Page 38 of Heat & Hard Candies

The rest of us pulled out a win about a third of the time, combined, but none of us minded.

And we were figuring out which kinds of games shewasn’tkiller at, which made her laugh.

She was laid-back enough that her and Kenna didn’t butt heads. When Kenna got a little bitchy, Launa had no problem standing up to her. The two became surprisingly fast friends.

The wedding arrived quickly, and more friends were made leading up to it. Launa hit it off with the five Survival girls whohad played before her—Molly, Erin, Ann, Lisa, and Eve—and they all gushed about how much they loved the way she played.

Plans were put on the calendar for them to hang out after the festivities were over.

I didn’t miss the gleam of emotion in my woman’s eyes when she thanked me for befriending the girls first, making it easier for her.

I just rolled my eyes at her, reminding her that she was the one they wanted to hang out with.

When the remark earned me a bright, emotional smile, I kissed her.

Then made love to her.

Being mated was absolute bliss.

I shed a tear or two when I watched my sister say “I do” with the guy Rhett had found for her, and clapped him on the back in thanks when I bumped into him during the reception.

Then, I dragged my mate out onto the dance floor and spent all night with her in my arms. The bulge of a ring box in my pocket had been pushing me to make my move all day, but I wasn’t about to interrupt my sister’s wedding. After the wedding was over, I’d get Launa alone.

When the DJ played the last slow song of the night, the bride and groom already gone to seal their bond, I lowered my lips to Launa’s ear. She tipped her head a little, making it easier to hear me.

“What would you say if I asked you to marry me, Beautiful?”

Her lips curved upward, and it was my turn to give her my ear. “We’re already mated, Kyle.”

I chuckled, making my way off the dance floor with her. She shot me a curious look when I led her out of the room, away from all the people there, and onto a balcony I’d made sure was lined with lights and flowers.

When I got down on one knee in front of her, her eyes widened, and flooded with tears.

“What do you say, Beautiful? Will you throw a party with me, and agree to be mine the human way too?”

She jerked her head in a nod, “Yes. Definitely.”

Before I could get up, she grabbed my face and kissed me, hard.

Passionately.

The way I wanted to fuck her.

That would have to wait until we got home, though.

I was hard and she wasbreathinghard, when she finally pulled away. “Can I see the ring?”

“Of course.” I slipped it onto her finger, and she bit her lip as she stared down at it.

“You’re too good to me.”

I grinned, and kissed her again. “Not possible.”

She buried her fingers in my hair and let me pin her to the wall for a solid ten minutes before someone yelled at us from the manicured garden below. When we separated, her cheeks were flushed with that sexy blush, and we were both breathing hard.

She smiled at me, and I grinned back.

Playing Survival was the best decision I’d ever made.

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