Page 25 of Beautiful Heart

While the tub filled, he stripped her clothes off, tossing them directly into the trashcan instead of the hamper. Once she was naked, he inspected her body, growling and frowning at every bruise he found. When he finished, he stripped quickly before picking her up and carrying her to the tub. Still holding her, he climbed in and settled in the hot water. He laid her across the tub with her back pressed against his chest.

Gerri slowly relaxed as the lavender and vanilla fragranced hot water seeped into her pores. Livingston wrapped his arms around her, and allowed her a few minutes to unwind. By the time he picked up the wash cloth, the previous hours had almost become a bad dream.

Livingston took his time as he gently and thoroughly washed her. He focused his stroking attention on her breasts, pussy, and ass. By the time he finished and laid the cloth aside, Gerri felt totally relaxed and yet at the same time completely aroused.

Shifting so she sat astride Livingston’s thighs, she reached between them and wrapped one hand around the thick erection that stretched nearly to his navel. “So, when do the witnesses get here? I’m ready to claim this right here and now.”

She tried to fight when Livingston pulled her hand off his cock, but she didn’t want to hurt him by squeezing too tight. “They should be waiting in the living room by now. I have a few preparations to make in the bedroom before we can begin. Are you okay waiting here until I come back?”

Gerri smiled as she moved to sit across the tub from the man. She hoped her smile looked alluring and not like a deranged psychopath. “I’ll be fine. Go do what you need to.”

Livingston dried off then wrapped the towel around his waist. Once he left the bathroom and closed the door almost all the way behind him, Gerri reached for the razor she kept by the tub. She quickly shaved and rinsed off again then climbed out of the tub. Her skin erupted in goose bumps in the cool air as she dried off. Grabbing the bottle of lotion that matched the scented bath salts, she took her time spreading the cream over her body. Her own touch kept her arousal simmering as she prepared for their mating.

She tried not to think about the men who would be standing just outside the door, listening.

****

Though he knew the mating was a sure thing, he wanted to give his beautiful mate the romance that to date had been lacking in their relationship. After lighting the dozen candles he had placed around the room earlier, he went to the kitchen and prepared a platter of finger foods for them to snack on. A bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice along with two glasses were added to the large tray that he carried to the bedroom.

After pulling back the covers, leaving only the black silk sheet that covered the mattress, he stopped for a moment. The candles gave off a citrusy scent that he knew Gerri liked. The only thing missing was music, but he did not turn on the CD player. Music would make it more difficult for Kingsley and Dickinson to hear their mating.

The room was as ready as he could make it. He only hoped Gerri hadn’t changed her mind. Though he was tempted to join her again in the bathroom, Livingston forced himself to walk down the hall to the living room. As predicted, Kingsley and Dickinson were waiting in the living room. Dickinson stood looking out the room and Kingsley sat on the couch flipping through a magazine. The half-full glasses each held showed they’d made themselves at home.

“Is she all right?” Dickinson asked as he turned from the city scene beyond the window.

Livingston nodded. “Better than me, I think. But it might hit her later. For now, we’re both determined to get this ceremony out of the way ASAP.”

Both men nodded in understanding. Kingsley pushed to his feet before he said, “I’m surprised you waited this long. I know when I met Lena I couldn’t wait to make her mine in every way possible.”

“It’s been difficult, but after Gerri was attacked and I had to turn her, having her close by helped a little. Having her taken from me just proved we needed to finish this tonight.”

“So you’re ready for us?”

“As much as I’d rather do this in private, yes, we’re ready for you to listen in.”

With that, Livingston turned and headed back to the master suite. He heard his two so-called friends follow him. At the door, he stopped and turned once more to them. “Backs to the doorway and once the ceremony’s over, feel free to show yourselves out.”

He couldn’t keep the growly threat of violence out of his voice. The council might require he have witnesses to the mating, that didn’t mean he had to like it. And he didn’t. As far as he was concerned, no one would ever again see Gerri naked.

Dickinson chuckled as Kingsley merely nodded. The two men took up positions on either side of the door, standing so their back was to the opening.

Once they were in position, Livingston entered his bedroom, leaving the door standing wide open. A glance around the room confirmed everything was as ready as could be. Crossing to the bathroom door, he didn’t hear anything so he knocked softly.

“Princess? Are you ready?”

The light in the bathroom went out just before the door opened. Livingston stopped breathing as his woman stepped into view. She once again wore his bathrobe, but had left it unbelted instead, holding the edges together with one hand.

He looked into her face and saw how nervous she was. Stepping closer, he gently removed her hand from the robe and pushed it off her shoulders so it pooled at her feet.

His nose twitched as the lavender and vanilla scent surrounded him. “You smell delicious,” he whispered.

“Are you sure we have to do this with someone listening?” she whispered back even as she tugged at the towel’s edge, causing it to fall away from his hips.

Livingston smiled even as his fangs began to ache with need. “It’s a tradition that goes back to the beginning of vampire covens. The prince’s mating must always be witnessed. Though I suppose we could do it as they did back then if you want.”

Gerri’s expression shifted from fear-filled to intrigued. “How was it done back then?”

Instead of answering, Livingston kissed her. He tried to keep it gentle and romantic, but her immediate response had him taking it deeper and deeper. When he could not wait any longer, he lifted her so her feet dangled several inches above the floor. She responded by wrapping her arms and legs around him as the kiss continued. Turning, he carried her to the bed and sat down with her straddling his legs.

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