Page 122 of Healer's Call

“Too late,” Sabrina says, her eyes wide.

I laugh and make my way over to him. “Will you put this on for me?”

He finally looks down at the necklace and nods.Turn around, Love.

Can you handle this?I ask.

Absolutely not,he returns. He very carefully lifts my hair and puts it over my shoulder. I feel his lips on my neck, and I close my eyes.I will never get over how soft your skin is.I take an unsteady breath. I’m about ready to step away and tell him we’ll do it later, when I feel it drop around my neck. A moment later, he turns me around and glances down at it.Gorgeous.But his eyes aren’t looking at the necklace; they’re locked on my face.Are you ready for tonight?

For our date?I ask. He nods and puts his hand on my lower back and guides me towards the door. “Thank you, Sara. Sabrina.”

They smile at him. “Of course.”

“Thank you!” I call out right before he closes the door. Then I’m in his arms and his lips are on mine. I let out a soft sigh, and he growls low in his chest, deepening the kiss. When we’re both breathless, he lifts his head. I suck in a breath at his glowing eyes and run my hands over his powerful chest and shoulders. “Thank you for all this, Mav. You didn’t have to do all that.”

“I wanted to,” he says in a low voice. He gives me a dark look.

“What?” I ask.

“I just wish I hadn’t made plans for tonight. I wish we could go right back to our room and—”

“But you did,” I say with a laugh, slipping my arm through his. “Come on, Handsome. Take me on this special date. I didn’t just go through seven hours of pain to go back to your room and get naked.”

He groans low, and I laugh. “Woman, you can’t talk like that to me and not follow through.”

“Oh, I have every intent of following through,” I tell him, and he sucks in a breath. “Later,” I say softly, running a hand over the back of his head. I kiss him, biting his lower lip, just a little. He growls, and I step back before he can deepen things. “I’m hungry. What are we eating for our date?”

And just like that, he’s back on track. “I’ll make sure you get fed,” he says. “Come on, Beautiful.” We walk through the building to the front doors. Instead of walking over to his car, though, he surprises me by taking me around to the back of the building.

I look up at him in surprise. “We’re doing a date here?” He puts out his arm rather formally, and I giggle as I take it. “You’re not going to tell me anything, are you?”

“Nope,”

We walk for a little bit, but not towards the pool area. I glance up at him, but he’s focused straight ahead, so I just stay quiet. I figure we’ll get to his surprise soon enough. I hear music playing, and I glance up at him in surprise. We walk a little further, and the trees open up. I catch my breath and stop walking. “Mav, what is this?” I ask in a whisper.

He turns me gently to face him. “So, remember how you said you weren’t sure if you like surprises?” I nod. He gives me his gorgeous smile, the one that I crave. “Tonight, we’ll see if you do.”

“Rose.” I turn at the voice and watch as Cade walks towards us. He’s dressed up too, and I stare at him.

“What is this?” I ask, glancing behind him and seeing the chairs and all the people for the first time. I look back at Mav. “Is this...”

“Our mating ceremony,” he says softly. I suck in a breath.

“You did all this?” I ask, my voice shaky.

He takes a step closer, his eyes filled with concern. “I did. I wanted to surprise you, but if it’s too much—” He doesn’t get tofinish the words because I wrap my arms around him in a fierce hug.

“Thank you,” I whisper. His arms come around me.

“I love you,” he says just as softly.

I look up at him. “I love you too.” His lips meet mine in the most tender kiss. He pulls back and stares intently into my eyes.

“Is this okay?”

I nod, wiping away my tears. “Yes.”

“So, you’ll meet me at the front?” he asks.

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