“Stop, Rayn. Please don’t have to say any more. I understand.”
Shaking his head, he disagreed, “No Sunshine, you do NOT understand. This must be said. Please?” his eyes pleading with her.
She nodded, and he continued, “I kept seeing your face when I used my Power of Command on you, and it nearly destroyed me. I knew how badly I was hurting you when I left; I was hurting you not only physically but also emotionally. It was mean and spiteful, and I am SO sorry for that. I was striking out at you in retaliation, and my behavior was reprehensible. I have hated myself for it and regretted it deeply ever since, but my stupid pride and my bloody ego would not allow me to say anything. I was so angry over what you had not told me, but what I did to you did not warrant such offensive behavior. It was inexcusable. Words can never convey how deeply I regret it, and if it takes the rest of my damn life, I will make it up to you…this I swear. I never want to see that kind of anguish in your eyes again. Is there is any way you can ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” His eyes were pleading with her to say the words he so desperately wanted to hear.
“Yes, I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago because you were right to be so angry with me. I shouldn’t have withheld everything I did from you. What matters most is that we put it behind us and learn from our mistakes.”
He buried his head in her neck, inhaling her fragrance.
“How I’ve missed the pure scent of you, Maddie! To think I thought I would never see you again. It was torture in itself, but I want you to know this: I love you with everything I have, more than life itself. I know you love me too, but if you only feel a tenth of what I feel for you, it will be more than enough for me.”
When he lifted his head, he noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks. “What is it, love?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it is; it’s love. I love you too, Rayn. I have from almost the first moment I saw you. I’ve pulled some rotten things on you and I am sorry. I should have told you about wanting to become a Guardian, about Ondine, and about my incident with the
heptamorg
. I was making decisions for you, and I shouldn’t have done that. I promise I won’t do anything stupid like that ever again. I adore you, and I don’t want to spend one unnecessary minute away from you.”
She held his eyes captive and continued, “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I have waited for this moment for so long. I want to touch every part of you, feel you beneath my hands.” She began dancing her fingers across his tawny skin, feeling his perfectly chiseled physique. “Please, can we just shut up and make love!”
Maddie weaved her fingers in his hair, pulled his lips to hers.
“Ah love, I never thought to see this day,” he said as he returned her kiss. His hands moved over her and tugged her shirt over her head. His caresses started out as gentle ones until the blaze ignited and, finally, the night of passion they had so long been waiting for calmed their fears, healed their wounds and erased their scars, making them both whole again.
Hours later, as they lay together, fingers laced and limbs entwined, Maddie suddenly began to feel the beginnings of embarrassment creep over her. Rayn immediately sensed the change in her. He reached for her chin and tilted her face so he could see her.
“Ah, thank the Deity for my night vision because I wouldn’t have missed seeing those roses blooming in your cheeks for the world! But, Maddie, I must ask you, why?”
“Rayn, I...well...I mean you...well, we...”she stammered, completely tongue tied.
She felt and then heard the deep rumble of Rayn’s laughter.
“Having a bit of difficulty getting it out, huh?”
“Well, yeah, I mean... I just never... Ooohh! What I’m trying to say is that I thought you didn’t... I mean since you hadn’t ever... Well, you know! And it’s not funny!”
He slid his fingers into her hair and slanted her face so he could look into her eyes. “Don’t fret, love. I think I understand what you are trying to say. Even though I have never done it before tonight it doesn’t mean I don’t know how things are supposed to work. I have been educated in female anatomy and...Sunshine, does this talk embarrass you?” he asked as he felt her fidgeting.
“Er...yeah! It totally embarrasses me! The things we did...well I just never imagined doing any of that. It was sort of naughty, don’t you think? Gah, do we have to talk about this?” She buried her head on his shoulder.
“Maddie, love, please look at me. You shouldn’t be embarrassed about anything that takes place between us. I love you and only want to please you and I certainly didn’t do any of those things to embarrass you. As a matter of fact, if you can move just a little bit this way,” he said as he shifted her into a different position, “I can show you some other things that I think may please you very much.” He captured her lips again and didn’t give her the chance to object.
“But wait!” she interrupted him by pulling away. “There is something I wanted to ask you. Did you feel...I’m not sure how to describe it? It was sort of like our minds were merged or something.”
“Ah yes, that is our bond...our connection. When we bond with each other there is a joining of souls. That is why it is so important for us to wait until we are united, because not only do we share our bodies, we also share our souls. This feeling between us will only intensify with time. This is something that is unique to our species. Maddie, that is why I was so baffled when first we met. I could not understand why I was so drawn to you since, at the time, I believed you to be human.”
“That makes perfect sense now. You know, it also helps me to understand the relationship between my parents. I knew they had something really special, but now I know why!”
While she was speaking, Rayn began caressing her again, running his hands up her arms until they reached her face. He tugged her closer to him until his lips met her neck where he began a journey that ended at her lips. Seconds later, she had all but forgotten about her embarrassment as their passion and desire consumed them again.
The day dawned bright and lovely, with birds singing merrily. Maddie had to pinch herself to make sure she was awake. Her life had turned into a real fairytale, complete with a Prince Charming, and today, she would, in front of the world, officially become his Princess.
Then, the butterflies hit her. Rayn reached out and pulled her to him, sensing her anxiety.
“You will be fine, love,” he whispered as he nuzzled her neck. “You will dazzle everyone with your beauty, and you will have the time of your life. I guarantee it.”
How did she ever get so lucky? She was about to become the Mate of the Firstborn, but not only that, he was the hottest thing she had ever laid eyes on. Getting secretly married three months ago was the smartest thing they had ever done.
“I agree with you about our uniting, but if I am hot, you are positively sizzling, love,” Rayn said, reading her mind.
“I love you back, Rayn, more than I can say. I guess I should get up. I know Sharra is going to want to take me over soon for the transformation. That’s all she has talked about for the last three months. She hasn’t even let me see my own dress! Oops! I wasn’t supposed to clue you in at all about what I’ll be wearing. That’s why she wouldn’t let me see it.”
“My lips are sealed, Sunshine. I guess you’re right. We probably do need to get up. Would you like to shower?” he asked, with a devilish glint in his eye.
“Oh, yes! I would love a shower.” Ever since her marriage to Rayn, Maddie realized she had never been so clean, owing to the fact that they spent countless hours bathing!
An hour later, they both emerged, skin flushed and glowing, Maddie with a towel on her hair and both of them robed. Maddie still preferred drying her hair with a towel versus using the drying method in the shower. The drying process resulted in way too many tangles to suit her.
Sharra was pounding on their door when they left the bathroom.
“Maddie! Open up!”
Maddie opened the door, and Sharra grabbed her arm, dragging her away, telling Rayn he would see his lovely mate at the unification ceremony.
When they reached Sharra’s room, Saylan and Athyna were already there. Sharra had everything spread out on her counter, and they all went to work on Maddie—polishing, waxing, exfoliating, moisturizing, massaging, brushing, and everything in between. Maddie felt like she had been whisked through a car wash by the time they were finished. When she asked them where the Turtle Wax was, they looked at her like deer in the headlights.
Hours later, after they had completed everything, they spun her around, and she got the first glimpse of herself in the mirror.
“Who is that?” Maddie asked jokingly.
She was amazed at the end result.
“You all should go into business. You have worked miracles! Do you think Rayn will even recognize me?”
“Very funny, Maddie. You hardly needed any work at all,” said Saylan.
“Well, if that’s true, why did you all just spend four hours on me?”
“We wanted you to be the best you could possibly be.”
“Uh huh! I’ll believe that when pigs fly!”
“Maddie, you are fully aware that pigs cannot fly,” Sharra said.
“Exactly!” Maddie retorted. “When do I get to see my dress?”
“Not until later this afternoon. Before we finish up your hair, we have a massage therapist coming in to apply the relaxing technique to you. Well, in truth, we are all going to get massages, and then, we will eat!”
The massage therapists came in, and an hour later, all four of them were feeling like a million bucks.
“I think I need to get married more often. That was excellent,” Maddie cried.
Zanna brought up food for them, and by this time, Maddie was starving. Zanna said she would return in an hour to complete Maddie’s hair. She would be wearing it braided in the Vesturion fashion.
Zanna returned, putting the finishing touches on Maddie’s hair. She had weaved tiny topazes and diamonds within her braids, making Maddie’s hair sparkle when the light hit the gems. It looked surreal.
Finally, Maddie was going to get a look at her gown. Sharra had decided against the traditional Vesturion garments, and because Maddie had been raised on Earth, she had settled on a gown, but not the traditional white of a human wedding. Sharra had opted for a pale bronze gown to highlight and set off Maddie’s copper tresses. The bodice was off one shoulder, and its silken folds draped across Maddie’s chest. It hugged her body and certainly showed off her assets. From the waist down, the gown was woven from shimmering gossamer. It cascaded from her body and tumbled into soft folds that puddled around Maddie’s bare feet. The fabric of the gown, in combination with Maddie’s sparkling hair, caught the light at every angle, giving her a celestial look. It was simply stunning. When Saylan saw Maddie, she began to cry.
“That bad, huh?” Maddie asked.
“That is
not
funny. I cannot believe how beautiful you look. Rayn will positively die when he sees you.”
“I just hope he can recognize me! Oh, what about jewelry?”
“Remember these?” Sharra asked, holding up the gold armbands.
She handed them to Maddie, and Maddie slipped them on her arms.
“Perfect,” said Saylan.
Then, Sharra stated, “You cannot wear anything on your wrists, because, remember, you will be given the markings of the Firstborn’s Mate.”
“Right,” Maddie replied. “What about earrings and necklace?”
“You will wear the topaz torc, of course, and here is my wedding gift to you.” Sharra handed Maddie a box.
“Sweet baby bunnies,” Maddie said as she opened the box holding the earrings that matched the necklace. “They are so beautiful! Sharra, whatever would I do without you?”
“I do not know! Now that you are ready, we need to get dressed.”
The three girls were Maddie’s bridesmaids. Sharra would be escorted by Rykerian, Athyna by Therron, and Saylan by Xarrid. Tesslar would lead the Guardians in their procession as they escorted the wedding party.
“Do I carry flowers or anything?”
“No, Maddie, you will be escorted up the aisle by your grandfather, but you will not carry flowers. That is not done here. Are you all set?”
“As I’ll ever be!”
They made their way downstairs toward the back of the palace. The ceremony was to take place on the palace grounds in the back on the terrace overlooking the mountains at sunset. The Guardians were assembled to escort the wedding party to their places.
Maddie caught her breath when she saw how beautifully decorated everything was. Tiny lights twinkled everywhere, and white flower petals were heavily scattered upon the ground, creating a velvety carpet. Candles burned everywhere, casting their golden glow across the terrace. All the trees had been laced with white blooms, so they literally dripped from the branches. There was a white runner that indicated the path they would take up to the point where the minister and Council Elder stood. The music began playing and the procession began.
The male attendants marched up the aisle first, followed by Rowan and, lastly, Rayn. Maddie did not want to peek at him until all the girls had marched up the aisle. When that was completed, and it was only Maddie and her grandfather, she looked up to see Rayn’s eyes bearing down on her. She felt, rather than saw, his emotions spilling from him. They flooded her with their intensity, washing over and penetrating her, and she felt her eyes glistening with tears.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Taruk asked.
“Yeah, just a bit overwhelmed by Rayn. His emotions are…” she had to stop to clear her throat. She had never seen a more handsome man in her life. He had trimmed his hair, but the stubborn lock still fell across his forehead, softening his face. His iridescent green eyes were glowing, and Maddie couldn’t stop herself from staring at him. He was dressed in his formal attire, which was solid white, and his sexy smile was radiant. Maddie felt her heart would burst with joy as a grin spread across her face. The music was cued, and her bridal walk toward Rayn began.