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.

spots were covering my nipples, but knowing he could see the waxed 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

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

lying flat against my thighs, allowing him to

cheek as if scared to touch me. I wasn't going to break. I would never break,

between us, and shut my eyes. The 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 back. I smiled as he pulled my hips against his before leaning in and nuzzling my neck where his mark

sigh of contentment passed my

it, moving the longer weeds and growth to the

I whispered, not realizing until my voice cracked just how heavy those words were. I had wanted someone to choose me for who I

a single man in my life that had wanted more from or of me. None of them wanted me for more than one night. But he

He wanted me forever.

You have always been it for me." He responded, his black eyes tearing away from me

for him, and I felt ridiculous for wasting so

"I love you too."

eyes darted up to the sky, following Tobias's gaze to the large white eye peering down at us as if She were present

ready?" I asked, speaking up

down at me. 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 confident

mine. He filled every one of my senses. His scent surrounded me, my skin was dancing with electricity everywhere he touched, and the

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

Tobias smiled widely.

up at the sky, worried that the moon would have moved even though it had only

The heat of his body

on me stayed strong and sure. "I, Tobias Jones, have been blessed to 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.

happiness, traitorous tears slipping over my cheeks. If there was any time for me to

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

already tight dress began to feel suffocating as I swallowed hard. Tobias could feel my nerves, and he held me tighter against him. His eyes were wide and eager to hear me say the rest of my

Adam's apple bobbing as I stared at the blank skin on the side of his neck where his neck met his collar. The spot where a mate's