“I know that would’ve made the most sense,” he admitted as he jumped behind the wheel. “But I really want to peel you out of that dress. Call me selfish, but I’m greedy when it comes to you.”
“Greedy is the last thing I would call you, Caelan,” I joked as he started the engine.
“I am when it comes to you,” he said with a shrug. “And I’m not ashamed to admit it. I want you all to myself most of the time. It’s only because we both have responsibilities and you deserve to have friends that I even entertain letting you out of my sight.”
I felt the familiar burn spreading across my cheeks as we rumbled out of the parking lot.
“I’m greedy with you too,” I admitted softly.
Without taking his eyes off the road, he reached over and grasped my hand, interlocking our fingers before resting them on my thigh.
“I get jealous sometimes of other mates like Taffy and Dillon. They got to be normal, without all the chaos and danger we’ve had to go through. Sometimes I wished we had that chance,” I said.
Caelan sighed softly, his thumb running over the back of my hand.
“It’s true we haven’t had the most traditional start to our mating,” he conceded. “And I do wish that I had done a few things differently. Like I wish I had ended that stupid choosing ritual as soon as I recognized that you were my mate. But we’re here now, and that’s all that really matters.”
He brought my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles.
“Our story is ours, Shade. It’s evidence of everything we’ve had to overcome to get here. There’s been a lot in our path, but we’ve come out stronger on the other end. Could things have been easier for us? Yes, of course, but if that meant changing anything about us, I would choose this every time.”
“Me too,” I admitted without hesitation. “Whatever struggles our mating has brought us before and whatever it may bring us in the future, I will always choose you. Life doesn’t seem so terrifying with you by my side.”
“Agreed,” he said with a soft smile as he pulled to a stop. “We’re here.”
He climbed out and rushed around to open my door for me. I giggled as he offered his hand, taking it and letting him help me out.
“We’ll have to walk the rest of the way, but it should only take a few minutes,” he assured me. “Would you like me to carry you?” “Would you like to?” I teased.
“I’d love to,” he mumbled, scooping me up and carrying me like a bride as he wandered deeper into the forest. “Careful, if I had my way your feet would never touch the ground.”
“I always want to be in your arms, Caelan,” I whispered against his skin, feeling his body vibrate as an eager growl rumbled through his chest.
After a few minutes, I heard the soft trickle of water.
The trees parted to reveal a babbling brook making its way down the mountainside. In its center, the stream split around a large flat rock. A perfectly made bed sprinkled with rose petals rested on the slab, a series of flickering, flameless candles placed all around it.
I gasped. “Oh, Caelan. It’s beautiful.”
“I thought this would be more romantic than just going back to one of our rooms,” he replied. “Something special just for you. I hope you like it.”
“I love it!” I assured him. “When did you have time to do all this?”
“I did it yesterday while you were getting ready. Fortunately, it didn’t rain last night so everything was still set when I came outhere earlier to make sure it was all good to go for tonight,” he explained.
“How are we going to get over there?” I asked, not sure I wanted to get my dress wet.
“Just like this,” Caelan remarked, kicking off his shoes without setting me down.
“But your pants,” I protested as he marched into the brook, the bottom of his slacks submerging in the water.
“I don’t plan to stay dressed for long,” he retorted with a cocky grin.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the giggle that escaped my lips. Caelan guided us expertly across, carefully setting me down as we reached the large, flat rock.
I smiled at the soft, romantic glow cast by the flickering LED candles. The fluffy pillows and silken sheets of the bed beckoned to us in the moonlight. Even the crickets seemed to serenade us, their song a delicate soundtrack playing in the background.
A copper bucket sat next to the bed, the long, foil-wrapped neck of a bottle sticking out through the ice.
