Cinderella's Guardian (26 page)

"Got a present for you."

"So I see."

She chuckled, low and husky and it sent a shiver the whole way down his spine. "I guess I have a couple presents for you."

He meant to ask how her day went, if she'd found a dress…but his thoughts scattered as he approached the mattress. She'd now thrown back the cover that had hidden her legs and torso and he was all but drooling. Her smooth toned legs were more temptation than he could resist. Quickly pulling his shirt over his head while he kicked off his boots, he bent to run his hands up her calves. As always, she tensed when he got to her knees. She didn't like the scars, Conner didn't like that his mate had suffered so much, but the scars themselves changed nothing about how he felt for her. He kissed each incision point and trailed his tongue up the longer cuts, as he got higher on her thigh.

"Conner, you have to stop. I have. Have to tell you. Something."

Sensing it was something important, he pulled away from her skin with a groan. He prowled up her body so he could kiss her lips as her citrusy scent strengthened with her increasing arousal and enveloped him.

"You look good enough to eat, baby doll. Better make it quick, because I can only resist you for so long. Especially when you dress like this." He flicked his finger over her tight nipple to reinforce his point, but frowned when she hissed and pulled from his touch. What was that about? She'd always liked him flicking her nipples before.

Conner watched as she pulled her other hand from beneath the covers where she'd kept it hidden. In her hand was a long piece of plastic. He cocked an eyebrow at her in question before she turned the plastic over and his heart ceased to beat.

Two. Red. Lines.

Everyone on the planet knew what those two little lines meant.

"We're pregnant?"

At Tina's nod, his heart started again and kicked into high gear. With tears of joy in his eyes, he cupped his mate's face and took her lips in a fevered, passionate kiss.

"You make me so damn happy, Tina. I can't remember ever feeling this complete."

He lowered his head to her breast, where he suckled her tender nipple through the black lace.

"So, you like my new nighty?"

"Hmm, not sure there's enough material to have it qualify as a nighty…but I certainly like it."

He trailed a finger down each shoulder, taking the straps down her arms. He began purring as she shuddered when her breasts sprung free of the garment. He swiped his tongue over her right nipple before suckling it gently in his mouth as his hands continued to lower the lace down her taut body. He scooted down lower and focused on her still flat tummy. He grinned at the thought that their child was safely growing within. He reverently kissed just above her navel and squeezed his eyes shut against the tears that wanted to escape.

"You are so special, Tina. You've given me so much."

He looked up at her and saw she had tears in her eyes too.

"Don't cry, baby. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"You are. It's only fair I do too. And now I'm pregnant, I'll be more emotional, so you need to get used to tears, honey."

"baby doll, I will
never
get used to your tears."

"Well, you'd best distract me then. Maybe removing some more clothing might do the trick."

Conner laughed as he hopped off the bed and stripped out of his pants. He loved when his mate was in a fun mood like she was now. Once naked he stood a moment and looked her over, she was perfect.
How the hell did I ever get so lucky?
She reached her hands over her head and arched her back, offering herself to him. He began purring again. He stripped her nighty off over her feet and tossed the material aside, not caring where it landed. He crawled between her slender thighs, where he paused to inhale her tangy citrusy scent. It wound through him, filling all the gaps in his soul, completing him. Without blinking, he held her gaze as he lowered and took his first taste of the night. He hummed as the taste exploded across his senses and he went back for more. Her body shuddered beneath him and he splayed a hand over each hip to hold her still so he could continue. One palm landed over her mating mark and the magic sparked through him, as it always did, reminding him she would always be his.

With that thought urging him on, he surged up her body and drove himself into her hot wet heat. He held still as her muscles rippled and adjusted to his presence within her body. Purring loudly, he lowered his mouth to hers and devoured her. With their tongues dancing he began to move, his strokes started off long and slow but he couldn't keep that pace up. He needed his Tina too much. He moved back to kneel, pulling her pelvis up to meet him. He wound his arm around her left thigh carefully, making sure he kept the limb at a comfortable angle for her before he started thrusting deeply into her.

"baby doll, you feel so good."

He felt when Tina was close. Her muscles began to flutter around him. Her arms still stretched above her head gripped the headboard tightly as her breaths turned to pants. She looked like an angel, her hair a mess of white gold around her flushed face. Arousal stained her cheeks, neck and chest a rosy red beneath the thin film of sweat. Unable to hold back any longer, he threw his head back and roared as he flooded her with his seed. Loving how she went over the edge with him, milking every last drop from him.

Completely spent he gently lowered her bottom to the bed before he covered her with his much larger body.

"I love you, Tina. More than anything else, I love you."

She gazed up at him, a tender heart breaking smile on her lips. "And you, Conner White, are my whole world. I love you."

She cupped his face in her soft palms and pulled him down to her, claiming his lips along with his heart and soul.

All three he willingly gave her; his mate.

Epilogue

She looked into her mother's serious face as she applied Tina's makeup. So much had happened in the past seven weeks, yet the days had flown by quickly. She'd spent a lot of time with both mothers plus Adele getting everything ready. Gloria, Dale, Sophie, Adele and Dominic had also helped her with her rehab. It had been tricky to keep her walking with crutches from Conner. Staying in the chair when she didn't have to drove her nuts some days. But surprising him today with her walking down the aisle was going to be worth every moment. This was definitely going to be a Christmas to remember. All of them, along with Conner, Kelly and Kit had spent the entire previous day transforming the private dining room at Top Pub. Even though the small pub was normally closed on Christmas Day, the owners were opening the private function room especially for them.

Then this morning, the girls had moved onto the chapel where the ceremony was going to be held. Her dad had taken Tina to church every Sunday until she'd moved to Sydney, after that she hadn't been. Gloria always rated her Sunday morning sleep-ins over going to religious services. Conner had been raised with a mix of Christian and Buddhist beliefs. So they were getting married in the Uniting Church with their minister. Conner had brought Tina to a few of their services before today, it was a beautiful old stone building and because their ceremony was going to be in the afternoon it wouldn't mess with their normal Christmas morning service. With the time limitations they hadn't done a lot of decorating. It had to have looked a sight, them all with their hair done and fancy nails tying bows on pews and placing potted poinsettias around the place.

"All those years working the makeup counter at David Jones have finally paid off. You're a masterpiece."

Her mum's words brought her mind back to now. With her makeup done, all that was left to do was put her dress on then it was time for her to get married.

"Thanks, Mum. You look great too. Remi's going to be chasing you around all afternoon."

Her mother blushed and turned away. "Oh, don't be silly." She cleared her throat before standing up from her seat. "Okay, let's get this bride in her dress."

Tina chuckled as she made her way into the other room with her crutches. Remi and Gloria had been inseparable for weeks now. It was sweet to watch, and Remi made sure her mother stuck to her new and improved version of Gloria.

"It's a pity these crutches look so rough. I only need to use one because I'll have either Dad or Conner to lean on but still…"

"Don't worry about it, Tina. Kelly's got it covered."

Tina tilted her head in curiosity. "Kelly has it covered?"

"Sure does, she'll be here soon. But I'm not saying a word till she arrives."

With both her mum and Adele, it didn't take long for Tina to get dressed. She was a little embarrassed that they both saw what she was wearing underneath her dress. Having her mum lace up her white corset was an experience she'd never forget. Man, could that woman giggle like a toddler. Adele had been totally professional about all of it, not only the corset, but the g-string, suspenders and stockings as well.

"Hello?"

Her dad's deep voice rung out through the house.

"In here Dale!" Sophie yelled out before leaving the room.

Tina started to follow but Adele stopped her. "Just wait here a second,
chère
."

Kelly came into the room carrying a stunning 'wedding' crutch.

"Kelly, it's beautiful! Thank you."

She guessed Sophie and Adele played a big part in Kelly's present but Kelly had certainly done a large amount of work too. Conner had introduced the young teen to art and she'd taken to it like a fish to water. She'd been learning airbrushing over the past couple months. This crutch wasn't like the utilitarian ones she was currently using. This one had white leather on the cuff that cupped her arm just below her elbow and on the handle. The metal had been painted white with lightly glittered silver swirls. There were also tiny white silk orchards glued to the bigger swirls. Tina laughed when she noticed there was also a tiny silver leopard charm hanging from the handle. This crutch now looked so elegant and gorgeous that it would fit in perfectly with the wedding theme.

"I wanted to give you something special. I know Uncle Conner is going to be so shocked when you walk down the aisle today."

Leaning her everyday sticks against the wall, Tina pulled Kelly in for a light hug. She didn't want to get either of them wrinkled. Adele and Kelly were her attendants. They each wore a simple knee-length red sundress. Sophie and Jake rushed in with all their flowers.

"The cars are all here so we need to get a move on but you ladies need your flowers first."

Adele and Kelly both had small bouquets of blood red roses with small white orchids. Tina had the same thing, just slightly bigger.

"Oh my, you three look so lovely." She paused to look over at Tina's mum, "Gloria? Let's get a move on so we get there in plenty of time to see my son pass out."

Chuckling the whole way Sophie and her mum headed out the door. Jake was driving Tina and her attendants, he promptly left to go warm up the car. Adele and Kelly headed off to get what they needed to take with them, leaving Tina a much needed moment alone.

Not much later, a throat clearing had Tina turning around. Her father stood there, looking uncomfortable in his suit and tie.

"Wow, Dad. You scrub up nicely for an old man." She winked at her dad as he nervously laughed.

"Not half as good as you do. You look amazing, Tina. Conner is a lucky man."

"I'm a lucky woman."

"Tina, I can't tell you what it means to me to see you looking so happy. You've turned into an exceptional young woman. One I'm proud to call my daughter."

"Thanks Dad, I love you too. But please don't get emotional, these pregnancy hormones have me crying all the time and even though Mum assures me my mascara is waterproof, I'd rather not test it just yet."

"Yeah, well, I'm not real good with emotions either. I just wanted to give you this before we head off to the church."

Her dad pulled a strand of pearls from his pocket.

"These go way back in my mother's family. Not sure exactly how old they are. But I can tell you, your mother, grandmother and great grandmother wore them on their wedding days. Thankfully I put them in a box at the bank so they didn't get lost in the fire."

Blinking back tears, Tina unclasped the necklace Conner had given her all those months ago and allowed her father to fasten the pearl strand around her neck. The cool weight felt good against her skin. She looked down to the gold heart with its little paw print wondering how she could include it in her outfit.

"I have an idea that might work, if you still want to wear it. I know how special it is to you."

"I would really like to have it with me today. What's your idea?"

Her father took the new shorter chain she'd bought for it and proceeded to wrap it around her right wrist twice. It hung loosely but not so loose it would fall off.

"Perfect. So the pearls cover my something old. Mum gave me these emerald earrings, so that's the new. The innersoles of my sandals are blue, so that's covered. What else? Something borrowed…"

Adele came in cutting her off, "borrowed is easy."

They were getting ready at Dominic and Adele's house so Adele grabbed up one of Kelly's flower clips and carefully added it to her hair. "There. All done. Now, let's get this bride to the altar on time."