Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(90)

“Sweet-talker,” she murmured as he once again took her hands in his, and just like that, he was serious again.

“I love you because you’ve brought me to life, fiammetta. Marry me.”

He pressed kisses to her hands and then pulled her close, nuzzling her abdomen before looking up at her, tenderness in his expression, a mist of tears in his eyes. He was always so in control, so commanding, and to show such vulnerability was all she needed.

She ran her fingers through his dark hair, stroking the beginnings of silver at his temples, and then caressed his hard-sculpted cheekbones with the backs of her fingers. “I thought you’d want to collar me, convince me to accept a Dom/sub relationship, and offer an alternative lifestyle without any of the traditional trappings, Sir.”

“I plan to do both of those things, fiammetta, once we’ve negotiated a substitute collar for you. But I wouldn’t expect you to live a life with no protection or provision if something happened to me. I want you to fill my world, not just a single role in it.”

“Yes. I’ll marry you, Joseph. Sir. Yes, to all of it.”

“Even the collar?” he asked as he rose to his feet. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her from the floor so she was at eye level.

“I trust you to come up with an agreeable alternative.”

“Cuffs? A permanent collar like the loose one you wore the other night?”

“We’ll see? Um, Sir?” she murmured, rubbing her lips against his.

“Mmm?”

“What about all the people who will think I’ve married you to improve my situation?”

“Anyone who knows me knows that, by marrying you, I’ve improved my situation, fiammetta. The rest can think what they wish.”

“I smell food,” Tristan said as he came into the kitchen. “Oh, gross. Never mind,” he uttered in disgust as he realized they were kissing. “I’ll come back later.”

Joseph and Bunny burst into laughter, and Bunny chased after her brother to tell him the good news. Before she left the room, she turned back and gave Joseph a playful wink and then shook her finger at him. “Touch my tortillas and I’ll have to hurt you…Buster.”

His laughter echoed to her from the kitchen.





Epilogue




September…



Joseph encountered his butler in the main corridor of Hazelle House, carrying a basket of rose petals, and chuckled. “You know, I’m all for diversity, Hughes, but I’m not sure how well you’ll pull off the flower girl routine.”

Hughes broke into laughter as he stirred the vibrant red, peach, and orange rose petals in the basket with his finger. “No? I was determined to break stereotypes. Are you looking for Bunny, sir?”

“Yes. All of the ladies just arrived, and they need to help her get ready.”

“The last I saw of her she was headed out to her truck, looking for a tool she needed. She said something about staying busy and that she’d finally isolated the issue with the amplifier in your media room. I expect she’s in the—”

“The attic.”

“Quite right, sir.”

Joseph shook his head as they walked together. “Leave it to my fiancée to break the bridal mold. She could’ve gone to the spa or holed up in the suite with her friends to spend the entire day getting ready.”

“I’m sure she will be stupendously lovely, regardless of the amount of time she takes, sir,” Hughes said agreeably. “The entire staff, myself included, are on tenterhooks, waiting to see her in the dress.”

The dress. Her one concession to the mania of bridal shopping. Violet and a whole host of friends had taken Bunny shopping and had looked for two weeks solid for the perfect dress, gone to umpteen bridal boutiques in as many cities before finding the dress. Mona, Shae, and even Jade had seen the dress. But he wouldn’t see her in it until that evening, when she became his wife.

Hector was licensed to perform civil ceremonies and did so on a regular basis for friends in the lifestyle. He would be presiding over their wedding.

“All right, then. I’ll head up to the suite and see if I can locate her.”

Hughes nodded. “Good. And don’t worry about preparations down here. We have everything under control, sir.”

“I like hearing that.” The mansion had been a venue to a variety of events, but never a wedding. It was good to shake things up occasionally.

Tristan had found Joseph’s home to his liking and was adjusting well, with the addition of a tutor and an occupational therapist. Joseph was also having the mostly unused basketball court resurfaced for him to skateboard on.

Violet and her friends had taken over the luxury suite on the floor beneath his, and as he took the stairs, he heard the controlled chaos as the women set up while waiting for him to find the bride.