He nods vigorously, his long ears flopping by the side of his head. “Yes, mommy!” he says.
“Good,” she says, and rubs her hand through his golden mane. “Now be a good boy and get ready.”
Almost on cue, the first notes of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March are played on the ancient pipe organ I had shipped in just for this occasion. The marines stationed at the chapel doors pull them open and we begin to march down the aisle as the notes of the music get louder.
Leo and Astrid lead the march, arm in arm, followed by their son. I follow in their footsteps, looking at the small crowd assembled in the chapel: Captain Mikael; Gemini; her twin sister, Helena; Bakal, the King’s Second Sword; and assorted members of my House.
Orion stands tall by the Chaplain’s dais in a white tuxedo, a huge smile spread across his face. Astrid takes her place by the bride’s side of the dais, and Leo stands by Orion. Astrid gestures for Liam and he takes his place in front of her, the pillow held carefully before him.
I take my place at the dais, opposite Orion, and smile up at him as the final notes of the march conclude.
“You may all be seated,” the Chaplain intones, and the guests take their seats. “The bride and groom have chosen to use the most ancient vows of the Church of St. Peter.”
Liam waddles over to the dais and holds out the pillow bearing my future child’s name. I take Orion’s wedding band from it and Orion takes mine, and Liam runs back to stand by his mother clutching the now-empty pillow.
Orion takes my hands in his as my heart tries to beat its way out of my breast. I hold out my finger and he slides the wedding band on it as he speaks his vow. “I, Orion, of the Tulani Clan, take you, Rhea, of House Tarkon, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Hearing those words coming from the mouth of a man I truly love nearly causes me to faint. Through a miracle, I hold myself together and place the ring on Orion’s finger. I say my words. “I, Rhea, of House Tarkon, take you, Orion of the Tulani Clan, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” I’m delightfully surprised that my voice didn’t quiver or shake or rise to a high pitch.
“As there are no objections to their sacred vows, before St. Peter, I pronounce you husband and wife,” the Chaplain says. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Orion wraps his arms around my waist and dips me into a deep kiss. The crowd rises and cheers as the chapel bells ring a joyous chime. I wrap my arms around Orion’s neck and keep his soft lips pressed against mine.
He lifts me up in one arm, hooks the other under my knees, and carries me out of the chapel, as tears of joy begin to stream down my face.
Orion places me gently on the bed and I kick off my shoes. “The Tulani tradition after a bonding ceremony is to immediately bed your mate,” he says, with a pleased grin on his face.
I giggle at him as I work to loosen the ties in the side of my wedding gown. “I’m pretty sure every people have that exact same tradition,” I say.
“Good,” he says, as he strips off his tuxedo. “I am happy our traditions are in agreement.”
I’ve barely managed to get my dress undone before Orion is completely naked. “Well, aren’t we eager?” I say. “Come help me with this damned thing. I really wasn’t thinking straight when I had this gown made.”
As he tugs and pulls on the cords holding the gown on my body, I ask him, “How did you know to carry me out of the chapel? I don’t remember telling you to do that.”
He pulls the final strap loose and I shimmy out of the gown before carefully folding it over the back of my sofa. “I watched one of those flicks you are always going on about,” he says.
I walk over to him, seated on the edge of the bed, and reach behind me to unfasten my bra. “That’s so sweet of you,” I say, with a devilish grin. “I know just how to reward you for being so thoughtful.”
I throw the bra aside and kneel down between his legs. I lean in and kiss his hard cock on its tip, and it twitches at the touch of my lips. He moans softly as I take the base of his cock in one hand before plunging the full length of it into my mouth. My eyes never leave his as I drag my warm, wet tongue torturously slow back up to its tip.
I continue looking up at him as he leans down to pick me up by my waist and places me down on the bed. “I don’t need a reward for pleasing my wife,” he says, and kisses me on the lips. “Tonight is all about you.”
Orion places his arms by my side, his muscular body suspended over me. He kisses me again, flicking his tongue across my lips. Then he begins to lavishly kiss and lick his way down my body. I squirm against him as he reaches my breasts. He teases me by raining kisses around my nipples, until I grab him by his mane and place the aroused point of my breast into his warm mouth. I moan aloud as he drags his long tongue across my right nipple and sucks it gently into his mouth. I guide his mouth to my other breast and let his moist lips work their magic on my other nipple.
I squirm and shift my legs under his weight, as I feel my aroused wetness pooling between my thighs. Just when I think I can’t take any more of his teasing licks, he moves down my body, kissing me gently on my ribs, licking me on the curve of my belly above my silk panties.
He hooks his thumbs into the sides of my panties, slowly lowering them as he kisses his way down my belly. He slides further down my body, spreads my center with his powerful hands and kisses me down my thighs. I twist on the bed trying to place my pussy in the direct path of his kisses, but he keeps tormenting me by sprinkling heated kisses down my thighs.
“Please, husband,” I beg, “I can’t take it anymore.”
He kisses his way back up my thighs and shifts his affections onto my lips, sliding his tongue between them, drinking in my wetness. I groan against him and shove my pussy against his tongue as he dips it into my entrance and flicks it against my g-spot. “Oh, wow,” I moan huskily, grabbing a fistful of his mane and forcefully driving him between my legs.
He pulls his tongue out of my channel, kisses me again on the lips of my folds and then turns his attention to my clit, making me shudder with pleasure as he nibbles and sucks it hungrily. I twist and squirm at his command as he plays me like a finely tuned musical instrument.
“Orion, please, make me come,” I plead with him through gasping breaths.
He reaches under me and grabs my ass and pulls me forcefully against his mouth. I feel his tongue deepening its claim between my folds and, as my climax begins to peak, he presses his mouth down again on my clit and sucks on me, wracking my body with an explosive orgasm.
I spasm under him, moaning incoherently as waves of pleasure convulse through my body. He climbs his way up my body and smiles down at me, my honey glistening on his lips.
“I want you inside me,” I moan dreamily, my breaths coming hard and fast.
He smiles and presses my legs apart with his hips and guides his erect cock against my entrance. I feel his hard tip between my lips and I buck against him, insisting that he get inside my body. I moan aloud as he braces himself with his arms by my sides and thrusts gently into my core.
“Don’t go easy on me,” I demand. “I want your baby. I want you to come inside me.”
He presses his lips against mine and starts bucking his hips wildly against me. With each thrust, he delves deeper inside me and drives me closer to another orgasm. I wrap my arms around his back, dig my nails into his flesh, and scream as I come against his cock.
“Oh, yes!” I scream. “Come inside me, Orion!”
I hear him grunt and stiffen against me as his cock spasms and releases its load deep inside me.
Completely spent, he collapses to the bed by my side, slides his arm under me and pulls me up against his chest.
“I love you,” he whispers into my ear, and kisses me
on my lobe. “I will always be by your side.”
“I love you,” I say, and cuddle up against my husband, safe in the knowledge that he’ll always be there when I need him.
Epilogue
I stand by my laboring wife, in awe at her primal strength. I’ve never before seen such a show of strength and endurance by any warrior in combat. Her display rivals any warrior of Tulani legend.
I hold Rhea’s hand as she breathes deeply, recovering from her labor, while her doctor attends to our newly born child.
I feel a lump form in my throat and the sting of tears in my eyes as I hear her small voice crying for her mother’s attention.
“She’s a girl,” the doctor says, as they clean her up, wrap her in a cloth and place the small squirming bundle on her breast.
Rhea cries tears of joy as she wraps her arms around our baby and guides her mouth to suckle on her breast.
“Do you have a name for her?” a nurse asks.
“Yes,” Rhea answers, tears streaming down her face. “Her name is Celeste.”
I recall the name, embroidered on the pillow that Rhea brought with her from the Blind Witch’s cave. I wonder what prophecy she must have given Rhea, but I know I can never ask.
I lean down and kiss my wife on her sweat-covered forehead and brush my thumb lightly across my baby’s cheek. She’s so small, delicate and full of life. I feel tears streaming down my cheek as one little hand reaches out and grasps at my finger. I don’t think any feeling could ever rival the feel of the first touch of my child on my finger.
“I’m so proud to be your husband, Rhea, and I hope I can be a good father to you, Celeste,” I say, and kiss her little forehead.
Rhea looks at me with glistening eyes and a bright smile on her face. “Do you want to hold her?” she asks. “I don’t think she’s eating anymore.”
I nod, a tear rolling down my cheek, struck speechless by my emotions as I cradle the little girl in my hands and press her against my chest. She kicks her little legs and reaches out to me as I kiss her on her plump blue cheek.
“I love you, Celeste,” I say. “I will always protect you.”
She opens her dark gray eyes and looks at me. I can see her mother in her eyes, bright and intelligent, and so full of hope.
Celeste reaches out her arms, squirms in my hands, and cries out for her mother. “I think she wants to try to eat again,” I say.
Rhea nods as she takes our child back from my hands and brings her back down to her breast. Celeste latches on to her mother, suckling on her breast, while Rhea gently strokes her tiny delicate arm.
I watch my child nurse as I press a cool, wet cloth against Rhea’s forehead, reveling in the joy of my family.
“I will always be there for you and your mother both,” I promise. “I will never leave your side.”
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Renegade Orion: A Scifi Alien Shifter Romance (Shifter Kings of Kartak Book 2) Page 12
