He smirked. “Give me some credit.”
She smiled, beaming at him, and he knew that she was pleased not only that he went to the trouble, but that her grandfather did as well.
“He actually wasn’t so bad. He called me a reptile, but he did get the ring made, and he brought it over here.”
Her eyes sparkled as realization dawned. “You were talking to him last night.”
“Yep.”
“I should have known the two of you would be a dangerous combination.”
“Your grandfather and I are not in league with each other.” He shuddered at the thought.
“Not yet,” she said, still laughing.
He picked her up and spun her around. “You’re going to be my wife.”
“And you’re going to be my husband.”
He licked his lips. He could feel the nervous energy from his clan inside his house. If he didn’t get her inside soon, they were going to come spilling out in waves. “Let’s go in and celebrate.”
Now that they were actually engaged, he sort of regretted packing his house with their clan. He would have liked to take her to his room and make love to his fiance, but that wasn’t possible now.
He sighed. They’d have time for that later. Right now, he wanted his clan to embrace their newest member and make her feel welcome. He put her down and took her hand, leading her in through the back door.
The shouts of joy were deafening. “Congratulations,” they all screamed in unison.
Dragon shifters were jumping up and down and waving banners. Some held balloons, some sprayed confetti, and one popped open a bottle of champagne.
In the corner, with his arms crossed, stood Ares. And next to him was Hephaestus.
Helena stood frozen for a moment, and then a huge smile broke over her face. She made a beeline for her grandfather, whispering into his ear. He did his best to look stoic, but Jackson could tell that it was an act.
Next, she hugged Hephaestus. He did not bother to hide his delight. She held up her hand and proudly showed off his handiwork.
She didn't get to spend much time with her blood relatives though, because Jackson's relatives pulled her away. His mother was taking photos, and his father was video recording.
After two hours, he finally was able to get his fiance away for some alone time.
“Thank you again,” she said. “I cannot imagine a better day.”
He wrapped his arm around her. If he had any say in it, then their wedding would be even better.
20
Helena
Jackson and his family had done such a great job with the engagement and the celebration party, that afterward, Helena handed the wedding and reception planning over to them as well.
She wanted to celebrate her marriage to Jackson, with both of their families, but the details did not matter to her. She had learned that they mattered a great deal to other people, namely Jackson's family.
Jackson's mother was kind about her preferences though, and she was never overbearing. Helena could see the longing on her face each time they discussed the ceremony.
“Would you like to handle the wedding?” Helena asked her.
His mother stuttered for a moment. “Honey, I did not mean to make you feel like what I wanted was the most important thing. It's not. What I want doesn't matter at all.”
“I didn't take it that way at all,” she said. “I have just been really busy at work, and having someone else plan the wedding sounds lovely.” She leaned in close to her soon-to-be mother in law. “But I don’t want to ask anyone in my family. Things will get out of hand very quickly.”
“How so?”
“There would be a fight. A duel.”
Jackson’s mother covered her heart with her hand. “Not a real fight.”
“Well, it wouldn’t end in death, but there would be a lot of scuffling.” Helena wrinkled her nose. “It happens almost every time.”
“Oh my.” His mother wrapped one arm around Helena’s shoulders. “In that case, I would be happy to organize and plan the wedding. Is there anything you’d like?”
“It would be nice if we could have the ceremony in Olympus.” A year ago, she would have run screaming if anyone had suggested that she get married in Greece. But things had changed for the better. After the battle with the demons, both she and her family had been making a real effort to treat each other differently.
“My family would behave if you’re in charge,” Helena said. “Plus, everything is already gilded in ornate gold, and flowers bloom year-round, so there’d be no decorating to worry about.”
“Would the clan be able to attend?”
“Oh, yes. Ares would send as many planes as we need,” Helena said.
“Usually two-hundred would come to a wedding here on our land.”
“Then Ares will send a 747.”
“Well then. That’s perfect.” Jackson’s mother smiled. “What about having a reception here, so we could incorporate some traditional shifter ideas?”
“I would love that. I want everyone to be included.”
Jackson’s younger sister, Jenny, home from college for a break, jumped at the chance to be a bridesmaid and help Helena choose her dress.
“We need something fitting for the halls of Mount Olympus!” Jenny yelled when Helena asked for her help.
“Whatever we choose will be fine, I promise,” Helena assured her. In the end, the Gods and demi-Gods had to meddle, and a famous wedding gown designer showed up at Jackson’s house with all the fabric she needed to make Helena’s dress.
Jenny was speechless as she watched, and Helena let Jackson’s sister make all the creative design choices. They ended up with a dress fit for the Gods, literally.
The dress was an ivory-white, which looked amazing with Helena’s Mediterranean skin and dark hair. It was cut in an A-line, with a lacy off-the-shoulder cuff and it was fitted to show off Helena’s slender waist and flared out with a full tulle skirt.
She had never been a romantic person, but as she twirled in front of Jenny and the dress designer, she couldn’t wait for Jackson to see her wearing it.
They chose May for their wedding. It was only two months away, but with a clan full of shifters and a group of Gods and demi-Gods working on the ceremony, they didn’t need that much time.
The lead-up to the wedding was hectic, but the day arrived sooner than she’d anticipated.
Finally, the big day arrived.
She stood outside the entrance to the Great Hall of Mount Olympus. Everything looked amazing. Zeus had given Jackson’s mother and sister free reign, and they’d brought in burgundy dahlias, pepper berry, and bay leaf, which contrasted perfectly with the gold in the Great Hall.
It was going to be nice to replace all her bitter memories of this place with memories from the best day of her life.
Zeus was going to officiate though, so it could go off the rails at any time, although he seemed amused to be hosting a hall full of dragons. Her mother-in-law’s estimate had been correct; two-hundred dragon shifters had flown over from Oregon to watch them say their vows.
Ares walked up and offered her his arm. He was decked out in a black tuxedo, and he looked as dashing as always to walk her down the aisle. “I’ll kill him if he doesn’t treat you right,” he said.
She threw her head back and laughed. It was nice to know some things never changed, not even for a wedding. She slipped her arm through his as one of her aunts began to play Canon in D Major on the harp.
Ares waved his hand, and the doors opened slowly.
They stepped through the doors. At the other end of the golden Great Hall, stood her handsome dragon shifter. Jackson had always been gorgeous to her, but seeing him waiting for her at the altar was magical.
Her eyes stung, but she didn’t cry. She held onto her grandfather as they glided down the aisle.
Around her, everything was hazy. She was aware of her family, and his, but once Jackson reached for her, everything else fade
d away. They said their vows, and then they kissed, and Zeus pronounced them husband and wife.
As they walked down the aisle, new flowers bloomed and the crowd cheered for them.
Her husband patted her hand. “Ready to fly back to Oregon and do this all over again?”
“There'll be more food at that one,” she said.
He laughed as he swept her up into his arms, with her wedding gown billowing around her.
“We’re a married couple now,” he whispered. “And I haven’t tasted you yet as your husband.”
They’d just finished their extravagant reception with Jackson’s side of the family, and with hundreds of relatives around, they hadn’t had a moment alone. They were leaving for a honeymoon in Rio in two days, and it couldn’t come soon enough.
“I hope you don’t take this the wrong way,” Jackson said to her. “But I can’t stay here another second.”
She looked up at his house, the house where they would spend the weekends while he worked at the fire station. She loved how close they all were, and how much they came together… most of the time. But tonight she wanted to be alone with her husband. Already the lights glowed in every window, and small groups were chatting on the front porch.
“Let’s go to the beach. We’ll find a hotel there.”
“That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.”
Thirty minutes later, he had her in his arms, carrying her over the threshold of an oceanfront hotel room. She had worn her wedding dress again because the shifters had asked her to. The ones who hadn’t attended the wedding wanted to see it.
“God, I have never wanted anything like I want you right now,” he said. “My bride.”
He didn’t put her down but carried her to the bed. He laid her down, and her dress fanned out around her.
“You have no idea how good you look right now,” he said.
“Why don’t you show me?” She inhaled. He smelled like fresh pine, combined with the salt from the ocean, and it sent a jolt of lust right to her pussy.
“I intend to.” He lay down next to her, and traced his finger over every part of her face, following it up with a gentle kiss. He moved on to her chest and kissed over her breasts. Then he carefully worked his hand under the tulle skirt of her wedding dress.
“Is it wrong that I find this insanely hot?” he asked.
“I find it hot too.” She ran her hands over the lapels of his tuxedo. “I’m glad we own these and they aren’t rentals.”
He groaned. “Me too.” He found her lacy white panties, hidden underneath her dress. Less careful now, he pushed the dress up, exposing her panties. He kissed over the fabric, moaning when he reached the wet patch between her legs. He worked her panties down, over her hips, and then her smooth thighs. He flung them to the floor.
He ran his face over the inside of her thighs, letting his stubble brush over her creamy skin. “I am going to taste you.”
She shivered as he pushed her legs open. She looked down at his sandy hair, and his head positioned between her legs.
Under the bodice of her wedding dress and her fancy lacy bra, her nipples hardened, ready for his touch. He opened her lips, running one finger over her slick core. Then he leaned forward and licked her clit.
She bucked against him, squeezing her legs together. He pushed them back open, holding them apart with his hands. Then he attacked her pussy again, licking and stroking. He even pushed his tongue into her hot pussy.
“Oh, fuck, Helena. You taste like honey.”
She looked down, and the sight of him, still in his tux, with his mouth over her, was making her insane with arousal.
He let go of one ankle and pushed two fingers into her aching pussy. She convulsed around him, already close to cumming.
“There. I know that’s what you need, isn’t it,” he said. “You need your pussy filled up. My wife needs her tight little pussy filled, with my fingers and then with my cock.”
She flung her arms out. “Yes!” She cried out. “Yes. That’s what I need.”
“I’m happy to please you, wife.” He pushed a third finger into her body and flattened his tongue over her clit. He flicked his tongue back and forth as his fingers thrust in and out of her.
She moved her hips back and forth, trying to match his rhythm. She was so close. He reached up with one hand and yanked her bodice down, putting his hand on her breast and pinching her nipple.
The combined stimulation sent her over the edge. Her orgasm slammed into her, thrumming through her body as she grabbed the sheets and held on. Her pussy contracted for several long seconds, gripping his fingers.
“I need to be in you,” he said. He shoved his pants and boxers down. He already had the condom, but she stopped him. “Don’t use it,” she said. “Not unless you want to. I counted the days.”
They had already talked about birth control, and she was fairly confident that her cycle was routine enough for that method to work. And if she got pregnant now, well, she would be fine with that, and so would he. They weren’t ready to plan for a family, but both of them would be happy with a surprise baby.
He ripped it off. “I am more than happy to put my cock inside your pussy bare.”
He rubbed the tip over her entrance while she gripped his shoulders. Then he slid into her.
She could feel every inch of his thick cock. There was no barrier between them.
He bowed his head, sucking on her nipples as he set the rhythm and fucked her. She loved him so much. She’d never imagined this day would come for her. She gripped his neck, pulling herself up so that she was pressed flush against him.
“I love you,” she said.
He nuzzled her neck. “I love you too. So much.”
He kissed her, and then he let go, coming inside her for the first time with nothing between them. He rolled them to the side. His cock was still hard inside her. He kissed her cheek. “I’m going to peel you out of this wedding dress, and then I’m making love to you again.”
“Hmm.” She laid her head on his chest, ignoring the way her dress was poking her in the ribs.
He kissed the top of her head. “But first we’ll take a nap. Our first as a married couple.”
Epilogue
As their plane touched down at the Shannon International Airport in Ireland, Helena squeezed her husband’s hand.
They were headed to the third annual Dragon Shifters Festival.
It had been started two years ago by a group of shifters from a small town in Cedar Lake, Texas.
“I’m really excited about this,” Helena said. “I already love your family, so I can’t wait to meet shifters from other parts of the world.” She pressed her lips together. “And I still need to meet Nora, and thank her for everything she did.”
Sometimes she hated recalling how she’d walked out on Jackson and his clan and gone back to Olympus, right when they’d needed her the most. It had been left up to them to find a witch to enchant their weapons to protect them against the demons.
Thankfully, Jackson had known of a good witch, thanks to his cousin’s connections, and Nora had made sure their weapons were effective against the demons.
Jackson lifted his bride’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Hey. We talked about this. No more feeling guilty. I was the one who walked away.”
“But—”
He kissed her hand again. “Nope. I was an ass, and you called me out, that’s it.”
She turned in her seat to kiss her husband.
Husband.
She’d never get tired of hearing that word.
“I’m excited too. It will be nice to see Nora again, without any threats hanging over us.”
On the drive to the castle, Jackson couldn’t keep his window up, and he was glad the chilly fall air didn’t bother them. “I’ve never been to Ireland before.” He exclaimed at every rock wall, every traditional house with a red door, and every crumbling castle.
When they finally pulled down the lane to the castle that K
ellan, one of the Texas shifters, had rented, they were greeted with shouts and cheers. A group of kids was standing on the roof and they unfurled a banner that read, ‘Welcome to our new clan members, Helena and Jackson!’
“I love how friendly shifters are,” Helena said, marveling once again at how outgoing they were compared to the Gods.
Once they were out of the car, Garrett and his human mate came running up to meet them.
As soon as they’d gotten done hugging them, a boy of about ten years rushed up to Helena. “They told me not to say anything, but I have to ask. Are you really related to Zeus?”
“Declan!” one of the males shouted. “Leave her alone!”
The man came ambling over and put his hand out. “Hi, I’m Kellan from Texas, formerly from Ireland.” He put his hand on the kid’s mop of brown hair. “This is my son, Declan, who was instructed not to be rude.”
“It’s fine,” Helena said. She bent down a little, but not too much because the boy was pretty tall. “Yes. I am related to Zeus. He is my great-grandfather, and Ares is my grandfather.”
One of the kids who had been up on the roof jumped down with a sudden thunk, sprawling on the damp grass. He hopped to his feet. “That is so cool! Will we ever get to meet him? Will you ever come to Texas? You can stay with us. I know Garrett, who is cousins with your husband, so that makes us kind of related!”
She blinked as the little boy stuck his hand out. “Hi. I’m Rowan. At your service.”
She shook his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Rowan.”
Just as she let go of his hand, a big guy ran up and swept both Rowan and Declan up, one under each arm. “I’m Brennan,” he said. “Rowan’s mine.”
She waved bye at the boys and then a herd of little girls was racing toward her.
Over the next twenty minutes, she met all of the Texas shifter clan. There were eight adults from Texas, and four from the Galway area in Ireland, and the two from Las Vegas, which included Jackson’s cousin Garrett and his human wife. She didn’t feel out of place in the group because there were dragons, humans, a Fae, and a witch. The group even knew some vampires and some wolf shifters as well.
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