Chapter 15 #2
Rian lifted his mouth from hers with a loud gasp as he gave a half-hearted attempt to pull his erection from her hands. Not one to give up easily, Audrey quickly wrapped her other hand around the base and massaged up and down with the side of her palms meeting in the middle.
It took mere seconds until Rian was sitting up on his knees straddling Audrey’s thighs as she expertly worked his cock up and down, gently twisting as her hands moved apart.
His eyes never left hers. His pupils so dilated his eyes were almost completely black.
His chest heaved. His hips moved faster and faster until all she had to do was hold on.
Rian opened his mind completely to hers. A barrage of feelings and emotions all centered around her dragon’s love for her filled Audrey’s being. There had never been a doubt in her mind that he loved her, but now she knew without doubt how very much she meant to the man who held her heart.
“I love you, Audrey Dobresou, with everything that I am.” Rian roared as he was overtaken by his release. Finally collapsing beside her, breathless and flushed, he closed his eyes and took her hand.
It was Audrey’s turn to give a cocky grin. “Now, aren’t you glad you stayed for just a bit longer.”
“Yeah…yeah…yeah…” he teased before jumping to his knees and tickling her until she could hardly breathe.
“Ri…Rian…stop…Not fair…” she stuttered, trying to catch her breath.
Stopping but leaving his hands on her sensitive sides, he cocked an eyebrow and asked, “And what you just did to me was fair?”
“Complaining?” She batted her eyes and held his hands to her sides, pretending she could stop him if he tried to tickle her again.
“No, ma’am, never. You’ll not hear a complaint from me.” Rian kissed the tip of her nose, hopped out of bed, and saluted. “At your service, as always ma’am. Yes, ma’am.”
Giggling like a schoolgirl at the six-foot-ten hunk of dragon standing naked beside the bed and saluting while trying to keep a straight face was priceless. His humor, which he openly admitted to rarely sharing with the rest of the world, was just another thing she adored about her mate.
Snapping her from her thoughts, Rian dropped his hand and leaned onto the bed.
Kissing her slowly and thoroughly, he stood up when she was once again breathless and reminded her, “Now, I really have to go meet my brother and the goofball. I’m already late.
” Walking into the bathroom, he called over his shoulder, “And unless you want the girls to see you naked then you better put on the clothes Sam left for you.”
Before she’d even put her feet on the floor, Rian was showered, dressed, and putting on his boots.
Stepping in front of her, he knelt down, took her hands in his, and pulled her into his lap.
Kissing her lightly on the lips, then her cheeks and once behind the ear, her dragon stood and set her on her feet at arm’s length.
“I have a question to ask. It’s one I’ve asked so many times before and now, just like then, my life depends upon your answer.”
Unsure what Rian was about to ask and completely taken off guard by the serious tone of his voice, she nodded her head and said, “Yes?”
Getting down on one knee, he took her left hand in his and asked, “Audrey Catherine Dobresou, would you do me the honor of becoming my mate? I want nothing more than to share everything that I am with you forever.”
“Yes! Yes! As always Yes!” Audrey squealed, happier than she ever thought possible because this time, it was for real.
There was no going back to hell. No waiting for another Full Moon.
No Demon Lord. Nothing to keep them apart.
They had eternity and she was not going to waste a second of it.
Falling onto his bent knee, Audrey kissed Rian with the same promise of absolute love and commitment as he’d shown her just moments before.
Standing and again setting her on her feet in front of him, Rian shook his head then looked her up and down with such deliberate intent that she could feel his eyes on her body just as his hands had been moments ago, Rian sighed, “You are absolutely perfect.” He stepped back.
“I have to go or I’m going to rip off these clothes and keep you naked for at least a month. ”
Turning and moving out the door so quickly she felt the breeze, he stopped and turned before shutting the door, “I’ll see you at midnight on the beach.”
“You’ll what?” she called after him, but her only answer was the shutting of the front door.
Now, what has he done?
After fifteen minutes with the girls as Rian had called them, Audrey knew she was being ambushed.
Kyra and Sam had arrived with a basket of goodies that smelled so good her stomach had growled before they got to the kitchen.
Right behind them were Alicia and Melanie, closely followed by Calysta and Sarah Beth.
She watched as Sam made coffee, hoping she’d remember how the next time she wanted a cup and also asked Kyra for the recipe to her blueberry muffins. It didn’t take long for the conversation to get to the topic of mating and the mating ceremony.
Audrey once again was thankful that over the years Rian had prepared her for everything he could.
He’d explained how the Universe had made them to be together and that she was the only mate he would ever have.
She’d especially been impressed when he’d told her that the man plans the mating ceremony.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she knew what Rian was up to and why the girls had come to talk to her.
“That man,” she laughed. “Y’all are here to get me ready for tonight aren’t you?
I noticed all four of you,” Audrey pointed to Kyra, Sam, Alicia, and Melanie, “are already mated.” Turning to Calysta and Sarah Beth, she added, “And I’m guessing you’re here for moral and motherly support?
” She smiled, once again in awe of how much Rian had done for her and continued to do.
Their looks of shock were priceless, as was the way they tried to cover them up.
Audrey let them all try to deny it for about thirty seconds before she shook her head.
“You’ll have to do better than that, ladies.
I was with the Chancellor of Hell for almost a century.
I’ve gotten pretty good at ferreting out a plan. ”
They all laughed aloud.
“Busted!” Kyra chuckled. “You can’t fault the big guy. He tried. Ri just wants everything to be perfect. He and…”
The doorbell cut off her words as Alicia hopped up and answered the door. When the young witch returned, she was carrying a huge white box wrapped in royal blue satin ribbon. Setting it in the middle of the table, she teased in a singsong voice. “Looks like somebody loves you.”
“Open it.” Kyra was on her feet and pushing the box towards the end of the table where Audrey was sitting.
“Okay, okay, I’m opening it,” she joked, standing and carefully untying the bow.
Lifting the lid off the box, Audrey removed the tissue paper and stood dumbfounded at the beautiful gown of white gossamer before her.
Pulling it from the box, tears filled her eyes as she gazed upon the strapless bodice that tapered to the waist with a flowing floor-length skirt embellished with tiny deep blue flames.
Every detail was perfectly crafted, even the blue satin ribbon that laced up the back.
“That is absolutely gorgeous and you’re gonna look amazing in it,” Melanie squealed with excitement.
“There’s more, Audrey,” Kyra instructed with a knowing wink.
Sifting through the tissue, she found an elegant pair of white silk slippers, each embroidered with a tiny set of blue dragon wings just below the toe, and a note addressed to her.
My dearest Audrey, Tonight we become one, together forever, never to be parted.
Our journey has been long and at times difficult, but I always knew this day would come.
I never gave up hope. I promise to love you like the stars love the sky and the ocean loves the water.
For you, a mhuirnín, are the light of my soul and the love of my life.
The moon may not be full but I refuse to wait another day.
Meet me where it all began at midnight. All my love, always, Rian
She couldn’t, nor did she want to, stop the tears of joy that flowed after reading the precious words from her mate. Just like he, she’d never given up hope but had often wondered how long they would wait for this day. Now it was here.
Looking around the table, she saw the smiling faces of the women she would call kin and her heart filled to bursting.
Wiping tears from her face, she looked at the clock on the mantel and said, “Well, we better get busy. There’s only twelve hours until I become Audrey O’Reilly and I haven’t had my hair done in a hundred years. ”
The room erupted into laughter as they all assured her they had it covered.
Following Kyra down the hall, Audrey was shocked when the little witch opened the door to the right of Rian’s bedroom.
They all stood aside as she walked over the threshold into the most gorgeous dressing room she’d ever seen.
More tears flowed as she took in the furnishings and décor.
Rian had exactly duplicated the room of her dreams that she had described one of the many nights they spent talking after he’d summoned her.
Every detail was perfect down to the jeweled antique hair combs that resembled her mother’s.
Sitting in the high-back white wooden chair, she looked into the three-way mirror before her and could only smile at the people behind her, so ready to help, so willing to make her transition back into the real world.