Page 83 of Been There Dragon That
Rylee shook her head. “Sorry, no. Ayla, this is Knox and Kann. Both are married, and Kann has quadruplets with a lovely woman named Penny.”
Ayla pressed her lips together and then smiled like a cat that’d caught a mouse. “Understandable. Pretty sure my ovaries just dropped several eggs.”
“Ayla!” Rylee scolded her friend.
“Either of you have a single brother?” Ayla asked innocently.
Kann shook his head. “Nope, but Aarav does.”
Ayla mouthed the wordsthere are moreto Rylee and didn’t bother containing her squeal of excitement. “Will they be at this small ceremony?”
“No, they won’t. They left with the fire and rescue to help out with a minor avalanche in the park.” Rylee herded everyone back to the door. “Can we please focus on me getting back to my man and getting hitched today? You can drool over the locals later.”
“You can’t blame a girl.”
Rylee flashed her a wide smile and then waved at Owen and Tara. “I’ll see y’all later.”
Tara nodded and waved back.
It only took a few more minutes to get everyone back into their vehicles and then a few more minutes on the road before she was parking in front of the sheriff’s office.
A peaceful calm had settled over her mind. Her parents knew. They weren’t still freaking out. They were good with her choice. They were letting her make this choice, even though it was uncomfortable for them.
This was what she wanted with her whole heart.
He was.
Wrath was standing on the steps waiting. All handsome in his uniform and broad-brimmed hat. Sexy dark eyes stared at her with a fire that promised to warm her later. Just like the first time she’d seen him outside the store.
Seeing him made her whole body light up. She could feel his joy mixed with her own. Feel his anticipation. Feel his adoration. She wanted to be with him all the time. It was an obsession. An obsession she intended to cultivate for the rest of her life.
She jumped from the vehicle, and he was there beside her, pulling her into his arms before she could take one step in the slushy, snow-covered parking lot.
He was so warm, and he smelled so good. She nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. “I missed you,” she whispered.
“Not as much as I missed you,shuarra. You’re not allowed to leave overnight again. It was simply unbearable.” His arms squeezed her tight, and then he proceeded to feel all over her, like he was making sure she was all in one piece. “The things I will do to you tonight.”
Damn.This man. The timbre of his voice made her insides melt. It was like he’d found a way to speaksex.She could feel the rumble and promise of it on her skin.
She clung to his shoulders for support, digging in her fingernails, and praying that when he slid her back to the ground her knees wouldn’t give out. She gave a little shudder, and he chuckled.
A low cough from behind Rylee shocked her system.
Shit.Her dad had watched her climb Wrath like a tree, and then Wrath had felt her up while not only her dad watched, but her mom and her best friend as well.
He was magick. Every syllable and sound when he spoke eliminated her ability to think complete thoughts.
She tapped Wrath’s shoulder, but he didn’t put her down. And she could feel he had no intention of doing so anytime soon. So she turned in his arms and faced her family. “Mom, Dad, Ayla, this is Wrath Di’Lasha.”
Ayla was grinning wider than a dog who’d been offered a porterhouse steak. She’d never hear the end of it from her friend. Which was fine.
Her mother stood open mouthed and speechless. And her father looked about the same.
“Wrath, these are my parents and my best friend.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Florence. And Ayla, so good to meet you as well. Thank you for coming all the way to Mystery to celebrate with us today.” He gestured toward the office. “Please join us inside. The judge is already here and eager to start so that he can get back home before darkness falls today.”
Once inside the building, Wrath reluctantly set her on the ground. Kissed her hard and then pushed her toward Patsy’s desk. “We have to sign this paper and then the judge can start.”
