Dark Side of the Moon (28 page)

He gave me a small smile before leaning in to give me a gentle kiss.  When he pulled away, he grabbed the hem of his shirt, and pulled it over his head.  “Move to the middle of the bed,” he softly said as he stood to undo the button of his pants.

I complied, and watched him undress.  After kicking off his shoes, London slid his jeans and boxers off his hips.  Though we’ve seen each other completely bare several times, this one was completely different.  We were actually going to do something about it.

My heartbeat increased its tempo as he crawled onto the bed.  His lust filled eyes were on mine, a grin playing on his lips.  I tried to return his smile, but nervousness still held me tight.  I had no idea what was going to happen, how it was going to feel or anything.

London settled on the bed beside me, and lightly held my chin as he gave me little kisses.  At first, I had my hand resting on his, but then I slowly slid it down his arm to rest on his chest.  His heart was pounding as fast as mine beneath my fingers.

The kiss quickly became more urgent, his tongue sliding between my lips to dance with mine.  When I wrapped my arms around his neck, London moved to rest on top of me, his chest pressed to mine, his knees gently spreading my legs.  I gasped when I felt his length press against me, goose bumps popping up all over my body.

London leaned up a little to look at me, his face flushed with arousal.  “I love you so much, Selina.”

“I love you, too, London.”

Sometime later, we had regained our breath, our heartbeats almost returning to normal.  Our legs were still intertwined, my head resting on his chest.  His fingers played along the skin of my back, drawing shudders out of me.

He had been so gentle with me, asking if I felt comfortable and comforting me through the initial pain.  And after the discomfort went away, I was able to see a little of what all the hype was about.  I felt a little sore, but I was sure that after it went away, I wouldn’t mind joining my body with London’s again.

He kissed the top of my head then, asking, “How are you feeling, Selina?”

I returned the kiss to his chest.  “I’m fine.”

“Just fine?” he teased.

“Maybe.”

His hand drifted down to lightly pinch my butt.

Giggling and trying to get away from him, I said, “Okay, I feel wonderful, although a little chilly now.”  We had never made it under the covers.

We continued to cuddle with the blanket over us.  I actually enjoyed the calm after how hectic it was earlier in the day.  London and I were now officially mates, and nothing could tear us apart.

With how quiet the house was, and the rhythmic stroking of London’s fingers on my skin, my eyes slowly drifted shut.  But as soon as I closed my eyes, London stilled his hands.

“Selina, would you move in with me?”

My eyes snapped open, and I leaned up to look at him properly.  I was wide awake now.  “Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little fast?  We just graduated yesterday and mated today.”

“What’s the point in waiting?  I love you, Selina.  We’ve already dedicated ourselves to spending the rest of our lives together.  Why spend that time separated?”

“This is a big step, London.”

“I know.  I just want to spend all of my time with you.  I want to fall asleep next to you every night, and have you be the first thing I see when I wake in the morning, Selina.  I told you that a mating ceremony was like a wedding, and it entails practically everything a human marriage does.”

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.  “That was beautiful, London.”

He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers.  “Almost as beautiful as you are, Selina.”

Smiling, I leaned in to give him a quick kiss.  “Okay, I’ll move in with you.  But I need to at least let my parents know and pack up all my things.” I looked around his room.  “I don’t think there’s enough room for both of our stuff.”

He gave me a sly grin.  “Luckily, I thought ahead.”

“What do you mean?”

London slipped out from beneath me, and got out of the bed.  “Come on and get dressed, and I’ll show you.”

Confused, I did as he said, putting my jeans, bra, and shirt back on while he also dressed.  “Ugh, it feels so weird not wearing any panties,” I said, putting on my socks and shoes.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

I gave him a glare, and grabbed my purse.

London led me down the stairs and outside to his car.  I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I had an idea…. No, there was no way….

We drove in silence for a few minutes.  And when he pulled into a driveway surrounded by trees, my suspicions were proven correct.  The house that he pulled up to looked very modern, light gray siding, white trim, black roof, several different flowers planted in the gardens on either side of the stairs leading to the front door.

When we walked inside, I was a little shocked to find that there was already furniture in the living room and dining room that was off to the side.  I gave London a very bewildered look.

He took me into his arms.  “I bought this place after we came back from that camping trip.  And Artemis helped me decorate it.”

“Really?”

He nodded.  “It’s move in ready, too.  I hope you like it.”

London took me on a tour of the house.  Downstairs was the living room, kitchen, dining room, spare bedroom, and a small bathroom.  Upstairs was three more bedrooms, one with a master bath, and a bathroom across the hall from the other two bedrooms.  And like he had said, the living room, dining room, kitchen, and master bedroom contained furniture and appliances.  The extra bedrooms were empty, though.

“I figured the two up here could be our studios,” he explained.  “We’ll just have to place some tarps down on the floor and move in everything.  What do you think?”

“I can’t believe that you and Artemis have kept this a secret for this long.  And I love it, London.”

He gave me a smile and a kiss.  “Good.  Want to get some dinner?”

After London and I went out to eat, we returned to his parents’ house.  He wanted to go ahead and move into his place as soon as possible, so I helped him pack his things.  He was going to have Channing, Raff, and Charles help him with his things in the morning.  He’d have to make several trips for everything in his studio alone.

When it became late, I returned home.  Josie had already dropped off Dan, so I didn’t have to worry about that.  When I arrived, I found my parents to have already retired for the night.  So I wouldn’t disturb them, I decided to hold off on packing until I let them know I was moving out.

The next morning, I asked London if he could come over to talk to my parents with me.  While I waited for him to arrive, I went ahead and packed up some things.  We couldn’t talk to them until we came home from work, but we could go ahead and pack up some of my belongings and move his stuff from his parents’ house.

Moving was a very tiring activity, and I would have technically moved twice in one year after all of this.  We only stopped to eat, and returned to my house when I knew my parents would be there.  As we walked to the door, my nerves kicked in.

Mom was in the middle of preparing dinner.  Dad was sitting in the living room, watching TV, and Dan was probably with Josie at her house.  When my mom saw my mate, she asked, “Oh, hello, London.  Would you like to stay for dinner?”

As he said, “Maybe,” I asked, “Could we talk to you and Dad for a minute?”

Worry immediately plastered onto her face.  And when I looked to my dad, I saw his eyes narrowing.  “This had better not be about what I’m thinking,” he sternly said, looking to London.

“No, it’s not, Dad,” I said approaching the kitchen so Mom could keep cooking.  I had London sit at the table with me, and Dad slowly came over to join us, still staring at my mate.

I took a deep breath, but London spoke first.  “Mr. and Mrs. Scott, I would like for Selina to move in with me.”

Their eyes widened.

He continued.  “No, she is not pregnant; I know that’s running through your minds right now.  The fact is, I love her, and I want to spend every day with her for the rest of our lives.”

It took them a couple moments to get over their shock.  “But you’re both only eighteen.”

London shrugged.  “So?  Love is love.”

“We haven’t even been in Moonlight Falls for six months.  We’ve only known about your dating each other for four of those months,” Dad explained.

“You barely even know each other,” Mom added.

“Says you,” I countered.  “Just trust me, guys.  This isn’t something we’re just jumping into.  We’ve talked about it a lot, and this is what we want,” I somewhat lied.

They were silent, processing everything we said.

“Look, you’ve got to let me make my own decisions.  I’m not a child anymore.”

“What are you going to do to pay for the bills?” Dad asked.

“I’m actually commissioned for paintings and drawings, and have been selling my work for over two years.  I’ve made more than enough to buy a four bedroom house, which is ready to move in,” London calmly explained.

“What are you going to do if your art stops selling?  You need back up plans.”

“I’ll find something.  We’ve got everything covered, Mr. and Mrs. Scott.”

They scrutinized us for a few minutes.  “You two are just jumping into this, Selina,” Mom nearly whispered.  “And I don’t believe you about not being pregnant.”

I rolled my eyes.  “Please trust me when I say I’m not.  I’m not asking for permission to move in with London.  I’m telling you that I’ve already made the decision to do so.  I figured it was better to tell you before moving all of my stuff into the new house first.”

She looked to Dad.  “I don’t think we can change their minds,” he said to her, admitting defeat.

“Fine,” she said.  “I won’t have a problem with you moving in with your boyfriend if you two get married first.”

Looking to London I thought, we were already mated, had the ceremony in front of the whole pack.  Having a wedding shouldn’t be any different.

Chapter 30

I actually compromised with my parents, and decided to wait until London and I were joined in holy matrimony to move in with him.  That would keep them quiet about me possibly being pregnant.  Although, a few days after the initial conversation about marriage, I did make love to him again when he presented me with the most amazing diamond engagement ring.

After we announced to the pack that we were getting married, I nominated Artemis as my maid of honor so she could help with the planning.  I wanted to get married as quickly as possible, didn’t want to put off moving in with my mate.

The first thing London and I decided was the date.  June tenth, exactly a month after we had the discussion with my parents.  We didn’t want to make it a large affair, so we went with the first bakery we found, and Artemis and I went to a florist in Blue Pine to get a couple decorations and bouquets.  And with all of that settled, we had to mail out invitations.

I went over to London’s to do that.  He was going to handle most of the pack’s invites while I did my family’s first.  It was very time consuming, and my wrist was cramping from writing so much.  But then I faced a dilemma.  Without looking up, I asked, “Should I invite my friends from Charleston?”

“Why wouldn’t you, Selina?”

“I haven’t spoken to them in months.  Jocelyn got swept up in her boyfriend, and I became more focused on you.  I don’t even know if they would come.”

“Why don’t you just send it to let them know about it?  They don’t have to come if they don’t want to.”

“I suppose you’re right.”  I wrote out Jocelyn’s invitation, giving her a plus one for Joey if she was still with him.  I also gave Miranda a plus one because I had no idea if she was seeing anyone, either.  And if they didn’t come, at least they would know that I was happy here in Moonlight Falls with my soon-to-be husband.

As soon as we finished with the invites, we dropped them off at the post office.  Then, I called Artemis and Josie to go dress shopping.  London could take Channing and Dan to get tuxedos, and we all knew that they would finish first.

We didn’t need to have a big wedding party, so with Artemis as my maid of honor and Channing as London’s best man, we asked Josie and Dan to be part of it, too.  And I didn’t see any reason to give them embarrassing dresses, and let them choose what they were to wear.

We had to make several trips to the bridal store in Blue Pine before they finally agreed on something.  The dress they chose was strapless, dark blue, and fell to their knees in ripples which were layered on the skirt.  The back was laced up, and it looked amazing on them.  London had given me his card after he had rented their tuxes, and told me to buy whatever I needed for the wedding with it.  Though I appreciated his generosity, I wasn’t going to make him go bankrupt.

Then, the search commenced for my wedding dress.  I wasn’t very picky, but Artemis and Josie had something to say about every dress I picked up.  With their input, I only put on a few dresses every trip, and had to go to several bridal stores.  I grew frustrated with them, and told them to pick the dresses that I would try on after a week of searching.

We were about to give up for the day when Josie pulled a dress of the rack.  It was strapless, mermaid style with a short train.  The skirt was ruffled, the body of the dress skin tight.  A few studs were sewn in a flower pattern on the bust.  Artemis squealed with delight when she saw the dress, and made me immediately try it on.

I didn’t look in the mirror until after I showed it to my friends.  They both had large smiles on their faces, and urged me to look in the mirror.  While I looked over the dress, Artemis played with my hair, showing me different styles I could go with.  When I wondered what London’s reaction would be to seeing me in this dress, I rushed back to the dressing room to remove it so I could purchase it.

With my dress in hand and hiding at my parents’ house, they only thing left was to find a venue.  My parents decided that they would take care of that part.  They figured that if we had already gotten everything and all the invitations were in the mail that we were serious about getting married.  They also told me that a lot of people in our family were a little outraged that London and I were marrying after only knowing each other for a short amount of time.  They needed to get over it because I wasn’t leaving London’s side for anything.  If only I could explain to them that we were wolves and were mates….

With the big day drawing closer, I set to work packing my things.  I wanted to move almost everything over to the house I would share with my mate before the wedding, that way I wouldn’t have to worry about it later.  I spent most of my time over there anyways, that the first thing I brought over was my art supplies so I could set up my own studio.  London had already placed sheets on the floor to protect it and a couple desks with drawers for my brushes and sketchbooks, so all I had to do was put everything where it belonged.

And afterwards, we went into the bedroom to figure out where all of my things would go.  Or, that’s what we originally said.  After divvying up the drawers in the dresser, we ended up tumbling in the sheets for a while.

As we were putting our clothes back on, I asked him something we haven’t addressed.  “Are you planning our honeymoon in secret or something?”

It took him a moment to answer.  “No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“I haven’t been planning one.”

What?
  “Why?”

“Selina, I can’t leave the pack for anything.  The furthest we can go is Blue Pine if you want to have a honeymoon that badly.  I need to stay close to Moonlight Falls in case something happens.”

“How much could happen in a week, London?”

“O’Malley could attack for one.  Or there could be a mutiny, or people could leave, or one of us could be captured and experimented on.  There are just too many variables.”

“You’re worrying too much about what could happen.  And nothing may happen.”

“I don’t want to take that chance, Selina.  Please understand this.”

I took a deep breath, and slowly released it.  “Blue Pine isn’t exactly what I had in mind.  How long could we stay there?”

“Considering there’s not much to do and we’d just do the same thing we’d do if we were here, two or three days?”

I barely nodded.  Wasn’t much of a honeymoon, but he did have a point.  O’Malley could send his pack out to attack us the moment we arrived in Blue Pine.  But I honestly didn’t see anything bad happening after the wedding.

With a week left before the wedding, I moved almost everything into London’s house.  I kept a few clothes for me at my parents’ place, and it was strange seeing my room practically bare.  The furniture was going to be moved to the guest room, the bed the last piece to be moved because I still needed somewhere to sleep.

The night before the big day, Artemis, Josie, and I went to Blue Pine for something to do.  Channing and Dan had something planned for London, too, but I didn’t ask what it was.  There wasn’t much for two eighteen year-olds and a seventeen year old to do before a wedding, but they tried to make the best of it by taking me out to eat and taking me to a club to dance.  And so I wouldn’t get any unwanted attention, they had me wear a cheap veil.

The next morning, we returned to Blue Pine for our hair appointment.  The stylist had my hair pulled to one side so it fell over my shoulder, clipped it with a barrette from Artemis, and curled it.  Josie and Artemis’ hair was curled as well.  After they did our make-up, we headed back to Moonlight Falls, to the church my parents had booked.

A lot of people had already arrived.  Artemis and Josie quickly ushered me through the church to one of the rooms so I could get ready.  After we had our dresses on, there was a knock at the door.  My parents chatted with us for a little while.  I knew that they wished I would call this off, but there was no way that was happening.

Another knock on the door silenced us.  It wasn’t time to start yet, so I wondered who was there.  Artemis opened the door, and I gasped.

Miranda was on the other side, and she didn’t look very happy.

“Could I talk to Selina alone?” she asked.

My parents and friends filtered out of the room.  I had no idea what she wanted to say to me.  Or why she seemed angry.

As soon as the door closed, she crossed her arms over her chest and asked, “So, when is the baby due?”

I rolled my eyes.  “I’m not pregnant, Miranda.  Why is it so hard for people to understand that I love London and want to spend the rest of my life with him?  That I don’t have to be pregnant to want to marry him?”

“You barely even know him, Selina.  You didn’t tell me you were dating him let alone that you developed feelings for him.  I know next to nothing about him, and I feel like I don’t know you at all.”

“Maybe you know nothing about London or my relationship with him because you stopped calling me.  The last time I spoke with you, you were criticizing me for accepting a drawing that he gave me because it was a wolf.  They are severely misunderstood creatures, and I do not hate that wolf for attacking me.  If it hadn’t, then I wouldn’t be where I am today.”  It wasn’t completely the truth because I did hate the wolf for turning me against my will, but she didn’t need to know that.

She pursed her lips with thought and anger.  “You could have picked up the phone, too, Selina.”

She kind of had me there.  “Why did you come today if you were just going to make me feel like shit for marrying the love of my life?”

She scoffed.  “At least I showed up.  Jocelyn didn’t want to attend because she doesn’t agree with the whole thing.”

“No one has to agree with it.  They just have to let us make our own decisions and keep their noses out of other people’s business.  And so what if I was pregnant?  It would have been our choice in that matter, too.”

“We’re eighteen, Selina.  Did you even think about the possibility of getting married to someone when you moved out here?”

“No, but London is worth it.  I’ve never met anyone like him before, Miranda.”

She looked me over for a moment.  “Fine, I drove all this way out here, I might as well meet the guy.”

I sighed of relief, finally getting somewhere with her.  “And try to look happy.  This is a big day for me.”

After she gave me a small smile, she walked out, and Artemis told me that everyone was ready when I was.  Mom went ahead to take her seat, and everyone lined up just beyond everyone’s eyesight.  My heart pounded, but I chopped it up as being normal, that everyone felt this way before getting married.

The ceremony went off without a hitch.  Thankfully, no one objected to our union.  I probably would have lost it if someone said one more thing about it.  It was a good thing I wasn’t able to read minds, because I knew at least half of those gathered were thinking we were making a mistake.

Afterward, we held our reception, where we ate and danced and had a good time.  This was a celebration, a time to be happy, not think about reasons why it shouldn’t happen.  When Miranda met London, I could tell that she didn’t see why I was so enamored with him.  I wanted to tell her that we were mates, were wolves, but I know that wouldn’t go over very well with her or any of the non-pack members.

We stayed there until right after sunset.  I hardly paid attention to everyone as London led me to his car.  The church wasn’t very far from our new home, thankfully.  I wanted to get this dress off of me.  And though London looked hot in his tux, I know it would look better on our bedroom floor.

London helped me out of the car, and scooped me up before getting to the front door of the house.  I pressed my lips to his neck, and nibbled a little as he fumbled to unlock the door.  I knew I didn’t need to help him get into the mood, but I did like teasing him a little.

After London carried me upstairs to our bedroom, we slowly stripped each other of our clothes, and made love on our bed.

Being married to London was wonderful.  While the pack knew that we were strong in our relationship and our positions as alphas, I knew my family was waiting for something to happen.  And so far, nothing did.

We’d sit at home most days, London working on his commissions, me practicing my work, or spending that time in our bed.  Though I really liked spending alone time with him and painting and drawing, either by myself in my new studio or with my mate and husband, it grew tedious after a month.

Then, I had to bring up the fact that I had applied at several colleges, and classes were going to commence soon.

London was in his studio, and I didn’t know of any other time to bring attending college to him.  Knocking on the door to get his attention, I waited until he looked at me to say, “So, college is starting soon.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me.  “Okay?”

“Well…before I moved here, I had applied at several.  I chose one, picked my classes, then came to Moonlight Falls.”

He set his brush down to give me his full attention.  “You want to go to college.”