“Well, give me five minutes, and you’ll forget all about it,” Ethan promised with a wink.

They rushed up the stairs and into their bedroom, not even bothering to let anyone know they were going to be late … if they would even show at all. Folks would just have to understand. Besides, Ruby was pretty sure Aunt Portia and Lou would take charge of the guests. Those two were always up to something, anyway.

Ethan spun Ruby around, twirling her and making her dress fluff out seductively. “You are without a doubt the most beautiful woman in the world.”

He slowly unzipped her dress, leaving a kiss on every inch of skin he uncovered. The silk gown fell to the ground in a hush. It pooled there, leaving her nude. Ethan’s briefs were the only thing between them as soon as he stripped out of his suit. His erection pushed against his underwear, begging to be set free.

Ruby reached out to cup the girth, squeezing it gently. He rewarded her by taking one of her nipples into his mouth. He twirled his tongue around the hard nub. She moaned and arched into the touch.

“Ethan,” she moaned. “Yes.”

He moved to the other breast, laving the same attention on it. By the time he kissed her, she was completely insane with desire. He moved them to the edge of the bed, where he set her down with her ass on the very end. Ethan dropped to his knees and pressed a kiss to her knee, her thigh, the apex of her thighs, then back to her thigh and all the way up to her knee. She groaned in teased displeasure.

Ethan chuckled. “You were expecting this, huh?”

Before she could even decipher his words, he pinned her knees to the bed and licked her pussy. She arched up with a surprised and pleased gasp. He continued to lap at her until he found her clit. He twirled and twirled around the tight bundle of nerves, sending surges of pleasure through her.

He didn’t stop. He continued to touch her at all the right angles. Deep inside her, flutters turned from hot to burning, her entire body flooded with heat, and like a blast, she went off.

She cried out his name as he continued to lap at her. Ethan heightened her release by increasing the pressure on the nub. Ruby arched off the mattress, and with trembling legs, she panted and fell on the bed.

“That was amazing,” she tried to say through her hard breaths. “Very good wedding present. The bride is pleased.”

“Is she? Good. And is the bride ready to be mated?” He gently lay on top of her, her bent knees framing his waist.

She inhaled, pretending to think about it. “I don’t know,” she teased. “I just exchanged vows with a man I met a month ago because I fell for him hard. That means I’m more than ready, doesn’t it?”

“I think it does,” he whispered against her heated skin between kisses.

Ethan gripped his erection and positioned himself against her entrance. Their eyes met as he slid inside her. It was slow … so slow, it hurt so good. She gaped and arched her body into his.

“God, you’re so beautiful, Ruby.” He kissed her elegant neck, nipping at the tender flesh. “I will never stop being grateful I get to call you mine.” He pistoned his hips, flaming her desire back to life.

Her whole body was alive with pleasure. Ethan’s thrusts were perfectly languid, sending sparks all through her body. She gripped onto him, letting herself go, feeling every sensation.

This moment was going to change her … changethem… forever. The pure love glowing between Ethan and her was something she had never thought possible, but here it was.

Here he was. Her husband, her mate.

She arched into him, her heels digging into his ass to take even more of him inside of her. He increased his tempo only a fraction. She gasped as her body was thrown into heated passion. With every thrust, he took her closer to the edge.

Her mate, her husband.

“Ethan,” she gasped. “Yes.”

He captured her lips and kissed her deeply before kissing his way to her neck and sealing the deal. Ethan’s teeth dug into her just as her release crested. There were lights going off in her brain as her body drifted into sweet oblivion. Ethan’s own pleasure joined hers, and they became one in so many ways. They moved together until they floated back down, still joined and panting.

Ruby wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “We’re mates now,” she whispered.

“Married mates,” Ethan added before kissing her deeply. “Mrs. Ruby Adair, Alpha Mate, and head of the vampire wine unit of our winery. Oh, and love of my life and mother of my children.”

“It’s gonna be a good life,” she sighed happily, laying her head on his chest.

He wrapped her in his arms. “It is. It’ll be the best, Ruby.” He reached into his bedside table’s drawer and handed her a small slip of paper.

Ruby Red.

The label was a stylized flourish in a shade of red that matched her hair.