Page 63 of Lorran
She reached for his hand. Her thumb brushed the back of his hand, and the ink at his wrist flickered silver. “Well, it’s between two people who vow to love each other. We invite our friends and family for the vows. We wear fancy clothes too. And flowers. Like, flowers everywhere. We exchange rings that symbolize our commitment.” She touched his second to last finger on his left hand. “You wear it on this finger.”
He had an idea what happened next as he had watched many Terran films with Hazel. “And then a kiss?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He leaned in, gently claiming her lips. His mate was as sweet and inviting as ever, opening for him to deepen the connection. Reluctantly, he forced himself to pull away.
“What happens in your ceremony?” she asked, lips swollen, and eyes glazed with desire.
“Stoic and respectful silence as we drink the traditional tea. Allegedly, the brew is bitter and possibly psychotropic.”
“Oh my God, trippy tea?”
“I have heard varying reports. My mother said it calms the nerves. My brother’s mate, Rosemary, said it was like a punch to the gut but reports no other properties. Perhaps the tea leaves lose their potency with age.”
“And after the stoic and respectful silence? What happens? I mean, I’ve read that the Mahdfel bite their mates the first time,” she said.
“That is true. I will claim you and leave a mark. Here.” He brushed along the curve of her neck.
“You’ll bite me.”
“Yes.” He angled his hips so she had no doubt of his attraction and how much he anticipated that moment. Her eyes went wide, and her pink tongue licked her bottom lip.
“Will it hurt?”
“Only for a moment,” he answered. “If I time it correctly, you will have too much pleasure to notice. Do not worry. I am not experienced, but I am skilled in all things that I set my mind to.” He would have his mate writhing in pleasure, too blissed out to notice the pinch of his bite.
She blinked. “Not experienced? Oh wow. Are you a virgin?”
“Never that with another. There seemed little point if it was not forever,” he said. He enjoyed the female form, but romantic attachments held little interest when they were not his mate.
“But you’re so charming and good-looking. That’s unbelievable.” She blinked again.
He tapped her nose softly, amused at her inability to process this information. “Believe it. I waited for you.”
“Oh.” More blinking, but the glazed, surprised look vanished from her eyes. “I’m not, you know, a virgin.”
“I am aware,” he said. Wyn had spoken of a previous mate, and while he disliked thinking of another touching his mate, he enjoyed listening to the stories of that male’s failure to keep Wyn’s heart. Perhaps it was unkind of him to exploit another male’s mistake, but Lorran was not above such dishonorable tricks.
“Does that bother you? Because I can’t change the past.”
“No. I am bothered that another male hurt your heart, but you are my forever, Bronwyn. You are mine.” He brushed the curve of her neck. He couldn’t wait to see his mark there. “And I look forward to experiencing your…experience.”
Her lips quirked up in a half smile. “Maybe we should practice? I mean, we don’t have to go all the way.”
“Oh, yes?”
“Lots of people wait until marriage but lots don’t.” She stepped back, moving to the bed. “And there are plenty of things we can do.”
“To practice,” he said.
She licked her lips again and took another step.
“I do not want to disappoint my mate and she promised me unlimited kisses.”
He stalked forward.
Wyn laughed and ran to the bed, tossing herself on it like it was a safe space.
