Valentine’s with the Cartel (Nightshade Wolves #9)

Chapter 6

Rafael

I had to tear my lips away from Anan's before we both lost ourselves completely. But I also knew there was no need to rush things; tonight, once the ceremony was complete, would be time enough for consummating our union thoroughly.

Pushing off the door with a groan of regret, I reached down and caught him easily under his thighs, lifting him as if he weighed nothing at all. He squeaked in surprise before winding his legs around my hips instinctively, holding on tightly to my shoulders.

"Come now," I purred as I carried him towards the door leading out of this room, "Our guests are waiting and growing restless without us."

Anan blinked dazedly up at me for a long moment before comprehension dawned in his eyes. He bit down hard on his plush bottom lip and shook his head in a feeble attempt to clear it.

"Shit... the ceremony is happening now?" His voice quivered with uncertainty. What we had was so intoxicating to him that he couldn't think straight anymore.

I could see the fear beginning to seep back into his gaze, even as arousal still simmered there. Poor thing was so overwhelmed, I almost hated to subject him to all those people and scrutiny.

Almost but not quite. Let's be real here; this was all part of the fun and games for me—claiming my prize in front of witnesses, proving to one and all who he belonged to now.

"Yes indeed," I confirmed with a grin as we exited the room. "Can't keep them waiting any longer."

Anan gulped audibly, his arms tightening around my neck like a vice as nerves coiled tightly within him once again. "But I'm not ready!" His voice rose in pitch and he wriggled against me, trying to squirm out of my hold.

I simply tightened my grip on his legs, securing them more firmly around my hips as I strode down the hall towards where everyone was assembled. It would be much simpler if I just carried him straight there like this, after all.

"There's nothing to worry about," I reassured him smoothly despite the amused twinkle in my eye. "You look perfect for your wedding day."

He opened his mouth to argue further but snapped it shut again a moment later, realizing just how absurd such protests would be at this point in time. Instead, he buried his burning face against my shoulder with a soft whimper of embarrassment.

"Well, I certainly can't have you running off before our marriage has even begun," I went on playfully as we drew closer to the room where all those witnesses awaited us impatiently. "It wouldn't do at all for your future husband."

Anan shuddered and clung to me even tighter if possible, hiding himself against my strong body like he could simply disappear into it. Little fool thought that would make a difference in our current situation.

"Besides," I leaned down to murmur hotly in his ear, making sure he alone heard the next words, "If you try to run away now, you'll only force me to chase and capture you. And then I might have no choice but to put you over my knee for a thorough spanking until your pretty bottom matches the red of your face."

I punctuated that threat with a sharp nip at his earlobe and he yelped softly even as he pressed closer against me, body responding instinctively to the dominant command in my voice. Silly boy didn't know when I was joking.

Either way, it hardly mattered at this point because we were swiftly approaching the door to the room where everyone waited to witness our nuptials. A hush fell over the gathered crowd as they caught sight of us, Anan clinging to me so adorably and me holding him possessively against my chest. They never expected something like that.

"So sorry to keep you all waiting," I called out smoothly as I strode through the doorway unperturbed by the stares and murmurs that greeted our entrance. "But it seems our lovely omega groom was just too delicious a temptation for his new husband to resist sampling."

I winked at Mara where she sat primly in the front row, taking great satisfaction in her slight sputter of outrage as I made my claim on Anan plain to all present.

"Please, everyone take your seats," I continued imperiously, not giving them time to react further. "The ceremony is about to begin."

And it was—my new life with Anan at my side, ready or not. It was the perfect Valentine's Day gift, really.

I gazed down at him as he peeked up at me from beneath his lashes, still flushed and slightly stunned-looking. My heart clenched in an unfamiliar squeeze I refused to acknowledge just now.

"Shall we get married then?" I asked softly, only for his ears alone. "Seal our bond before these witnesses?"

Anan swallowed thickly, glancing out at the sea of faces with a mix of apprehension and something else that glimmered in the depths of his eyes. He met my gaze again and I saw it—that same heady desire mingled with trepidation that was so intoxicating.

"I look like such a fool right now," he breathed after what felt like an eternity but could only have been mere seconds. "So, do I even have a choice?"

And just like that, everything in me settled, a deep contentment suffusing my very being as I gazed down at the precious omega in my arms on the eve of Valentine's Day - our wedding day.

The ceremony room was lavishly decorated, with velvet-draped walls and gilded furnishings that gleamed under the soft glow of dozens of candles perched in sconces along each wall. A long aisle bisected the space, leading to an altar draped in white lace and adorned with cascading bouquets of blush pink roses. It kind of reminded me of someone, I thought with a smile on my face.

At the front of the room, two thrones sat side by side, waiting for us to take our places as husband and, of course, also husband.

As we approached, I spotted Mara again, a look of barely suppressed fury on her face. No doubt she was shocked to see me carrying Anan like some blushing bride, but that was hardly my concern right now.

The officiant was there waiting for us—a tall, severe-looking man with cold eyes and a thin mouth curled into a sharp smirk as he watched our entrance. He clearly thought this whole situation was laughable.

"Ah, Rafael and Anan," the officiant purred mockingly. "So lovely of you to join us at last."

I flashed him an easy grin in return even as my arm tightened protectively around Anan's waist. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," I replied smoothly. "As you can see, my omega and I got a little... caught up before the main event, if you will."

The officiant chuckled, eyeing Anan with undisguised amusement. "I can certainly understand that—such an exquisite specimen deserves to be savored thoroughly indeed." And meanwhile, I never thought someone like him would ever say something like that.

Anan stiffened in my arms at the bald innuendo, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment and outrage. But before he could respond, I forestalled him with a subtle squeeze of his hip.

"Not here," I murmured for his ears alone as I strode down the aisle with him held firmly against me. "Let's save such private... delights for after we're husband and husband."

I settled us on the thrones, arranging Anan on my lap with a possessive hand splayed across his lower back. He wriggled slightly against me in obvious discomfort but didn't try to pull away. He knew that doing that wouldn't be appropriate and that I wouldn't like it. As much as he hated me now, he knew that it wasn't really genuine. Much more than that, he wanted me. He wanted every inch of me.

As the officiant stepped forward to begin the ceremony, I leaned down to capture Anan's chin between my fingers, tilting his face up to meet my gaze. His eyes glared daggers at me.

"I will make you pay for this humiliation," Anan bit out under his breath, all bravado and sass despite the tremor that rippled through him. "Mark my words."

"Promises, promises," I chuckled throatily against his flushed skin, reveling in his spirit even as it amused me to no end. This was going to be a wild ride indeed.

And with a sharp clap of his hands, the officiant began intoning the words of the wedding rite that would bind Anan and me together for all eternity, no matter what my little rebel may have thought about it in this moment.

With the officiant still speaking, I gazed down at my omega with an expression of pure adoration, knowing full well that he was already irrevocably mine.

My heart. My world. My everything.

And heaven help anyone who dared stand between me and what was rightfully mine on this Valentine's Day—as the officiant continued his drone—I would rip them apart piece by bloody piece with my bare hands if it came to it.

I didn't care about what he promised—he could make as many threats and vows of revenge as his little heart desired. It wouldn't change a thing.

He was mine now, bound to me in the most intimate and primal way possible. And I would enjoy unraveling him at my leisure over the rest of our lives together.

As he squirmed against me in outrage, I tightened my arm around his waist and pulled him flush against my chest, letting him feel how much I wanted him even now in the middle of all this ceremony nonsense. Let him writhe and rage all he liked—I would simply enjoy every second of it.

And when the officiant finally pronounced us husband and husband, sealing our fate with those time-honored words that would echo through the ages?

I sealed Anan's promise to me with a thorough kiss that left no room for doubt about who owned his very soul now. Who would worship him like a god until the end of time itself.

Finally leaving the room, I gazed down at my husband with a blistering intensity that made even Mara pause in her seething displeasure to stare openly at us both. Her reaction was a delight to my eyes.

"I love you," I declared for all to hear without hesitation or qualm. "Forever and always."

Anan gasped softly against me, shock and something like hope flashing briefly across his flushed features before it was replaced by the stubborn set of his jaw that never failed to make my heart clench in a way I could no longer deny.

"Yes well," Mara cut in rudely, "Enough of this soppy nonsense. The deed is done and the alliance is sealed. What now?" Her voice was hard and calculating as she eyed us.

I almost laughed out loud at her brazen question; I thought she had more sensitivity than that.

I smiled coldly down at her even as my hand slid possessively across the small of Anan's back, rubbing soothing circles there to keep him grounded against me.

"Why don't we adjourn to a more... private setting to celebrate?" I suggested smoothly. "There are certain rituals and intimacies that can only be performed in the bedchamber."

Mara visibly recoiled at my blatant innuendo, no doubt remembering all too vividly what those 'rituals' entailed from her own marriage bed. To be honest, I was surprised she was married once.

I watched with great satisfaction as a delicate green tinge colored her porcelain cheeks.

"See that you don't mark the boy up too badly," she warned in an acid tone, arms still entwined. "He's meant to be a pretty plaything for guests as much as anything."

I bared my teeth at her in a savage grin, all pretenses of civility dropping away like a mask. "I wouldn't dream of touching a hair on his head," I growled, pulling Anan protectively against my side with a sharp glance thrown Mara's way that made even her falter slightly. "He is mine and mine alone to spoil as I see fit."