by Sierra York
Maria held the dress up against her own body so Carissa could see it. “What do you think?”
Carissa stuttered. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The dress was brilliant silver and it shimmered when it moved. The bodice was modest but sexy. It was fitted, and had a high boat neckline that would leave her collarbone exposed. There were tiny little swirls sewn into the fabric that made it look like glitter. The skirt was full, and Carissa could tell it would just slightly brush the carpet when she walked. “Maria—how? It is so beautiful and we just decided last night. How did you do this so fast?” She rambled as Maria handed her the dress.
Carissa held it up against her body and walked to the mirror. She couldn’t stop smiling. It was the single-most beautiful piece of clothing she’d seen in her life. She couldn’t believe she’d get to wear it.
Carissa was watched Maria through the mirror. Her friend was smiling. “I have a lot of free time when Tylr is out marshaling. Mry has her own hobbies, and I needed something to do. Plus, I got sick of wearing the same thing all the time, so I started to sew. I’ve been making piece after piece. I have a few everyday dresses for you, too.”
Carissa could understand the need to keep her hands busy but couldn’t understand why her friend would make a wedding dress when she was already married.
“But … the wedding dress, you had to have started that before yesterday. There’s just no way.” She trailed off.
Maria smirked. “Let’s just say I had a feeling I wouldn’t be alone while Tylr was out marshaling for long.” She shared a look with Mry before Mry stepped forward and took the dress from Carissa. “Let’s get you cleaned up and dressed. We’ve got a wedding to get to.”
Chapter Nine
Grys was pacing. He couldn’t sit still. He’d showered and put on clean clothes—and now he wanted to go home. With his wife. But he couldn’t do that because they still hadn’t married. It seemed to be days rather than hours ago that he’d left her with his mother and Maria.
“You’re going to ruin my carpet, and I know I don’t have to remind you how upset your mother would be by that.”
Grys stopped immediately at the sound of his father’s voice. His mother would be livid if he ruined her carpet. “I just want this over with.”
Ryn laughed. “We have to wait for Tylr anyway, so just chill. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Grys turned to his eldest brother. “You just wait, bro. When it’s your turn, I’m going to give you so much shit, you’re not gonna believe it.”
Ryn let out a bark in the middle of his laughter. “Like I’d be stupid enough to ever get married.”
Grys laughed at his brother. He once thought the same. He’d never wanted a female in his life for anything other than fulfilling his physical needs. He’d always assumed if he ever did get married it be for that reason—but then he’d met Carissa and everything changed. “Think what you want,” was all he told Ryn. He knew he would laugh at anything else he tried to tell him.
Just then Tylr came rushing into the room. “I’m sorry. I got here as fast as I could.”
Grys turned to his youngest brother. “No worries, fool. The females have kept us waiting anyway.”
Tylr hugged each of the males in turn and responded. “Yeah, might as well start getting used to that.”
Just then Mry arrived at the top of the stairs. “Now, now. Don’t go trying to scare the boy. You know you’re happier than you’ve ever been, T.” His mother engulfed him in a hug as soon as she reached him.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Maria and Carissa are on their way. Let’s all get where we need to be.”
Grys took a deep breath and stood to the right of his father, who would be performing the ceremony. Htfld was a great distance from any other habitable planets, so they made do, and everyone had more than one job. Who better to perform marriages than the ruler? As he let the breath out, he saw her walking toward him. He’d missed her coming down the stairs. He wasn’t sure how he had, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the creature walking toward him. She was everything he’d ever wanted—and even more of what he’d never known he needed.
She came to stop right in front of him as Maria slid in next to Tylr. Grys grasped her hands in his and turned them both toward his father. As soon as they were facing him, his father started speaking, but the words were drowned out by a sudden commotion behind them.
Carissa and Grys spun around just in time to see Tylr catch Maria before she hit the floor. Tylr cradled her in his arms with a desperate look on his face. “She just fell. Blacked out or fainted or something. Help me, please.” Mry rushed to his side.
Grys’ heart clenched. His father was still rambling. He felt Carissa drop his hand and watched her move as if in slow motion toward her friend. His head felt like it was swelling. He saw Maria’s eyes flutter open as Tylr gently brought her to the floor. Her eyes opening sent relief through Grys. Suddenly he could hear his heart beating in his ears. He could hear his father still mumbling but hurriedly beneath the thudding. His mother’s voice echoed through the room. “She’ll be fine. No. No. Tylr, don’t. I promise. She’ll be okay.”
He was confused and frozen. Seeing his brother’s mate laying there, helpless on the floor made a reality of what had changed in his life in the last few weeks. It sucker punched him. They were protectors once again. They had a family and a community to protect, and though it wasn’t Warden, they’d make the best of it here. They’d fully make Htfld their home.
Grys swallowed as his resolve hit and was able to focus on the room once again. “Congratulations!” his father said. Grys turned to him. “What? Why would you say that?” he asked as he pointed at Maria lying on the floor.
“I said it because that’s what you say to someone after they’ve gotten married, fool.”
Grys really wished people would stop calling him that, but then the rest of what his father said sank in. He was at her side in an instant. He looked straight at Maria who was now sitting up resting against Tylr. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Maria smiled. She looked fine. “I’m fine. I think I need to eat more often or something. I’ve been so busy, and with all the excitement today, I forgot.”
“You’re sure. Really?” Grys continued to question her. Carissa set her hand on his arm and looked at Tylr. “I think she’s fine. Let’s let her be. Maybe Tylr can take her to lay down and get her something to eat. I’m sure she’ll be perfect once she gets some food.” She looked at Grys. “I’m sorry love. We’ll have to do this later. We’ll get Maria settled, and when she’d feeling better we’ll finish up.”
Maria started to try to get up. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not postponing because of me. Get back up there. Let’s get this done.”
Grys shook his head and gave his father a look. “There’s no need.”
Carissa felt her heart sink. She felt nailed to the floor by it. It was so heavy, the rejection. “What? What happened? What did I do?”
Grys couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He pulled his wife to her feet and looked into her eyes. “There’s no need because Father didn’t stop. He continued the ceremony. We’re husband and wife.”
“But what about vows and stuff. Don’t we have to speak to be married … agree or something?”
Ryn came up beside them and leaned into Carissa’s ear. “Nope. Dad decided to go old school Htfld. You showing up was permission enough. You’re married. Now kiss the fool.”
A smile crept across her face. She got lost in the happiness she saw in Grys’ eyes. “I love you,” he told her simply before he bent down, captured her mouth, and pulled her into his arms simultaneously. He pulled back. “Maria, are you sure you’re okay?”
He looked at his sister-in-law. She was standing now, gently resting against Tylr and staring at them. “I’m sure. Go home.”
Grys looked back at his wife. “I’m gonna assume that was an order. Marshal
s must follow orders.”
Carissa nodded in agreement and before she knew it, she’d blinked and they were in a completely different room.
She looked around curiously.
“My place. Well, our place. But only temporarily. We’ll move once we’ve been assigned a bigger pod. Father will take care of it tomorrow, I’m sure. If he doesn’t, mother will make him.” He set Carissa on her feet.
She was overwhelmed by all the thoughts in her head so she began to project them onto her husband while she looked around the place she would call home. Grys let out a low growl in response to the images in his head. “I imagine you’d like to keep that dress, so I’m going to suggest you get out of it soon. Because if you don’t I’ll remove it, and I can’t promise survivors.”
Carissa laughed at her husband as his words warmed her heart and her body. She felt sexy in the dress and did want to keep it, but she mostly wanted it because it was gorgeous and thought it would be a keepsake that could be passed down to their daughters. “I’d like to keep the dress. I think our daughters would love to wear it on their wedding days, don’t you?”
The smile left Grys’ face and his playful tone turned solemn. “There won’t be any daughters, Carissa. I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
Carissa had no idea what he was talking about but felt sharp pains stabbing her when she breathed. “What? We can’t have children?” She loved kids. Becoming a teacher had been the one thing on Earth that she’d been looking forward to.
Grys shook his head and went to his wife. “No. We can have children, just no daughters. I can only produce male children.”
The incredible pain vanished. Carissa could breathe. “Oh. Well—” She made a thoughtful face. “That’s okay. Little males are great too.” She smiled.
Grys’ relief washed over him. He went to her back and brought the first button between his fingers. He allowed the taunting tone to return to his voice. “Does that mean I can have my way with you?”
Carissa giggled shyly. “I said you had to be careful with the dress, not with me.”
Grys didn’t wait for another invitation. He twisted his fingers and the button released. He repeated this procedure about a hundred times as slowly as he could make himself go, all the way down her back while he kissed her down the side of her jaw and across the back of her shoulders. He loved it when his touch made her gasp short, hard intakes of breath. When all the buttons were undone, Grys slowly slid the sleeves down her arms until they were free.
Carissa stood still as Grys finished removing her dress. She would be eternally grateful to Maria for thinking of giving her something other than the suffocating foundation garment she’d worn every day on Earth. The things Maria had given her were soft, and accentuated her curves rather than hiding them. She stepped out of her dress and waited. She thought Grys would return to face her after he’d put the dress away but he didn’t. He returned to her back and she felt his fingers on her bare hips. “You’re beautiful.” He placed his lips gently to her neck, whispering against it.
Carissa was tingling all over. Grys’ lips on her neck sent shivers down her spine that settled between her thighs. She leaned against him and felt his hardened cock push against her backside. She moaned as his hands traveled from her hips to under the hem of her camisole, lifting it as he went. She loved the contrast of the soft fabric and his rough hands against her skin. It made her feel cherished and protected.
Grys lifted the camisole over her head as Carissa lifted her arms. He let the silk drop to the floor as he traced his fingers all the way back down her arms, over the soft curves of her breasts, and down her sides. Carissa’s eyes were closed as he hooked a finger on either side of the panties Maria had made for her. They were the smallest panties she’d even seen. They didn’t cover much, but she felt good wearing them. She realized she felt even better with her husband pushing them down her legs. Once her panties were around her ankles, a bit of her self-consciousness returned and she lowered her arms to cover herself. Grys immediately stood in front of her. “Don’t. You’re amazing. The most wonderful being I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been all around the universe.”
Carissa opened her eyes and locked them with her husbands. “This doesn’t seem fair,” she said sweetly.
Grys’ mind was so fuzzy. He was concentrating so hard on being gentle and not taking advantage that he barely registered her speaking. “What isn’t?”
Carissa stepped toward him, blocking his view of most of her body by pressing it against him. His head felt like it would spin right off his neck. His cock was painfully swelling in the confines of his pants. Carissa reached her hand between them and touched him there. He jumped. “I’m sorry.” She frowned.
Grys scrambled to fix his mistake. He reached for her and returned her hand to where she’d attempted to touch him. “I just want you so badly. You took me by surprise. I promise, I love it when you touch me.”
Carissa sighed in relief. “If that’s true, if you really want me, why do you still have clothes on?”
Grys leaned into her palm, the friction against his dick making it harder for him to think. “Clothes? Oh. Right.” He stepped back and started ripping his clothes from his body. He lifted his shirt off first, exposing his chiseled chest and huge arms. Carissa couldn’t believe he was hers. She thought about how she wanted to trace every line on his stomach with her tongue, and she watched Grys’ knees buckle for a second. She giggled to herself; she loved their shared connection. She thought about him taking off his pants. She moved down his zipper and pushed them down by the belt loops until they were a puddle on the floor. She watched as Grys completed every action she was thinking.
She was in awe of him. The way his body moved and how every piece of muscle was toned to perfection. She felt so safe next to him, but knew he could snap her in two if he’d really wanted to. She was afraid to move her eyes back up to where his pants had been. She’d felt him against her and tried to picture what it looked like—but she wasn’t sure she was prepared for the reality.
Grys stepped closer to her. Carissa reached out and ran a finger nail down his chest. Gooseflesh popped up all over his skin. “Purple blood doesn’t stop that from happening, I see.”
Grys laughed. “Nothing could stop the way you make me feel. What you do to me.” He pulled her to him and took her mouth with his own. Without releasing her mouth, he maneuvered them to the large couch in the living room. He was so overheated, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could stand not being inside her. He’d never felt this way before. On the way to the couch, her full breasts pressed against him, their hardened nipples brushing across his chest. She was sexy as hell, and he wanted all of her. Needed all of her.
Grys settled her gently on the couch as he unlocked their lips. He stood and watched as she pushed herself back and eyed him. Her eyes left his face and trailed down his body. He watched her body change; her legs rubbing together, her breasts swelling, and her stomach tightening as she laid eyes on him for the first time.
He saw her muscles tense as he took himself in his hand. He stopped. “What’s wrong love?”
Carissa didn’t move her eyes from his hand. “I’ve never seen one that was bent like that before.”
Grys looked down and moved his hand along his dick until he reached where it curved. “One of the many reasons Htflds are superior to Earthlings. This curve is designed especially for a female’s pleasure. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.” Grys smiled and leaned over his wife. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you, and needed you from the moment you disappeared. I love you.”
Carissa leaned into him as best she could and shifted so that Grys could settle between her open thighs. She felt very vulnerable and exposed. There was a wetness between her legs, and she worried he wouldn’t like it. She didn’t need to worry long, though. As soon as Grys kissed her, all thoughts disappeared until she felt his hand between her legs. He gently began to rub the tight nub of her clit, sending rockets through her body.
She bucked beneath him. Carissa moaned into his mouth as Grys took a finger and gently slid it inside her. He let it rest there, allowed her to adjust before he added another. Once she’d adjusted to the invasion of two fingers he began to move them in her channel as his thumb connected with her clit. Carissa felt a dam building inside of her, deep in her belly. She couldn’t control her breathing, and couldn’t get enough of Grys. She sucked his tongue into her mouth hard as Grys moved his hand faster, tossing her over the edge of the highest cliff. Carissa came floating back to the couch, lighter than she could ever remember feeling.
Grys kissed the tip of her nose as he pulled his hand from her body. “Try to stay relaxed love. It should only hurt for a second.”
Carissa tried not to tense up as she felt the tip of his cock against her opening. “I’ll go super slowly. Just tell me how you’re feeling.” And he pushed gently against her. Carissa gasped at the shock of it. Even with his fingers stretching her, Carissa was very tight—but when she exhaled she realized he was able to push a bit further inside her. She repeated her deep breaths until he was inside her fully. The tip bent brushed against a spot inside her that made her squirm. “This okay so far?” Grys asked through gritted teeth.
Carissa breathed, “Yes.” And went back to concentrating on the way he filled her so completely. She felt the dam building in her belly again, and raked her nails down his back. She clamped down hard on his ass, and he took her bucking beneath him as signal it was okay to move. Carissa cried out as Grys pumped in and out of her, ecstasy assaulting her nerves and setting her body on fire. Thankfully neither of them lasted long, because as Carissa felt Grys tense and pump harder the dam exploded, leaving Carissa to ride the waves until she could come all the way down.
