Page 33 of Alpha Geek

The journey from Nepal was long and arduous, but none of that mattered to Tripp and his refreshed sense of purpose. He was, quite literally, a whole new man, with his height having shot up nearly a foot and his muscles having flared to at least twice their size. His brain was on fire in the most titillating way, making colors more intriguing, tastes more succulent, and music all the more harmonious.

But he was even more profoundly altered by meeting the incredible woman that sat by his side on the private jet back home, his hand ever-present and squeezing her leg. The snow leopard shifter had come into his life and turned it upside down in the most wonderful, angelic way.

He had fallen in love, and that, in itself, had made him a new man altogether.

They took the private jet that Nick had flown in on and finally returned to the States. Then they went hand in hand back to Tripp’s mansion.

They spent a blissful week together filled with lovemaking and excited talks about their future before Tripp decided to come up for air. He was glad to be lost in the love and warmth that was Amelia; the mere sight of her was enough to satiate him for weeks.

He decided to start letting people know he had returned and planned out a large get-together with family and friends to celebrate his successful mission. He also had something else up his sleeve that he wanted to keep hush about.

Amelia had sort of moved in with him as soon as they returned from Nepal. She took a few trips back to her apartment to get some things, so Tripp used that time to plan a night he hoped would be fun, a tangled expression of his devotion and commitment to their dynamite love.

Money, of course, was no object for Tripp. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t worried about purchasing Amelia an engagement ring she could be proud of. He made a stealthy trip into town to a popular jewelry store when she was away packing her things.

“What is she like?” the salesperson asked.

Tripp thought for a moment before answering. Amelia was hopefully going to be wearing this ring forever, so he wanted it to represent something about her that was undeniable and unshakeable.

He put a finger to his lips, then smiled broadly.

“She’s strong, intelligent, interesting, resilient,” he said, proud and exhilarated.

The salesperson nodded firmly, then dipped below the counter and brought out a silver banded piece of fine jewelry that made Tripp’s heart rattle in his chest. She held it delicately between her fingers like it was going to leap out of her hands.

“This is from the Enchanted Line. A white 14K Oval Diamond Frame Bow and Two-Tone Gold.”

The central ring was surrounded by coils of rose gold with small diamonds encrusted along the sides of the band. It only took Tripp a few seconds to know that this was the ring his beloved would wear on her hand until the end of time. He knew it as instinctually as a hunter followed the movement of the moon.

He grinned, feeling a bit like his face was made of glass, ready to shatter any second.

“I’ll take it.”

Amelia had returned with her things by the time Tripp got back home. They greeted each other the way all new couples did, with ferocious PDA.

Tripp growled as he pulled her by the waist against his pelvis. She gasped in her usual way, which was effortlessly sensual. It was enough to get him hard in a snap; he marveled at how incredibly strong and relentless his sex drive had become.

“Mmm, easy there, tiger,” she whispered, biting her lip in a way she knew he liked. “Sorry,wolf.”

He captured her mouth in his, and they were off. He had the ring in his back pocket, vibrating like a flare in the night as they made out in the middle of the kitchen.

When they pulled away, Amelia blinked heavily, then shook her glossy blonde hair back and forth to bring her back to her senses.

“Goodness me,” she joked.

“Too much?” Tripp asked, a smug smile on his face as he stroked her cheek.

She snapped her teeth together in a munching motion, then rolled her eyes. “Oh, it’s never too much with you, my sweet darling.”

The dinner was set to take place the next evening, having been meticulously planned by Tripp and a few close friends of his. He had blended the engagement and surprise wedding ceremony on the same night, which was a bit risky, but he knew Amelia was brave enough to take on his wild spirit.

He invited her friends and family as well without her being aware. At least, he hoped she wasn’t aware; their connection seemed to have grown even more acute since living together, their small glances and expressions a personally shared language in itself.

Amelia joked with him a few times that she felt like he was up to something. Especially when he took her shopping for new dresses, heels, assessors, purses, a haircut, anything and everything she could ever want was within arm’s reach with his wealth. She had pushed a finger into her plump lips and swirled it around them in a way that made her look like a sexy vixen. She narrowed her eyes at him and spoke in a smokey 1950’s-housewife timbre.

“I’ve been thinking you might be up to something, my dear one,” she said in a southern lilt.

Tripp evaded the conversation by grabbing her ass which promoted some explosive sex on the stairwell of his home once they got there.

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