Page 101 of Right Next Door
She laughed as he took her hand, placing the box, unopened, on her palm. Definitely not what he was supposed to do, but she loved that too.
“My sweet, prickly female. I have resisted claiming you only because I want to be sure I do it right. And I have messed up completely every step of the way.”
She laughed as her tears really started pooling. Loving this. Loving him.
“Nonetheless, you continue to give me chances. You continue to forgive my missteps. You are as gracious as you are beautiful. I would like nothing more in this life than for you to accept my courtship, marry me, then mate me.”
Misty, unable to keep the wide smile off her face, opened the box. The lid came off entirely, revealing the ring nestled inside. She honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. She would have been happy with whatever he gave her. He definitely didn’t know or understand wedding ring expectations on Earth. Even if he did, she wasn’t the type to hold to that two month salary foolishness. He was genuine. So, if there was nothing but a plain copper band in this box, she knew it would be given with only the most pure of intentions and she would love it for that.
But what she saw made her jaw drop as she gasped.
Resting on a bed of red silk was a large, beautiful, silver ring. It had a flat, wide face, diamond in shape, but it wasn’t a solid piece. It was a web. Like the spiderwebs that covered her robe, dusted with diamond chips like morning dew. It was beautiful. A masterpiece of craftsmanship that perfectly lined up with her tastes.
“How did you…?” She breathed, hovering her finger over the ring. Almost afraid to touch it.
“I asked Davard what you ordered for your clothing,” he explained. With a soft smile, he began stroking the silk of her skirt, at the web design embroidered there. “You have specific tastes. I’ve seen you try to recreate it here on Kree. I wanted to give you something that you might like based on that. Is it suitable?”
“Suitable? I love it.” She laughed, so excited. She held the box out to him. “You’re supposed to put the ring on me yourself.”
“Gladly,” he said, taking it from her. He gently plucked the ring from inside and took the left hand she offered. Unerringly, he aimed for the correct finger without hesitation.
A shuddered breath passed Misty’s lips as he settled the jewelry. It fit perfectly. It was big enough that it covered her finger from knuckle to knuckle, but it wasn’t heavy or bothersome. It was the absolute perfect size so that it didn’t scrape at either knuckle, even when she moved her fingers experimentally to see how it fit.
Of course, it did. There was no way Tsok wouldn’t have made sure that the ring would fit perfectly on her. Not after going through all the trouble of making it a spider web. And this wasn’t some mass produced ring. This had been made just for her finger.
Looking past it, she focused back on Tsok’s face. He was gazing up at her. Joy clear on his face. She let out a laugh as she dropped, throwing her arms around his neck, clinging to him. He was too tall for her knees to join his on the ground, but he was strong enough to hold her up as he returned the embrace, nuzzling the side of her head.
“Just to be sure, that was a yes, right?”
Misty threw back her head, laughing. She looked him in the eyes and nodded. “That was an emphatic yes. You wouldn’t have gotten that ring on my finger if it was a no.”
He looked relieved, resting his forehead against hers. “Just to be clear, you are more than welcome to help with the planning. In fact, I insist on it. My people will make their own choices for their weddings, and that starts with you doing the same. Model to them what it means to have a wedding, and they will follow your lead.”
“You and the others will listen to me?”
“I will,” he promised. “And if the others try not to, I will make them.”
She laughed, kissing his nose. Right over his filter. The gemstones there were cold on her lips. And it was thrilling, knowing there was now an expiration date for the device. Soon, he’d take it off. Then, he’d hunt and rut her into the ground like an animal…
She shivered in delight at the very thought.
“Come on,” she said, standing, stroking her hand under his muzzle. “We should celebrate.”
Tsok smirked, standing, following. Practically panting after her, he smiled as she led the way back into her manor.
Chapter 34
Tsok
Misty was with the High Imperium. She and Jeanie both had been summoned to give their opinions on his intergalactic chat to help humans meet potential sponsors. And how that might be done carefully and safely. She was still concerned about what the Imperium had done at True Match, but Tsok wasn’t. He trusted Misty when she said it happened. He also trusted that, whatever the Imperium had done, it had been harmless and for a good reason.
While she was doing that, he was meeting with Boktare, Boktare’s assistant, Davard, and a few others to begin the planning process for their wedding and mating. Nothing that would require her attention. This was all technical things – documentation, timelines, orders, etc. Things of that nature. He’d already described it all to Misty and she agreed he could handle all that. But she also made him promise to comm her if there was anything she could help with, no matter how esoteric, strange, or boring.
Tomorrow, they were going to announce the marriage idea to the public. Tsok had an appointment with his mate this afternoon toget his fur braided – an actual appointment this time, not one he took from someone else. He would be displaying her braids as she displayed his ring. She would be wearing one of her Earth dresses. They wanted her to do that on purpose to signal the start of the combining of their species with the ceremony later.
There were a lot of small things to plan when it came to a big press conference like this. But it wasn’t anything they weren’t accustomed to.
And when they had breaks, he spoke to Boktare about what it was like being a mated male.
