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TWENTY-THREE

Sitting in the dim little village church, just him and the vicar, Leo began to feel nervous. Like actual butterflies lived in his belly, multiplying and turning his insides into a mad rave, the longer he waited. He flexed his claws, then put them away. Hell, what he'd do for an hour with the Felix 5000 right now, but Mother had insisted he wasn't allowed to shift while Lily was with them, because she was human, and if she saw him in his beast form, he'd be responsible for breaching the secrecy of the supernatural world.

But she wasn't here yet. What if...?

"She'll be here soon. The car's coming up the drive, and my wife's waiting for her in the foyer, to make sure she looks her best," the vicar said, as if reading Leo's mind. "Then your photographer might want to take some pictures, too, but then she'll be here and we can start."

Right. The photographer. One Mum had hired specifically because of his reputation for selling stuff to the gossip rags.

Which meant he had to look at Lily like he at least liked her. Love was a stretch, for a human who couldn't possibly be his fated mate, but if he imagined for a moment that she was, maybe he could maintain the right misty-eyed expression his mother hoped for.

Sounds in the vestibule drew his attention. He turned, and time stopped. A rare ray of sunlight streamed through the church door, haloing her figure like she was an angel. White...with rays of gold?

His mother and a strange woman he assumed was the vicar's wife bent over and did something to her skirt, before the vicar's wife hurried into the church toward the organ beside the altar. But she didn't sit down. Instead, she pulled out her phone, frowning at it for a moment, before tucking it into the dock that sat on top of the organ. A wedding march began to play through the church speakers.

Someone flicked on the church lights, and Leo truly saw his bride for the first time.

Her dark hair tumbled down her shoulders, covered by a gossamer thin veil shot through with threads of gold that glittered in the light. He hadn't imagined the gold on her dress, though it was mostly white. Gold hearts and curlicues emphasised her shapely breasts and narrow waist beneath the bodice, before arrowing down to meet the barely-there gold stripes that highlighted every curve of her fluted, bell-shaped skirt.

The light reflected off her veil, hiding her face, until she finally reached him, standing before the altar. Then she lifted the veil, flipping it so it hung down between her shoulders, and looked up at him.

Leo's heart jumped into his throat. She was beautiful. Cupid's bow lips the colour of roses, beneath golden brown eyes that looked more than a little worried.

Right. He was staring at her like he wanted to devour her. Probably because he kind of did. If he hadn't met his fated mate...he could absolutely fall for this girl. If he'd met her at Tremotino's ball instead...he'd have danced with her all night, then begged to see what she looked like beneath the dress.

Idly, he wondered if her underwear had gold embroidery on it too. Whether it was as sheer as her veil, or completely opaque, only hinting at the treasures that lay underneath while clinging to her skin to tantalise him with the outline of her perfection. He'd peel each layer off, one at a time, feasting with his eyes before tasting her with his tongue...

Someone cleared his throat. The vicar. Right. Yes.

"If you're ready, we can start the ceremony," the vicar said.

Leo adjusted his suddenly too-tight pants as he dragged his eyes away from the bride he couldn't wait to bed and to the man who was about to marry them.

"Now turn to face each other, hold hands, and repeat after me..." the vicar said.

Leo waited for Lily to say her vows, before it was his turn. She didn't stumble, but his mouth was so dry his voice failed him twice before he'd finally succeeded at getting the words out.

He managed to get the ring onto her finger first try, though, even though he stumbled over the words. Oh, what did his bride think of him? He could charm the board or a shareholders meeting without hesitation, but with her golden eyes on him, he was a stammering teenager all over again.

Yet not once did she look annoyed or upset. She just regarded him patiently, until it was her turn to do what the vicar said.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Thank fuck for that. This was something his mouth wouldn't mess up. He slid his hands around her warm, silk-clad waist, wishing he was stroking skin and not just fabric, pulling her closer. Then he ducked his head, as she lifted hers, and their lips met.

Fireworks blazed behind his closed eyes, so he forced them open, so that he might see the delicate brush of her eyelashes on her faintly blushing cheek – for she still had her eyes closed – as her heavenly taste hit him.

Oh god, he didn't ever want to stop kissing this woman. He didn't care that she was his mother's maid, a human and not his fated mate. He wanted her more than anyone or anything he'd ever desired in his life.

Someone cleared their throat.

Leo tore his lips away from Lily's, a growl rising in his throat, ready to tear out the jugular of the man who'd dared to interrupt them.

"You still need to sign the register," the vicar said, paling as he stepped back.

Leo forced his claws to retract. "Of course."

Leo, then Lily stepped up to the altar to sign the register, before his mother and the vicar's wife witnessed it, followed by the vicar adding his bit to make the marriage official. All the while, a weaselly man with a camera snapped endlessly, from every angle. He wanted to growl at the man for getting too close to Lily, but then his mother said, "Put your arm around her and smile for the camera, son," and he'd remembered why he wasn't allowed to dismember the man.

Then he'd curled an arm around Lily's waist and his fake smile turned real as her softness pressed against his side. His bride. His, damn it, his!

"While the sun's still shining, why don't we go out to the churchyard for some more photos?" Mother suggested.

As long as he didn't need to let go of Lily, that was fine by him.

He posed, he smiled, and he even got to kiss her again, though it was far too brief, in his opinion. But when the vicar's wife played more music and insisted he dance with Lily, Leo had never enjoyed a waltz more in his life. The song, alas, was too short, and it wasn't long before he was forced to pose again, until the good weather ended and the drizzle began.

Finally, Mother said, "Shall we go home? The cook has prepared a special wedding dinner, and I'm sure you're both eager to enjoy your wedding night together."

Oh, fuck yes. He couldn't wait to get her out of that dress.