Caleb's Tempting Mate (Saber Chronicles Book 3) (5 page)

Chapter 7

When the office closed at four a.m., Lia walked to her new assistant’s office and said, “I hope you had a good first day at work.”

Her assistant, a sweet vampire named Georgia, had stepped right into the role and helped Lia learn about the kiss.  She had been engaged to a human before she was turned twenty years earlier, and the human had claimed she was a monster and broke off their engagement.  Because Caleb and Lia were truemates, Georgia hoped that she would find her own truemate someday.

“I have a great boss,” Georgia said, smiling.

“I’ve arranged for two guards to walk you to the club so you get home safely.”

“Thank you so much for thinking of me.  Have a good night, mistress.”

“You too.”

She joined Caleb by the front doors and they headed out.  She’d never considered herself all that much of a night-owl, but her mate was definitely one so she needed to get used to it.  She knew as her body adjusted to being awake at night that she wouldn’t need quite so much coffee to keep herself going.  Four vampire guards walked with her and Caleb to the hotel.  Caleb had won the title of master vampire by killing the previous vampire who ruled Belle Terra.  Her mate was fierce, but after meeting with several female vampires, she could see how much he was adored by the kiss.  The other master had been cruel and hadn’t cared about their well-being.  Caleb wanted everyone who was oathed to him to be safe.

Leaving the guards behind, they entered the private elevator and took it to the penthouse.

“I noticed an invitation to a wedding,” she said as Caleb held open the door for her.

“He’s a member of the kiss, and she’s human.  It’s nothing personal.  It’s my understanding that humans behave the same way and invite their boss to their wedding without really expecting him or her to attend.”

“I think we should go.”

“Do you?”  His brow rose.

“Yeah.  I haven’t been to a wedding in ages.  Plus, I think it would be a nice thing to do for them.”

“If you want to go, then we’ll go.”

“Good. I already had Nash RSVP for us.”

He chuckled.  “I guess you’re pretty thankful that I agreed to go.”

“Well,” she said, thoughtfully, “if you’d said no, I planned to work really hard to convince you to change your mind.”

“You can still do that.”

He pulled her close and kissed her.  He was so sexy.  From his intense green eyes to the curve of his lips, to the broad shoulders and tapered waist.  Underneath the tailored suit, he was all hard muscles.  When he smiled, it made her panties melt.

Tugging on his tie, she licked her lips with a soft purr.  Their lips met and their clothes disappeared in a flurry as they made their way to the master bedroom.  They had time to play before the sun rose, signifying the end of their day.  It was an excellent way to celebrate her first night at work.

* * * * *

Lia walked out of the bedroom in a silk, champagne-colored gown.  It had a daringly high slit in the front, and when she walked in matching four-inch heels, the dress parted to reveal almost her entire leg.

She found Caleb in the living room, looking at his phone.  Her mate was a hard worker, but he was always willing to put away the work in order to spend time with her.  They’d only been together for a few days, but she already felt closer to him than she ever had to anyone else.  She couldn’t get enough of his beautiful smile and the spicy scent of him.

He stood and smiled.  “You look gorgeous, sweetheart.”

He wore a black tux that fit him perfectly.  The vest and matching tie were black with golden swirls, which he said was to remind him of the way her eyes changed color when they made love.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she promised.  “I’ll be the envy of every female there.”

“Not as much as I’ll be the envy of all the males.”  He slid his arm around her waist and drew her closer.  “Remind me why I can’t ravish you right now?”

“Because the wedding starts at nine thirty, and we shouldn’t be late.”

“I can be fast.”

“Even your quickies take a while,” she teased.  “There’s no such thing as fast with you.”

He hummed.  “You’re not really complaining, are you?”

“Hell no.”

“Good.”

She moved toward the door, and he grabbed her wrist.  She turned to face him and found him down on one knee.  Her heart started to pound as he stared up at her, holding a black velvet box in one hand.

“Lia Carmichael, I have never known a woman like you.  You’re the most amazing, sweet, tempting female.  You brought light into my life and showed me what I was missing.  I want to spend eternity making you happy.  Will you marry me?”

Tears stung her eyes.  “Yes!”

He opened the box, and the biggest diamond she’d ever seen sat inside.  He pulled out the ring and slipped it onto her finger, and then he kissed her hand.  “You’ve made me the happiest male on the planet, Lia.”  He stood slowly, his arms wrapping around her as he kissed her deeply and tenderly.  Tears leaked from her closed eyes as happiness settled over her.

“I love you,” they both said at the same time when the kiss ended.

Laughing, she said, “Jinx.”

He smiled as he brushed the tears from her cheeks.  “Sweetheart, I’m so happy you’re mine.  I love you to the depths of my soul.”

“I love you.  And now I wish we weren’t leaving because we should be celebrating our engagement.”

“We can celebrate later,” he promised.

She liked the sound of that.  As they left the suite and walked down the long hallway to the private elevator, she looked at the ring.  The platinum setting held a huge teardrop-shaped diamond.  It sparkled brilliantly and was heavy on her finger.

“I couldn’t find a diamond as gorgeous as you, so I decided to go with one that would just shock the hell out of everyone,” he said.

“It’s beautiful.”

“No, Lia,
you’re
beautiful.  But I’m glad you like it.  We can get married whenever you’re ready.”

“Can we invite the kiss?”

“Of course.”

“How about a Christmas wedding?  That sounds fun.”

“As long as I get to call you my wife at the end of the night, we can have it anywhere, anytime.”

“I’ll have Georgia get started planning,” she said, her mind already filling with ideas for a holiday theme.  A week earlier she didn’t have a mate.  Now, she was planning her wedding.  Life really was strange.

The ceremony and wedding were being held in one of the supernatural hotel’s ballrooms.  There weren’t any churches in Belle Terra that would perform wedding ceremonies involving vampires.  She thought it sucked, because people who loved each other should be able to get married no matter what sort of supernatural creature they were.

Nash, dressed smartly in a dark suit, met them in the lobby.  “You look nice tonight, Nash.”

“Thank you, mistress.  You look lovely as always.”

Caleb made a snarling sound, and Nash just shook his head.  He never liked to hear unmated males compliment her.  They followed Nash to the ballroom, where Caleb shook hands with the vampire groom, Jeff.

Jeff’s eyes were as big as saucers.  “Thank you so much for coming, Master Caleb.  Mistress Lia, I’m honored to meet you.”

“Thank you for the invitation,” she said, smiling.

Leaving Nash behind, they followed an usher into the ballroom and to a reserved table for them near the stage where the ceremony was to take place.  Candles flickered on every flat surface, and the tables and chairs were draped with lavender tulle and dripping with strands of crystals and pearls.  Caleb pulled her chair out for her and she sat, looking around as Caleb joined her and placed his arm over the back of her chair.

He leaned over and kissed her throat, making her cat purr.  “This will be us in a few months, my sweet little cat.”

“I can’t wait.”

“I can’t wait to get you home and strip you out of this beautiful dress.  We have a lot to celebrate tonight.”

She turned her face to his and kissed him.  “I’m so glad you’re mine, Caleb.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anyone else’s.”

The End

* * * * *

Contact the Author

Website: 
http://www.rebutlerauthor.com

Email: 
[email protected]

Twitter:  @rebutlerauthor

Facebook: 
www.facebook.com/R.E.ButlerAuthorPage

* * * * * *

Also from R. E. Butler

Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series

A Curve of Claw

A Flash of Fang

A Price for a Princess

A Bond of Brothers

A Bead of Blood

A Twitch of Tail

A Promise on White Wings

A Slash of Savagery

Awaken a Wolf

The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One

The Wolf’s Mate Series

The Wolf’s Mate Book 1:  Jason & Cadence

The Wolf’s Mate Book 2:  Linus & The Angel

The Wolf’s Mate Book 3:  Callie & The Cats

The Wolf’s Mate Book 4:  Michael & Shyne

The Wolf’s Mate Book 5:  Bo & Reika

The Wolf’s Mate Book 6:  Logan & Jenna

The Wolf’s Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen

The Necklace Chronicles

The Tribe’s Bride

The Gigolo’s Bride

Ashland Pride Series

Seducing Samantha (Ashland Pride One)

Loving Lachlyn (Ashland Pride Two)

Marking Melody (Ashland Pride Three)

Redeeming Rue (Ashland Pride Four)

Saving Scarlett (Ashland Pride Five)

Hyena Heat Series

Every Night Forever (Hyena Heat One)

Every Dawn Forever (Hyena Heat Two)

Every Sunset Forever (Hyena Heat Three)

Every Blissful Moment (Hyena Heat Four)

Wilde Creek Series

Mate of Her Heart (Book One)

The Alpha’s Heart (Book Two)

The Protector’s Heart (Book Three)

The Omega’s Heart (Book Four)

Saber Chronicles Series

Alaric’s Perfect Mate (Book One)

Slade’s Feisty Mate (Book Two)

Caleb’s Tempting Mate (Book Three)

Galen’s Lovely Mate (Book Four)

* * * * *

~ Coming November 1, 2015 ~

Galen’s Lovely Mate

Saber Chronicles Book Four

Galen Carmichael is officially in hell.  His two brothers and sister are all mated, but he’s still painfully single.  As a saber-tooth tiger shifter, he’s been having mating dreams for the last week, but he can’t make any sense out of the fuzzy pink and gold dreams.

Fairy Serena Fontaine has been away from the Belle Terra Supernatural Hotel for a week when she has a dream urging her to return to town.  As she draws close to the arena where the were-fights are being held, she has a vision of a saber-tooth tiger and passes out.  She wakes up in the arms of her truemate, a gorgeous saber shifter.

This book contains a fairy with pink and gold wings, her sexy saber-tooth tiger truemate, the hotel where they live and work, and their growing family.  Expect plenty of growls, neck biting, fluttering wings, and sex-fueled flower gardens.