“You can’t be upsetting the vampires, Lucie.” Aedan then looked up at Ryan and Jasper. “I know vampires are big on scents like wolves are.” He watched them both nod. “Well, some of us wolves can tell … after a wolf … you know …” He looked over at Lucie and watched her eyes widen. “So I’m assuming you guys can tell that too, right?”
“Not until after the marriage would it become questionable. Vampires can be very traditional in a sense, especially because some of them have been around for a very very long time. It isn’t something we have to worry about right now. But even back then, a heavy makeout session would not have been avoided,especially after two lovers were reunited again after being apart for a long period of time.” Jasper looked at Lucie apologetically.
“Well, if I hurry and take a shower right now …”
“And be late for dinner? Ha! No no no, you can’t be doing that, princess.” Ryan chuckled. “It’s not like I want to wear your spit either, especially if it’s getting transferred by a rag. Where’s the fun in that?” He listened to Jasper and Aedan’s growl and held his hands up. “I’m just joking and having some fun. Come on. I value my life too much.”
“Will the rag work, though?” Aedan asked with a frown. “I mean, the scent of a wet cloth mixed with spit is what I smell from your cloth, Ryan.”
Jasper frowned. “Shit, you’re right.”
“Can’t we just say he isn’t the real Derrick?” Lucie laughed nervously as all eyes rested on her.
“Derrick is going to kill me. Wait, I can lick my hand and rub it on her. That’ll work, right? Please … if my tongue touches her skin, Derrick’ll chop it off. I know he will. And I’m going to need this tongue to show the ladies my magic.”
“Ryan, stop talking. Yes. The hand should work.” Jasper looked at Aedan, who also nodded. “Lucie?”
“Gosh, this is just gross.” Lucie licked her hand and walked up to Ryan. He lowered himself down and smiled at Lucie.
“Claim me, Lucie.” Ryan chuckled.
She rolled her eyes. Another man-boy for the list.
“Brush it on his neck and cheeks on both sides, and lightly around his lips,” Jasper instructed.
“What? It’s the scent you need, right? Why do I have to have an exact location?” Lucie asked but could see a weird look in Jasper’s eyes.
“Just do it, Lucie.” Jasper instructed.
“Sorry about this.” Lucie did as she was told.
“Well that was good for me. Was it good for you?” Ryan said with a chuckle. “Okay, your turn.”
“Just her neck and cheeks, Ryan,” Jasper said, fixing his eyes on Ryan. “Lucie is right, we don’t really need the spit around the mouth.”
Ryan chuckled and shook his head. He watched as Lucie closed her eyes tight. “Sorry, Lucie.” He knew she wasn’t going to like this. And despite how he’d treated her, how he’d acted cold before, he actually liked her a lot. She was his future queen and he wanted to be on good terms with her. He licked his fingers and brushed some of his saliva over her neck and cheeks, then pulled her deep into his embrace. He felt her body tense as he gripped her head, pulling her against his body. “Again, sorry for this. I just need to make sure my scent is all over you.” He then pulled her back from him and stepped away. “Well?” He looked at Aedan and Jasper.
“Once more, but make sure you rub your arms on her, and Lucie, do the same to him.”
Lucie sighed and did as Jasper said.
“I know it’ll be hard to think of another man after touching this body, but you’ll have to try to resist,” Ryan teased and looked up at Aedan and Jasper. “Good now?”
“Yes, that’s enough. If I didn’t know any better and came in as an outsider, I would immediately assume you two were hooking up.” Aedan looked over at Jasper who nodded in agreement. Lucie and Aedan had an intense sense of smell. While other werewolves would need to get close to smell another’s scent, they could pick it up from several feet away, sometimes even from across the room. Some vampires were like this as well, like Jasper. And of course, there would be others with a strong sense of smell. It was best to be thorough.
“Alright, ready for showtime?” Ryan smiled at Lucie and held his arm out for her to walk into.
It went against her instincts. Her whole body screamed to get his scent off of her. But she was doing this for Derrick and his people … her people. She could do it. She just needed to think of Derrick. She walked into Ryan’s arm and he pulled her into his side, walking her out the door.
Ryan tightened his grip around Lucie as they neared the dining room. He glanced back at Jasper with what was almost a scowl. Lucie didn’t know what was wrong, but she could tell they were mentally communicating about something.
“Lucie, after this, I’ll have to give you a tour of my bathroom. It has a wonderful spa in there where I can help you freshen up after dinner.” Ryan winked down at Lucie as they walked into the room.
Lucie wanted to hide as all eyes were on her, and with their vampire hearing, they’d all heard what Ryan had just said. She knew this was the point, but it wasn’t any less embarrassing. Some people chuckled, some eyed her curiously, while another seemed to be studying her openly. Then there were two women who seemed to be shooting daggers at her with their eyes. Camille and Pamala, she presumed.
“Everyone, this is my precious fiancée, Lucie. She will be staying with us through the welcoming ceremony and shortly after will be moving in as my beautiful bride.” Ryan tugged her lovingly into him more and brushed his lips over her head.
Even though Lucie wanted to rip his lips off his body, she instead tilted her head toward him and smiled, looking at him with fake adoration. He winked down at her, pleased with her reaction before turning his attention to Aedan behind them.
