Chapter 15

Trish held up another dress and gave Holdar an anxious look.

"What about this one?"

"Princess, you look gorgeous no matter what you wear. And even more gorgeous when you wear nothing at all."

She rolled her eyes at him. It was the day of the Easter egg hunt and not only would most of the town be there but her father was coming as well. He had not been happy when she announced that she wasn't coming back to Atlanta, but when it came right down to it, he loved her and wanted her to be happy. He'd even sent her part of her wardrobe which was why she was having so much trouble deciding what to wear. It had been much easier when she only had a handful of choices.

"You're no help," she muttered.

"Maybe I should take a closer look. Why don't you come over here and let me feel the fabric?"

She knew that look in his eyes only too well and she shook her head.

"Because then we'll be late and I want to watch Daisy hunt for eggs. Thank goodness, Trogar is well enough to come."

His brother had recovered with remarkable speed and she knew what a relief that had had been to him. They'd been staying in the cottage next to Trogar's house since Flora's future inhabitant had yet to show up, and the brothers had been spending a lot of time together.

"Wear the one with the daisies," Holdar suggested.

"In honor of Daisy? I like that idea."

"I do too, but I was actually thinking about that little daisy biking you used to wear to torment me."

"Mmm. I think that was in one of my trunks. Maybe I'll try and find it tonight."

His eyes heated as he rose and stalked towards her and despite her worry about being late, she went gladly into his arms. And really, they were only a little late.

The egg hunt was taking place in the Town Square, partitioned into four smaller areas for children of different ages. Her father had, of course, commandeered a prime position on the central gazebo, flanked by Banner and another of his anonymous guards. He looked a little paler than usual and he was leaning on a stick, but otherwise he looked the same as he always did and she breathed a sigh of relief as she rushed over to him.

"Daddy!"

"My Trish." He hugged her tightly, the familiar scent of brandy and expensive cigars wrapping around her, then leaned back to look at her. "I have to admit you look radiant."

"Thank you, Daddy. It's all because of Holdar."

He looked at Holdar, standing silently behind her, with his arms crossed, his eyes once more hidden behind his mirrored shades. He looked more like her bodyguard than her mate and she tugged him forward impatiently.

"I suppose I should thank you for keeping my daughter safe," her father said. "Even if you are planning to keep her away from me."

"I'm not keeping her anywhere. She can go wherever she wants and I'll go with her."

Her father frowned at him and then at her.

"You mean this is a permanent thing?"

"Yes, Daddy." She took a deep breath. "We're getting married."

"Married?" His face hovered between horror and delight, but quickly settled into delight. "That's wonderful. We'll have to make arrangements to hire a church and an event planner. I think Crystal Anne did the wedding for that NFL player and it was very impressive."

"But I don't want -"

"We should get started on your dress immediately. Hand embroidery takes forever these days. I wonder if we could arrange for a special rose."

She gave Banner a helpless look but he just shook his head, mouthing congratulations. Holdar's face had settled into the old familiar frown.

"Is that what you want?" he demanded.

"Of course not. But Daddy loves weddings. Let's just let him run with it for now, okay?"

Run with it he did. Her father was still making dozens of wildly conflicting plans when she walked back to his limousine with him and hugged him goodbye.

He finally stopped planning long enough to study her face.

"You're sure this is what you want?"

"I am. I love him, Daddy, and he makes me very, very happy."

He sighed.

"I guess I can't ask for more than that. And at least I know he can look after you."

"Yes, he can. We'll come visit you soon."

"I'll look forward to it. I love you, Trish."

"I love you too, Daddy."

She waved him away, then looked up to see Holdar giving her a concerned look.

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to Atlanta?"

"Don't you start. I want to live here. I'm even going to have a job."

Houston had pushed the part-time marketing position through the Town Council and given her the job. She couldn't wait to get started.

They returned to the Square to find a chocolate stained Daisy asleep on Trogar's shoulder. The eggs for the babies had simply been scattered across the grass but she'd happily toddled after them once she grasped the concept.

"She needs her face wiped but I don't want to wake her," Trogar muttered and Pippa gave him a soothing pat on the arm.

"You can give her a bath once we get home."

"All right," he sighed.

"Do you want me to carry her?" Holdar asked.

"No, I'm fine."

"I can't believe there's actually an easter bunny," she said as the silver-haired woman hopped by looking nervously over her shoulder at the wolves following her.

"She's just a rabbit shifter, not the real Easter bunny." Holdar frowned after the woman. "I wonder if I should chase off those wolves."

Before he could decide, Eric appeared and dispersed the trailing wolves with a few quick snarls. Holdar waved at him, then the four of them started up the hill towards home.

"Do you want to stay for supper?" Pippa asked. "It's only spaghetti, but I have plenty."

‘Thank you, but not tonight," she said quickly before Holdar could accept. She had plans for her mate.

"Why didn't you want to stay?" Holdar asked as they entered the cottage.

Instead of responding, she untied the thin straps on her daisy patterned sundress and let it drop to the ground to reveal the daisy bikini beneath it. He followed her into the bedroom without another word, watching as she climbed upon the bed on her hands and knees, his eyes blazing amber.

"Did you ever think of me in this position?" she asked.

"I thought of you in every position. Fuck, you're gorgeous, princess. I'm going to eat you up."

"Not if I eat you first," she giggled.

"Later," he promised, going to his knees behind her.

He left the bikini in place, simply pushing it to one side as he swiped his tongue through her folds before pushing it deep inside her. His fingers teased her clit, circling it until her body began to quiver, and then he pulled back, waiting for her need to ebb a little before starting the whole process again.

"Please," she begged, rocking back towards him.

"Tell me what you want."

"I want you, my love"

"Then you shall have me."

His fingers continued to play with her clit as he slowly pressed his thick cock into her, making her shudder around him as she cried out his name. He always felt so much bigger in this position, almost too much to take, but that only made it better. He pushed the bikini bottom further to one side, working it along the crease in her buttocks and she shuddered again.

"God, that feels good," she managed, her words coming out a gasp as he slowly pumped in and out of her.

She could feel the piercing on the underside of his shaft, sliding past her entrance with every stroke, while his tattoo stoked the rest of her channel. She rocked back towards him, encouraging him to move faster and he finally obliged.

"Is this what you need, princess?"

"Yes. More," she begged as her release started to build.

He thrust harder, faster, finally releasing his control, and she thrust back against him just as desperately.

"That's my girl. Come for me, princess."

Her climax rushed over her, sending waves of pleasure flooding through her veins. He roared her name, his cock pulsing inside her as he filled her over and over, and then he lowered her to the mattress and curled up around her.

"I'm so lucky you found me, my love," she murmured sleepily.

"Luck had nothing to do with it. You were meant to be mine."

"And you were meant to be mine," she whispered as she drifted off to sleep, still smiling