Page 48 of Wolf's Whistle
“From your mouth to the gods’ ears. Thank you for the advice, Etienne. I feel closer to all of you now that I’ve found my Mate. Before, I would not have reached out. I’m glad I can.”
“You’re welcome, any time. I, too, would have been reluctant before. But the Mates have changed everything for the better, just as the gods intended.”
“Good-bye, Etienne, and thank you again.” Julien left his office whistling.
Chapter Twelve
Julien’s Townhouse
Sunday Afternoon
Richard heard his wolf whistling as he climbed the stairs.
“Mon ange, do you want to watch TV? I have more of theBabylon 5episodes. I asked Isabel to make popcorn. As you know, I called Mr. Blanc and asked him to come here to show us rings. I don’t want to take a chance with you and go out. Who knows where that bastard is hiding out.”
They met on the third-floor landing. “Yes, I love spending time with you, and popcorn sounds good.” Richard inserted himself under Julien’s arm, reached up and placed his mouth just to the side of his wolf’s ear. Julien pulled him tighter to his side and leaned in for a kiss. They stopped at the elevator, and Julien pressed the call button. His mouth never left Richard’s. The door opened right away. They fell into the elevator, their lips still pressed together.
Julien pushed Richard into a corner and ravaged his mouth. “We have to stop, or I’ll take you right here, and I can’t do that if I want our mating to be valid.” He pulled back, smiled, and looked into Richard’s eyes. “I have some good news, at least I hope it’s good news.”
“What news?” The elevator stopped, and they strode hand-in-hand to the media room.
“We’re leaving Thursday for Eugene, Oregon. We will be married and mated at my parents’ house. Technically, it’s mine as is the logging business, although Dad runs the operation. Armand said that since it’s mine, it can be considered my third home. All of the pack Alphas can travel to the land we own outside of Eugene, and we can show the mark to the home pack in Oregon.” Julien grabbed Richard and hugged him tightly.
“We can?” Richard smiled, nestling against his wolf’s wide chest.
“On Thursday when we get off the plane, we can stop to get a marriage license. There is a three-day waiting period in Oregon. The wedding will take place on Sunday, but we can be mated on Friday after midnight. For the loup garou, it’s the mating that’s important, not the marriage.”
Richard laughed. “A guy likes to be asked.”
“I’m not asking, my Mate. I’m begging.” Julien’s expression softened. “Will you mate and marry me at the end of the week?”
“Yes, yes…I love you so much.” Richard stared into Julien’s hazel eyes and he snuggled closer.
“And I love you,” he murmured in a husky voice. “Very soon I can show you how much.”
“I can’t wait to be yours and for you,” Richard poked his finger at Julien’s chest, “…to be mine.”
“Let’s talk about the details. You’ll need your suits but not the tux. We’ll save the tux for the party we throw in Manhattan, a wedding reception. The mating will be catered by the pack. We’ll pay for the wedding breakfast. We’ll leave Oregon right after breakfast. Then, two days after we return, Isabel will do the reception for about sixty, here. We’ll invite the council, all the Betas, and Frankie Ferone.”
“That’s nice of you, my wolf, to give Frankie a shot.”
Julien sat down in the double recliner, and Richard sat down next to him.
“I’d rather see it this way. I’m giving one of our Betas a chance at a Mate. Now let’s watch the next episode. We’ll spend our day binge watchingBabylon 5until Mr. Blanc arrives, and Isabel will serve us our lunch and snacks here. Charles and Denis will be up in a few minutes.” Julien whistled as he inserted the DVR into the Blu-ray player.
“We could fool around instead…”
“No, mon ange, my control is on the razor’s edge. We’ll sleep together, but no fooling around. We leave for Oregon on Thursday and then you’ll be mine. Until then I have to rely on my honor as a loup garou.” Julien pulled Richard closer. “Let’s watch television.”
An hour later, Mr. Blanc arrived with three trays of wedding rings. Richard and Julien opted for plain yellow-gold bands. Mr. Blanc appeared a bit disappointed that they didn’t choose one of his more elaborate offerings.
Denis called Julien downstairs, and Richard stayed to make small talk with Mr. Blanc and make some arrangements of his own.
§ § §
Dinner
Sunday Evening
