“Every little girl dreams of her wedding day. She picks out her wedding dress and the flowers. She imagines the music playing as she walks down the aisle to a faceless groom she has yet to meet. She pours her hopes and dreams into a day that may or may not come. My day has come. It is nothing like I dreamed. There is no music or flowers. There is no elaborate dress adorned in rows of beads. There is only me and my groom, who has an amazing face. No, it’s nothing like I dreamed; it’s better.”
~ Sally Miklos, Mate of Costin Miklos
“What gifts have you brought to give your mate,” Vasile asked Costin as he and Sally stood before him. The only other people in the room were Decebel, Jen, Jacque, Fane, Peri, and Alina.
It had been two weeks since Mona had been killed and the strange man had attempted to murder Vasile. Though Rachel and Sally had healed many of the wolves, there had still been casualties. The Alphas of the fallen wanted to bury their dead in their homelands. Vasile had declared a night of mourning and they all had shown their respects to the Alphas and the wolves that had given their lives.
Dillon had stayed for two days after his pack had traveled back to the states. He spent this time with Jacque. He had even gone to Lilly and Cypher, wishing them a happy life together. Cypher had frowned the entire time while Jacque and her mom had tried to keep from laughing.
Lilly was with Cypher, who had a very long recovery ahead of him. Vasile had granted him protection if he wished to stay and recuperate in the mansion.
So, now they stood in the small indoor garden in the mansion, bathed in moonlight. Sally wore a simple white dress with lace sleeves that showed her skin beneath. The back was low, but her hair covered it completely, much to Costin’s relief. Costin was in his customary jeans, but he was wearing a white dress shirt at least, though it was un-tucked. Neither of them wore shoes, because of the customary washing of feet during the ceremony. Much to Sally’s embarrassment, Costin had washed not only her feet, but her calves all the way to the tops of her knees and probably only stopped there because she had swatted him with the towel. He had kissed down her legs to her feet and Sally was giggling like a school girl by, the time he was done.
Decebel had rolled his eyes and said loud enough for everyone to hear “We’ll be lucky if they make it to their bedroom.” This only caused Sally to blush even more.
“The three gifts I have brought for my beloved,” Costin smiled as he held out a box wrapped in shimmering silver paper. Sally took it and unwrapped it slowly. Costin took a step closer to her and watched as she opened the box. Inside were three items. The first was an ancient looking book bearing no title.
“Peri and I did some digging into the history of the gypsies and, with Wadim’s help, we found your lineage. That book,” he motioned to it, “is the story of your ancestors.” Sally’s mouth dropped open as she stared at the book. So many questions of how she came to be a gypsy healer, and the answers might lie right before her, because of him. “Thank you,” she told him, but knew that she could never express her gratitude in a way that was worthy.
“Oh, yes you can brown eyes,” He winked at her. Sally laughed as she looked back in the box.
There were two other items. The second was another book. This one was leather bound and when she flipped it, open she saw that the pages were blank. She looked up at him. “It’s blank.”
“It will be our story, our history. You and I together, will fill the pages with the legacy that we bring to our people. One day our children will read it and see what amazing things we experienced, trials we overcame, and most importantly, the love their parents had for one another, a love that nothing and no one can come between.”
Tears streamed down Sally’s face as she held the book to her chest. It was the most touching, thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her.
“And, the third gift,” Costin said as he reached into the box and pulled out a much smaller box. He opened it and held it out for Sally. She gasped and nearly dropped the journal. In the box lay a locket. A locket that she knew had been in her family for generations. She’d seen her mom wearing it before. Now, that she stared at it, the piece of jewelry took on a whole new meaning. Strange symbols adorned the outside of the locket, symbols that she had often wondered about in the past. Sally, now understood, that the markings were gypsy runes. She pulled it out and opened it and there inside was a picture of Costin and Sally. She looked up at him. “How did you get this?”
Costin grinned and that wicked dimple flashed. “Your mother likes me.”
Sally’s eyes widened. “You told my mom we were getting married?”
Costin's smile widened, “Sure. I just didn’t say when.”
Sally made a sound that was half groan, half sigh of relief. Costin took the locket and walked around her. She started to move her hair, but the growl from Costin made her freeze. He positioned her so that her back wasn’t visible to any one and then moved her hair over her shoulder. He wrapped the locket around her neck and clasped the ends. Before he pulled her hair back over her shoulder he ran his finger lightly down her spine and chuckled when she shivered.
Vasile cleared his throat and brought their attention back to him.
“Costin has informed me that he wishes to say his vows in private,” he said to the audience.
Costin nodded.
“Okay, then I will simply ask, do you take Sally to be your wife.”
Costin smiled. “Definitely.”
“Sally, do you take Costin to be your husband?”
Sally shook her head, and then laughed at Costin’s frown.
“Yes,” she finally said, “yes, definitely.”
“I pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss your bride.” Vasile smiled at the couple.
Costin cupped Sally’s face and pulled her to him. She stood on her tippy toes as he kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around him and sighed into his strong hold.
A throat clearing had them pulling a part. Costin grinned at her. “Wanted to make sure it sticks.”
Sally shook her head. “The kiss isn’t what makes us married.”
Costin’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, what does make us married?”
Decebel groaned. “Get a room already!”
Costin swept Sally up in his arms and she squealed. He strode quickly past the others while Jen yelled at his back. “Details Sally, I want details! Take notes if you have to!”
“Are you needing pointers?” Jacque asked her.
“Psht, girl, please. You think I got like this,” Jen pointed to the small hump in her belly, “if I needed pointers?”
Jacque raised a brow at her friend, as she stared at her stomach. “Too true, you have got the whole mating thing down to an art.”
“Oh and what a beautiful art form it is,” Jen grinned at her mate.
Decebel growled, he grabbed her hand, and waved to Fane and Jacque. “My female and I have art to make.” He tugged a giggling Jen after him.
Jacque looked over at Fane who had an amused look on his face. She smiled up at him and he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“I suppose you want to talk,” he told her.
“I always knew you were a bright one,” Jacque took his hand and pulled him forward. “Night, Vasile and Alina,” she hollered over her shoulder.
“Do we at least get to make art first?” Fane asked. He turned those glowing eyes on her and it made it very difficult to hold her ground.
But she did. “Nope. You’ve been holding out on me.”
Fane groaned. “That means what I think it does, doesn’t it?”
“Like I said, I always knew you were a bright one.”
Q
Costin led Sally from the bathroom, into the bedroom, and then over to their bed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She wore a black nightgown that barely came to the top of her thighs. It was cut low in the front and nearly non-existent in the back, which allowed him to see the marks on her soft skin that matched his own. He turned her to look at him and smiled when she blushed. She reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt with shaking fingers.
“Shh,” he murmured, as he slowed her hands down. “We have all night love and, personally, I plan to make the most of every minute.”
“You’re not helping calm me, if that was your plan,” she teased.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her scent at the same time. Costin groaned as the desire of his mate hit his nose. His head fell back as he fought his own desire to keep from rushing her or worse, scaring her. He opened his eyes and pulled his head back down to look at her. She stared up at him with such love that it nearly drove him to his knees.
“Are you nervous?” Sally asked him.
Costin smiled at his mate, his wife. He took in her long, brown locks, her large expressive eyes, and her beautiful smile. She was amazing, and she was his.
“Of course, I think that’s normal,” he admitted.
“Why?” She asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, why are you nervous? I mean look at you, Costin. You have the physique of a freaking Calvin Klein model, you're more handsome than any man I have ever seen and you have a dimple that could give most girls ammunition for years of fantasies.”
Costin laughed and shook his head at her. “I’m nervous, because I have the most amazing woman as my mate and she deserves the best, the best of everything, even the best first experience making love. Can’t you see how that would make me nervous? If you wake up tomorrow and you regret tonight it will be because I didn’t give you what you need, and that is one of the scariest things for any man to face. The idea that he can’t be what his female wants and needs.”
Sally started to speak, but Costin stopped her with a finger to her lips. “This is important, I need you to hear.” She nodded and he took his finger away, but rested his hand on her neck. “There are so many things that are important in a mating, a marriage; communication, respect, love, and even the physical aspect of it. I need to know that I am doing everything I can in each of those areas to make you feel loved, cherished, and adored. You need to know that you are the only woman I want. You’re the only woman I desire, the only woman who makes me feel like the man I want to be. I’m nervous, because tonight is the first time of many that we will share in something so important and precious. I need you to feel all of these things by the way I love you tonight.”
Sally blushed. She didn’t know what to say to him. Her mind was reeling at all the things he had said and she just wanted to throw herself in his arms and scream do it already. She nearly laughed out loud at herself. She wondered what he would say if she did just that. She looked into his eyes and could see the earnest need for approval there. He truly wanted to please her, wanted her to know just how precious she was to him.
“If you aren’t ready, Sally, we can wait. I won’t rush you.” Sally knew that he meant every word. He would wait for her forever if she asked.
“Costin,” Sally huffed, “we did the Blood Rites. I wear your markings and your bite and now I’m your wife, what else am I waiting for?”
Costin grinned. “Those things are all true, but you are still young, and I am still the first guy you have ever been intimate with. I will completely understand if you want to move slowly.”
Sally tapped her lips with her finger and Costin could see the mischief dancing in her eyes. “Slow is good I’m sure, but according to Jen sometimes a little rough is just as necessary.”
Costin coughed, trying to swallow. Sally’s face turned bright red and she laughed. She couldn’t believe she had just said that. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, it didn’t totally surprise her. She had lived through a hellish evil spell, helped kill a witch, and fought an evil hoard of demons, saved a Warlock King, and brought a powerful Alpha back to life, so joking about sex with her mate and husband really was a piece of cake at this point.
“Sally mine,” Costin’s voice dropped low and caressed her skin. She shivered as she felt his fingers begin to skim across her calf and up to her thigh. He tapped her hip playfully as he grinned wickedly, “rough you say?” She squealed as he flipped her on her back. One second his hand was on her hip, teasing, and the next he was over her. Sally’s breathing increased, as she stared up into glowing, hazel eyes. Costin’s unique scent wrapped around her drawing, her closer to him. She growled at him and nipped his shoulder. He chuckled at the surprise and longing he saw on her face.
He kissed her deeply pulling her tight against him and when she shuddered, he tugged her bottom lip with his teeth. “Rough it is,” he whispered, hoarsely against her lips.