boxes. Thank you for everything you arranged,” he took Julia’s hands. “The evening was perfect.”
Only a few minutes later, they’d gathered the meals, thanked the violinist, and were back in the cottage.
Thomas flipped the lock and spun Julia around trapping her between the door and his raging body. A possessive growl rumbled from his throat, tasting her sweet lips was an all-consuming priority as he lowered his mouth to hers.
Soft moans floated between them, increasing in volume in concert with the heat building. Tongues stroked and danced as they memorized each other down to the tiniest detail.
Cupping her face, he tilted her head slightly, and the kiss deepened. Thomas ground his hips into her. Julia’s lips were so soft and perfect under his, but he needed more. His cock stiff and throbbing pressed into her soft belly, and his small thrusts turned up the heat until it felt like a sauna. He wanted to cup her breast in his palm and rake his thumb across her nipple, but there wasn’t enough space between them for a breath of air.
With more reluctance than he could articulate, he pulled away from her luscious curves and led her by the hand to their bed. With every step, he told himself the results were worth the loss of her in his arms for a few seconds.
His agony ended at the edge of the bed. Julia took his face in her hands and kissed him until his head spun. Then, she put just enough space between them to remove his tie and unbutton his shirt. When Thomas moved to take charge, she tapped his chin with her finger.
“Tommy, tonight I’m in charge.” She raised her eyebrows in challenge to make her point.
A grin broke across his face as he kissed her once and said, “I’m more than happy to be at your mercy, babe.”
Julia made short work of his clothes, and with a wicked grin pushed him onto the bed. Laughing, Thomas propped himself on his arms to watch his sexy woman strip. Damn, had she taken classes? Because, good Lord, she was smoking hot! When she turned away from him and bent over, wearing nothing but stilettos, he thought he was going to come without her even touching him.
Julia licked her finger and sucked it suggestively, all w
hile holding his gaze. She pulled her finger from between her lips with a ‘pop’ and slowly crawled up his painfully aroused body.
Waggling her finger at him, she said, “No touching.”
She positioned both knees on either side of his hips, her heated, wet core sliding erotically along his engorged erection. Her hands cupped the breasts his mouth was salivating to taste, kneading and pinching her nipples into hard peaks.
“Please, baby. Let me touch you.”
Julia simply licked her lips in answer to his plea and rocked slightly harder against his cock to add more friction. The candlelight glowing around the room played over her curves, caressing the swell of her breast. Locking her gaze with his, she rolled his male nipples between her fingers and took one of his hands to her mouth. She separated his index finger from the others and sucked it into her mouth, sucking him off like she had his cock instead.
Thomas couldn’t take his eyes from her amazing mouth. “Oh, God, babe. I’m not going to last. Don’t I need to save that for the ritual?”
Julia gave him a slight pout and released his finger from its hot, wet heaven. Her breathing became ragged, and she finally led one of his hands to her clit. “Touch me, Tommy. Make me come.”
“Hell, yeah.” FINALLY!
Seconds later, she screamed his name and shattered beautifully for him.
Julia lay panting on his chest, right where he wanted her. “Kiss me, sweetheart, I need your lips.”
She gave him a satisfied smile and offered her lips to him. Thomas devoured her mouth, putting every ounce of sexual tension raging in his body into his kiss. He grabbed her ass and pulled her up his body, stopping to suckle and lick her nipples until she was moaning.
“Grab the headboard, babe, and straddle my face, I have to taste you.”
Julia was all for that suggestion. A long low rumble of pleasure rolled from her chest as her wolf voiced its satisfaction.
Thomas had a magical mouth and tongue. He licked and sucked her into the stratosphere. In minutes, he had her shouting his name a second time.
Panting she carefully moved to lie beside him. It wasn’t easy when her legs felt like a Gumby dolls. “Give me,” she panted hard, “a minute and I will start the ritual.”
“Whatever you need, baby.” His body hummed in anticipation of making her completely his. For now, he was happy to hold her in his arms, running his fingers up and down her body.”
“Babe, did you ask your father how the aging thing works with you already being older than I am?”
Once she was able to speak, she said, “I called him, and he told me my age will synchronize with yours. So essentially, we’ll both continue to look like we are twenty-five, and I won’t start to age when I’m nine hundred years. Instead, my body will wait for you to reach nine hundred and then we will start to age together until we reach around fourteen hundred.” She ran her fingers through his hair as if studying it. “I’ve been thinking about the color of your wolf. Based on your hair color, I’m not so sure you’ll be brown. I think you will look like a normal wild gray wolf. With the tans, and whites, and grays mixed together in its coat.”
“That’s cool.” He grinned. “I was told that the magical powers I’ll receive are the ability to dress or undress with a thought, which I think is going to come in very handy. Especially the undressing part.”
Julia giggled when he tickled her ribs.
“I’m also really looking forward to the healing ability. In my line of work, being able to heal ten times faster will be a huge asset. The ability to move so rapidly the human eye can’t detect me will be cool, but since I deal mostly with supes, it’ll just make me as fast as they are. We’ve already talked telepathically and sent each other caresses and emotions through our magical connection, so no explanation needed there.” Thomas paused with a very serious expression on his face. “I think my additional gift will be an enhancement of the one I already have, which might suck unless it comes with the power to control it better.”
Julia nodded. “I think you’re right, and the enhanced ability usually comes with ways to control and use it, that you never had before. So, I think you’ll really like it.”
“Thanks, babe, I needed that. For a second there I was a little apprehensive.”
“You’re welcome, mon amour,” she said caressing his chest.”
Thomas slid his hands along her collarbones and up her neck to cup her face. Her chest rumbled as he brought his lips to hers, pausing to envelop himself in her scent. He kissed her gently, easing her lips apart and searching with his tongue in an unhurried exploration. Their tongues reached for each other, dancing and caressing. Their kisses were slower and less frantic than before.
He pulled her over his body again to straddle his hips. Then, trailed his palms down her ribcage and over her soft, round belly to stop and grip her hips. He moaned when her heated core ground against him as he pulled her to his lips again.
Slowly, Julia burned a trail of kisses across his stubbled jaw and down his neck, stopping to give special attention to the spot, which would bear her bite. She traced, licked, and nibbled another trail down his chest.
“Baby, you’re so damn sexy. How did I get so lucky?”
“You must have really good karma,” she teased as she rose to sit up and stroke his shaft along her wet pussy.
He reached up and ran one palm from her neck to her heated core while maintaining a grip on her with the other.
She gasped, arching her back when he began stroking her clit. “I need to start the ritual before we go too far. Are you ready?”
“Absolutely.”
Taking a deep breath, she started the ritual words. “Will you give yourself, body and soul, to complete this woman and her wolf?
“Will you unite your life with mine, bond your future with mine, and merge your half of our soul to mine, and in doing so complete the mating ritual?”
Without hesitation, he answered, “I will give myself, body and soul, to complete you as a woman and her wolf.
“I will unite my life with yours, bond my future to yours, and merge my half of our soul with yours. I will complete the mating ritual with you.”
Julia used her thighs to lift her body off his hips so she could position his erection where she needed it. Never losing eye contact, she sank down onto him until he was seated fully.
Thomas gripped her hips rising to meet each of her rocking thrusts. Their panting grew heavy, and she knew they needed to complete this now.
“I claim you as my mate.” The magic began to swirl around them.
“I belong to you as you belong to me.
“I give you my heart and my body.
“I will protect you even with my life.
“I give you all I am.
“I share my half of our soul to complete you.
“I share my magic with you.”
Julia leaned forward kissing Tommy deeply before trailing her lips to his neck. She lapped where his shoulder and neck met, once, twice, a third time, and then bit, piercing the flesh with her wolf’s canines.
Thomas groaned, he’d heard the bite was erotic, but this was so much more than he had expected. His hips jerked into Julia, slamming his raging cock deep as Julia licked the wound clean.
With one last lick, she began again. “I beseech the great Luna Goddess to bless you and your wolf guardian.
“You are my mate to cherish today and for all time.
“I claim you as my mate.”
He felt something like a wind enter his body. It made him feel full and complete. Funny, he’d never felt incomplete before, at least not that he’d noticed. But then, his mother had done everything in her power to make him feel more loved than any of the kids he ever met. As a matter of fact, he’d often felt bad for the other kids who were more ignored than loved by their mothers. Now, it made sense, as a shifter mate she had sensed his need without even knowing she was doing it. Through the fog of
his thoughts, he heard Julia’s sweet voice.
“Tommy, you need to repeat the words back to me.”
He looked directly into her eyes and began. “I claim you as my mate.
“I belong to you as you belong to me.
“I give you my heart and my body.
“I will protect you even with my life.
“I give you all I am.
“I share my half of our soul to complete you.”
Julia laughed as she felt their souls come together, as if tiny knitting needles rapidly closed the gap between the two halves to leave a complete, glowing soul.
“It tickles.” She laughed again.
Thomas chuckled as he continued, “I share my magic with you.”
He pulled Julia down to him so he could reach her neck. He copied what she had done, lapping. Once, twice, a third time. Suddenly canines erupted in his mouth. The teeth only stunned him for a moment before instinct took over, and he bit down.
Julia moaned and rocked as best she could, lying on his chest.
He licked the wound clean and said, “I beseech the great Luna Goddess to bless you and your wolf guardian.
“You are my mate to cherish today and for all time.
“I claim you as my mate.”
With the ritual words completed, she sat up and rode her new mate like there was no tomorrow.
Thomas was right there with her, thrusting his hips up as she came down, using his grip on her hips to help lift her up and slam her home.
“I can’t believe you’re mine, really mine. God! You’re so tight. You feel so good.”
Suddenly she exploded in ecstasy. Her channel clamped down on him as she came hard, screaming his name for a third time tonight.
Thomas followed her immediately with his release, yelling her name with abandon.
Julia collapsed to his chest, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. He held her like that for a minute or two before urging her to cuddle beside him where he could hold her while they slept.
Breathing out a contented sigh, Julia cuddled into Thomas’s side with one arm across his chest.
She smiled as she felt his lips brush her forehead. Comfort and love washed over her as Tommy used their bond to kiss her good night.
