Chapter 31
The day dawned warm, the lavender sky clear. Cal stretched before rolling over to put his arms around his beloved. “Wake up, sleepy head.”
“I’m awake,” she whispered, then rolled over to burrow into his chest.
“Good morning, my love,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her golden head. “It’s time to get up and get married.” She pressed herself against him more tightly, and he felt a stirring of anxiety. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Do we have to do it?” Her voice was small, her tone like a child’s.
Cal’s heart raced. Was she saying she didn’t want to marry him?
“Gemma,” he said, putting a finger under her chin and lifting her gaze to meet his. “What’s going on? I thought you wanted to get married.”
“I want to marry you, I do,” she said, her eyes sincere. “I just… do we have to do it in front of all those people?”
Cal laughed. “Well, kind of. It’s a royal wedding, and the people just go apeshit over that stuff.”
“I know,” she grumbled. When he’d told her they’d be saying their vows in front of a crowd of thousands, it had rattled her. But they’d been so busy with preparations that he’d forgotten her fright. “I just didn’t realize how public it would be.”
“Sweetheart,” he said, kissing her forehead, “you’ll be fine. I’ll be right there with you. You’ll wear a beautiful dress, and Marek will recite some words, and we’ll kiss, and then the crowd will cheer, and we’ll be on our way. Off to the romantic honeymoon I’ve been planning since we landed.”
Cal had plans for said honeymoon. Ten days alone with his wife. Ten days of pure unadulterated pleasure.
The thought of that alone time with his delectable mate caused his cock to shoot rock hard.
He began kissing Gemma in earnest, ready to begin the day in the most pleasurable fashion imaginable.
“Oh no,” she said when she realized what his intention was. “If I have to suffer today, so should you.” She laughed and hopped out of bed, leaving him raw and unsatisfied.
“Minx,” he grumbled, then padded into the shower. When she joined him there, he learned very quickly that she delighted in teasing him.
She soaped his body, being careful to avoid certain areas while paying almost too much attention to others. Then she asked him to help soap her and he got a little too aggressive, making her laugh and slap his hands away.
They were drying off when a knock sounded at the door. He opened it, only to find his sisters-in-law standing outside with fire in their eyes.
“Out of the way,” Jaz demanded, pushing him aside. “Where are you hiding the bride-to-be?”
“She’s in the bedroom,” he grumbled as the she filed past, followed by Dawn and Mayra.
“We’ll take it from here,” Mayra said over her shoulder. “Why don’t you go find your brothers? We’ll see you at the wedding.”
The bedroom door closed behind them and Cal stood outside, chagrined. Then it opened again without warning, a hand thrusting out, holding his suit for the day. Cal grabbed it, and the hand disappeared, the door shutting firmly again.
“Thank you,” he called wryly through the door. He then took the hint and left his quarters, deciding to try Marek’s rooms first.
The king was busy fussing over his two infants. Cal had to admit, his niece and nephew were pretty cute. But watching his brother make goo-goo noises over them was the height of hilarity.
“I know they’re one-quarter divine, but I’m pretty sure they’re not born speaking a language. Especially one so ridiculous.”
“Shut up, Calabez,” Marek growled out of the corner of his mouth so as not to disturb his babies. “What are you doing here?”
“Your queen kicked me out. She sent me to you to prepare for the ceremony.”
“Sounds about right.” Marek stepped away from the crib and looked his brother up and down. “Well, bro, are you ready for today?”
“I was ready the first time I claimed her. The wait has been excessive, if you ask me.”
“Nothing wrong with eagerness, but a proper royal wedding takes some time to prepare. I want the spectacle to take the peoples’ mind off the rumors in the streets.”
