Page 145 of Forbidden Moon
Cool as a cucumber, RJ rolled with it.
“Sure! I’ve seen you at North Bluff Grocery a few times, but you must meet an awful lot of people.”
Dominic smiled now, RJ’s words having filled in the mental blank.
“Right, yes. Actually, I don’t work in grocery anymore. I’m the new caretaker at the Delta Avenue Apartments and met Serena after she moved in. You probably didn’t know this, but I’m now living in the house you were renting in Rapid River. It’s a small world, I guess.”
They chatted a while before Jonah and RJ excused themselves to make rounds of the tables and greet the other guests. Except for an occasional growl, they hadn’t seen or heard any major slip-ups around the humans in attendance. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and once the last song ended, people shared final good wishes and began to leave. Robert attended to a final flurry of details, promising to take care of the pile of wedding cards and anything else that needed doing.
The couple made a point to say goodbye to out-of-town guests, offering hugs and genuine thanks. Jonah’s parents lingered a little longer than the others, eager for a few moments alone with their son and his mate. Anita seemed both excited and wistful.
“I wish our people would do things like this more often! The service was beautiful, and I hope you two thank Robert for planning everything.”
RJ snickered.
“No worries there. I had to promise at least one home-cooked meal a month for the next year using my mother’s recipes. I don’t mind, honestly. We couldn’t have done it without him.”
Jonah’s father gestured to his son’s left hand.
“May I see?”
Jonah showed him the beautiful tri-color braided band.
“RJ ordered them for us. The white gold is me, the yellow is Rascal, and the rose in the middle is my wolf. I’ll be wearing it around my neck most of the time.”
His parents were surprised and pleased by the ring’s beauty and the acknowledgment of Jonah’s dual nature. Anita swept RJ into another hug and kissed his cheek.
“I could not have asked for a better mate for my son. I’d like to think Lottie would have said the same.”
RJ nodded.
“Ma was like you in some ways, and I know she would have loved Jonah almost as much as I do.”
After the Blairs left, RJ spoke briefly with Rosa about their plans for tomorrow morning. She was also staying here at the hotel overnight, enjoying one of the executive suites. They planned to meet her for an early breakfast before driving to the airport. Rosa hugged them both and headed for her room to rest a bit after all the excitement.
Once she was out of sight, RJ gave Jonah a heated look and dove back in to ravage the man’s neck. Whatever fired up his new husband would have to be discovered in the privacy of their room—preferably without clothes and as soon as possible.
Chapter 54
WHILE THE HOTEL DIDN’Thave a honeymoon suite, Robert booked them a lovely room with a lakefront view. The wood-look floors, natural stone accents, and earthy colors lent a masculine vibe to the space and the couple immediately felt comfortable.
The king-sized bed looked both sturdy and cozy, and the large bathroom included a hot tub already filled and ready for use. Their bags, delivered ahead of time, waited near the bed while a side table held a bottle of champagne on ice, a box of exclusive chocolates, and an assortment of scented massage oils.
RJ ignored his surroundings, focused entirely on his delicious-smelling mate. For whatever reason, Jonah’s scent had morphed into something more complex, with layers and nuances he’d never noticed before. Enticing, it cranked up RJ’s libido and drove all other considerations from his head.
