*Isla*
I never really envisioned this moment. Maddox is down on one knee, his eyes turned up to meet mine expectantly. I realize with a start that at this moment, this man, this Alpha King most people won’t even look in the eye out of fear and respect, is kneeling before me… me.
“I love you,” I say, my voice trembling. The column of his throat bobs as he swallows, his brow furrowing.
“Are you saying no?”
“Of course not,” I say softly, then slide off the bench so I’m resting on my knees in front of him. I hold out my hand, and he takes an audible breath, his eyes glistening as he removes the ring–a beautiful ring with what looks like a moonstone surrounded by sapphires–and slips it onto my finger.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” I whisper, holding his gaze. His deep green eyes are sharp, focused, and full of what I can only describe as youthful hope. “But you’ve referred to me as your wife a few times already. Why did you feel–feel the need to propose to me–” I bite down on my words as he takes my hands in his.
“I know,” he says, his expression lined with sudden concern. “I don’t want you to feel like this was just a formality. I wanted to do this, Isla. I want to marry you. I want to be able to call you my wife and have it mean something more than just an informal title to go along with your title as Luna. I want to spend the rest of my days with you–and eternity after that.”
“I can’t even imagine you old and gray,” I say with a little laugh, reaching up to stroke his cheek.
“I can imagine you,” he replies, leaning in to rest his forehead against mine. “I can imagine you sitting in front of the fireplace surrounded by our grandchildren during the Winter Solstice. I can imagine you old, and gray, and just as beautiful as you are now. I want to be there for it. And I need you to know that with this ring, I also give you the promise of life together outside of the realm of our titles. A private life. A life where we get to watch Isaac grow up, and our future children. Where we can just be us. Maddox and Isla. Husband and wife.”
A tear slides down my cheek as I close my eyes. I can’t stop smiling even if I try. For a moment, as we sit in silence, I think back on my first days in this very castle. I think about seeing Maddox for the first time, of speaking to him for the first time. If I could go back in time and tell myself that those initial feelings of longing and then heartbreak would turn into this… into love, true and unending love….
Something wet lands on the top of my head, and I look up, blinking into the star filled sky.
Maddox looks around, too, reaching up to wipe droplets of water from his hair.
“Is it raining?” I ask, but then yelp in surprise as the sprinkler system kicks on, sending a harsh spray of cold water showering over us.
I screech, but Maddox grumbles something inaudible as I break out in giggles and try to shield myself from the spray, then laugh even harder as he scoops me up and hurries us back to the house, both of us soaked and still in all our finery.
“This is just great,” he growls, shoving into one of the back foyers of the castle with me in his arms.
“Well, I find it very romantic. It’s just like in romance books when the lovers run to each other and kiss in the pouring rain. Although, getting sprayed in the face by a sprinkler is a little more violent–”
“I assure you that this wasn’t part of the plan,” he says, a bit exasperated as he kicks off his soaking wet dress shoes and starts to carry me upstairs, his wet socks slapping against the hardwood floors with each step.
“I want to hear about your whole plan,” I tease, egging him on.
“Absolutely not,” he replies, adjusting my weight in his arms.
“You can put me down, you know. I do still know how to walk.”
“Your gown is soaking wet,” he argues. “It makes you twice as heavy as you are– Ow!” He bristles as I smack him firmly in the chest, but then grins, looking down at me with heat in his eyes. “Don’t be aggressive with me, flower. I don’t want to have to punish you on the night of our engagement.”
“Punish me?” I giggle as he nudges open the door to our bedroom. “I’d like to see you try.”
Maddox’s eyebrows arch, then his mouth curves into a sly smile. “Don’t test me, Isla. I might be your fiancé, but I’m still the Alpha King–”
Just before he starts to put me down, I trail a soft kiss over his neck until he lets out his breath. I can feel the shiver running through him, and I smile at his reaction. But right when I get him where I want him–letting his guard down and leaning into my attention–I bite down, hard.
“Isla!” he growls, tightening his grip on me. He shudders as I trail kisses up to his ear, nibbling on his earlobe.
“What, Maddox?”
“We’re not married yet,” he breathes, leaning his weight against the door as it closes behind us. He slowly releases his hold on me so my feet touch the ground, and I promptly kick off my wet heels. “I can take that ring back if you’re–mean–”
“If I’m mean to you?” I laugh against his neck. I attempt to pull away, but he holds me close, closing his eyes against my touch. “I’ve never been mean to you a day in my life.”
He sighs, a soft laugh tracing the sound as I begin to unbutton his shirt. I pause to let my fingers trace over his chest, the fine scars there glistening white against his tan skin. The ring on my finger catches the muted light spilling from the lamp on my bedside table across the room, the moonstone in the ring's center gleaming like a rainbow.
I look up at Maddox, seeing him wholly and totally relaxing into the soft touches I trail over his skin. He is relaxed, his lips parted, and chest slowly rising and falling. I smile to myself as I take a step away from him, keeping my gaze locked on his face as I slowly pull down the thin straps of my gown and let the wet fabric fall over my shoulders and breasts. He opens one eye, then two, watching as the silk falls over my hips and thighs.
My skin is glistening with water when I finally free myself from the gown and take a step toward him.
“You’re a goddess,” he whispers, still leaning against the door. He reaches out a hand and runs his knuckles over the back of my arm, one corner of his mouth lifting a smile as gooseflesh ripples over my skin. He meets my eyes, his own blazing with desire.
“Come to bed,” I purr, extending my hand to him. He takes it, kicking off the door and brushing his lips over my knuckles. He releases my hand and takes off his clothes, shrugging off his wet suit jacket and unbuttoned shirt while keeping his eyes on mine the entire time.
I reach down to take off his belt, but he stops me with a gentle touch on the wrist, shaking his head.
“Walk to the bed,” he commands, every ounce the Alpha King.
I smile coyly as I reach up to pull the pins from my hair, relishing in the way his jaw flexes as my golden locks fall in thick waves over my shoulders and down my back. I turn from him, but I can feel his gaze as I continue to the bed, his eyes grazing the swell of my hips and legs until I gracefully sit on the edge of the bed and wait for my king.
“What’s taking you so long?” I tease, crossing my legs.
“Just watching,” he says as he pulls his belt free from his pants and unbuttons them. He steps out of them, walking towards me in nothing but his boxers with a look of primal longing etching into the sharp planes of his face. I feel a blush race over my chest and cheeks at his attention, especially as he brushes my hair over my shoulder to expose my breasts. He growls low in his throat, pleased with what he sees.
And so am I. In this light, every inch of Maddox is bathed in a golden glow, every finely sculpted muscle on display. I press my hands against his chest as he lowers himself onto the bed, his hands on either side of me.
“So,” I whisper, smiling into the kiss he brushes over my lips. “When’s the wedding?”
“Tomorrow,” he teases, his tongue sliding over mine as he guides me further onto the bed. “An hour from now. Whenever I can get a priestess here to do the ceremony.”
I begin to ask what the hurry is, but the words are stolen by a deep kiss, the kind that immediately has my toes curling and body tensing with anticipation. He’s joking, of course. The Alpha King and Luna would no doubt need to throw a huge party in the wake of the ceremony, of this I’m sure.
“Isla,” he rasps, running his fingers through my hair as he settles between my knees and dips his head to kiss my neck.
Any thought in my mind vanishes as he reaches between us, sliding the head of his cock over my slit. I’m more than ready for him, and he groans with satisfaction as he presses into me, then out, delighting in the way I tremble beneath him.
I wrap my legs around his waist, and he growls in approval, nipping my neck.
“Maddox, please,” I whimper as he continues to tease me.
He grins against my neck, his voice coming out in a rasp as he says, “How do you want it tonight, little flower?”
Oh Goddess, how do I even answer?
“I want all of you,” I cry, my nails digging into his arms. He thrusts hard, entering me in a single motion that has me crying out with pleasure and tilting my head back into the pillows.
I run my fingers through his hair, pulling as his thrusts press me into the mattress. I clutch him closer with my legs, grinding against him and matching his movements.
“Fuck, Isla,” he pants, gripping my ass and squeezing. “Goddess, you feel amazing.”
“Don’t stop!”
Maddox speeds up, rising over me and gripping my hips as he works me into a frenzy. I claw the sheets, arching my back into his movements and crying out like we’re the only ones in the castle. Stars explode behind my eyes as I find release, my body tightening and trembling from the rush of white-hot pleasure. Maddox’s hands cup my breasts, his head thrown back as he chases his own release.
I’m barely aware that I’m tightening my legs around his waist. I’m barely able to match his strength, but I do so, flipping him over onto his back before he has a chance to process what’s happening.
“Oh, my Goddess,” he pants, his eyes open to only slits. I lean over him, kissing him deeply, biting on his lower lip as I slowly lower myself on his cock. This time, he’s the one arching his back, his fingers digging into my hips.
I want to see him unleashed.
I cup my breasts as I bounce up and down, grinding my hips. Maddox curses, gritting his teeth.
“Isla, Goddess, you—” he nearly chokes on the words, then cries out, clutching my hips and driving me down, then holds me still as he spills himself into me, every muscle in his body going rigid. I collapse onto his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. “I fucking love you,” he whispers. I can feel his heart racing as he tries to catch his breath.
I smile, giggling as he rolls over so I’m beneath him again, opening my mouth to him while he kisses me deeply again.
“What now, Alpha King?”