Page 41 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

The Den’s ‘Once Upon a Time’ night was in full swing, and the main floor was filled with couples in elaborate fairytale costumes. Sasha laughed as Gregorio led her through the crowd, past princes, princesses, woodland creatures, and even a few dragons mingling near the fireplace.

“You could have warned me about the theme,” she said, adjusting the simple black mask he’d given her when they arrived. “I would have dressed up.”

His diamond earring caught the light as he grinned down at her. “And what would you have chosen, Petal?”

“I don’t know.” She worried her lower lip for a moment as she considered. “Maybe Morgana.”

“From the Arthurian legends?”

“Not in the villain kind of way, but the powerful enchantress who commanded respect.” She gave him a knowing look. “A woman who knew her own mind and wasn’t afraid to claim what she wanted.”

“The sorceress who could bring the most dangerous of men to their knees,” he murmured, his voice roughening. “It suits you perfectly.”

She grinned. The costume would have been fun and easy, as well.

“And you?” She reached up to touch his earring. “Never mind. You’re already my pirate.”

“Am I now?” His grin widened as he guided her toward the patio doors.

“Mmhmm. The diamond… The dangerous aura… The way you swept in and stole my heart.” She traced the scar on his jaw. “And not to mention the nightly plundering.”

“Argh.” He raised one of his eyebrows. “Not my fault you have an amazing bootie, my sweet.”

As she laughed at his ridiculousness, he swooped in for a kiss that promised more plundering in the night ahead.

The evening air held the first bite of autumn, but the firepits kept the chill at bay.

They walked to the bar. The woman mixing up drinks was wearing a puffy parka and goggles, and she had a snowboard leaning against a rack. Sasha wasn’t sure how this fit the Once Upon a Time theme, but she was dressed warmer than anyone else, which made her smart.

As Sasha studied the menu, he ordered a soda water with a splash of cranberry.

When she ordered a Safe Word mocktail, Gregorio’s eyes darkened with amusement.

“Still testing your limits, Petal?” His voice held that rough edge that made her shiver.

“As I recall, you’re the one who taught me to push my boundaries, Sir.” Moments later, drink in hand, she ran her finger around the spice-dusted rim, remembering that first night—how the heat had curled through her, how she’d wished for something stronger…for him.

“And have you ever needed to use it?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Your safe word?”

“Not with you.” She took a slow sip, letting the contradictory sensations of smooth coconut cream and spicy cayenne play across her tongue. “Never with you.”

His eyes blazed as he watched her lick the sugar and spice from her lips. “Good answer.”

He moved them close to a firepit. Flames danced in the cool, late-fall breeze.

“To us,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.

She smiled, remembering the first night she’d come here searching for his help. How far they’d come since then.

Her engagement ring caught the firelight, sending prisms dancing across their skin.

“Have you thought more about the date?” he asked, his voice carrying that note of gentle persistence she’d come to know well.

“Still trying to pin me down?”

“Always.” His expression softened. “I’ve waited my whole life for you, Petal. I don’t want to wait much longer to call you my wife.”

When she didn’t respond, he went on. “We’ve known each other forever.”

And he’d consumed her for that long.

While her parents were okay with their relationship, her sister was another matter. Even though her wedding was upcoming, she still didn’t want anything to do with Sasha.

Last Saturday, she and Gregorio had stopped into her parents’ restaurant for dinner. And while the four of them had been in the kitchen chatting, Adriana had stopped in.

When she saw Gregorio, she’d gone for his jugular.

Patiently, he’d raised his hand and owned his part in the failure of the relationship. “Look, I was a shitty husband.”

“And you’re still a shitty human being,” she’d countered.

Gasping, their mother had crossed herself and their dad had scolded her.

Gregorio had shaken his head, telling his future father-in-law that he had things under control. “I deserve it.”

“Damn right you do,” Adriana had fired back. Then she’d rounded on her father. “Quit defending this cheating pair.”

“Adriana!” Sasha had protested. “That’s uncalled for.”

Eyes flashing anger, Adriana had glared at Sasha. “You’ve spent your whole life in my shadow, always settling for my hand-me-downs.”

Before she’d been able to respond, Gregorio had stepped in front of her, in Adriana’s line of fire. “I’ll tolerate your disrespect, but I won’t put up with you being rude to your parents or my future wife.”

“Wife?” she’d scoffed. “You two are getting married? Fuck that.” Then, she’d turned on Sasha once more. “I guess you’ll never deserve better than my leftovers.”

“You had one warning,” he’d said, voice scarily soft as he took a step forward.

Automatically, Adriana had moved back. “What are you going to do?”

“Throw you out of here.”

Adriana had gasped and Sasha blinked. He planned to escort Adriana out of the restaurant?

“You’re welcome to come back as soon as we leave.”

Chin tipped in defiance, Adriana had gasped. “Why I never!”

“Maybe someone should have taught you some manners before now. Rudeness is never okay. Like I said, come at me all you want. But never Sasha or your parents.”

“Gregorio is right,” her father had said.

Sasha had gaped at him. Not once in her life had her father said anything slightly harsh to his favorite child.

Her mother had blinked back tears.

Still between Sasha and her older sister, Gregorio had folded his arms. “Enjoy your evening.”

In a huff, Adriana had picked up a metal pan and slammed it against a stainless steel counter before storming out.

For a moment, everyone had remained frozen in place.

Then her father had said, “Rosa, how about some espresso?”

To her mother, Sasha had tried to apologize for Gregorio’s harshness, but Rosa waved her off. “This would have gone on forever if he hadn’t put a stop to it.”

After a few awkward minutes, they’d enjoyed a wonderful visit.

Her parents had sat at a table with them while her father had continued to order more food than they could eat in three days.

When they’d left the restaurant, they’d been loaded down with to-go boxes.

“I want my wedding ring here.”

Bringing her back to the moment, Gregorio lifted her hand and he traced the outline of her engagement band.

She wanted nothing more, either.

Before she could respond, Damien and Catrina joined them. The couple was dressed as if they’d stepped out of a medieval fairytale—Damien in all black with a cape, Catrina in a flowing gown that made her look like a warrior queen.

“Still trying to convince her to set a date?” Damien asked, his usual commanding presence tempered by genuine warmth.

Catrina’s skeptical expression had softened over the months as she’d watched Sasha and Gregorio together. Now there was acceptance in her eyes, maybe even happiness for them.

“Working on it.” Gregorio reached for her and brushed his thumb across the pulse in her wrist. “Actually, since you’re here…” He turned to his friend, and Sasha caught a flicker of vulnerability in his expression that few ever saw. “I was hoping you’d stand with me. As my best man.”

Something powerful passed between the two men—years of friendship, shared battles, mutual respect. Damien’s eyes glistened briefly before he masked it. “Try to stop me, brother.”

As the two men hugged, Catrina pressed a hand to her heart. “You two deserve all the happiness in the world,” she said softly to Sasha and Gregorio. “I’m sorry I doubted you at first.”

“You were protecting someone you care about,” Sasha replied. “I understand that.”

“And how about you two?” Sasha asked when the moment was right. As far as she knew, Damien and Catrina hadn’t set a date yet.

“Christmas,” Catrina said.

Damien blinked.

“I take it this is a surprise?” Gregorio asked.

“About fucking time,” Damien replied.

Standing, he pulled Catrina to her feet. “If you’ll excuse us? My fiancée has something to answer for with surprising me like that.”

Obviously proud of herself, Catrina smiled.

Then, seeing Damien’s fierce expression, she pressed her lips together, even though her eyes danced with happiness.

“With me, wench,” Damien demanded, clamping his hand around her upper arm.

“Yes, Sir.” She flashed a triumphant shrug.

“I’d say he was surprised,” Sasha mused once the pair had disappeared back inside the house.

“And that he wanted to be the first to know the news about his own wedding.”

Like Catrina, Sasha grinned. “Never a good idea to let your Dominant think he always has the upper hand.”

“No?”

Once more, he quirked a brow, this time in pseudo-threat.

“I mean…” She took a quick drink and choked on the spice. “Clearly, she clearly made a bad call, Sir.”

“Right.” He pulled her in closer.

“But, Sir!”

“Never a good call to let a sub think she has the upper hand.”

She clenched her buttocks in response to the tone in his voice. This wasn’t going to go well for her.

Also like Catrina, she couldn’t be happier.

After depositing their glasses on the tray of a passing waiter dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, he helped her to stand then guided her through the Den and into the dungeon.

They chatted with a few people before he took her to a private room.

Inside, hundreds of candles created an intimate golden glow. Rose petals scattered across the floor led to a beautiful archway draped in fairy lights.

“Close your eyes, Petal.”

She obeyed without hesitation, trusting him completely. When he told her to open them again, she gasped. The room had been transformed into an enchanted garden, with twinkling lights creating a canopy of stars above them.

“This is where I want to have a collaring ceremony first, if you’re open to it,” he said softly. “One month from today.”

Her heart stuttered. “What?”

“I’ll arrange everything with Damien.” His voice was rough with emotion as he withdrew a small box from his pocket.

Inside there was a delicate collar. “And then I want the wedding soon after. I want everyone to know you’re mine completely, in every way.

” He looked at her even deeper. “The way I’m yours. ”

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she turned to face him. “Yes,” she whispered. She’d been trying to make decisions, but there were so many of them. Flowers. Venue. Gown.

Him pushing her a little intensified the timeline, giving her a sense of urgency to get things done. “Yes,” she repeated. “Yes, yes. Yes.”

“We can have another ceremony later for friends and family. But I don’t want to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to make you mine.”

His kiss was tender, reverent, full of promise. When he finally pulled back, his eyes shimmered with unshed tears of his own. “I love you, my Petal. My precious. My heart.”

“And I love you.” She touched his cheek gently. “My protector. My pirate. My forever.”

As his arms wrapped around her, holding her close beneath their canopy of stars, Sasha knew with absolute certainty that this was exactly where she belonged.

In weeks, she would marry her soulmate in this very spot.

Their path hadn’t been easy, but every step had led them here—to each other, to forever.

“Now…there’s the tiny matter of your earlier sass.”

Her mouth dried. “But—”

“And you thinking you had the upper hand.”

“But, Sir—” she tried again.

“Anything you want to say for yourself before you get the spanking you deserve?”

She could apologize, but that wouldn’t get her out of it. “Uhm…”

With his thumb and forefinger, he captured her chin and tilted it back. “You have a lot to answer for, sub.”

“Yes, Sir.” Her heart leapt, and she swallowed deeply. “I do.” And I wouldn’t have it any other way.