ALICE
As she stared at her shimmering white dress in the mirror, she didn’t feel any pang of regret or fear.
She was doing the right thing.
Maybe it was because she was already Cooper’s wife and mate. Maybe it was because she loved him, and he loved her. Maybe it was because she already knew what it was like to be his wife.
But the real reason she hadn’t been nervous was that this wedding had no pressure. She wasn’t marrying Cooper because shehadto but because she wanted to, and she believed that the distinction was important for their relationship in the long run.
Cooper had spared no expense in planning the wedding. He wanted Alice to have everything that she could possibly want to make the day special. He hadn’t exactly been a groomzilla, but he was always making sure that the plans she made…or the suggestions well-meaning friends, like Lou and Portia, made…were actually in line with her vision.
No one had ever cared so much about her wants and needs. No one ever asked her if she was happy when she was growing up, and really, she hadn’t asked herself. There was no time because she was always justsurviving.
Now things were different. Her husband always made sure that she had everything she could possibly need or want to be happy, but Cooper knew her so well that he could sense when something wasn’t exactly what Alice wanted.
It wasn’t just with the wedding. It was in every aspect of their lives. Cooper was a tender man when she needed that, but he could also be fiercely protective when it was called for…though she was still having some trouble adjusting tothatparticular piece of the puzzle.
She had magic, and her husband had fire. There was no telling who was more powerful, but thankfully, that’s not what their relationship was about. Theirs was a relationship built on love and respect, no matter how strange its origins had been.
They were parents to the cutest little baby…Louisa, Lou for short…who was already in the chapel with Kim and John. So far, their baby showed no sign of magic or dragon, but Alice knew already. The child had both, and she and Cooper were readying for a very busy life.
A good life.
Alice took another glance in the mirror to admire her wedding look. The lace dress was long, with a train that followed behind her. Her veil was soft white, and it was so light she almost forgot that she was wearing it.
Her wedding ring…the one from their first wedding…was on her right hand. Cooper had insisted on getting her another ring now that he knew her more than their last go down the aisle…another ring that wasnotthe family heirloom. Her husband’s wealth and hoarding of precious stones was not something she was used to yet, but she’d married adragon. It came with the territory.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Alice called out, “come in.” She turned to face her visitor, not at all surprised when she saw her husband standing there, looking like the sexiest, most virile man to ever have worn a tuxedo.
“Cooper,” she sighed. “It’s a good thing we’re already married and that we don’t believe that it’s bad luck for the bride to see the groom before the wedding.”
Cooper didn’t say anything but kept his eyes on her, his mouth slightly parted. His eyes were wide and full of need.
“Don’t you dare get any naughty ideas, Cooper Dawson. We get to make love in all of the positions you wantafterthe ceremony and the pictures.”
“You look …” He shook his head. “I’m speechless, love. You’ve made your husband speechless.”
She giggled. “I do that all the time.”
“Hmm,” he ran his lips against hers. “You do, but this is different.”
“Oh? Different how?”
“Because today, when I marry you, the entire thunder will be there to see. We are choosing this for ourselves. Not to save our lives, but fuck, am I ever glad that we had to do it in the first place.”
“I feel the same.”
He grinned and kissed her again. “Good. That’s what a man likes to hear. Do you need me to walk you down the aisle again?”
Alice shook her head. “Actually, no. I want to walk myself.”
He frowned but smiled. “Can I guess why?”
She nodded and waited for him to say, “Because you’ve been alone a long time, and you want to do this alone to show that you’re coming to this…tome …with all of yourself. With the past behind you.”
She laughed softly and lifted onto her toes to kiss his lips. “That’s exactly right. Now go on and wait for me at the end of the aisle. I’ll be yours soon enough.”
His eyes flashed with emotion. “You already are. You’ve always been.”