Falk Clan Tales - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

When they were utterly spent, Sander lifted his mate and carried her to the bed righting her clothing as he did. He watched as Noelle’s pleasure glazed eyes found his mating mark on her body. The identical, though smaller, marking on her chest was the same teal blue color.
She ran her hands over the delicate blue rose and sighed, “Oh Sander, it’s beautiful.”
“You are beautiful, my love. And I do love you, Noelle, you’re my one true mate. My first Christmas gift. My sapphire rose is yours.”
“I love you too.”
“I’ve another, more traditional gift for you, my Noelle,” he helped her stand and straighten her dress, dropping soft kisses on her neck and lips. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out a velvet box.
“We’re not like normals, you’ve been raised by Werewolves, and I’m a Dragon. I don’t need to tell you that I’ve marked you, my love and that you’re mine forever as I am yours. This symbol of our bond is for you. Es meus, we say in our language,” he opened the box.
Inside was a beautiful ring. A platinum band that resembled rose vines. It opened into beautiful petals with a deep blue sapphire in the middle.
“Sander, it’s beautiful.”
“I want you forever, Noelle. This as with my marking, is a symbol that we are one, for eternity.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“I am a Dragon, darling, forever is a very long time for us.”
“But I’m not a shifter?”
“True, but when I opened my gift to you and gave you my rose I also gave you access to some of my gifts, longevity is one of them.”
“Really?”
“Yes. My Dragon has chosen you as well, Noelle, and he will not let you go any more than I will. I need you, sweet little minx.”
He could not get enough of her. This woman. His mate. He took her beautiful face in his hands, ruined and whole alike, and kissed her with everything he had inside of him.
He still could not believe the miracle that he held in his arms. In the span of one magical Christmas Eve he’d gone from being alone and defeated to having everything. And she was his everything.
He’d spend every single day from then until eternity showing her just how much she meant to him. her blue eyes smiled at him as she held out her hand and took his maimed one in it. Together they walked down the stairs to their guests. An overwhelming sensation of contentment hit him. He tugged his mate to him and kissed her one more time before they joined the others.
Later that evening, surrounded by dozens of guests, Sander stood with his arm around his mate and looked up at the three-foot white dragon that sat curled on the top of their Christmas tree.
The inanimate beast was almost identical to his own Dragon, with three horns spiraling at the top and translucent white scales covering its skin. It even had thin membrane like white wings sprouting from its back. Beautiful, like her.
“You never told me if you liked your gift?” Noelle nodded at the tree and smiled up at him. She was breathtaking when she smiled.
Sander’s gaze dropped to her lips and he pulled her to him gently. He growled as he leaned down and fixed his mouth over hers, kissing the breath out of her in front of everyone there. He ignored the giggles and wolf whistles, his every focus on his mate and her alone.
When he finished the sensual assault on her mouth he placed a finger under her chin and lifted until her eyes met his. She was so open and trusting, so in love with him it took his breath away, humbling him and completing him all at the same time.
“You are my true gift, Noelle Gifford. I love you.”
Epilogue
Christmas Day was a big day at the Gifford house. Sander looked skeptical as he pulled up to the two-story colonial that sat on a cul de sac off Broadway.
“Come on, Sander, they don’t bite,” Noelle teased as she unlocked her door.
Sander was out of the car and helping her from her seat before she had the chance to do so for herself. Not that she minded, he was such a gentleman with her.
Spending the night with him had been scandalous enough, but after a long phone call home and explaining to her mom that she’d found her true mate, her romantically inclined mother insisted she bring him over immediately.
Sander walked slowly beside her, stopping only to pick up the rare bottle of wine and the carefully wrapped tapestry, one of his own, that he’d brought as gifts for Mrs. Gifford.
“Hello Alexsander, I’m Crystal, Noelle’s mother,” the small, cheerful woman who’d opened the door had embraced Sander in a fierce hug and then Noelle.
He entered the small abode to the delightful smells of roast turkey and all the fixings. A handful of other people were there. An uncle, a cousin, and of course her friend, Joselyn.
“So, when are you going to make an honest woman of my friend there, fly boy?”
The entire room stilled, and Joss’ words seemed to echo throughout the house. Noelle paled, and Sander wanted to growl at her obvious distress.
“Well, augura, how does Valentine’s Day suit everyone here?”
Noelle’s face broke out into a huge grin and her mother clasped a hand to her heart. His mate stood up and walked around the table only to jump in his lap and hug him tightly to her chest.
“Well done, fly boy, well done,” Joselyn said.
“Are you sure?” Noelle whispered in his ear.
“I’ve never been surer of anything, my love. Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, my darling little minx.”
“Merry Christmas, Sander.”
“Es meus,” he murmured and took her lips with his.
She was his. Now. Forever. His first and best Christmas gift. His Noelle.
The end.
Description
Some wounds run deep. Can a Dragon’s heart be unbroken?
Edric Falk vowed long ago to never fall in love again. With two of his brother’s having fallen into that trap, he’s more determined than ever to remain alone.
When he’s asked to be best man at his youngest brother’s Valentine’s Day wedding, the Dragon shifter has no choice. He is all set to go through the motions until he meets his partner for the event. Sparks fly, and this Dragon isn’t sure he can control himself.
Joselyn Coracao is the maid-of-honor for her best friend’s wedding. She also happens to be a clairvoyant Witch. When the universe sends her a message that she’s about to meet her destiny, what else can she do but fight tooth and nail?
Edric and Joss both agree the Fates have messed up. They make a deal to put aside their differences for the sake of the wedding, but some things are beyond their control.