Page 63 of Escaping Monsters

Chapter Twenty-One

Tears gathered in my eyes as I stared at the wonderful, beautiful veterinarian that I adored with every fiber of my being. “Yes. Yes. I want to be your wife Lucas.” I laughed and reached for him, but then I noticed the band on my finger. “Lucas, I…”

I knew what I had to say, but fuck, I didn’t want to say it.

“Lucas, yes to everything else, but I can’t take your mother’s ring.”

“It’s yours. It’s always been yours, Teagan.”

When I met Lucas’ gray eyes, I found them as sincere and earnest as I’d ever seen them. The ring felt like it was mine. It felt warm and perfect as if it was made for my finger. But Lucas had been holding onto it for who knows how long, and it was his mother’s ring. It might be the only thing he had of hers.

“But—we’ve barely known each other a month, and as you pointed out, we haven’t even kissed yet,” I said as sudden doubt crept in.

“You say that as you clutch the ring to your chest.” Lucas chuckled, and I could see no doubt in his warm eyes.

Glancing down, I had to agree that I was guarding the ring like a mama bear with her cub.

Lucas reached up and cupped my cheeks. “Teagan, it doesn’t matter how long I’ve known you. It doesn’t matter if you leave here tomorrow or stay forever. I always knew that I was going to give this ring to my mate, and that’s you. It’s always going to be you, Teagan, so the ring has no other purpose.”

“I’m not leaving Grayhaven, Lucas. I’m not ever planning on leaving. I want to make a home with you here—with all of you.” Contented happiness filled me with the words. I hadn’t dared to dream of something so beautiful as having a home for a decade. But now I had a home, a real one. Not only that, but I also had a pack. “Making a life with you five is my chance at happiness. You’re my pack. I know that now, and I want to take this chance, come what may.”

Joy dawned over his features, and his eyes brightened. “You’re staying?”

“Yes. I’m staying right here.” Leaning in, I pressed my mouth to Lucas’ soft lips. He was a contrast of petal soft and bristly, and immediately, a warm glow bubbled up in my belly. I cupped his cheeks, running my hands over his short beard. I kissed him until we were breathless, and then I broke away to say, “Does that make you my husband now, Dr. Wolf?”

“Only if you want to be my wife.”

“Oh… I’ve wanted that my whole adult life, I just hadn’t found you yet. I want to have and hold you and to love and adore you every single day.”

“And that’s exactly what I want, too, Teagan,” Lucas said.

I touched the ring, twisting the metal band around my finger. “Do you think it’ll cause us trouble with the others?”

Lucas’ lips twisted, and his brow furrowed. “We’ve already decided to not set limits on each other’s mateships with you.”

A laugh escaped me before I could help it. I wanted Lucas so much. I loved the idea of committing to him through thick and thin.

“I don’t need a court to tell me that you’re my husband, but there is one thing…” pausing, I bit my lip as nervousness bubbled up in my belly, “There’s no way that we can call ourselves husband and wife without consummating the marriage. Don’t you think?”

“Oh really? Is that how the rules go?” Lucas’ gaze dipped down to my lips, and he leaned in closer.

“Yes.” I wrapped my hand around his tie and whispered over his lips. “Those are the rules.”

“When exactly do you want to make us official?” Lucas asked.

“Right now. Right here,” I whispered.

Lucas sucked in a breath, and his fingers trailed up the side of my leg, sliding up the hem of my gauzy gown.

Public sex was a naughty way to start a committed relationship, but the roof was dark, and there was no way that anyone could see us here from the street. Knowing that it would take forever to lift my dress off, I reached up and pulled the ribbon at the back of my neck.

The fae dress came apart, sliding off my body to pool on the couch and revealing my nakedness beneath.

Behind us, the music missed a beat, and I glanced back only to remember that there was one other person who could see us here. Chad grinned wide at me, and then he returned his gaze to the guitar and continued playing.

“Teagan,” Lucas whispered, and when I turned to him, his gray eyes were filled with longing. My core slickened with heat. There was something so erotic about having a mature man dressed in a tuxedo looking at me that way while I sat before him, naked.

I tightened my grip on Lucas’ tie and climbed onto his lap. “Can I tell you a secret?”