Unbreakable (Unrestrained 4)

"Is that better?" I asked, adjusting my breasts.

"You look…" he said and shook his head slowly. "You look like you're covered in icing sugar and ready to be licked all over. How will I make it through the night?"

I smiled, pleased that he approved. "Do you like it? My father picked it out."

Drake clicked his tongue. "The man has wonderful taste." Then he moved closer to me, his arms slipping around my waist, pulling me against his body. "Speaking of taste, I want one…"

Then he kissed me, his mouth covering mine, his lips warm and soft. His touch sent a thrill through my body, igniting a fire in me that I knew wouldn’t soon burn out. His hand slipped over top of my dress, up from my waist to my bust, his fingers tracing the upper curves of my breasts.

"It's a beautiful dress, but to tell you the truth, I can't wait to strip this off you."

Then he reached into a pocket and pulled out a white jewelry box with a white ribbon tied around it.

"Here," he said. "Your neck is bare."

"As you commanded," I said. The previous night, he'd instructed me not to wear my collar. I wondered why at the time, but now I knew. He had something else for me to wear.

"I had to sneak past the guards to get this to you before the ceremony."

I took the box and untied the ribbon, my fingers trembling. Inside was a necklace in white gold, the necklace encrusted with tiny diamonds, a large red teardrop diamond dangling from the center.

"Oh, my God, Drake." I held the box up, the diamonds sparkling in the light.

"Come here," he said and pulled me into the bathroom and in front of the large mirror. He took the necklace from the box and went behind me to place it around my neck. The large diamond hung below my throat.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, barely able to speak.

"Look at yourself," he said, his face next to mine. "You're beautiful, future Mrs. Katherine Marie McDermott Morgan."

I smiled at him in the mirror. He seemed really pleased that I decided to take his name and keep my father's as well. I realized that it was the perfect compromise. It touched me deeply that he wanted people to know I was his wife.

"Hopefully, every man you meet will think this necklace is just an indulgent extravagance on my part, but this is your new collar." He adjusted it on my neck. "Now you'll truly be mine," he said, his voice soft.

"I already was yours, Drake," I said, choking up.

I looked at my reflection – my hair was done in a soft up do, the veil behind me, the necklace around my throat, the lace of my dress catching the light. Drake stood behind me, his eyes moving over my reflection, his expression one of pure possession. He moved his hands over my shoulders and down to my hands, threading his fingers through mine, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror.

Then, he released my hands and slowly turned me around, pulled me into his arms and kissed me. If I had any lingering doubts about how Drake felt about me, and about our future together, they dissipated like fog on a warm summer morning.

He'd broken all his rules for me, to be with me, to have me.

I was his and he was mine, completely.

“We have to get back,” I said and tried to pull out of his arms. He held me tight.

“Just one more moment,” he whispered. His arms tightened around me, his face pressed into my neck, his lips on the skin beneath my ear.

I gave in and hugged him back, my emotions almost overwhelming me for a moment. My eyes teared up and when he pulled back, he smiled.

“Oh, Katie,” he said softly. “I hope those are tears of happiness, or we’re off to a rocky start…”

I almost burst out in tears at that. “Of course they are,” I said and quickly wiped the tears off my cheeks. “I’ve never been so happy in my life.”

“Me either,” Drake said. “I wanted to see you before the ceremony to give you the necklace and to say one last time before we are married that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every day when I see you in the morning, when I wake up and you’re the first thing I see? I thank God, the universe, Fate, Karma, and whatever else put us together. For the first time in my life I see a happy future for myself and it’s all because of you.”

“Oh, Drake,” I said and hugged him once more, my tears starting again. “If you keep talking like that, I’ll be a mess for the ceremony.”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth,” Drake said. Then, he tickled me, his fingers digging into my ribs, under my armpits and I squealed like a child, my tears drying up, replaced by laughter.