by Haley Weir
Giddeon sank a few inches deeper, and her eyes snapped open. He rocked gently, caressing her inner walls with his engorged flesh. Every drag along her nerves sent ripples of pleasure coursing through her body. Giddeon hovered above her, framed by her legs as he brought her to the edge once more. The look in his eyes told her that she was beautiful, that she was loved.
Casey gasped as he reached the very depths of her spasming core. Slick dripped along her folds. He tormented her for several heartbeats, forcing her to feel the stretch of his claim as he stroked her to yet another explosive release with his hands. Casey's vision blurred and Giddeon picked up speed, riding the high of one climax and catapulting her into another. "Oh, god! Harder. Please…"
She was spread open and defenseless as his hips pounded against her. The slick sounds of their love filled her ears. Giddeon's rhythm never faltered. He leaned back and pushed her legs towards her chest more as he held onto the back of her knees. She looked up at him and saw an Alpha, a king, a god. Casey looked down the length of her torso and watched. As he speared into her over and over. "Give me one more, love," he panted. "I know you can do it. I want to feel you squeezing around me."
She clenched her eyes shut and light erupted in the back of her mind. Casey's legs went numb as Giddeon gave three more powerful thrusts and filled her with his seed. She flailed upon the bed, unable to control her muscles. Giddeon gathered her up in his powerful arms and kissed her. "Breathe. There you go."
Calloused palms rubbed soothing circles into her back. Casey fought against the tremors that came in the aftermath of her orgasm. "That has never happened to me before. I don't know what you did to me, but I can't wait to do it again." She wrapped her arms around his neck as her body settled. "So, what's next for us?"
"That decision lies with you."
Casey nodded her head and ran her fingers through his hair. "Damien says I can keep my title and work here at the new branch. I'm a little upset that the two of you kept your friendship from me, but I'm glad it worked out like this."
"So, you're staying?"
"I'm staying," she replied. "Though, it'll take time for me to adjust to the whole queen thing. I'm not exactly sure how, but I'd like to try."
"You shouldn't be the only one making sacrifices. If you wish, we can get a house near your brother and spend time there around the holidays."
Casey tackled him onto his back and assaulted him with noisy kisses. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That means the world to me. I'm sure he'll adore you."
"I hope so. I would hate to disappoint your family."
"Giddeon, you could never be a disappointment." She licked a stripe along his jaw and purred suggestively. "Got another round in the chamber?"
"For you? Always."
She reached down and felt the truth of his words against her hand. "I think I'm going to like being married to you." Her hands stroked him to full hardness as she moved down to straddle his hips.
Giddeon sucked in a harsh breath when Casey sank down on his length. She wiggled her hips until her body accepted every wonderful inch inside of her. Her hands braced against his chest as she rocked slowly. That familiar tingle flooded her body. Casey worked up and down. The muscles in her thighs protested, but she barreled down with all of her weight, impaling herself on her lover over and over again. Giddeon gripped her hips and supported her weight with his hands. He thrusted up to meet each of her movements.
"You're so beautiful, Casey."
She bounced faster, riding him until she was short of breath. Giddeon crushed her against his chest and pistoned his hips upward. Casey released a scream that echoed in the room as a rush of wetness covered them both. Giddeon pounded into her harder. He swiveled his hips and buried himself to the hilt as his seed dripped along the folds of her molten core. Casey's thighs trembled. She was so caught up in the pleasure he had given her that she had forgotten to be self-conscious about her weight.
"Will it always be like this between us?" she asked as she turned onto her side.
"I'm not sure. I've never been mated before." His chest heaved as he laid his arm across his sweat-dampened forehead. "But I imagine it will only get better with practice."
"Pfft. If you get any better, I'll have to press charges for attempted murder."
"I am flattered." His chest puffed up with pride. "But it is you that makes this experience memorable. The way you come alive with my touch is breathtaking." He moved his arm and leaned forward to lift her shirt over her head. Casey had been so caught up in the moment she hadn't realized she was still dressed.
"Remind me to never say yes when Rina offers me a cocktail."
"If this is the result, you should order a double," he snickered.
Chapter Fourteen
Destiny, Alaska
“This is a terrible idea,” Damien claimed as he stood at the center of Giddeon’s office. Giddeon sat in his chair and folded his hands on top of his desk, meeting the wolf’s stare without fear. Damien crossed his arms over his chest, causing the immaculately tailored suit he wore to bunch up a bit around his middle. “You can’t ask this of me. It’s not my fight.”
“It wasn’t my fight when I came to your aid during the war. Your kind would have been slaughtered by those hunters had we not intervene when you asked us to.”
“Giddeon, that thing isn’t a hunter. It’s a monster, and it should be put down, not reasoned with. What if he tries to duplicate that serum and make more of his kind?”
“I’m asking you to send a message not to fight with us,” Giddeon responded. “Just get close enough to their camp to talk to someone. Tell them about our pact so they know there doesn’t have to be more violence. That they can join us and live peacefully without these walls without fear of being hunted by humans.”
“You think they’ll listen? They’ve spent decades on that island with the hatred of a madman ringing in their ears. We’d be lucky if they didn’t kill me on sight!” Damien moved closer to the desk and slammed his hands down. “Don’t ask me to do this, Giddeon. I know your brother means a lot to you, but I have my own people to look after. If I die, there’s no one left in my bloodline to take over the throne.”
Casey spoke up for the first time since the meeting started. “Damien, you’re the only one besides me that they don’t recognize. If any of Giddeon’s people steps foot on that island, Octavius will know right away. I would go if I knew how to fight.”
Giddeon knew it was playing dirty to use Casey against the Alpha wolf, but Damien had a soft spot where Casey was concerned. He suspected it was due to her uncanny resemblance to his sister that died fighting for the freedom of their people. Damien wore a pained expression and straightened to his full height. “If anything happens to me, I want Casey to lead my pack.”
His stomach dropped. “No.”
“You can’t ask me to do you this favor without giving something in return.”
“You’re asking me to endanger my mate!”
“And you’re asking me to sacrifice my safety and that of my people to save your brother!” Damien’s claws appeared, and his eyes flashed silver. If he shifted within the building, Giddeon had to be ready to take him down to make sure no humans were harmed.
But Casey touched the male’s arm fearlessly and his claws retracted. “That choice isn’t Giddeon’s to make, Damien. But I’ll lead your people if anything happens to you. Just help us save Seth. Please?”
Giddeon tensed. He disliked how casually she had rested her hand on Damien.
The wolf nodded his head grimly. “I’ll do it.”
Though Damien’s agreement meant reaching the Reckoning, he despised the idea of Casey leading a wolf pack. “Make sure you don’t get yourself killed on that island. If you need help, I’ll have Balor on a ship nearby. Howl and he’ll try to get to you. But if you get captured, I can’t guarantee he’ll step foot on that island to save you.”
Damien snarled and barreled towards the elevator. The doors dinged open and he disa
ppeared inside without another word. Casey whirled around and pinned Giddeon with an intense glare. “Caleb was right; you are insufferable. I’d be surprised if your friendship with Damien remains intact after how you just treated him.”
“You touched him…”
“Shove it, Giddeon,” Casey snapped. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“I only want to protect you.”
“Don’t burn all of your bridges in the process. If this thing with Octavius gets worse, none of us know what might happen and you’ll need all of the friends you can get. Damien has a lot at stake here, not just us.” She grabbed her bag and headed towards the elevator as well. Giddeon leaped over his desk and pinned her against the wall. Casey stiffened as he breathed her in. Slowly, she relaxed against him and dropped her bag to the floor.
“I’m sorry.”
“Tell that to my boss.”
Giddeon carried her over to his chair and sat with her in his lap. Casey leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not perfect, Casey. I’m going to make mistakes. And when I do, I need to know you won’t always just pick up your things and run away. It drives me insane thinking you might get hurt and I won’t be able to find you.”
“I...all right. I won’t run anymore, but you have to keep your anger in check.”
“I can’t help myself when your safety is at risk,” he replied sharply.
“You can and you will.” She glanced up at him with stubbornness flaring in her gaze. “Promise me you won’t make me go back on my promise to Damien. If he dies on that island, I will do as he asks and lead his people with or without your support...but I’d prefer to do it with your support.”
“You’ve proven that I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Good,” she chuckled. “Keep that in mind for the future and this whole marriage thing will work out just fine. No more caveman nonsense, either. All right?”
Giddeon rolled his eyes and kissed the tip of her nose. “No. Because if I want to toss you over my shoulder and drag you to the bedroom, I will.”
“Well...in that case, I suppose it’s all right.”
~*~
Trenton, New Jersey
Casey counted just how many times Giddeon had scowled since the plane landed. He had a major dislike for large cities, especially ones that smelled terrible. Odors within the city that floated past his sensitive nose had rendered him speechless on numerous occasions. Casey felt terrible as his eyes watered or he fell into a fit of coughs. She stayed close to him in case he got a headache and entered the hotel. As if the toxic fumes hadn’t been bad enough, they were hit by a cloud of obnoxious perfume the second they walked through the door.
Giddeon growled angrily, startling several of the people nearby. “Tell me again why you wanted to get married in this hellhole?”
“Because it’ll be the only chance Jamie will have to come to the wedding before he goes back to Ethiopia,” she explained, ushering him towards the check-in desk. “Presidential Suite, please. And have room service send up the gift baskets that were delivered and take them to the rooms on this list. Thank you.” Casey tugged him along after she paid for the room.
“Don’t be upset if I wear a gasmask to the reception.”
“Why would I be upset? It might keep you from complaining the entire day like you did at the engagement party and rehearsal dinner.”
“Balor antagonized me!” he snarled in the elevator.
“I’m sure he did, but why did you let him bait you like that?” Casey laughed quietly to herself. She found it hilarious that they weren’t even married and yet they argued like a couple that had been together for years. They walked into the room and were greeted by a mountain of flowers and gifts that had been delivered by the hotel. Most of them had Giddeon’s name on them from clients of his.
Casey wandered into the bedroom and squealed when she saw her wedding dress laid out on the bed. She danced around the room with it still in the plastic and looked in the mirror. Giddeon came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck. “We’re supposed to be in separate rooms, you know?” she giggled. “Traditions and all that jazz.”
“Not my traditions.” Giddeon wrapped his arms around her and Casey hung the dress up on the mirror. She turned in his arms and nearly jumped out of her skin when the door to the bedroom opened. Her older brother Jamie stood in the doorway with a disapproving look on his face. Giddeon stepped away from her and offered his hand. “You must be Jamie Hartley.”
“I am.” Her brother glared at Giddeon’s hand until it dropped. “And you’ll be staying in my room while Casey and her friends take this one.”
“Where will you be?” she asked.
He glanced around Giddeon and dazzled her with a dimpled smile. “You know me. I’ll find a bed to sleep in anywhere.”
“Please don’t sleep with Olivia!”
“I haven’t seen her since college. I’m sure we have nothing in common anymore.” Jamie stood nearly as tall as Giddeon. His hair was as dark as hers, and he looked more like a model than a doctor. She walked into his arms and hugged him tightly.
“Jamie, don’t bully my husband.”
“You aren’t married yet.” Jamie released her and stepped out of the room. “Say your goodbyes, Mr. Black. You won’t be seeing my sister until tomorrow.”
The door closed and Giddeon fell against the wall. “He hates me.”
“He doesn’t know you,” she argued. “Besides, he’s just protective because of what happened with Ty. I’m sure you’ll both be glad to hear that he’s coming to the wedding with his new fiancée. It should be fun.” Casey grumbled to herself as she removed her earrings and kicked off her stilettos.
Giddeon grinned like a Cheshire cat and ran out of the room. She hurried after him and caught up just in time to hear him strike a deal with her brother. “Whoever makes Ty piss himself by the end of the day gets to choose the sleeping arrangements.”
Jamie quirked his brow. “I’m a doctor, Mr. Black. I know a lot of ways to make a man wet his pants. Are you sure you want to gamble with me?”
“Oh, I think I have a few tricks of my own. What do you say?”
“No!” Casey shouted, but both of them ignored her. “You two are children.”
“You’re on.” Jamie headed out the door first with Giddeon on his heels.
Casey sat on the couch and wondered if she should tell them that Ty hadn’t booked a room for that hotel. She shrugged and decided they’d find out on their own. The door opened again and her friends stepped inside with looks of confusion on their faces.
“Did I just see Jamie and Giddeon giggling like schoolgirls in the hallway?” Olivia asked.
“They have a bet to see who can make Ty wet himself before the end of the day.”
It took less than two seconds for Olivia to race back out the door. “Wait for me, guys!”
Rina and Diana rolled their eyes and joined her on the couch. “I have to give to Giddeon, that was a brilliant way to get on Jamie’s good side,” Rina said. “Most guys would have gone to a strip club or something for manly bonding.”
“Let’s hope they don’t become besties after this. I don’t think I could handle it if my brother actually approved of someone I’m with.” Casey nibbled on her bottom lip and looked at her friends. “But I hope Jamie doesn’t try to kill Giddeon when he figures out that I’m pregnant.”
“Shut up!” Diana lurched across the couch and touched Casey’s belly. “You’re naming the baby after me, right?”
“Don’t rub me. I’m only a week and a half along in the pregnancy.”
“And clearly she’ll be naming the little bundle of joy after their Auntie Rina.”
Casey just sat back with a warm smile on her face as they argued over her unborn child’s name. Life seemed like it was headed down a road of endless possibilities.
Epilogue
The Wedding Day
Trenton, New Jer
sey
The seats at the country club were filled with their friends and family. Caleb and Damien stood beside Giddeon as his groomsmen. He felt a pang of sadness that Seth and Balor hadn’t been able to join him on such a momentous day, but Casey demanded that they have a second wedding at the castle when Seth was returned. He loved her dearly. Each day that went by, she showed just how selfless and wonderful she was. Giddeon knew she would make the perfect queen for his people even if she still doubted herself.
Jamie stood near the back of the room to prepare himself for giving away his sister for a second time. Giddeon shared a secret look with his bride’s brother and coughed into his elbow to conceal a bit of laughter that bubbled up. Their shenanigans had resulted in Giddeon shelling out eight thousand dollars to the hotel for a new rug after Ty found himself the victim of their cruel pranks. The fun hadn’t stopped there, however. When Olivia had gotten involved, the laughs had rolled in easily. It was something Giddeon hadn’t expected.
Caleb nudged his arm and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “I’m sorry.”
Giddeon knew he referred to the abhorrent number of flashing cameras that scrambled to get a look at the former football star, Caleb Black. He shrugged it off and patted his brother on the arm. “I know you can’t help but draw attention. It’s an occupational hazard for celebrities, I guess. Don’t worry, Casey has her own paparazzi outside trying to get a photo of her.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m marrying a beautiful, brilliant woman who is going to change the world,” he replied. Giddeon saw Jamie disappear through the doors. The music started and his heart pounded in his chest. Diana, Olivia, and Rina walked along the aisle with their white bouquets complimenting their vintage gowns. The entire venue had been decorated in various shades of cream and white with a distinct influence from the nineteen-thirties. Giddeon wore a gray three-piece suit with mauve details that worked well with the color palette Casey had chosen.
