Page 63 of The Marriage Bargain

I didn’t doubt it. He brought the transport to a gentle halt. By the time he pushed the button to open the hatches I had already unbuckled my lap belt and was half jumping out of the vehicle and onto the snow-covered ground beneath. The freezing night air didn’t even register. I was so excited I felt giddy. My heart was pounding in my chest so hard, that I was half-amazed he couldn’t hear it. My hands were shaking. My mouth was dry.

Was he feeling any of the same things? If he was, I couldn’t tell. He seemed very calm. Very cool and collected. I felt a momentary panic. Maybe he didn’t care as much as I did? Maybe I’d read him all wrong and misinterpreted his signals? Maybe…

He unlocked the door to the house, gesturing for me to go first. I did, stepping past him, only for him to offer me a sound slap across the backside. I half-gasped and whirled. He stood there, backlit by the yard light, snowflakes drifting around his head like a halo. However, there was nothing angelic about the twinkle in his eyes.

All of my fears dissipated. I felt a cheeky grin spread across my face.

“Race you to the bedroom,” I taunted.

His brows rose. “Hmmm. I am significantly taller than you and have longer legs, not to mention the advantage naturally bestowed on me as an Asterion male versus a human female. Is this even a contest?”

“Maybe not,” I shrugged. “But if I lose, you win.”

“And if I happen to lose?”

He stepped into the entryway, pressing me backward. I willingly gave ground.

“Oh, I think no matter who loses we’ll both be the winner.”

“You do, do you?”

He had me up against the wall now. I grabbed his forearms through his coat, tilting my head back, smiling into his beautiful face.

“Oh yes,” I breathed. “I certainly do.”

Before I could say anything else, he’d leaned down to capture my mouth in a kiss that burned through me like a wildfire. I could barely breathe when he drew back, but I managed to gasp,

“One more thing.”

“And what is that?” He pressed his hips into mine, as I was captured there against the wall, and I stifled a moan.

“One condition on the race,” I managed to gasp.

“Tell me.” He pressed into me harder. I noticed the shallow, swift way his chest rose and fell. His breathing was being affected too.

“We race naked,” I said.

The corner of his mouth tilted upwards. “I admire the way your mind works.”

We sprang apart rapidly, and it was almost like a race unto itself seeing whose hands could shrug off a coat, unzip a zipper, unbutton buttons the fastest. I won, I think. I only know that because I was caught off guard by the look on his face when I stripped off my panties and stood in front of him in nothing but my skin.

“What is it?” I said, suddenly fearful. Was I not good enough? Had he changed his mind, once he saw me naked?

“It is only…you had best run or I will be making you my wife here. Now. We won’t make it to the bedroom,” he answered calmly, dropping his pants and stepping out of them.

Nothing underneath. He was full on commando. Also, judging by his state, I was definitely good enough and hadn’t disappointed. I let my gaze drift over him from toe to top, halting at his eyes. They flashed. I squealed and turned to run.

I don’t remember if we made it to the bed or not. I don’t remember if we made it to the bedroom or not. What I do remember is his arms encircling me, taking me down. I laughed with joy, allowing it, spinning in his embrace to grab his head and pull his mouth down on mine. I remember that first scorching, searing kiss, and the kisses that came afterwards. Panting and heavy breathing and his tongue dancing with mine as both of us explored the other’s body, feverishly with both our hands and mouths.

I’d like to say we took it slow and the first time in our marriage was romantic, sweet, sensual, and unhurried. But we didn’t. Perhaps having been so close and torn apart so many times fueled a passion that was undeniable. There was kissing and gasping and touching and longing. And when neither of us could wait anymore, there came that moment of joining, of union, which is what I really remember the most.

My emotions were spinning. I remember the pleasure, but I also remember the indescribable relief that it had finally happened. He was here with me, locked with me, joined to me. We were now married in every sense of the term and by every law both on my planet, as well as his, and the universe itself. He was my lover, my husband. More than that, he was my mate. Something this strong, this powerful—not to mention the bond I felt with him, almost like a tangible presence—it had to be that. Caide was right. We were mates.

All of the fear and dislike in the beginning, the resentment, the anger. None of it mattered anymore. I’d grown past that. Clearly. It was as if the universe itself had known what I needed all along even when I fought the truth. An alien Overlord for a husband. Who would have dreamt it? Not me, and I’d lived it!

I couldn’t even begin to describe all of the thoughts and feelings that flitted through me, but when we’d finally finished and lay spent in each other’s arms, I remember a tear or two slipping from under my closed eyelashes. Not a flood of sobs. A couple of stray tears. A silent testimony to both my joy and my relief that the universe’s plan had worked out. That Caide and I, that we, had worked out.

I hadn’t meant for Caide to know, because, how could I explain? He’d think I was crazy.

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