Page 31 of My Pucking Life

When we return home, a pink hue has made itself at home on Leera's beautiful skin. Her face, the tips of her ears, and if I could see her neck and cheeks, I'm sure they'd be covered in a similar blush. “You don't have any reason to be embarrassed,” I try to calm her.

She won't make eye contact with me, and her voice comes out barely as a whisper when she says, “They're all going to know exactly what we were doing,” while she fidgets in her seat.

I've already parked the car, so we're just sitting here together, waiting for her rise of nerves to pass. “Leera, you're not wrong, they will know, but it's not the same as it is with humans. Some packs even host mating ceremonies where it's all done in public for the pack to bear witness to.”

Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops open. “Tell me you're joking.”

I take her hand in mine. “I’m not joking. Nudity and mating are not taboo topics among any other species I've ever met. I've never understood it with humans. It's part of existence. Love. Joining. Breeding.” I point to the roof of the car, gesturing more towards our home. “The beings upstairs already loved and claimed you as our own. They're not going to be talking about the acts themselves; they're going to be joyous that you're officially part of the pack. You're bonded with us. Not just me. All of us.”

She slightly nods to herself, and it looks like she's having an internal conversation that I'm not privy to. I prod on her mental walls she's erected very well without my instruction, “I thought you needed help keeping us out of your thoughts?”

Her cheeks turn from light pink to red. “I-I did, but then I just kind of figured it out,” she explains sheepishly.

I nod and finally shut off the car, unfolding myself from the vehicle and moving around to her side. I open her door and crowd her in her seat. “I wish I could be surprised that you've already figured it out.” She looks up at me with her large, icy-blue eyes, waiting for me to continue. “Don't shut me out,” is all I quietly ask as I lay my forehead against hers.

“I wasn't trying to block you out…I mean…it sounds so much worse when you say it that way.” She runs her hands up my abs and chest through my shirt. “I just needed a moment to myself to gather my thoughts and prepare myself. I would never shut you out,” she finishes softly.

Grunting my approval, I lift her out of the car and into my arms, kicking the door shut behind us.

“Roman, I can walk,” she argues and feebly tries to escape my hold.

“I know.”

“Soooo, why won't you let me?” she snaps teasingly.

“Tradition.”

She rolls her eyes and laughs while the elevator doors close in front of us. “You're going to have to give me more than that.”

It's not often in my existence that I've ever felt…what's the word…insecure…but she brings it out of me. She's a wild card. The rules are different, and I don't always know what they are. In Zabella, as a wolf, everything has always been so black and white with little gray area. I continue to find that while so much that humans say and do is completely asinine, there are some things that they do exceptionally well. Traditions are some of those things. “Isn't it customary for a man to carry his woman across the threshold when they return from consummating their union?”

She gasps, her hands fly to her mouth, and her eyes fill with tears all at once. The elevator beeps, indicating that we've made it to the main floor, but I don't hit the button to open the door just yet.

“Did I do it wrong?” I ask, concerned that I screwed it all up; it was supposed to be part of the surprise.

“Oh, Roman,” she says lovingly as she raises her hand to the side of my face. “You're so sweet and thoughtful. It's a bit different, though, the…consummation”—she blushes furiously—“isn't why they do it, it's after a wedding. Do…do werewolves not have weddings?” she asks, and her face falls.

“Not usually. Our mate bond is stronger than any marriage would ever be,” I begin as a wave of sadness lurches across our bond and hits me square in the heart. “Leera,” I demand, and her eyes meet mine. “Just because it's something werewolves don't usually do doesn't mean it's something I won't give you. Do you want a wedding?” I pour all the love I can through our bond, hoping to wash away the sadness.

She drops her eyes from mine. “No, it's okay. You've already done so much for me.”

Moving her body so that it's no longer cradled in my arms, but now with her legs wrapped around my waist instinctively so that she has to face me, I continue, “Do you think I call you my little miracle for shits and giggles?” She tries to drop her chin, so I lift it back up. “This isn't a game, Leera. If you asked me for the stars in the sky, I would hunt down the Gods and Goddesses themselves and demand a way to give you what you wanted. If you want a wedding, it would be my absolute honor to give you the one of your dreams, and I'm sorry for not thinking about it,” he finishes and kisses my forehead.

“Okay,” she whispers in a way that would make me think she was unsure without our bond that's now brimming with happiness at my declaration.

“One more thing,” I say sternly. “All you have to do is tell me what you want, Princess. If I can provide it, it's yours. Okay?”

She nods and wraps her arms around my neck, nuzzling in. “Thank you, Roman.” She removes herself from my neck and kisses me with all the same love and happiness I have for her.

We're so lost in the kiss that we don't hear the door open and aren't aware until Benny yells, “They're home!” Effectively startling Leera nearly out of my arms, causing me to growl at him. The embarrassed blush returns with a vengeance, but surprise takes over when she sees everyone lower themselves to the ground to bow to her.

Luna,they announce as one through the bond, followed by dozens of voices of the rest of the pack on our lands.

“You guys,” she says, trying to hold back her happy tears without success. “Please get up. I don't want you guys to bow to me,” she demands as she pulls Benny to his feet.

The rest also rise with a nod from me. “If she doesn't want bowing, don't do it.”

Andrei looks like he has something to say, so I cut him off,Allow her this for now. If it's inevitable in her future, let her have this while she can.

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