“My, Mr. Westmore,” she murmured, “you clean up well.”
“I’m full of surprises, Mrs. Westmore,” he told her as they turned to face the minister. He didn’t let go of her hand, instead holding it tighter.
“Everyone, if you will now take your seats so we can begin,” the minister’s voice rang out. He started in on the ceremony, but Holly could barely hear his words above the sound of her blood pounding in her ears. She couldn’t focus on anything except this man beside her—this Beast in all his glory—rugged and loving and hers. Even the small distance between them felt too far and she found herself watching his chest to measure his breaths, then his lips, and his eyes. He caught her staring, gave her a wink. Sparks exploded inside her chest. Yes, she was proud to stand beside this one.
“Jacob Westmore.” The minster’s voice broke her train of thought. “Do you take Holly Wright to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to cherish her, protect her, and love her for eternity?”
“I do,” Jacob said without a second’s hesitation. His voice was heavy with purpose, but he smiled when he looked at her. He gave her hand a small squeeze and she gripped back.
“Holly Wright. Do you take Jacob Westmore as your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to support him, guide him, and love him for all eternity?”
She stared at Jacob in front of her. Jacob, strong, sturdy. A man who wanted her exactly as she was, no trimmings or adjustments needed. A man who would protect her at every turn. A man who would defend her and simultaneously give her the strength to defend herself. She looked into those deep, warm eyes and she knew.
Holly smiled. “I do.”
“Does anyone object to this union ?”
Silence from everyone. Even Chris.
“Then I now pronounce you man and—”
Before the minister could finish, Jacob grabbed Holly’s face and kissed her, hard. Hoots and cheers roared up from Jacob’s side of the room (and Alice). Holly laughed against his lips and then drew her hands to his shoulders, kissing his back. The cheering intensified.
“Are you happy?” he murmured when they sealed the kiss.
“Yes,” she said, grinning ear to ear. “Of course.”
Making His Mark
(Part 2)
Chapter 16
I do.
Two little words and, suddenly, Holly (thirty-nine, lonely, doomed to live out her life with ten cats and a bottle of unopened wishes) was no longer just Holly. Now, she was Mrs. Holly Westmore. Wife to the Alpha of Red Moon Ranch. One kiss and she was falling, quickly, the inertia of her life scattered like ripped buttons over the floor.
Worse, she found she liked the fall. She liked the floating feeling of her feet off the ground.
Luckily for her, Jacob had a habit of lifting her and pinning her against things. Like when they stumbled back to his ranch from the wedding ceremony and he carried her through the door and then—lips on hers—pressed her up against the wall.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Westmore,” he growled against her mouth.
“Thank you, Mr. Westmore.” She grinned, knocking his Stetson hat to the floor so she could draw her fingers though his thick salt-and-pepper hair. His hair was soft, his sun-kissed skin was soft, but his hands were rough, his tongue demanding. He grabbed the curve of her hips, the roundest part of her hourglass figure, and pulled her flush against him. Her wedding dress bunched up around her awkwardly, layers of white ruffled fabric between them, and she hooked her arms around his strong body. Her head tucked against his shoulder as he ravished her neck and chest with hungry kisses and her gaze fell out the full wall-length window. Jacob Westmore had the best view on Red Moon Ranch, with his cabin right at the top of the lolling hill, and she could see the dark outline of the forest and the mountain range. The nighttime sky stretched out, filling the window with a canvas of stars.
“Am I dreaming?” she murmured.
Jacob pinched her nipple through her dress. She gasped and giggled. “Don’t seem like it,” he drawled, that cocky smirk stamped on his face.
“Mmm.” She kicked out of her heels, dropping nearly an inch, and then murmured, “What do you say we move to the bedroom?”
“I think that’s the best thing I’ve heard all night.” Her eyebrows shot up her forehead. He quickly retracted his remark with, “Y’know. Besides the vows.”
Now it was her turn to smirk. “Life with you is going to be fun, isn’t it?”
“Only one way to find out.”
He snarled playfully and she shrieked, zipping out from his arms. She raced into the bedroom with Jacob quick on her heels and no sooner had she gotten on the bed then he pounced on her, pinning her there. The second he settled on top of her, the mood shifted. Their playfulness dissipated in the cool dark shadows of the bedroom and Holly felt a slow burn hum through her blood. Her body grew hotter, a warmth that settled between her legs, where she could feel herself start to get very slick very fast. Her wrists were shackled above her head by his long fingers and her heart rate quickened, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as she stared into the dark obsidians of his eyes.