Enlightening Bloom(28)

I feel like gravity is pulling me to him. I can’t stop it, nor do I want to. The reservation I have is still here, just buried deeper in my head as my heart opens itself to him and takes the lead. I’m walking faster, practically pulling Bloom along with me. Tucker doesn’t give me a chance to get to him. He walks away from Pike, and on sure feet heads straight for me. I let go of Bloom and start to run. My arms latch on to his neck. His hands take my waist and lift me. My legs go around his waist with my feet lacing at the small of his back. Our lips lock and I give up the fight. This is right.

"About time you felt it." Tucker says through our bond. I pull back from the kiss enough to look at his face. The big beast is grinning at me. I roll my eyes at his arrogance, and then place a peck on the tip of his nose.

"Put me down you big goof. You're holding up the ceremony."

"If I recall, you were the one who came barreling down the aisle and jumped into my arms. Not the other way around." He laughs, playfully swatting my behind with one of his humungous hands.

"Keep your paws to yourself, Cujo! And you came walking after me, too, so you're just as much to blame for the hold up as I am."

"I'll happily take part of the blame." He drops his head closer to mine and switches to using our connection. "But as for my paws they'll be firmly planted on some part of your body all evening, so you might as well go ahead and give up that fight right now. You're mine and I plan on getting to know every inch of you."

"Okay, it's really time to put me down." I tell him my voice low and shaky.

"Nah." He laughs as he spins us around. With my body still wrapped around his, he carries me to the end of the aisle, not letting me go till we're directly in front of Pike. I slide down his body and move to put some space between us. But being the overbearing man that he is, he maneuvers me back to his side with his arm across my lower back, and his hand staking claim of my hip.

"Possessive." I grumble.

"Absolutely." He responds instantly.

I shake my head, and then finally taking notice of Pike say. "Let's get this going, Big Bad."

Pike throws his head back in a laugh. I feel Bloom taking the spot beside me, having finally caught up to Tucker and I after our little show. I look over in time to see her watching her mate laugh, but then she turns her smiling face to me and winks.

When his laugh dies out he's smiling, as well. "You're going to keep everyone on their toes. Aren't you?"

"Abso-freakin'-lutely." I say, adding my own twist to Tucker's earlier response.

He shakes his head, but since he's still smiling I figure he's looking forward to having a pain in the butt like me in his pack. "Ready to start?" He asks.

"You're the one holding us up now." I sass.

He looks at Tucker. "Sure you don't want to run?"

Somehow Tucker manages to pull me tighter to his side. "I like the sass."

"To each his own." Pike chuckles. The chuckles dies, he clears his throat, and then he addresses everyone. "Today is the first time I reside over a mating since taking the position of Alpha. And I'm pleased to say that I get to do so for my closest friend. I know you two are still learning about each other. But that's the way of our wolves. They find who they want. They claim them. And they let everything else work itself out later. We're lucky enough that they know who's made for them. And you two are surely made for each other. We all know you've had little time to prepare but Tucker would you like to say your mating vows?"

Tucker uses his big body to position me the way he wants. So we're now facing with our bodies practically glued together. My hands are resting on his chest, and his are resting on my lower back. Part of me wants to snap off a sassy response to his possessive move, but I stomp that part into the ground because I'm embracing this moment and that includes my mate’s alpha tendencies. Tucker watches my face with a grin. He's reading my mind and he's liking the thoughts. I roll my eyes at him. He shoves his head into my neck and squeezes me tighter while he chuckles.

His head comes back up, the happiness radiating from his every pore. His goofy smile stretches to unbelievable proportions. Then he starts his vows and they steal the breath from my body. "Unlike others I didn't think about who my mate would be. I didn't send out silent prayers for the heavens to make her stunning and sweet. I didn't dream of this day and what it would be like or how I'd feel when I found you. I just had faith that they would know who was best for me and they'd bring her to me. I can say that I didn't expect you to come into my life so soon. We're both young. Some will say it's too soon for us to find our one. But screw those people. I'm going to take every day God gives me with you, and I'm going to cherish it like the precious gift it is. He made us for each other, and I trust that he knows what he's doing. I know you have your doubts and I understand them, but I promise that every day we have together on this earth that I'll find a way to prove how much you mean to me. I'll be your strength when you don't have your own. I'll be at your back supporting you in every challenge that comes your way. I'll be the shoulder for you to cry on. The ear for you to vent your frustrations to. The arms to hold you when you need comforted. And my heart will forever give you its love because you are my one true mate."