Tansy’s men hadn’t quite finished “helping” her undress when her friends arrived. Chelsea led the charge, ejecting Dev and Rye from the bedroom and organizing the other women. Tansy was stripped, given time to have the fastest wash known to womanhood, and was back in the bedroom before her skin was dry.
Dressed in nothing but a robe, she allowed Kate to torture her hair into an elegant upsweep that made Tansy’s neck look long and swanlike. Sorcha did her makeup with a range of pots, salves, jars and brushes that she’d sourced through the seemingly endless reach of her dragon, Tengale. Chelsea provided the flowers, courtesy of Benmonth and Annlyss. Sarah lent a hand when required, but for the most part she stayed out of the way and tried to hide the fact that she was worried about Mac.
“Don’t worry,” Tansy said for the third time. “She’ll be here.”
Sarah didn’t look convinced. “Of course she will. She wouldn’t miss it.”
Except that Tansy thought she might. Mac had said goodbye to them all, but the only excuse she’d offered before moving back to Addestet House was that being in the den wasn’t helping her recovery. She hadn’t confided in any of the women, not even Sarah, with whom she’d been particularly close.
“Well, she’ll either be here or she won’t,” said the ever-practical Sorcha. “But either way it’s time to get this show on the road.”
Tansy had to agree. She was looking forward to this ceremony with an intensity that surprised her. She’d come to think of herself as belonging to Dev and Rye, and they to her, so a piece of paper shouldn’t have made any difference one way or the other. But it did. The formality of it, the legal and public declaration of their commitment to her, made her feel special and treasured in a way that went beyond what they already shared.
Fifteen minutes later, Tansy was trussed up and ready to go. Her cream silk gown had an overlay of black lace, and the same wild flowers that made up her bouquet had been tucked into her hair. Her gown might not have been traditional, but Tansy couldn’t imagine feeling anymore bride-like.
Her friends preceded her out of the bedroom, and in those few quiet moments Tansy thought about her family and how much they would have loved being at the ceremony, how happy they would be for her. She was about to embark on a new and significant chapter in her life, and the people whom she most wanted to share it with didn’t even know she was still alive.
Taking a steadying breath, Tansy did her best to let it go. There was nothing she could do about her family—she had no way to contact them or get herself home—so all that remained was to move forward. And right now her future was waiting for her in the living room of her new home. Focusing on the here and now, Tansy picked up her bouquet and started walking.
The living room was bursting at the seams. Every available surface was decorated with flowers, and with twelve Enforcers, five women—including the recently arrived Mac—and one slightly nervous proctor all vying for space, it felt like the living room had shrunk to half its size. All eyes turned in her direction, and for a moment she faltered, halting at the door in a bout of uncharacteristic uncertainty.
Jax stepped forward and came to stand beside her, his shining white hair falling free to his shoulders. Prying one of her hands loose from her bouquet, he tucked it neatly against his bent elbow and guided her forward. “Come on, sweetheart,” he said, “there’s no backing out now.”
His usually intimidating presence was actually kind of comforting when he put his mind to it, and Tansy felt the tension ease out of her. She looked up at him out of the corner of her eye. “There was never a question of me backing out.”
Jax grinned down at her. “I’ve heard that about you. ‘Fiercely loyal’ is how Sorcha describes you.”
Tansy grinned back. That was the most flattering thing Sorcha could have said about her.
And then she was there, standing between her almost-husbands as Jax slid away and returned to his position with Kaelum and Sorcha. Dev and Rye had changed into their formal uniforms of dark-gray frock-coats trimmed in sapphire blue and had smoothed their hair back into neat ponytails. She snagged a hand each and the three of them turned to face the man who would officiate their wedding.
The proctor cleared his throat and spoke in a voice full of confidence and authority. “The document I have here is a long-term mating contract. By signing this document, the three of you will bind yourselves together legally and morally for the rest of your lives. The contract outlines your rights, responsibilities and obligations as mates under the rules and regulations of Gemarran law.” He looked Tansy in the eye. “The Enforcers are well-versed in our laws and customs, but if you have any questions, my lady, you should ask them now.”
“I have no questions. Thank you for asking.” Tansy trusted her men with everything in her and she didn’t believe they’d ask her to sign a document that wasn’t in her best interests.
The proctor nodded and returned his attention to the three of them as a unit. “Den Captain Devonelle Sharmanchere, Enforcer Ryderich Myrinmahr, Lady Tansy Coleman, do you all three stand here of your own free will and volition?”
“We do.”
“Then come forward and sign the contracts.”
The proctor supervised them one at a time, first Dev, then her, then Rye. The documents were witnessed and just like that it was done. As soon as the paperwork was lodged she’d be a married woman under Gemarran law.
As they stepped away from the table, Chelsea began to chant, “Kiss the bride, kiss the bride,” and after a couple of repeats all the others joined in.
Laughing, Tansy turned to her men. “It’s an Earth custom. Once the documentation is signed and a couple is officially husband and wife, they share their first kiss as a married pair in front of their friends and family.”
Dev nodded sagely. “An excellent custom.” He gestured to Rye. “After you, my brother.”
Rye needed no other encouragement. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he drew her up hard and tight against his body. Tansy was about explain to him that this kiss was the semi-chaste kind usually bestowed in a church but she didn’t get the chance. Rye cupped the back of her head, pressed his open mouth against hers and thrust his tongue inside with a greedy urgency that set her blood on fire.
Her breasts swelled despite the pressure of being crushed to his chest, and she couldn’t help flexing her hips to rub up against his hardening cock. Squeezing her tighter, Rye devoured her mouth, his tongue stroking against hers in mindless devastation. He leaned over her, bending her backward until she could do nothing but clutch his shoulders and submit.
She was dizzy and gasping for air by the time he finally set her on her feet. Licking his full, shiny lips, he gave her an evil smile. “Dev’s turn.” And with that he spun her around and she was once again lifted off her feet by a pair of strong arms.
Dev’s kiss was less exuberant but no less intense. As he kissed her, he bent his knees, braced an arm under her ass, and lifted her against his upper body. His lips danced across hers, nipping and sucking as he grasped her behind the knee and pulled her leg to rest high on his hip. Tansy did the rest for him, wrapping her legs around his waist and locking her ankles at the small of his back. Obviously satisfied with her position, Dev deepened the kiss, stroking tongue against tongue, sealing his lips to hers with a heated passion that fired every nerve ending she had.
When he finally released her it was to an enthusiastic round of applause, and as Tansy’s feet lowered to the floor she felt the flush of embarrassment burn hot and prickly on her skin.
Dev stroked his fingers over her warm cheek. “Was that a good first kiss?”
She smiled at him with all the joy she had inside her. “It was perfect. Both kisses were perfect.” And not anything like a normal wedding kiss. Thank god for that.
Rye came up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Behr is handing off the proctor to his escort back to town. And that means we can give you our wedding gift now.”
Tansy hoped it was a ring. Chelsea and Sorcha both sported black diamond wedding rings, though calling them diamonds was a misnomer. The gems were made from dragon scales. According to Sorcha, the scales had to be freely given, and they were transformed into a precious gem by exposing them to prolonged dragon fire. The one Chelsea wore had been created by Benmonth and Annlyss. Sorcha’s diamond owed its existence to Tengale and Jaysada. If Tansy’s private hopes came true, she would receive her precious gift at the behest of Fellescend and Zenbaylan.
Truthfully though, at that point she would have settled for any kind of ring at all. She wouldn’t care if it was a plain silver band, as long as it came from her men.
Dev reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red silk bag, and Tansy knew her thoughts about not caring were a lie. She wanted a black diamond so badly her mouth had gone dry. Not because they were rare and priceless—apparently you couldn’t even buy them on the black market—but because her dragons wanted to give something of themselves to her.
Loosening the opening, Dev tipped the contents of the bag into his hand. Then he closed his fist so she couldn’t see. He held his other hand out, palm up, silently inviting Tansy to place her hand in his. Nervously, she slipped her fingers over his palm.
With a slow smile he placed the ring on her finger. Tansy sucked in a noisy breath as the cool, gray metal came to rest against her skin. Then Dev moved his hand and she got her first unimpeded view of the ring they had chosen for her.
There were three black diamonds. An oval in the center flanked by two smaller, rectangular stones. The diamonds were held together by the finest, most delicate filigree she had ever seen. The symbolism of the stones was so beautiful it made her eyes sting and her chest squeeze tight. The fact that Fellescend and Zenbaylan had made the stones for her caused her eyes to well up, and she couldn’t stop the tears overflowing.
Rye stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Leaning down, he placed his chin on her shoulder so he could admire the ring. “We’ll always keep you safe between us, honey. You’re the center of our world.”
Too choked for words, Tansy reached for Dev and pulled Rye in tight behind her. Aligning their bodies with hers, they pressed tight enough that she struggled to breathe, and that lack of air was glorious.
The wedding reception turned out to be one of the best nights of her life. Unfortunately Mac left early, taking Behr and Finn with her when they volunteered to fly her down to Sapphire. But that was the only dim spot in Tansy’s night of stars. Her friends were genuinely thrilled for her, the Enforcers seemed ready and willing to take her in as one of their own, and her mates rarely strayed from her side. She might not have her blood family with her, but she was beginning to realize that she had a family of a different sort. Not the same, but not any less valued or appreciated.
And like regular family members, they weren’t worried about over-staying their welcome. They ate, talked, drank, laughed, hugged and stayed. For ages. It was late when Dev finally cracked under the pressure and booted them all out, and by then Tansy was dead on her feet.
Stumbling to the bedroom, she stood like a mannequin and let her men strip her out of her finery.
“You know,” she said, half smothering a yawn, “lots of brides and grooms don’t have sex on their wedding night.” She yawned again. “Too tired.”
Rye tossed her corset aside, stepping in close to press his nakedness against her back. “Good thing you’re mated to us, then.”
He reached up to pinch her nipples and she hummed low in her throat. “Mmm. I suppose my desperate need for sleep isn’t going to sway you.”
Yanking off her chemise, he cupped her now-naked breasts and offered them to Dev’s hot mouth. Dev licked and sucked at her, his fingers pushing between her legs to circle her clit. “I think our desperation to fuck you outweighs your desperation for sleep.”
She flexed into his hand and threaded her fingers into the thick silky length of his hair, holding him tight to her breasts. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to think I was being selfish.”
“Open your legs, honey. Show me how unselfish you are.”
Tansy closed her eyes in bliss as Dev eased in a thick, delicious finger. Her head dropped back onto Rye’s shoulder as Dev spread her wider…and for a split second everything went black.
She lost feeling in her body, she couldn’t sense her men, and then the images of those disgusting photos played against the backs of her eyelids. Filthy, degrading, repulsive images that made her want to puke.
Pushing away to give herself distance, she scrambled sideways, landing up against the wall as she heaved in air that couldn’t fill her lungs. Sweat beaded her brow and slithered down her spine, and her knees weren’t quite up to taking her weight. Placing one hand on the wall to steady herself, she took a few moments to gather the courage to turn and face her men. They were just where she’d left them. Beautiful, naked and utterly at a loss.
“Tansy?” Dev took a half step forward, but she halted him with a wave of her hand.
“Give me a minute.”
So they did. They stayed where they were even though she knew every instinct they owned would be driving them to fix things, to comfort her, to hold her and stroke her until her fear went away. She knew how hard it must be for them to give her what she needed, and it only made her love them more.
She hated the uncertainty in their eyes and it drove her insane that they couldn’t be free and easy with her. They were taking her as she was, freak-outs and all, yet they weren’t getting the same from her.
Well fuck that.
Straightening up, she levered herself off the wall and walked back to them. “Sorry.” She wiped her sweaty palms on her thighs. “Everything was good, really good, and then I had a flashback of those photos.”
“Tansy…”
“No, Rye, let me finish.” She wiped her hands again, the images of the photos crowding into her mind despite her best efforts to block them out. Never one to cling to a strategy that wasn’t working, Tansy decided to forget about trying to ignore the images and resolved to find a way to overwrite them.
She looked into Rye’s face, strained with concern for her. “You were right about the desperate, frightened woman in those photos. The woman with fear in her eyes.” She closed the distance, taking Dev’s and Rye’s hands in hers. “I don’t want to be that woman anymore. I don’t want that image to be the one you see when you look at me.”
“Baby, we don’t. We never have.” Rye lifted her hand to his lips. “When I look in your eyes, all I see is love.”
And just like that, the solution presented itself to Tansy, if she had the courage and will to see it through. “You see love when you look in my eyes?”
“Of course.”
“Then keep looking.”
Pulling her hands out of their grip, Tansy took a breath, praying to a god she wasn’t really sure existed as she dropped to her knees.
The look on Rye’s face was pure horror. “Tansy, no, you don’t need to—”
“Yes, I do.” Palms flat on his thighs, she inched closer. “Let me. I want to, for all our sakes.”
Gripping the base of his shaft firmly in her hand, she stroked him root to tip. “Look into my eyes, Rye. See how much I love you.”
His lavender eyes darkened with desire but the panic didn’t fade as she opened her mouth and closed her lips around the head of his cock. Keeping their gazes locked, she circled him with her tongue, rubbing on the underside before swirling him in her mouth again. It didn’t take long before the panic was replaced with a glaze of pleasure and his body started to relax.
Still fisting him, she pushed forward, taking as much of him as she could into her mouth before she pulled back, sucking hard and deep. He jammed his fingers into her hair, uncaring of her elegant updo or the fact that his grip was yanking at her scalp.
She sucked harder and faster. Rye’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and his grip grew rough. He thrust his hips, forcing himself farther down her throat, and Tansy reveled in it, gloried in the fact that he was treating her like his woman and not like some broken shell that needed to be handled with kid gloves.
Cupping his balls with her free hand, she rolled them in her fingers and squeezed his shaft even harder. Holding her mouth still and doing nothing but providing suction, she let Rye fuck her mouth, harder and wilder until he was on the brink of orgasm. Moving her hands to clutch his ass, she tilted her head back and surrendered to him completely, giving him control over everything. Her arousal was at fever pitch, but the sense of freedom in letting go left her floating on a wave of contentment.
Her heart was full and happy, her body burned and her soul gloried in the power she had even though she was on her knees.
Rye’s thrusts became erratic, his hand gripped her like a vise, and with a strangled shout he came, pulsing into her mouth in hot, thick jets that she swallowed as quickly as she could. His orgasm stretched out, and she held him in her mouth, taking the sweet, clean essence of him deep inside her.
Gradually his body slowed, then stopped completely. He relaxed but didn’t soften and she kept her mouth tight around him, unwilling to relinquish him or this moment.
Rye cupped her face, stroking gently along her jaw. “You were right, honey. This is a much better memory, and it’s an image of you that I will take to my pyre.”
The stroke of his hand, the feel of him in her mouth and the taste of him on her tongue all rolled together to form a kind of benediction that only he and Dev could give her. Releasing him and easing back onto her heels, she looked up to see her men standing shoulder to shoulder, a wall of love and protection that was hers to command.
“Every time you touch me,” she said, “you erase one bad thing that happened to me.”
Dev leaned down and scooped her up from the floor. “Then let’s get to bed and erase some more bad memories.”