33. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
M addie
I wake in Stryker’s arms. Would someone remind me why I resisted this for a year? It’s the definition of heaven. Now I understand why he went to such great lengths to watch me sleep. It’s so cool to see him, muscles slack, a tiny smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I love feeling his warm skin so close to mine.
His eyes pop open, his first action every morning is to unerringly cast his gaze directly at me. He’s inspecting my face, looking for telltale signs to find out if I’m having a bad day or not. I’ve got to give him credit, it would be hard to wake every morning wondering if your mate was going to have an angel or a devil on her shoulder.
“Angel,” I say, knowing he’ll have no idea what I’m talking about.
“Yes, you are.” He rolls with the punches, this guy. “And pretty. I’m so glad I can tell you how beautiful you are now.”
Swoop. My belly does a happy roll, then tightens with love. How did I get so lucky to find such a wonderful guy?
“Don’t forget, I’ll be in my cabin until the mating ceremony,” I say.
“Right. Remind me why?”
I’m about to say the words, ‘bad luck’, then think better of it. “Earth custom.” I shrug. Since the women boarded this vessel over a year ago, he’s discovered lots of our customs that don’t make sense. He doesn’t complain, I mean how do you argue with mistletoe and cakes and dances? Most of our customs are designed to entertain.
“ E xcited?” Savannah asks as she flounces the sleeves of the mating dress.
I say the mating dress instead of my mating dress because it belongs to all of us. Everyone has worn it at their mating ceremony; now it’s a tradition. Savannah is our resident seamstress and kick-ass former Marine. The odd combination doesn’t seem so absurd after you know her a while; she combines the two sides of her personality perfectly.
She has to do nips and tucks or expansions and elongations with every mating, but we love knowing that all the women who’ve worn it are now blissfully happy.
I sway in front of the mirror only to have Petra scold me.
“How do you expect me to do perfect hair and makeup when you won’t stand still?” Her tone is harsh, but her expression is indulgent. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
“Yes, excited,” I reply to Savannah’s original question.
I’m so glad I’m having a good mental health day—a very good mental health day. I get to enjoy my wedding. I never really counted on that.
“We all love you, Maddie,” Savannah says. “We watched you during the bad times, and it’s going to be a pleasure watching you during the good times, too.”
I stifle the urge to tell her the dark times aren’t over, just on pause, but I shut up and enjoy this moment.
Ten minutes later, after numerous reassurances that I’m the prettiest bride they’ve ever seen, which, of course, we have all said truthfully to every bride, I’m whisked into the solarium. It’s so beautiful in here, with windows on three out of four walls as well as the ceiling.
There’s Stryker, in his black leather kilt, sash, and boots, looking handsome enough to make me weak in the knees. Does he look nervous? Is he afraid I’m going to run screaming out of the room at the last minute? I reassure him with a happy wink as I wait in the doorway with Anya at one elbow and Grace at the other.
Someone plays a recording of Grace’s beautiful, ethereal music. I’ve never heard this piece before.
“I composed this one for you,” she whispers in my ear. “I hope it bathes us all in happiness.”
“It’s beautiful.”
I walk to Stryker at the front of the bullet-shaped room where he’s standing in front of Zar, whose leonine mane is combed to perfection as he wears an outfit similar to Stryker’s. He looks solemn; the male takes his duties so seriously.
I’ll admit, I have butterflies, like a million of them, fluttering in my stomach. The moment I reach Stryker and he holds my hands, I calm down. His affection-filled, brown-eyed gaze is like a lifeline.
“Stryker, you’ve prepared remarks?” Zar asks after welcoming everyone to our mating.
We agreed we wouldn’t read prepared notes. I just wanted to hear what he said from the heart.
We’re facing each other, and I watch as he breathes in a long, slow inhale. He’s nervous. I don’t know why this makes my heart feel full. I guess it’s that he understands the seriousness of this step and he’s taking it anyway—with me.
“My beloved Maddie. I hate to remind everyone here of the dark day we met. That was traumatic for all of us. Except that was the day I fell in love with you. How could I fail to notice your courage and determination? How could I fail to notice your strength under pressure? And your beauty, Love? I couldn’t fail to notice that.”
He reaches up to touch one of my curls and it twines around his finger as if on cue.
“Before, I thought I could love enough for the both of us and it was enough for that first annum . Now I see what I was missing, and my life is so much richer now because you love me, too.”
A stab of pain pierces through me—guilt. But he knows I was only trying to spare him pain. We’re secure in our love now.
“It’s no secret we have our struggles. But doesn’t everyone? I’ll be with you through them all. I’ll hold your hand and wipe your eyes and yes, I’ll give you space if that’s what you need.
“Maddie, will you be my mate forever?”
I close my eyes to soak it all in. Look what I have—a room full of friends, so close they’re like family, and a mate looking at me with all the love one being can express to another.
“Maddie?” Zar asks.
I look into Stryker’s loving eyes and take strength from him. He’s here with me, that’s really all that’s important.
“I love you, Stryker, and I’m so glad you had the courage to hang in there with me. I know I didn’t make it easy. But we traveled the journey together and we’re here. We’re not at the finish line, and we both know there will be hurdles up ahead. But we’ve got each other. You’re not only all I need. You’re all I ever hoped for.”
I glance at Zar to let him know I’ve said my piece.
“You may now kiss,” he intones, making it obvious he loves this part of the ceremony.
Stryker
The sounds of clapping, stomping, and cheering surround us as I kiss my Maddie with all the love I have for her, happy I no longer have to hide it.
As we walk from the solarium to the dining room, I reflect on everything that has changed. I used to feel so much love for her but what’s different is that now I feel so much love from her.
Our lives are in front of us, though. It won’t always be easy, but is there anything worth having that is?
“Come on my love, I made Paragon cake. I get to smash it into your mouth,” she says.
She’s smiling and happy, at least for the moment. What else could I ask for?