Silent Bite-A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) (11 page)

“Let me handle your mother,” Ursula’s father promised. “I’ll find a way to tell her if it ever becomes necessary.” Then he brushed some dirt particles off his tuxedo. “And now, I think it’s time to get on with this wedding or your mother is going to have a fit.”

Oliver chuckled. “I’d better get cleaned up a little.”

Ursula giggled. “I’ve got
vampire
all over my dress.” She pointed to the dust on her skirt.

Their gazes met and heated in an instant. In a few short hours she would have
vampire
all over her body. Her naked body.

13

From his vantage point on the small podium in the tent, Oliver looked down the aisle. He couldn’t see Ursula, but he knew she was standing at the French doors to the living room, ready to walk along the covered walkway into the tent. He’d made sure that nothing else would happen now. Zane and Cain had volunteered to remain in the living room with her and her father until they were safely inside the tent. And once they were married, Oliver would blood-bond her as soon as possible. Only then would she truly be safe. Because only then would they be able to communicate telepathically with each other. And Oliver would always immediately sense when she was in danger.

He tried to relax and watched as Isabelle walked down the middle of the aisle, carrying the little pillow with the rings in her hands. Delilah coached her from the sidelines, making sure she didn’t stop midway, but walked all the way to the front.

When he got his first glimpse of Ursula walking on her father’s arm, coming closer with each step, he held his breath. During the fight and the few moments afterwards, he hadn’t had a chance to admire her and take in how truly beautiful she looked. He’d never thought that she could look more glorious in a red wedding dress than any other woman in a white one. As graceful as a princess, she walked toward him, her eyes focused on him. All fear and panic was wiped from her face.

His heart started to thunder and he feared that everybody in the tent could hear how wildly it beat. Because it beat for her. And because of her.

When Ursula and her father finally stopped at the podium, he exchanged a brief look with Yao Bang. A contented smile played around the older man’s lips. Even though Oliver didn’t know his father-in-law very well, he grew fonder of him by the minute. To be accepted by Ursula’s father so wholeheartedly warmed his heart. His gaze drifted over the guests. Quinn sat near the podium. His sire looked at him as proudly as any father would, and behind him, Samson beamed with a happy smile. He’d been the first to see potential in him and had offered him a chance for a new life. Without Samson and Quinn he wouldn’t be here today.

He tore his look from them and smiled at Ursula. Their gazes fused.

Oliver barely heard the words of the minister as he spoke an introductory prayer and Yao Bang answered him when asked who was giving this woman to this man. Then he took his seat next to his wife.

Seconds turned into minutes as they exchanged traditional vows. The only thing they had changed was the ending. They’d replaced “till death do us part” with more suitable words.

“ . . . for eternity,” Oliver now said and felt tears rise into his eyes when he saw the wet sheen covering Ursula’s irises.

“The rings,” the minister prompted and looked at Blake.

His best man crouched down to Isabelle and nodded at her, giving her a sign that it was her turn, and the toddler staggered toward the minister, holding the pillow with the rings in front of her. She glanced sideways as if to seek approval from her mother, when she tripped and fell forward. But the little hybrid’s reflexes were as sharp as those of a vampire, and she braced her fall with her hands before her knees could hit the floorboards, though she dropped the pillow in the process.

A collective gasp raced through the guests, but Isabelle lifted her head with a wide smile, looking almost apologetic. Two tiny fangs flashed from her open mouth.

Oliver had never seen anything more adorable. He and Ursula had never spoken about children, but he knew that eventually they would have some. Once they were both ready.

It appeared the minister had seen Isabelle’s fangs, because his forehead pulled together and he leaned toward the toddler.

“Isabelle!” Blake chastised under his breath, and she seemed to understand him and quickly pressed her lips together again. She reached for the pillow that had fallen from her hands, and with Blake’s help, she was back on her feet within seconds. “That a girl,” Blake praised, winking at Oliver.

Oliver suppressed a chuckle.

The minister took the rings and blessed them before handing one to Ursula and one to him.

When Ursula repeated the minister’s words, Oliver’s heart expanded, filling with love and pride, with joy and happiness.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” Ursula slid the ring onto his finger.

Oliver didn’t wait for the minister to prompt him, impatient for Ursula to be his wife. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Nor did he wait for the minister to tell him that he could kiss the bride. He simply pulled Ursula into his arms and kissed her.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” He heard the minister’s words somewhere in the distance.

“I love you,” he whispered against his bride’s lips only for her to hear, though he knew that the vampires in the tent would be able to pick up his words. And maybe even the humans, for it was a feeling he couldn’t hide from anybody. Nor did he intend to.

14

They had danced. They had cut the cake. They had toasted to their guests, listened to speeches, and accepted well-wishes, while secretly wishing they could escape and be alone.

Somebody finally had mercy on them and announced that it was time the bride and groom withdrew, while the rest of the guests could continue to celebrate. That somebody was Quinn.

Holding Ursula’s hand, Oliver now walked to the door of the gym which was located in the basement in one corner of the large garage, still thinking about Quinn’s words that their wedding present would be down there and the subsequent sparkle in Rose’s eyes. As if they had set up a prank.

He knew all about wedding pranks: toilet-paper-wrapped furniture, shaving-cream-decorated cars, confetti-littered beds, the things that your best friends did to the apartment while the couple was still dancing at the wedding reception. Oliver couldn’t care less what prank they’d set up, because nothing could erase the relief he felt knowing Ursula was safe now. He’d almost lost her tonight, and he needed to wipe out those memories by making new ones with her.

Oliver turned the doorknob and pushed the door inward. Then he froze, not in shock, but in wonder.

Next to him, Ursula sucked in a breath. “Oh my god!”

The gym equipment was gone.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

He could only echo her words. This was the best wedding gift Quinn and Rose could have ever given them: a place to consummate their blood-bond away from any curious eyes and ears. A place just for them.

In the center of the small room stood a large bed draped with soft sheets, a canopy of sheer material over it. The fabric that flowed all the way to the floor, covered with plush rugs, turned the bed into a cocoon. Along the walls, sconces with candles had been installed, and the subdued light made the room glow as if a fireplace were burning. It looked like a dream.

Oliver tore his gaze from the bed and looked at his wife. The word still felt so new, but it felt right.

“There were moments when I thought this would never happen,” he said, his hand reaching up to stroke his knuckles over the elegant curve of Ursula’s neck.

“I was scared,” she confessed.

“I’ll make sure you’ll never be scared again.” He leaned in to brush his lips over her cheek.

Ursula’s arms slid around his neck, pulling him against her body. “I missed you.”

“Not as much as I missed you.” The last few days had been hell. Finally they were past them. “This week I thought I would have to break into my own house just so I could feel you in my arms.”

She laughed softly. “Break in? Maybe I would have opened the door for you.”

“Maybe?” he growled, dropping his lips to her neck and nibbling there.

“If you’d asked nicely.”

He loved it how Ursula teased him, how she seduced him with her sinful voice while she rubbed her tantalizing body against his. “How nicely?” He pressed his hard-on against her soft stomach, letting her feel what she did to him.

“Oh,” she murmured. “As nicely as you’re asking now.” Her hand slid to his backside, squeezing him through his tuxedo.

Oliver lifted his head. “I’m glad we’re speaking the same language.”

“I am too. But were you planning on talking all night, or would you rather we do something else?” She tilted her head toward the bed.

“Well, since you’re asking so nicely . . . ”

Oliver slid his mouth over hers and kissed her. He stroked his tongue over the seam of her lips and felt them part under light pressure. Without haste, he drove his tongue into her mouth and explored her. No matter how often he’d kissed her in the last few months, it was different now. Tonight she had become his wife, and in a few moments she would become his blood-bonded mate. This kiss was the kiss that would start the rest of their lives. He had no intention of rushing this.

This would be the memory they’d always cherish, the one that would help them overcome any obstacle in the future, any quarrels they might find themselves in, any disagreements or misunderstandings that might arise between them. It would make them stronger as a couple. Their union would be unbreakable. And last longer than one lifetime. Their love would last an eternity.

“I love you,” Oliver murmured, briefly breaking the kiss before capturing her mouth again and pouring every ounce of passion and love he felt for Ursula into the kiss.

They undressed each other slowly. Layer by layer of clothing fell to the floor, first his tuxedo jacket and shirt, then her wedding dress. Finally his pants, until they stood in front of each other only in their underwear.

Ursula’s strapless bra and panties were as red as her dress, but there was a different color he noticed. He slid his finger under the blue garter she wore around one of her thighs.

“Something blue,” he whispered, smiling. “I wanted to incorporate some Western traditions too. You were so accommodating in accepting everything Asian my parents threw at you. I wanted to thank you.”

Oliver licked his lips. “I like the way you think.”

She pointed to her ankle, making him look down. “Something borrowed.”

Oliver spotted the diamond ankle bracelet she wore. “Whose?”

“Nina lent it to me.”

“I like it. I think I should buy you one of your own.”

She smiled. “I think you should.”

“How about something old?” he asked.

Ursula reached to the back of her head and took out the sparkling comb that held up her hair. The red comb was decorated with gold Chinese symbols. “It was my grandmother’s. My mother wore it for her wedding.”

“It’s beautiful.” Then he looked into her eyes. “But nothing can ever be as beautiful as you.” He kissed her, pulling her against the curve of his body, feeling her soft skin against his. Instantly, his entire body was in flames.

“Don’t you want to know what’s new?” Ursula asked, pulling back slightly.

“Later.” Impatiently he tore at her bra, unhooking it and sliding it off her.

He put his palms over her small but firm breasts, squeezing them. Ursula moaned softly.

Gently, he urged her to take a few steps back, directing her toward the bed. When the back of her legs hit the mattress, he lowered her onto it. She looked perfect on the white sheets, like a present he didn’t deserve. His eyes ran over her body, drinking her in.

He braced himself on the bed with one knee and one hand, hovering over her, while his other hand caressed her silken skin, reacquainting himself with her body. A week of not touching her had been too long.

His fingers trailed down the valley between her breasts and crossed her flat stomach until they reached the red silk of her panties. He slid underneath it, combing through her thatch of hair, and felt her spread her legs wider.

The scent of her arousal wafted to him, and he soaked it in, allowing it to drug him. Then his finger slipped lower and touched her moist cleft.

A hitched breath came from Ursula, then another one as he traveled along her slit and bathed his fingers in her wetness. Her flesh quivered. He loved how receptive she was whenever he touched her. And he loved arousing her. And making her surrender in his arms. Just as he was going to do now. With his hands and his mouth.

Oliver used both his hands to pull her panties down and free her from them, but when he looked at her naked body, he noticed something different. He lifted his head to stare at her. She met his gaze.

“Something new,” she whispered.

He dropped his gaze back to the small tattoo that sat just above the left edge of her pubic hair: a Chinese symbol and within it, the initials U and O were intertwined.

“It means forever,” she said.

“I love it.”

He lowered his lips onto the tattoo and kissed it. Then he shifted on the bed and took his place between her spread legs, bringing his mouth to her weeping pussy. His tongue swiped along her moist folds, gathering the wetness that coated them, tasting her sweet essence. Her soft moans and sighs provided the background music to his caresses, and her hands drove into his hair, making him shiver with pleasure. As she spread her thighs wider, offering herself to him, he slid his hands under her backside and tilted her sex, giving him better access. His tongue drove into her inviting slit, then moved higher to brush over the tiny organ at the base of her curls.

Ursula writhed underneath him, and he tightened his hold on her, shifting his hands to the front of her thighs to hold her down as he licked and sucked her with more intensity. He tried to ignore his aching cock that was still confined within his boxer briefs. He knew he couldn’t yet free himself of the last piece of clothing, or he would attack her like the hungry beast he was. Because tasting Ursula and making love to her brought out everything primal in him. Civility was pushed into the background, humanity obliterated. All that was left inside him was pure vampire: ravenous, insatiable, intense.