Chapter Fourteen
Jessica turned when she heard a curse and smiled when she saw her mate in the reflection of the mirror with a desire-filled flush on his face as his eyes ran over her.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” Gideon said.
She twirled to face him. She was in a long red dress with spaghetti straps that hugged her curves. The neckline was low enough to see the curves of her breasts, but not enough to look obscene. “You look pretty hot yourself.”
He chuckled. “I’m very glad you think so.”
Gideon walked to her and pulled her into his arms. “I am so glad you are my mate. The universe hit a home run with us.”
She rolled her eyes.
He lifted her, making her gasp, and started kissing her like his life depended on it. When he finally lifted his head, she stared up at him. She couldn’t ever see herself not needing him, and the way he made her feel.
“If we don’t go now, mate,” Gideon growled. “I’ll have you stripped and flat on your back.”
She inhaled and nodded. Although she was excited about the possibility of seeing people she hadn’t seen in years. She was unfortunately going to see her family for the first time since leaving her childhood home because she wanted to please him. So, she would suck it up.
Besides, she wasn’t going to let her father and sister control anything in their lives, and they needed to realize they had no control over her. It didn’t help that she guessed they would cause some type of disturbance to embarrass her, but with her husband by her side, she could handle anything.
She knew Gideon had talked to them when they got home from their vacation. They hadn’t known until the next day that she and the servants were gone. She and Gideon knew they would never guess where they were, so Gideon got in contact with them.
All she knew was they were angry but hadn’t tried to contact her. She had to admit that she didn’t miss them. They had brought her down more than she thought until she was away from them and felt the difference.
He led her out of their house and down the steps to the waiting car. After they slid in and the car started moving, Gideon pulled her tightly against his side.
Before she knew it, they were stopping in front of a large building. Their driver came around and opened the door.
Jessica smiled at the man. “Thank you.”
He bowed his head. “You’re welcome, miss.”
Jessica clutched Gideon’s hand as they walked up the steps and into the building.
“Hello,” a man behind a desk said, drawing their attention. “May I have your names so I can check my list?”
“Gideon and Jessica Rothschild,” Gideon said.
“Oh, yes, sir. You may go into the ballroom. Thank you.”
Jessica squeezed Gideon’s hand when he stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I can see my cousin across the room.”
“You don’t like him?”
“No. He’s broken the pack’s law a few times.”
“Can’t you kick him out?” she asked.
“Yes, normally. But he’s a part of my bloodline, so it’s harder to get rid of him.”
“Do you want me to beat him up for you?”
Gideon snorted. “I don’t want you anywhere near him. And if I ever find out that you put yourself in danger, I will make you regret it.”
She wanted to roll her eyes. “Yes, mate.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, grinned, shook his head, and pulled her tighter against him. “You’re a bit feisty tonight, I see.”
“Aren’t I always?” It felt like he said that to her every day.
He chuckled. “Yes, sometimes more than others.”
She tucked her head against his chest and looked around. She almost groaned when she saw her sister and father heading towards them.
“Hell,” Gideon said when he saw them. “This should be fun.”
Jessica smiled up at him.
“So, I see you both finally showed your faces,” Edward, Jessica’s father, said.
“I didn’t think we were hiding.” Gideon looked down at her. “We’ve been traveling.”
Bambi sniffed in disdain. “I’m shocked you were able to get her out here.”
“Why is that, sister?” Jessica asked.
“Because you never came to one before.”
“Maybe because I wasn’t asked, and the last thing I wanted was to go with you two and listen to you put me down in front of people.”
Bambi rolled her eyes.
“Doesn’t my wife look beautiful?” Gideon asked her father.
She almost grinned at the shock and discomfort.
“You’re married?” Bambi shrieked.
“Settle down, sweetheart,” her father said and gripped her arm.
“I can’t believe he picked her over me.”
Gideon grunted. “There never was a you. I couldn’t stand to be around you for more than a minute.”
Bambi gasped and turned to Edward. “Daddy, are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
Edward scowled. “Now see here. You don’t talk to my precious like that.”
Gideon rolled his eyes before he looked down at Jessica. “I’m already bored, baby. Let’s mingle.”
Gideon pulled her away, and it took all her strength not to laugh at the expressions on her family’s faces.
They danced a few times and talked with friends they knew. Leo, one of Gideon’s closest friends, walked up to them, and she felt Gideon relax a bit more.
Jessica had met the man several times and really liked him. She could tell the two of them were very close.
Gideon handed her a glass of champagne. “Can you stay here for a second, mate? I’ll be right back.”
She smiled. “I’m fine.”
He kissed the top of her head and walked off with Leo.