Free Enlightening Bloom by Michelle Turner Page B

elbow him in the stomach to get him to stop laughing.
    I spin in his arms so I look up at his face. “You think this is funny?”
    “Hilarious.” He answers instantly.
    “Fine.” I break free of his arms and walk over to Pike. “Can you perform our mating ceremony before we leave?”
    Pike’s and Bloom’s eyes get huge. From behind me I hear Tucker sucking in a shocked breath. Pike’s fly to Tuckers, behind me, before coming back to me. “If that’s what you want. But I’ll warn you, Bonnie, a mating bond isn’t something you can take back.”
    “I know, but if I want to be strong enough to do my job as Guardian I have to be fully mated to the wolf giant.”
    “You’ll pull your strength from Tucker.” Bloom whispers in understanding.
    I nod my head before asking Pike again. “Will you perform the ceremony?”
    “Is this how you want it to happen, Tuck?” Pike asks his best friend and beta.
    I feel Tucker’s warmth as he comes to stand beside me. I look over and up, to find him watching me with a determined expression. He doesn’t look away from me when he answers. “I don’t care what it takes to make it happen as long as she’s bound to me forever.”
    His words send a shiver of longing through me. Will I ever be that sure of what’s between us? Or will I forever be questioning if I made the right decision? This isn’t like a normal marriage where I’ll be able to divorce him if it goes bad. This is truly tying myself to another being until we take our last breaths.
    “I swear with everything that I hold precious that if you give into us I’ll make it so you never regret our mating. We belong together, Bonnie-bean.”
    “I wish I could be as sure as you.”
    “Your first instinct when learning of Kyran’s plans was to protect me. Me. Not your Oracle and best friend. Me! Your mate. So whether you’re ready to admit it or not, I know you want me just as much as I want you.”
    Darn it!
    I did that. I even referred to him as my mate. I’m in so much trouble.
    In front of everyone Tucker pulls me back into his arms; face to face. “Trouble can be fun when you’re doing it with the right partner.” Without giving me a chance to respond he slams his lips to mine. It’s a rough, demanding kiss, that shouldn’t be making my stomach do somersaults but somehow is.
                  I should be fighting, pushing him away, but his delicious assault is making me putty in his hands. The kiss doesn’t end until he releases me. In a daze I watch as he lifts his fingers to brush my swollen lips.
    “That’s a good way to put her in her place.” I hear one of the Savage boys say. And those words snap me out of my daze. I move to step away from him, but he’s already dropped his hand to my waist to hold me in place.
    Making my voice sugary sweet, I lean into him and say. “I’m glad you’re so into trouble.”
    “Oh, I am.” He growls, gripping my waist harder and pulling me closer.
    “Good.” I drop the sweetness and glare at him. “Because once we’re mated your furry behind’s going to be in it all the time. The kind created by you pissing me off, and me putting you in the dog house. And the kind I create to keep you on your toes.”
    His mouth drops open in shock and his grip loosens, so I take the opportunity to step out of his reach. I turn on my heels. As I’m walking away I throw over my shoulder. “Better get prepared, mate. The fun begins tonight.”
     

Chapter 15 - Tucker
     
    "She agreed." I say still in shock. Bonnie's going to complete our mating. I feel like I’ve won the lottery and the super bowl all on the same day.
    "Calm down, Tuck." Pike says, grasping my shoulder to stop me from pacing.
    "I've got to make this perfect."
    "You will."
    "How the hell am I going to make it perfect? We're in the middle of the woods!" I start pacing, again. "There's so much that needs to be done, and nowhere to get anything in time."
    The Savage twins, Rex and Rhett, chuckle.