Page 51 of Priceless
“You want to see them?”
“I mean…”
One knuckle went under my chin to make sure I didn’t look away. His voice was soft. “Tell the truth, Ocean.”
“No, I don’t. But they won’t leave without talking to me. I’m pretty sure about that.”
With a smile, he dropped a quick kiss on my mouth like it was the most natural thing in the world. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. In the meantime, I think it’s time we cut the cake.”
Taking my hand, he guided me across the room, and I let him. Because they were already taking care of me, and I fucking liked it.
No, I loved it.
I was already sliding downward toward wanting more than they would give, and there was no way I was getting out of this with my heart intact.
Focusing on what Isolde told me, I pushed the thoughts away and vowed to enjoy it while it lasted.
19
PEONY
MEANING: ANGER; APHRODISIAC; BEAUTY; BRAVERY; HAPPY MARRIAGE; HEALING; ROMANCE; SHAME; SHYNESS; UNREALIZED DESIRES
MICAH
________
Iwatched Cam take Ocean to the cake and followed at a distance. All wrapped in frothy lace, she looked more delicious than the cake. And with her sweetness permeating the air, she was the only thing I wanted to take a bite out of.
Raina walked next to Everett and I. “Do I even want to know why we’re keeping Frank and Laura away?”
“Unless you want to feel Alpha rage right now? No. You don’t.”
“Fuck,” she muttered.
“That about sums it up.”
She turned and looked at us. “When you said you were getting married because of the board, I didn’t expect this.”
“What?”
Her smirk told me what was coming. “Don’t pretend. You look at her like she’s… the only thing in the world.”
Everett chuckled. “I’m glad you noticed. She hasn’t yet.”
“She will. Now go get your bride.”
Raina retreated to her own pack, her Omega embracing her when she reached their table. Raina looked at him the way we looked at Ocean. Unfathomable love.
Another breath of Ocean’s scent had me turning back to my Omega where she stood at the cake with wide eyes. Cam lifted his hand to us, but I was already moving. I touched Ocean on the shoulder. “Sorry, beautiful. We’re here.”
She looked up at me so fast her curls bounced. Her eyes were such a dark brown they were nearly black, and I didn’t think I’d ever seen any eyes like them. I could get lost in them. She mouthed a word, and it took me a second to realize she’d repeated the word beautiful. Like it was alien to her.
How much damage had her aunt and uncle done to her that she didn’t think she was fucking stunning? It had already been the goal, but my entire life’s mission shifted to make sure Ocean knew how perfect she was at any given opportunity.
The photographer was already looking at us, so I took her hand. “Ready?”
“I—” she squeezed my fingers and whispered, “please don’t smash cake in my face.”
