Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“I will,” Torus said, and he truly meant it. Molly looked so beautiful and fragile, standing there across from him. His heart swelled for her and he longed to give her everything her ex-Mate had denied her—every joy, every precious moment of peace and love and tenderness—he would give it, if he could.
He was guarding his thoughts but his emotions must have come through the TET link because Molly’s eyes grew wide and then a single tear spilled down her cheek.
“Oh, Torus” she whispered and Torus felt her emotions—trepidation and uncertainty mixed with hope and a tentative desire—as though she wanted him but was almost afraid to let herself feel for him.
Torus couldn’t stop himself—he reached for her tiny hands and enfolded them in his own. Her emotions came through to him even more strongly when they touched and he caught a stray thought…
What if I’m falling for him?
Then the priestess said,
“By the power and grace of the Mother of All Life who loves and cares for all her children, I declare the two of you Joined in her sight. Honor each other with a kiss to seal your Bond.”
Torus let go of Molly’s hands and lifted her veil. Since he was still kneeling, she came to him and put her arms trustingly around his neck.
“Sweetheart,” he murmured and tilted his head to kiss her gently. Her lips were lush and soft and though he felt her trepidation at first, it soon turned to a surprisingly strong desire and she kissed him back eagerly.
For a long moment, it felt like time stood still. All Torus could think of was how much he’d been wanting to kiss her and how it was even better than he’d imagined. She felt so good in his arms—so right. Her little mouth was so soft and sweet and yielding under his. He wished he could kiss her everywhere—that he could cover her entire beautiful, curvy body with kisses until she moaned her pleasure for him.
“Oh, Torus!” he heard her send through their TET link and he realized that once again, his thoughts had slipped out.
“Forgive me,” he sent back. “I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”
“It’s okay.” She broke the kiss and looked into his eyes. “But…did you really mean it?”
“I did. I want to kiss every one of your sweet little freekles,” Torus sent her, hoping she wouldn’t be offended.
Her cheeks got pink and he could feel her pleased embarrassment mixed with desire.
“That might be quite a chore—I, uh, have freckles all over.”
“Even better!” And he pulled her in for another delicious, lingering kiss.
The kiss went on and on until someone—Torus thought it might be one of his Jorgen friends—cleared their throat and brought him back to reality.
“Ooops—I think I may have been over-kissing you,” he sent to Molly, pulling back to break the kiss at last.
“I guess I was over-kissing you too, then,” she sent back with a shy little laugh. “Are your knees tired?” she added. “You’ve been kneeling for a long time—they must hurt by now.”
“A little. It’s worth it to be close to you.” Torus gave her one last kiss—because he could—and pulled her into an embrace before reluctantly letting her go and getting to his feet. “Come, little bird,” he told her as the string quartet started playing again. “I think it’s time for the reception.”
“And after that, the honeymoon,” she sent and he saw the shy, tentative smile on her face and felt her wondering what it would be like when they were alone together again.
Torus wondered too. He wanted to be with her, he admitted to himself—but he still feared he was too large to truly Bond with her. And besides, her ex-Mate had treated her harshly and hurt her—she might not feel ready to be intimate with a male again for some time.
He would let Molly take the lead, he decided. But for now, they had to get through the reception first, before they could be alone together.
20
MOLLY
Molly felt like she was in a dream as she floated down the aisle, hand-in-hand with the big Kindred. Her friends from work were cheering and clapping and the tall Jorgen Kindred, who were Torus’s friends, were grinning and congratulating him on winning such a beautiful bride.
What would they think if they knew all this was fake? Molly wondered. But it didn’t feel fake. The emotions she’d shared with Torus as they said their vows had felt real—and she had really meant hers. He had meant his vows too—she had felt the sincerity coming from him in waves as he agreed to everything the priestess demanded.
And that kiss…well, she was still lightheaded from it. Zach had never kissed her like that—no one had ever kissed her like that. So soft and yet so urgent—the big Kindred’s desire seemed to flow into her and make her want him when they touched so intimately.