CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. “Are you sure all this is necessary?”
The make-up artist kept patting my face with powder—after an hour’s worth of applying all different variations of colors and goopy crap to my face. She studied her work, murmuring, “I spend more time on the other girls. This isn’t anything. Your natural skin appears to be flawless.”
I snapped my mouth shut. It was flawless because I had magic in me.
Nothing cured pimples like immortality.
And black circles under your eyes? Immortality’s got you.
Crow’s feet? Immortality will wipe ’em away.
Age spots? Pfft. Immortality will kick their ass to the curb.
The make-up artist leaned up and cocked her head, staring at my face. I tried not to get excited. She’d done this multiple times. It didn’t mean she was done.
“I’m done!” she exclaimed. “You have been transformed.”
I looked at myself in the mirror again. Other than some shadow over my blue eyes and shading on my lips, I didn’t look a whole lot different than when I had arrived. I wondered vaguely if she was really doing anything to my face for the majority of the time while, instead, padding her paycheck for longer hours when it wasn’t necessary.
“What do you think?” she probed, turning in place to stare with me in the mirror. “Doesn’t that highlight look amazing on your cheekbones?”
I turned my head from side to side. Still didn’t see anything different.
I smiled in a friendly manner. “It looks incredible. The before-and-after is startling.”
Her eyes creased in the corner with her resulting smile. “Now, let’s get you dressed. Are you so excited for your princess dress?”
“I am.” I bounced on my toes.
I was so freaking excited, I’d kept staring at the gowns in the reflection while she worked.
She led me to the rack of gowns. “I know they had one specially made for your size yesterday. It’s here somewhere.” Her hands shuffled gowns aside, until she stopped. She pulled one off the rack, holding it up to my frame. “This is it. And, boy, this is excellent material. Light and soft.”
The air trapped in my lungs as I gazed down at the most beautiful gown I had ever seen. I fingered the dress with a delicate touch. It was the deepest blue, almost black. And it shimmered like a midnight sky. It was strapless, so the bodice formed to fit around the middle with flexing material, for easier movement. And the skirt would reach the top of my shoes. Absolutely perfect.
The woman stared, her gaze sweet and patient. “Do you want to put it on now?”
Speechless, I could only nod.
She helped me change since there were so many clasps in the back. Low heels were slid onto my feet, a flawless fit. And when she turned me around to face the full-length mirror, I could only gape.
“There you go.” She bent and swiped at the skirt, making sure it hung right. Then she gently placed a tiara on top of my head, pinning it down with bobby pins. “That looks good.”
My mouth bobbed. “When do I get to go out to the park?”
“When you’re done getting ready.” She pointed at my reflection in the mirror. “And you’re ready. You’re a princess now. And remember to smile.”
Rapidly, I smiled. I didn’t want to lose this job.
* * *
“Princess, Princess! Can I have a picture with you?” A sweet tiny girl with a strawberry-blonde ponytail tugged on the skirt of my dress. She mumbled with awe, “You are so pretty.”
I bent at the knees, careful not to flash my cleavage around—because this gown gave me cleavage. “You are even prettier than I am. And I would love to take a picture with you.”
She turned to where her parents were, waving them over, wonder flashing in her eyes. “Mom. Dad. The Princess said yes!” She wrapped her arms around the back of my thighs and rested her head against my waist, posing for the picture.
My smile was already in place. Occasionally, I had to drop it to stretch out my mouth.
But that wasn’t often. I was really having a wonderful time, my smile true.
The mom held up her silver bracelet, tapping on it. “Say cheese!”
“Cheese,” the girl shouted in excitement.
My grin increased as I laughed the smallest bit.
“Got it!” the mom declared, staring at the picture hovering over her bracelet.
I bent down and gazed into the little girl’s eyes. “Remember, you are even more beautiful than I am. Inside and out. Okay?”
She nodded her head eagerly, and then raced off to hold her dad’s hand.
I waved when she peered back, catching one last look at the “princess.”
Families walked by, and I waved. Babies were held in their arms, and I cooed at the little drooling cutie. Sticky fingers grabbed at my dress, and I laughed as parents and I attempted to clean smears of pink and every other imaginable color. Pictures were taken with the elderly and infants, and every age in-between.
When noon hit, I glanced at the chiming clock. It was my lunch break.
But there was a toddler wobbling his way up to me, the parent holding his hand. I crouched down, and asked, “Hello, handsome. Are you having fun at Sparkle World?”
He grinned, showing his tiny teeth.
His little pointer finger touched my nose, his mouth dropping in wonder.
I chuckled and wiggled my nose under his little digit.
Giggles made his body shake. “Pin’cess.”
I nodded my head, my smile growing larger. “That’s right! Princess.”
The mom asked, “Is there anyone around here who can take a picture with the three of us in it?”
Nodding, I pushed to stand. “Yes, ma’am. If you’ll follow me, we have helpers—”
“I can do it for you.” Rune sauntered toward us, his suit jacket over his arm. He smiled at the young mother. “Send the screen, and I’ll take it. Though I’m not a professional photographer.”
My brows rose at him in silent question before I turned a charming smile on the woman. “Does that work for you, ma’am. That’s how the helpers would do it, anyway.”
She gawked at Rune. “Aren’t you—”
He cut in smoothly, “Here to have lunch with this beautiful Princess.”
Her mouth snapped shut, taking the polite hint. “Well, if you want to take the picture, it would be helpful.”
He nodded his consent.
She tapped on her bracelet and slid her hand over it toward Rune.
The photo screen appeared in front of him, and she picked up her toddler.
I moved closer to her and smiled pretty for the picture.
Rune tapped on the screen, stating, “1, 2, 3!”
The woman and I waited patiently as he glanced down at the screen. His cheeks pinched as he grinned at the picture. He slid the screen back to her, commenting, “It’s adorable.”
“Oh! It is!” she gushed, her eyes on the picture. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome.” Rune waited until she moved away to turn his golden eyes to mine. “Would you like to have lunch, beautiful?”
I snorted, eyeing the sweat on his brow. “How long have you been here watching me?”
He flicked his black hair off his face, an unrepentant grin creasing his features. “Do you really want to know?”
“Mmm. Maybe?”
“Well, Princess, I’ve been here long enough to see that you lied to me.”
“In what way?” I glared with indignation.
He stated simply, “You want children.”
“I already said I did.”
“But you want children now.”
I scrunched my nose and shook my head. “Not right now. Forever is a long time, remember?”
His brows lifted as he motioned for us to move away from an oncoming crowd. We walked toward a private train station, Sparkle World’s own trains to float above the amusement park and show you the place from a bird’s eye view. He stated quietly, sincerely, “Do you truly feel that way, Megan?”
“I do.” My answer was simple and truthful. “Just because I like what I’m doing here, and I adore kids, it doesn’t mean I want to be a mom in the next five hundred years. Having a job and being a mom are two completely different things.”
“Let’s just say if you ever change your mind, I want you to be honest with me. I can always reevaluate my life to see if I believe it’s the right time for me to have a child. Since I’ve never had a mate before, children were never even in the equation. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
My tone was droll. “You don’t want me to run away if I decide to have a kid and assume you don’t want one based on something you said long ago.” My eyes flicked to his. “I think I’ve got it, stud.”
His head tipped back as he laughed. “Did I just make a complete ass out of myself?”
“Not too bad. I got the emotion behind it, so you’re good.” I smirked.
He nodded, his gaze drifting to mine. “On another topic, I wasn’t sure how you would do here. But you are completely magical—no pun intended—with the customers. Every single person who spoke with you left with a smile on their face.”
My heart swelled with pure joy at helping others, even just a little bit. “Really?”
“I wouldn’t lie about that.”
I sighed, my tone wistful. “It’s been awesome so far, Rune. I can’t even explain it.”
“I saw it on your face. You don’t need to.” He gestured to a train that landed on the station. “Want to go for a ride before we have a quick lunch?”
I evaluated the sparkly machine. “Why not? It could be fun.”
We stepped inside the train, and the door closed behind us. Rune fiddled with the panel until he set the destination he wanted. The train lifted far up into the air, and my shifter was suddenly behind me, his hands running around my stomach.
Against my ear, he whispered, “You look stunning.”
I blushed and pivoted inside his arms to face him. I titled my head back to stare into his magnificent eyes. “You’re always worried about me, but can I tell you something without you freaking out?”
His brows rose high on his head. “It takes a lot to scare me.”
My head teetered back and forth, as a shaky exhale escaped my lips. “I may like you a bit.”
“And?”
“Okay, so I might love you.” My lips pinched into a thin line and my eyes roamed over his, trying to gauge his reaction. He was giving nothing away with his features. I prodded, “Nothing? Not even a, thank you, but I don’t quite feel that way about you yet?”
“I won’t use that phrase because that’s not how I feel.” His hair brushed around his cheeks as he stared down at me. He swallowed, and whispered, “I feel the same way you do. I might love you too.”
My cheeks pinched as I grinned. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really.” He brushed the tip of his nose against mine.
Warmth curled down in my stomach. It was no slow moving heat, but an all-consuming flame. I groaned softly. “I had planned for tonight, but do you want your reward right now, stud?”
His golden eyes instantly dilated with pure need. “Please tell me you’re not teasing.”
“I’m not kidding,” I whispered, dragging my thumb over his plump bottom lip. “How long does this train have before it lands?”
His attention snapped to the panel. The black panther growled softly. “Only five more minutes.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Can you get it done in five minutes?” I squeaked as he instantly picked me up off my feet and pressed by back against the train’s wall. His hands were already shoving the skirt of my dress up and tugging my legs around his waist. My eyes closed as he touched my core over my panties and rubbed softly. I moaned, “We can do it again tonight. I fucking love my new job’s schedule.”
He grunted. “Fuck yes.”
I shoved my hands down between us and undid his pants quickly and shoved them down his waist. “I want you in me. Now. Please.”
His golden eyes dipped to my lips. “I can’t kiss you right now. It’ll ruin your make-up. But I can fuck the hell out of you.” He shoved the crotch of my panties aside and slammed his cock up into me. I shouted at the intrusion, and his muscles bunched against me. He moaned, “Jesus Christ, beautiful, your pussy was made just for me. So perfect. Wet and tight.”
I heaved a breath, needing oxygen.
Rune grabbed my wrists and pressed them above my head, holding them there. He pulled his hips back, and then he slammed into me again. Faster and faster. His breaths fanned my forehead, heated and sweet. His smell invaded my mind, and I groaned in pleasure.
“More, Rune. More.”
His hips thrust brutally, his pelvis rubbing perfectly against my clit. He panted, “I have the sexiest mate ever. You’re fucking mine.”
I nodded, delirious with the heat building in my veins. “My god-man. My god-man.”
His snicker was seduction itself. “Have it, beautiful. Quit holding back.”
I arched my neck and screamed his name, fisting my hands inside his hair.
Harder. He fucked me harder.
I slammed into my orgasm, my mind rocketing in the warmth. My frame shuddered inside his hold and came with a fierce bellow.
We trembled against one another, catching our breath.
I blinked open my eyes, panting, “You need to eat lunch here every day.”
He sniggered, tipping his head to the side to look into my eyes. His cheeks were flushed in satisfaction, and he purred, “We can plan the next train ride better.”
I laughed, unable to look away from his gaze. “I did find my Prince.”
“And I found my Princess.” He placed the most tender kiss upon my lips.
Weird couple or not, we made sense together.
THE END