by R. E. Butler
With a final, lingering kiss, he stepped off the porch and walked into the darkness, heading to his aunt’s home where he and Tomlin were spending the night. Juliette’s parents were staying in a spare bedroom on the first floor, and Cruz’s parents were staying in the alpha’s home as well. She said goodnight to her mom and dad, and his parents, and climbed the stairs to the big, empty bedroom.
Setting her alarm for four, she yawned as she got into bed, anxious to fall asleep so she could wake up and see her mate. It was the first time since the night that she showed up unannounced at the club that they were spending time apart. She missed him terribly already, but in a few hours, the sun would rise and they could start the next chapter of their life together.
* * *
The song that Cruz and Juliette had chosen for their first dance began to play and he drew her close and smiled down at her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on, and today, when she wore a white, strapless dress, and had her hair curled and cascading around her shoulders like a silky waterfall, he felt like the luckiest male on the planet. Not only were they mates in the tradition of his people, but they were married by human standards. She was now Mrs. Cruz Miller. And he liked that a hell of a lot.
“How’s your arm?” he asked.
They’d marked each other at the end of the mating ceremony. The oil he coated his claw with had taken some of the pain away for her, but he’d still hated to cause her even the tiny bit of discomfort it did. Her hand had shaken as she’d gripped the claw of a natural bear. She’d teared up, and at first he thought it was because she was hurting from what he’d done, but she confessed in a whispered tone that she didn’t want to hurt him. If it was possible, he’d fallen even more in love with her.
“It’s good,” she said, glancing down at the mark he’d made. “Yours?”
He spun her dramatically and she giggled, her dress swishing around her knees. “Wonderful. Because it’s from you.”
He pulled her close again, loving how she immediately rested her ear over his heart. “You’re the sweetest man.”
“Even sweeter than the heroes in your books?”
Her hands tightened on his shoulders and she lifted her head. “Of course. You’re real. It’s easy to make a fictional man have all the characteristics that make him a great hero and romantic lead. But to find that in real life? You’re a treasure, and I’m very lucky to have you.”
He stopped moving and looked down at her. “You changed my life in a hundred ways since we met. I couldn’t imagine a better female to share my life with than you. You challenge me to look at the world in new ways. You stand by my side and make my bear so happy. I love you, Juliette. I’m so glad you’re mine.”
“Aw, Cruz,” she whispered, her voice going thick with emotion. “You’re going to make me cry. You’re amazing and you’re mine. I couldn’t ask for anything more. And I love you, from sunrise to sunrise, forever.”
He pulled her even closer, his fingers splayed on her back, her sweet scent in his nose. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy. I swear it.”
“I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy, too.”
“Mrs. Miller,” he said, his tone lowering. Her eyes darkened and her hand flexed on his shoulder.
“Yes, Mr. Miller?” She bit her bottom lip and gazed up at him.
“Let’s make the rounds and thank everyone for coming today, and then hit the road. The sooner the better.”
“You have the best ideas.”
They spent time speaking to everyone at the party, and by the time they were getting a send-off from the clan for their honeymoon, his bear was snarling at him to move faster and get Juliette behind closed doors as soon as possible. He opened the passenger door of the convertible they’d borrowed for the week, which their parents had decorated with balloons and streamers, and a large “just mated and married” sign. Shutting her inside, he got behind the wheel and started the engine.
“Have a great honeymoon,” Tomlin said. “Don’t worry, the clan and the club are in good hands.”
“I’m not worried a bit.”
“Welcome to the family, officially,” he said to Juliette.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
The clan cheered as he pulled away. Juliette turned in the seat and waved until they were far enough away they couldn’t see anyone. She sat back and let out a happy sigh, leaning against his shoulder.
“I’m so ready for this,” she said. “I feel like it’s been more than a month since we agreed to be mates.”
“Time has a funny way of working like that when we’re looking forward to something.”
He drove the winding road deeper into their territory until he reached the section of the woods that bordered the lake. Stopping in front of a tiny cabin that had belonged to his grandparents, he turned off the engine and lifted Juliette’s hand to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles, then got out of the car, came around to her side, and opened the door. Lifting her out, he kissed her and climbed the steps to the small front porch and opened the door. His parents had cleaned and stocked the cabin, so they wouldn’t need to leave.
“Oh, it’s such a sweet cabin,” she said.
Kicking the door shut, he wiggled his brows at her and carried her toward the bedroom.
“Welcome to the first day of our new lives together, Mrs. Miller.”
“You’ve made me so happy, Cruz. I can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for us.”
“Lots of love and happiness.” Because that’s all he needed. With Juliette by his side, he felt like he could conquer the world. But he didn’t need the world, just her. The curious author who was at first so was reluctant to be his mate, was now his bride and the center of his universe. It was a pretty damn great way to start their lives together.
Coming in 2019 from R. E. Butler
Tempting Treasure
Ashland Pride #10
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Also from R. E. Butler
Arctic Shifters
Blitzen’s Fated Mate
Dasher’s Fated Mate
Prancer’s Fated Mate
Vixen’s Fated Mate
Cupid’s Fated Mate
Dancer’s Fated Mate
Donner’s Fated Mate
Comet’s Fated Mate
Ashland Pride Series
Seducing Samantha
Loving Lachlyn
Marking Melody
Redeeming Rue
Saving Scarlett
Chasing Cristabel
Jilly’s Wyked Fate
Embracing Ehrin
Holding Honor
Tempting Treasure (Coming 2019)
Having Hope (Coming 2019)
Hyena Heat Series
Every Night Forever
Every Dawn Forever
Every Sunset Forever
Every Blissful Moment
Every Heavenly Moment
Every Miraculous Moment
Every Angelic Moment
The Necklace Chronicles
The Tribe’s Bride
The Gigolo’s Bride
The Tiger’s Bride
The Alpha Wolf’s Mate
Norlanian Brides Series
Paoli’s Bride
Warrick’s Bride
Dex’s Bride
Norlanian Brides Volume One
Villi’s Bride
Dero’s Bride
Saber Chronicles Series
Saber Chronicles Volume One (Books One - Four)
Uncontrollable Shift
The Alpha’s Christmas Mate
The Dragon’s Treasured Mate
The Bear’s R
eluctant Mate
Were Zoo Series
Zane
Jupiter
Win
Justus
Devlin
Kelley
Auden
Tayme (Coming 2019)
Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series
A Curve of Claw
A Flash of Fang
A Price for a Princess
A Bond of Brothers
A Bead of Blood
A Twitch of Tail
A Promise on White Wings
A Slash of Savagery
Awaken a Wolf
Daeton’s Journey
A Dragon for December
A Muse for Mishka
The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One
The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Two
A Wish for Their Woman
Wilde Creek Series
Volume One (Books 1 and 2)
Volume Two (Books 3 and 4)
Volume Three (Books 5 and 6)
The Hunter’s Heart (Book Seven)
The Beta’s Heart (Book Eight)
The Wolf’s Mate Series
The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence
The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel
The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats
The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne
The Wolf’s Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika
The Wolf’s Mate Book 6: Logan & Jenna
The Wolf’s Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen
Stand Alone Stories
Purred Promises
The Alpha’s Honor (Howls Romance)
* * *
Coming in 2019
Tempting Treasure (Ashland Pride Ten)
Dragon-fae hybrid Treasure has two things on her mind – her upcoming mating ceremony to her two mates, Brian and Kevin, and the cursed female mountain lions. Before she gets her happily ever after, she wants to figure out how to break the curse that has shadowed the mountain lion shifters for eons. To do that, she knows she needs to sneak into the fae realm and find the library in her parents' home, where she's certain she recalls seeing books about gods and goddesses.
Brian and Kevin Fallon have loved Treasure since the moment they saw her. She's not only funny, sweet, and gorgeous, but she's also a powerful hybrid - part dragon shifter and part fairy. When she suddenly disappears leaving only a cryptic note to her whereabouts, they're frantic to find her. After returning from the fae realm with books from her parents' library, they're furious she left without them, but thankful she's safe.
What Treasure doesn't know is that the dragon king in the fae realm magically protected the entire territory, including her parents' home, to ensure that anyone who entered the lands was magically tagged. Sending his youngest son to investigate, the male finds a dragon-fae who the king believes belongs in their realm. Brian and Kevin aren't about to go down without a fight, and no dragon shifter will take Treasure from them. But the dragon king is determined to tempt Treasure to join their people. Will he succeed? Or will she stay in Ashland with the two males who have captured her heart?
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