The Beast And The Blessed

Forty-Two: Joselin

Joselin's P.O.V.

The crickets were chirping, and the tall, natural grass was rustling in the breeze. The sound of the night had never been more comforting as I worked myself up for what was about to happen.

No one needed to know about tonight unless we told them. It could be our secret, our private moment to be ourselves and embrace our connection.

Things had been sweet and loving for the past few days, enjoying every minute together we could before Rona returned, and we would spiral into chaos again. Tobias's possessiveness was a major turn-on, and he owned me and my body whenever I stepped into our bedroom. Yet, each time I told him how excited I was for tonight, his whole body would melt and relax, and our hard fucking would turn into slow lovemaking.

It was the kind that could drive any woman wild. My eyes would roll back into my head as my nails dug into his skin. His long, deep thrusts into me and low groans as he enjoyed himself, were incredible.

My hands were tightly clasped before me. The skin-tight dress I had chosen was made of pure lace, leaving very little to the imagination. It ended only a few inches down my thighs and was sleeveless, only held up by a thin strap on each shoulder. The fragile fabric had been difficult to get on, and I knew once Tobias got his hands on me, I would be walking home naked with a pile of shredded fabric.

The heels I had selected were sitting back at home, waiting for me to return, slide into them, and tease the hell out of my mate. They were of a similar design, and it almost felt like I was getting married. All white when I only ever wore black.

Was this what it felt like when my parents got married or when other humans did it? The riot of butterflies in my stomach felt abnormal, and I kept feeling the need to swallow even though my mouth was dry.

I felt like my stomach was empty and that I was about to be sick from overeating at the same time. My body was as conflicted as my mind, and I pressed my toes into the soft Earth further to ground myself.

Tobias was running late due to an incident at the barracks. He had warned me, and I was okay with waiting. It would give me a minute to collect my thoughts. I was about to make him very happy by doing this, or I would humiliate myself.

I tried to think back to when I had witnessed the bonding ceremony between Natalie and Killian. Theirs hadn't been private, and I was grateful mine would be.

I felt him before I heard him; his presence was like a magnet, pulling me toward him the closer he walked to me. The power and strength of his beast called to me, and I turned to face him behind me.

Tobias stood frozen. His feet were bare, just like mine, to be one with the Earth. His black dress pants and white button-up shirt were mouthwatering. His dark hair had been combed back neatly, begging me to run my fingers through it. Everything about him was panty-dropping, and I was glad I wasn't wearing any.

Even under the dim lighting of the full moon, I could see as his eyes trailed over me from my black toenail polish up my legs over my barely covered thighs. His eyelids lowered when he reached the lace dress, and I watched with eager anticipation as his breathing became faster.

skin between my legs was empowering. His gaze stopped there, and his tongue darted out to lick his lips before he forced his eyes up. The design thinned over my stomach and showed off the underside of my breasts very clearly before the pattern thickened again

would scare me off. But I wasn't a cornered animal. I was a

I have ever heard you make that sound before," I whispered, my palms lying flat against my thighs, allowing him to see the entire dress and everything it failed

to have someone as beautiful as you love me." His hand raised, hovering over my cheek as if scared to touch me. I wasn't going to break.

desire to turn and kiss his palm won, and as I did just that, his other hand rested on my hip and slid around to my lower

contentment passed

of the forest between the border and the city, so no one would accidentally stumble upon us. The Earth had been very accommodating as I molded it, moving the longer weeds and growth to the side and raising a soft layer of fresh grass in the middle. The trees above us opened their branches to let the moon shine down on us,

you for doing this. Thank you for choosing me," I whispered, not realizing until my voice cracked just how heavy those words were. I had wanted someone to choose me for who I was, and

in my life that had wanted more from or of me. None of them wanted

He wanted me forever.

kids. You have always been it for me." He responded,

was it for him, and I felt ridiculous for wasting so much

"I love you too."

up to the sky, following Tobias's gaze to the large white eye peering down at us as if

asked, speaking up

The words should have felt ominous; with anyone else, I would have been worried they were backing out or changing their mind about me. But not with him. With Tobias, I was so sure...so

my cheeks, pressing his lips to mine. He filled every one of my senses. His scent surrounded me, my skin was dancing with electricity everywhere he touched,

my toes curl, and my stomach tighten with need and anticipation. I would never

smiled widely. "I missed you

to make you mine." I said, glancing up at the sky, worried that the moon would have moved even though it had only been a minute since

hips, but having him tower over me made me feel so safe and dainty. The heat of his body was soaking into mine as my body shook with nerves. My

have you, Joselin Kihlmen, as my mate. I have become a better man because of you, and I will continue to work toward being the man you deserve. I will always choose you. I vow before our Goddess to love and honor you every

choked laugh of happiness, traitorous tears slipping over my cheeks. If there was

breath as the air whipped around us in the otherwise still night. "I have never known true love before you, and I promise to always fight by your side. I will do everything in my power to earn the love you have given me and to show you daily

slammed into my chest as my already tight dress began to feel suffocating as I swallowed hard. Tobias could feel my nerves, and he held me tighter

too, his Adam's apple bobbing as I stared at the blank skin on the side of his neck where his neck met