“I…I know we’ve…you’ve done this before with me. Her.” She sighed and he could sense her withdrawing, pulling back into herself because of the worry that she was fumbling her way through this.
Deciding it was his turn to take the lead, he rolled her over, framing her gorgeous face. “I love everything there is about you, Chrysalis. Everything. You’re every soft whisper, the way your lips twitch when you’re desperately pleased, how your cheeks bloom crimson when you think I don’t see you looking at me.”
She bit her lip.
“You are exactly who you are meant to be, and I’m wild about you.”
She nodded.
And when he began to unbutton her blue summer dress and slip it off her shoulders, she didn’t fight him. Groaning when his hot gaze landed on her creamy breasts and peachy tipped nipples he took one into his mouth and trembled when she slipped her fingers through his hair moaning loud and long.
He was tender and he was slow, building her want, her desire. Because for Chrysalis this would be truly her first time.
Piece by piece, he took their clothes off and when they were finally both nude and there was nothing but the sun and the wind caressing his back he gently laid on top of her. Her thighs and arms gripped him and her eyes were wide as she whispered, “I’m ready.”
And poised just above her, his cock hard and his body desperate for her slick warmth, he kissed the corner of her lip. “How do you feel about—”
This time it was her turn to smile and nod and gently stroke his face. “I love you, Aeric, with all my heart and soul. I love you.”
Their union was slow and sweet and passionate, their bodies melding into one. Her cries were a symphony in his ears and when she came, she called his name.
Aeric had found his home, his loves, and he would never leave them and with that thought he fragmented into a thousand pieces of bliss.
For another month they grew closer and tighter and Aeric knew now what he had to do.
As if sensing what’d taken place, Lissa finally returned to him after four months apart. She came to him one morning and he knew immediately it was her by the way she laughed.
“Aeric,” she smiled and it wasn’t sad, but radiant full of joy and verve. “You’ve done it, you’re now ours. Well and truly.”
He grinned. “I’ve missed you, Lissa. Every day.”
“And I know that’s true, because I’ve seen all that’s happened, but I also know that you love her as surely as you do me. And it’s okay.” She grabbed his hands, knowing he needed reassurance; she was quick to give it. Kissing the palms.
Feeling an urge to shout in jubilation, he grabbed her up and swung her around instead. “I love you. Have I told you that? You’re the most amazing woman ever. And yes, I do love her, Lissa, but I meant it when I told her back in the beginning that I wanted to exchange Veritas vows.” Dropping to a knee, he stared her deep in the eyes. “Would you do me the honor of becoming one with me?”
With tears in her eyes, she nodded and then jumped into his arms.
*
The wedding was a who’s who of Wonderland. Everyone who was anyone attended, there was Pillar and her cronies in one corner causing a drunken raucous with their bawdy cries of what would happen after the wedding. The March Hare, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Why even the Queen of Hearts was there, though all knew to give her and her royal court wide berth as none wanted to go ‘off with their heads’ on such a festive occasion. And of course, the most important people to both Aeric and his butterfly—Danika, Hatter, and Alice.
Though Danika looked nothing like the fairy he’d known these past two decades. Chrysa had explained that when Siria’s curse had been broken on her, so too had it been broken on Jericho and Danika.
Years ago Siria had cursed Danika with plainness and she and Jericho with being apart for centuries. But with the curse lifted The Man in the Moon was now able to visit his beloved once a month. And Danika was once again the woman Jericho had fallen in love with. Not the cherubic matronly fairy, but breathtakingly beautiful with glossy brown hair and brilliant sapphire blue eyes.
On top of that, rumor was spreading that now that Siria’s curse was lifted there was the possibility that Jericho could finally step down from his mantle as official Man in the Moon.
The fact that Danika was currently in the market for a larger, more spacious mushroom cap home lent the rumor credence. But until Jericho could find his replacement any reunions would have to wait.
Danika still hadn’t found a replacement for Siria’s duties, as of now, Aeric had heard there was a fairy handling the sun’s affairs in the interim.
But really, none of that mattered right now. Because here he was standing in the middle of the fairy forest, with flickering golden lights dancing all around. The heavenly scent of Alice’s baking filled the air and a murder of crows were currently humming the wedding march.