17. Niam
17
NIAM
The day I’d been waiting for had finally arrived. It was my wedding day.
It was hard to believe that only a handful of months ago, I was cursing my brother for leaving us in the lurch and forcing me to leave my great life to come dig out the mess he made for our dad. I still thought he was a piece of shit because he’d cost my family a lot of money and a whole lot of stress.
My feelings for him would probably never change.
But I couldn't be sad for coming back to Oak Grove because here—where I was standing by the back door, looking out at our friends and my dad ready to watch me get married—this was exactly where I was meant to be.
It was already the most perfect day, and we hadn't even gotten to the part I was looking forward to the most—being mated. Finally .
The man who stole my heart was going to be mine in all ways, and I couldn’t wait.
My dad was talking with the justice of the peace who had come out to join us legally, but he kept looking back and pointing at the door. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to come out or not. That hadn’t been the plan, but this wedding was all about what he wanted. I’d do whatever made him happy. Because to me, the important part of this day was coming tonight.
"Hey." Todd startled me when he sidled up beside me.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be here." Not that I minded seeing him, it was more that I was surprised. I’d been so distracted watching my father, I hadn’t even seen him come in.
"Maybe.” He held a piece of mail in his hand. “But I want to give you your first wedding gift."
"I thought you were my wedding gift." I straightened out his tie and then stepped back. He looked so good all dressed up. And dressed down. And naked. Pretty much all the time.
"No, I think you’ll want this one." He pushed the envelope into my hand.
I took it and noticed it had already been torn open. When I saw the return address, I understood the urgency. It was from the IRS, and it wouldn’t be a present if it was bad news.
"We’re in the clear?" I nearly jumped up and down like a little kid.
"Yep. Everything's been straightened out. The IRS is happy. The bank is happy. Your vendors are happy. Best of all, your dad is happy and the business is safe—although, I think he’s too busy hitting on the justice of the peace to really savor the moment."
"Is that what's happening? Should we, like…wait a minute? Give him some time to work his mojo?" It was about time my father moved on. All I wanted was for him to be happy.
"I mean, if we have some time to burn…” He closed the small distance between us and waggled his eyebrows. “I can think of a few ways to occupy it." Todd brushed a kiss against my lips.
Obviously, we weren’t doing the whole “don’t see each other before the wedding thing.” Instead, this was a day all about us celebrating the love we had for each other. Being separated was the opposite of that.
"Hey, hurry up and get down there. You don’t want your groom thinking he was left at the altar. Or—music stand? I don’t know what you’d call it because we don’t have an actual altar, but you know what I mean," my dad shouted at me.
Todd gave my ass a playful smack. "Hear that? We better go. But hurry up and join me, okay? Those lips need my attention."
"They certainly do."
After Todd reached the justice, I stepped out onto the back porch.
It took a few seconds for my dad to realize I was there, and when he did, he raced back to my side. "Sorry, I was working on last-minute details."
I wove my arm through his. "Did those details include getting his phone number?"
He just smirked.
“Good for you, Dad. Please make sure he knows he’s invited to stick around for the party.
"I…I…” It was unusual to see my father so smitten. I was happy for him. “Ready to do this?"
"Ready." I was beyond ready.
We walked down together with no music and no fancy decorations. There was just the sound of the birds from the woods and our home as a backdrop.
The wedding was short. We didn’t venture much from the traditional vows. But even so, by the time we were introduced as husbands, my eyes were teary and joy was overflowing from me.
And then he kissed me.
It was different…more. Or maybe I was different. Or maybe he had been right and getting married was important to me in a way I hadn’t realized. Whatever the case, our first kiss as married husbands was perfection.
Then the music turned on. It was just somebody’s speaker connected to their phone, but we danced and chatted and devoured the potluck the guys from the shop had thrown together.
It was like a big backyard party mixed with true love and a whole lot of laughter.
And as much as I was enjoying myself, there was no sadness when it was time for everyone to go home. Because I was finally going to be mated to my own alpha.
I took his hand and pulled him up the stairs, not even pretending to have any chill. But then again, he wasn’t either. We both wanted this.
"I’ve been waiting for this day for so long." I ran my hand down his arm.
"Me too, my love," he murmured as he worked my tie loose. Somewhere along the way, his tie was already long gone.
"Did I mention that I love you?"
He dropped my tie onto the floor. "Only in front of all of our family and friends."
Minus my brother, of course. But I didn’t bring him up. We were finally free from all of his bullshit. And I planned to keep it that way.
As soon as we were completely undressed, Todd slowly lowered me onto the silk sheets and held his body over mine. “This is permanent, omega. Not like wedding vows.” He kissed along my jaw and then licked my neck in the spot he planned to mark. “This can’t be broken.”
“That’s what I’m counting on, alpha.” My body was taut with desire as I waited for him to do it.
Todd’s hands roamed over my body as the gentle flicker of the lights still twinkling outside danced across his features. His eyes locked onto mine, and a contentment fell over me that made all my nerves disappear.
My heart drummed in my chest with the anticipation that coursed through me. The air between us was electric, charged with the promise of our vows and the life we were about to build. The life already growing inside of me.
The weight of Todd’s body against mine was a welcome pressure, warming me from the inside out as he protected me from the rest of the world.
My fingers traced the expanse of his back, feeling the muscles shift beneath his skin with every movement. “Make love to me, Husband.”
A low growl erupted from him as his mouth crashed onto mine. Our controlled movements were replaced with erratic touches and desperate kisses as he opened me up, making sure my slick opening was ready for him.
I was. I always was.
After pressing his fingers into me a few times, he spread my legs and positioned his thick cock at my opening. “I love you, Niam.”
I stared into his eyes and looked at him through the tears of emotion I couldn’t keep at bay. “I love you too, Todd. More than I ever thought possible.”
Without breaking eye contact, Todd pushed into me until he was as deep as he could be. Our breaths mingled as he pulled out and then pressed back in. Our rhythm started slowly but quickly built up into a crescendo that was beyond anything I’d ever felt before.
The connection between us was almost tangible, like a thread had formed from my heart to his. From his bear to the baby growing inside me.
As my pleasure escalated, I knew I couldn’t last long. The bond we shared flared to life as we hit the peak of our union.
“Come for me, Niam.” Todd thrust faster and harder, pushing me over the edge of control until I was crying out and convulsing in his arms. “Yes, alpha. Yes!”
I felt the unmistakable swell of his knot as it expanded inside me to hold in his release. Todd grunted as he held his whole body tight, absorbing the waves of ecstasy that rolled through him.
And then it happened.
My alpha sealed our bond with a bite at the juncture of my neck and shoulder, marking me as his for the rest of our lives.
A sharp gasp escaped me, but it wasn’t from pain. It was from the profound completion that filled me. Warmth spread from the wound, marking his claim on me. Marking his love with a promise etched into my flesh for eternity.
It was a primal act that only truly bound fated mates. Most people didn’t ever experience this kind of love or commitment, and I thanked all facets of the universe that I was one of the lucky few.
As we caught our breath, Todd's arms circled me with both strength and tenderness. “You okay, my love?”
I sighed and squeezed him tightly. “I’m better than I’ve ever been in my life.”