To Love a Shifter: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set (25 page)

            Her strapless gown was made of ivory silk, its back made of sheer lace. The tight top tapered to a full skirt that swayed with every move she made. Dressed as she was, Misty felt like she was Cinderella on her way to meet her Prince Charming at the ball.

            Domenico certainly more than looked the part, and the sight of him filled Misty with such desire that she had a hard time keeping her heartbeat steady, not wanting the Lyccans to know how excited she was.

            Domenico stood at the end of the church, dashing in his black suit and white ruffled shirt, gold and ruby cufflinks gleaming. When their eyes met, his gaze was sly and knowing but tender at the same time, making Misty blink back tears.

She had missed him so. They had not seen each other for over twenty-four hours in observance of wedding traditions, and she was surprised at how much she had missed him after such a short parting.

            “God, he’s handsome,” she couldn’t help whispering to herself.

            Domenico smiled.

            The crowd laughed.

            Misty closed her eyes in embarrassment. How could she have forgotten how exceptionally good Lyccan hearing was?

            After shaking Kevin’s hand, Domenico took her arm to curl around his. Feeling her shake against him, he bent down and whispered, “Okay?” He tried gauging her expression but could only glimpse a shadow of her face behind the veil.

            “Yes.” She sounded like she was dying, and it made him smile even more.

            The ceremony proceeded in a haze before her eyes and then the priest was intoning in deep tones, “You may now kiss the bride.”

            Oh dear Lord, they were really, truly married!

            They slowly faced each other, Domenico suavely confident while Misty started trembling again.

            He gently lifted the veil to reveal her face. “Hello, Mrs. Moretti.”

            Tears made her eyes sparkle as she smiled tremulously at him.

            Domenico groaned softly before he bent down.

            Thunderous applause filled the chapel as they shared their first kiss as man and wife.

            When he lifted his head, Misty blurted out what she had been thinking the entire time. “I love you.”

            “Ah, Misty.” Unable to help it, Domenico pulled her to him, uncaring of what people said, and kissed her more deeply.

            She was smiling and blushing when Domenico finally pulled away, his arm going around her waist possessively as they faced their well-wishers.

            He had not said ‘I love you’ back, and she was thankful. It gave her hope. It proved to her that he meant what he had said. He would not lie to her again. In time, she was confident she’d be able to make him love her back. They were destined for each other. She knew it now.

            At the reception, she and Domenico opened the dance floor with a waltz that would remain one of the most magical moments in her life, especially when Domenico kept teasing her by gazing meaningfully at her exposed décolletage.

            “Stop it,” she giggled.

            “I can’t help it! They’re begging to be kissed--”

            “Domenico!”

            He laughed. “You are so beautiful tonight, Mrs. Moretti.”

            “Glad to please, Mr. Moretti.”

            And then she was being passed on to her brothers – even little Andy – and finally, Domenico’s father himself.

            “Welcome to the family,” Dio Moretti said gruffly as he swirled her on the dance floor.

            “Thank you, sir,” she mumbled and almost tripped due to her nervousness.

            Dio was strong and he did not let her fall, expertly maneuvering her into a twirl.

            “I know I can’t offer much as a daughter-in-law,” she ventured.

            He stayed silent.

            “But I can promise you that I will do my best to help you and Domenico be on good terms again. I have lived all my life without my parents, so I know how precious it is to still have a father and mother with you. I’m sure Domenico knows it. He just has…issues,” she ended tactfully.

            “You don’t need to work to gain my approval,” he said finally. “You are my son’s bride. It is done.”

            Misty shook her head. “It’s not that. I mean, what is it with you Lyccans? You’re so…suspicious.”

            His lips twitched but he said nothing.

            Later, Misty found herself dancing with Jayme. As usual, he looked wickedly handsome, this time dressed in a tux. He stole a kiss, his lips fleetingly brushing against her cheek before he made her twirl in his arms.

            “Jayme!” Her eyes automatically searched for Domenico’s. She didn’t want trouble.

            When her gaze found his, Domenico made a slow killing gesture across his neck with a meaningful look at Jayme. She burst into laughter.

            “What’s so funny?”

            She shook her head. “Nothing.”

            Jayme sighed. “You really had to go and marry the old man.”

            “He’s not old,” she protested, eyes seeking Domenico’s once more. He was frowning at Jayme and it turned to a full-fledged scowl when Jayme retorted, “Oh yes he is, compared to us.”

Misty glanced at Jayme in laughing reproof. “Stop it. I know you’re just baiting him! I know you know he can hear us.”

            Jayme looked at her under his lashes. “You know, I’m okay with an affair…”

            Misty jabbed him on the shoulder. “Jayme, stop it. Don’t tempt my husband into throwing you out.” Her face glowed at the word.
Husband
. Domenico was really her husband.

            Jayme groaned. “I’m giving you back. I can’t stand that sappy look on your face.”

            At exactly midnight, Domenico and Misty said their goodbyes. The party would continue into the wee hours of the morning, but for her and Domenico, their married life would begin with their honeymoon. There were few people at the airport when they arrived and they proceeded to board the Morettis’ private jet without having to pass through any security checks.

Domenico said they would be spending their honeymoon in his private island in the Mediterranean, but their wedding night would be spent on the plane.

            “Your membership to the mile-high club has been much delayed,” Domenico had told her with a grin.

            Alone in the master bedroom with Domenico, Misty felt inexplicably tense and scared all of a sudden, which was laughable considering how she practically begged for the chance to make love with him over the past couple of days.

            Somehow, though, with the fact that they were married, everything was just different tonight.

            Domenico read every expression that flitted through her face. He gently clasped her shoulders and made her stare into his eyes. “Relax.”

            She sighed. There was just something so wonderfully persuasive about Domenico.

“Tonight will be perfect for both of us.”

She believed him, but she still stiffened as his fingers worked on the row of tiny buttons behind her back. And then the gown was falling in a pool around her feet and she was left in her silk underwear.

            Shyly, she reached for his bowtie.

When they were both naked, Misty did not let her eyes stray below his neck. She just could not. It was silly, but she just could not! She had already been with him intimately on two occasions, but right now those didn’t seem to matter. Her insecurities were massive, and every one of them was warning Misty about her sheer lack of experience in pleasing a sex god like Domenico Moretti.

            Knowing what was going through her mind, Domenico felt the usual wicked urge to play with her. “Sit down,” he said softly, guiding her to the bed. He motioned for her to sit down, conscious of the way she kept her gaze on his face.

            He stood in front of her, knowing that would keep her eyes waist-level with his erection.

Misty shrieked in shock and hastily scampered across the bed. “Domenico!” she wailed, knowing he had done that deliberately.

            He burst into laughter and lay on the bed, pulling her towards him with incredible ease, until every inch of their bodies were plastered against each other.

            His lips twitched. “Ah, Misty. There’s just no one like you.”

            “This is going to be a stupid question,” she said slowly.

            Domenico already knew what the question would be and his shoulders rocked in laughter. “Misty --”

            She blurted out, “Are you sure it’s going to fit and it’s not going to tear me apart? Because I’ve seen some videos --”

            “Misty, you watched
porn
?” He pretended to be shocked.

            Her face burned. “I was curious!”

            “I’m just kidding, darling. And to answer your question, yes, it will fit and no, it will not tear you apart – well, at least not in a way that you would not want it to.”

            She looked at him doubtfully.

            “It will be fantastic between us.” He smiled into her eyes. “Would you like to explore for a bit? You can do anything.”

            She nodded.

            “I’m yours,” Domenico said simply.

            Her heart swelled at those words.

            Misty slowly wrapped her fingers around him, reacquainting herself with the feel of Domenico’s erection. She slowly stroked him up and down, the way he had taught her to. Misty loved the sound of his groan and loved it even more when he reached to cup her breasts and play with her nipples as she continued stroking him.

            “Domenico?” she whispered.

            He looked down.

            She took him in her mouth.

            Domenico gasped and groaned. He had not expected that and knew that Misty had planned it exactly that way. Her mouth was as heavenly as he remembered. His head whirled at the sensations her tongue evoked and the feelings rose in intensity as her tongue swirled, dipped, and teased.