Chapter 23 #3
I’d been staring at the window every day while soldering the pieces and weatherproofing it.
Yet seeing it installed, the ambient light setting off the vibrant scenery, stole everyone’s breath away.
Because the windows were extra wide and reached for the ceiling, it had given me a large canvas to work with.
Whispers and gasps sounded as they laid eyes on one of the most elaborate pieces I’d ever created on my own.
Pale blues at the bottom imitated the crystal waters of the stream, and the water narrowed the farther up your eye traveled.
Each side was flanked with delicate greenery, a few sunflowers, a sleeping wolf, smaller wildflowers, and the brown earth.
The higher up you looked, the more varied the colors as it morphed into rolling hills with golden branches crossing over.
I’d cleverly placed a white horse and a black one grazing in a distant pasture. In the brush, a tiger lurking.
The longer you looked at the eye-catching mosaic, the more details you caught.
Like the butterfly inspecting a flower, and a woman sitting on one of the many stones alongside the river, gazing upward.
I wasn’t sure if they would ever notice, but I’d also painted a small arrowhead hidden in the landscape.
Tak approached the window and turned his eyes upward. He gingerly touched the window and traced his finger around the pieces.
I wrung my hands, eager to hear his official opinion. “Well? What do you think?”
“What do I think?” He turned on his heel to face his pack. “I think if any of you breaks this window, you’ll be permanently in charge of shoveling manure.”
“Holy shit.” Archer rubbed his chin. “I can’t get over it. This is better than those church windows I’ve seen on TV.”
“I learned from the best,” I said, relieved that they loved it.
“No one’s ever given me a chance to do anything of this scale.
My mentor had me assist him with large projects, so I have the experience, but I’ve never completed one by myself.
I’ve done standard-sized windows. It can take years to get people to trust you with a job of this magnitude. ”
Tak shook his head, still staring at the window. “Not anymore. When people in town see this, you’ll be booked up for life.”
The mood in the room suddenly shifted, as did the emotional energy at the word life.
“I included images that represent the pack,” I pointed out, “but obviously everyone can’t be in the picture. And you might someday have others who join who are different. That’s what it represents.”
Tak scratched his head. “I can’t get over how impressive it looks. My father will be jealous.” His eyes lit up, and he turned his attention to his mate. “We should invite your father over. Lorenzo doesn’t have anything like this in his house.”
Hope slapped his butt. “You’re terrible.”
A mischievous look crossed his expression. “Do that again, Duckie. I’ll put a blush on those cheeks.”
She placed Jasper in a playpen between the two sofas. “Quinn, you’ve outdone yourself. I watched your process, but seeing it all put together is… My gosh. It’s stunning.”
“You know what’s great about these windows is how the colors change with the day. It’ll look different at sunrise than it does now.”
After giving her a hug, I exhaustedly sat on the sofa. Jasper pulled himself up, squawking at the crowd as they gushed over my masterpiece. I could barely think of a time I was happier than this moment.
Lucian sat beside me. “Congratulations. You’ll be the talk of the town when everyone gets a load of this.” He turned the black band on his finger. “I know the officials don’t like us taking videos, but I recorded the ceremony so you can watch it.”
“Thanks for including my mom.”
He crossed his arms. “I don’t see why she couldn’t fly down.”
“Because she’s terrified of flying. She’s also a homebody and not a fan of crowds. It’s hard to get her to go anywhere.”
“Relatable.”
“I know she loves me. That’s all that matters. Hopefully Salem and I can visit her soon. That’ll mean more to her.”
Lively music blared from Virgil’s record player in the adjacent room. He tried to dance with Cleo, who rolled her eyes and wandered off. When he pouted at Joy, she placed Violet in the playpen with Jasper and indulged him with a dance.
Lucian took a deep breath and made an appreciative sound. “Too bad you can’t smell what I do. Normally, a bunch of emotions jammed into a tight space is a nightmare, but this is nice.” He swirled his finger in front of him and took another breath.
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Not only had I fallen in love with Salem, but his pack had become family in a way I’d never imagined.
Eden knelt before the playpen and tickled Jasper. “Hey there, little Jazz man.”
Jasper splayed his fingers for her curly hair, but she caught his hand and kissed it, making him giggle before bouncing to the music.
“Ever think you’ll have one?” I asked. “You’re so good with them.”
She stood and straightened her tangerine dress.
“Girl, I don’t got time between work and all that goes on around here.
Kids aren’t something I ever wanted, but…
I’m only two hundred. People change their minds all the time, so I can’t predict the future.
” She shared a private look with her mate and smiled at him.
“Lucian and I love each other, and that’s enough for us right now. ”
“I never planned to have children,” I admitted. “It’s not worth it knowing that I’ll pass on the family curse.”
“I bet your daddy would say you were worth it.” Eden kicked off her heels.
“I’m sorry, Quinn. My animal’s forcing her way out, and if I don’t shift now, I’ll never make it until dinner.
” She twisted in a swirl of magic and morphed into an enormous tiger.
Beautiful black stripes created a striking pattern over her orange coat.
Even though I’d officially met all the animals, I wasn’t used to being this close to a gigantic predator.
She lumbered over to Lucian and growled deep before yawning.
He leaned forward and scratched underneath her white chin. “We’ll be outside for a little while. I need to clean bird shit off one of the camera lenses.”
“Do you need a ladder?”
He smirked and stood. “No, female. I’m a Chitah.”
Eden’s tiger stuck her nose in the playpen and sniffed little Violet, who excitedly patted her nose and giggled.
Jasper tugged on her neck as if he wanted to climb onto her back.
After nudging him, Eden’s animal turned around and accompanied Lucian as they made their way outside.
Though mated, Lucian was a solitary man by nature.
Good thing he had Eden. She would likely drag him back inside later for a dance.
Salem offered his hand. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
He hauled me up. “You’re not the only one with a surprise.”
Curious, I clutched my gown as we ascended the stairs. Climbing them was harder than walking. “I’m not sure you can call this a surprise. Sex usually comes after the wedding.”
Salem led me down the long hallway, passing several shorter halls where the bedrooms were situated. When we reached the end, he turned left, and we entered his bedroom.
My breath caught.
I feasted my eyes on a multicolored, oversized chair in the right corner and a tall plant beside it.
Behind the door, a desk and another plant. “What’s this?”
“Your desk. Just in case you need privacy to sketch designs, or maybe when you don’t feel like going downstairs.”
I walked to the left side of the door and sat on the new love seat. Then I realized he had a headboard on his bed, two nightstands, and those adorable hanging lanterns on each side.
“Oh, you finally got a shelf for your things.” I leaned forward and admired the black corner shelf to my left, his medical bag sitting on top, books neatly stacked on the center shelf. My gaze drifted to the empty space across from the bed. “You couldn’t fit anything over there?”
Salem sat next to me. “The others helped, but I wanted to leave that space for you. Maybe a bookshelf or more plants.”
“Do you think we can fit a mechanical horse?” I deadpanned.
“A what?”
I laughed and snuggled closer to him. “This is so beautiful. I love all the colors. It makes me so happy.” I hugged him when I spotted my artwork on the left window. “I hate that you did all this work.”
“Why?”
“Well, I was thinking of staying in the heat house. It might get hard for me to go up and down the stairs.”
“Then I’ll carry you.”
After untying my sneakers, I stood, straddled him, and nestled on his lap while giving him a soft look. “You made all my fantasies come true today. All but one.”
His disappointment spiked against my hands.
I rocked my hips until his eyes glazed, and he knew exactly which fantasy I was referring to.
“Here?” he asked. “On the sofa? It’s brand-new.”
I kissed away his complaints while unzipping his pants. After no further objections, I rose up and stroked his shaft against me to show him I was already wet.
Salem sucked in a sharp breath.
“Oops.” I slowly rocked up and down, inching him inside me. “Looks like I forgot my panties.”
“They’re waiting for us. Dinner, dancing…” He groaned at my insistent touch.
“Let them wait. I want my husband.” I planted a desperate kiss on his mouth. “I’m gonna wear your tie all night long.”
Salem pulled my dress over his head and lavished my stomach with kisses, his heated breath against my skin a sensual garnish to the feast.
I took him slow until I couldn’t keep up with my own needs. Then he lifted me into his arms and fulfilled that one remaining fantasy.
Three times.