CHAPTER TEN-THE BINDING

“Oh, Thorin. It’s perfect, thank you so much.” Imara stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked over the lace wedding dress he bought her this morning.

Thorin leaned against the doorway and admired her. He wished he could’ve found something more fitting, but time was short. “You don’t have to thank me, my dear. I needed an excuse to get over to New Orleans anyway. Father Michael sends his love by the way.” Thorin reached in his pocket and took out a small velvet bag then handed it to Imara.

“Wasn’t that sweet of that angel!” Imara opened her bag and found a sixpence. She took off her shoe then slid it inside before putting it on again. Imara turned around and said, “What do you think?”

Thorin came to her and put his hands on her upper arms as he looked her over. “Perfection, Imara. There was never a more beautiful woman on her wedding day, I’m sure of it.”

Imara shook out her hands and blew out through her mouth. “I’m full of nerves. Did Shaw take all my things to the house?”

“Well, some of them. It’s a bit too small for everything. It’ll be here though for when Ben builds an addition someday.”

Imara smiled and nodded. “Did you see it inside? It’s just adorable, isn’t it?”

Thorin gave a small grin and nodded his head. He knew Imara was excited about having a  home of her own, but it was little more than a cottage for holiday. Hardly a proper house for a woman who’s used to a more extravagant lifestyle.

As Imara straightened her mother’s pearls around her neck, she looked up to Thorin. “I’m ready now.”

While Thorin carefully helped Imara down the stairs, he looked over her face. “Relax, Imara. It’s just us.”

“Yes, I know. I just can’t believe it’s happening. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to find someone so wonderful. I must’ve done something right once.”

Thorin smiled and said, “Ben’s the lucky one darlin.”

As Thorin and Imara entered the sitting room, Ben turned from the painting he was looking at and bit his lip. His eyes teared and he smiled at Imara before pushing his hair back behind his ears. He walked across the room then took her hand from Thorin. “Baby, you look like an angel. I’ve never seen anyone so pretty before.”

A tear fell down her cheek as she admired Ben. “Dear Lord, you’re so handsome. Every woman will be so jealous of me from now on.”

He pulled her closer to him and asked, “Are you ready?” Imara smiled sweetly and nodded. “Oh, yes. I’ve never been so ready for anything in my life.” 

As they stood hand in hand in front of Thorin, he smiled and licked his lips. “We are all gathered here to witness the marriage of Ben and Imara. As in the old times, we recognize that marriage bonds us forever to our mate. In honor of what the Fates have gifted to us, we offer this sacrifice.”

Thorin produced a knife from the table beside him. He took Ben’s hand and sliced deeply into his palm, then did the same to Imara. Thorin placed their hands together, then stood back as a glowing white sash wove its way around their joined hands. “The Fates are happy with this union and pleased with their sacrifice of blood. Ben, do you promise to love, protect and honor Imara. Forsaking all others. Faithful only to her and your children.”

Ben looked in Imara’s eyes and said,” I swear it.”

“Imara, do you promise to love, protect and honor Ben. Forsaking all others. Faithful only to him and your children.”

Imara smiled and nodded. “Oh, yes. Yes. I swear it.”

“Then I now pronounce that the Fates have bound you as mates. You are now husband and wife. Blessed be.”

With those words, searing pain began in the still joined hands of Ben and Imara as a spell written in the old Realm language was burned onto their ring finger and the sash disappeared.

The smell of burned skin still lingered as Imara suddenly wrapped her arms around Ben’s neck and clumsily smashed her lips on his. He smiled as she innocently hummed against his lips, then he wrapped her little body up in his big, strong arms and lifted her off the floor as he softly moved his lips against hers. Imara finally pulled away and panted for air. “You’re mine now, Ben Logan.

As he looked in her eyes, he said, “I always was, Imara. From the instant I took my first breath and I always will be.”

As Thorin told stories about the good old days at the dining room table, Imara leaned over to Ben. “When can we leave?”

Ben grinned as he put his wine glass to his lips. “Soon.”

Imara sighed, then pushed her food around her plate. Thorin looked to the awkward couple and smiled before going back to his conversation. When he was finished, he pushed himself back in his chair and cleared his throat. As Ben and Imara looked to him he nodded towards the door. “Alright, you two, get out of here.”

Ben smirked then nodded to Thorin as he pushed his chair back and stood. He took Imara’s hand and pulled back her chair. “Come on, baby. It’s time to go home.”

Imara stood and wrapped her arm around Ben’s back as they walked out of the sitting room. She looked back over her shoulder and wiggled her fingers goodbye as Thorin and Thomas chuckled at her.

As soon as they got out the front door, Ben misted them inside his cottage. He pulled Imara’s hand gently as he led her into the bedroom, then shut the door behind him. As he looked over Imara he licked his lips then started pulling his shirt from his pants. Imara curled her lips under as she watched him pull his shirt over his head and toss it aside.

Imara turned around then looked over her shoulder. “I’ll need some help with the buttons.”

Ben huffed through his nose then stepped closer to her and started undoing the long row of buttons that ran down her back. It was slow torture as his hands fumbled with the tiny tabs, he just wanted to get to the good stuff already. After 5 or 6, he growled to himself then put his hands on either side and pulled forcefully sending buttons across the room. Imara gasped and asked, “Was that really necessary?”

Ben brushed her cheek with his lips as he leaned over her and asked, “You weren’t planning on wearing this again were you?”

She looked back and kissed the tip of his crooked nose. “No, never.”

Placing his hands onto Imara’s shoulders, Ben lifted the lace dress with his fingers and slid it down her arms . As the goosebumps rose across her flesh, an amused smirk curled up on Ben’s lips, knowing that just the touch of his fingers could spark a reaction. As he slowly teased himself with the painfully prolonged undressing, Ben smelled Imara’s hair and breathed hot across her shoulder as she shimmied the dress down her legs then stepped out of it. She turned to face Ben and he exhaled sharply as he saw her perfect body standing before him. “My God, you're just...oh, beautiful isn’t enough. I don’t know the right words.”

Imara bit her lip as she playfully rolled her eyes. “Oh, go on.”

Ben shook his head. “I mean it.” He swallowed hard then slowly touched her breast. “You’re like a goddess. Like one of those statues.” 

Taking Imara’s hand, Ben backed onto the bed then pulled her down on his lap. Imara’s fingers shivered as she slid them up his chest and traced the outline of his muscles. “You’re shaking, baby. Are you afraid of me?”

Imara’s eyes fell away from his gaze as she tried to find her courage. Placing his two fingers under her chin, Ben lifted her face to meet his eyes again. “I asked you a question.”

Imara’s quivering lips said, “I don’t want to disappoint you. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Her innocence was one of the most beautiful things about Imara, in Ben’s eyes. “I know that, baby. I don’t know what kind of life you think I was living before you came to it, but I’m not exactly an expert either. We’ll learn together, but don’t ever be afraid of my touch, I want my hands to be the safest place you know.”

Fanning her face and blinking the tears off her lashes, Imara swallowed the lump in throat and put her hand on his chest. “Everything you say is just so…it’s just so beautiful.” Then, she moved her hand to her own chest. “I keep it all right here. I don’t want to ever forget a word of it. You’re just so sweet to me.”

Brushing her curly hair back behind her ear, Ben said, “What else should I be. I’m your man.”

Imara leaned against Ben’s chest and swept the back of her fingers against Ben’s cheek and glanced at his lips. “Yes, you are and I’m all yours now.”

Ben could smell Imara’s building arousal dripping off her as he gently fingered her nipple. He pushed himself back on the bed and flipped her slowly to her back.

As he rubbed her lips with his fingertips, he said, “I’ve been thinking about this since the moment I saw you.”

Imara pushed his hair off his face. “So have I.”

Ben buried his face in Imara’s neck and placed soft kisses along the crook then down her collarbone. As he slowly pushed himself backwards, he continued placing kisses on her hot skin.

The pulse between her legs became an unbearable pounding as Ben slid down between them. Imara closed her eyes tight to hide her embarrassment as Ben pushed her thighs apart and inhaled deeply. As a low hum of a growl started in the depths of his chest, Ben parted her lips with his fingers and rubbed them in her juices. “Mmm,” moaned Ben as he licked up her slit. Imara grabbed the bedsheets in her hands and moaned behind tight lips as he explored her sweet pussy. He took a lip in his mouth and tugged gently while he sucked on it. When Ben finally pulled up her clit into his mouth, Imara opened her eyes and gasped at the new euphoric sensation.

As he flicked his tongue across her bud, Imara pulled at the sheets and tried her best to be quiet. But that’s not what the wolf wanted. He reached up with one hand and grabbed hers away from the sheet then brought it to his head, then he did the same with the other side. Imara laced her fingers through his hair as Ben did his best to please her. She looked down and saw Ben between her legs then she licked her lips and smiled as she saw his head move furiously against her. 

As his soft, strong tongue finally discovered the right combination, Imara dropped her head back to the pillow while tears fell from her eyes. She closed her eyes and cried out, “Ah! Ah! Ben! Ah!”

Ben gave her clit one last suck before he licked the taste from his lips then sat up and unbuttoned his pants. He stood then quickly pulled them off and crawled back on top of Imara. While her legs still quivered, Ben rubbed the tip of his cock in her wetness then slowly slid inside. Imara gritted her teeth and shut her eyes tight as she held her breath to brace herself against the pain. Knowing there was no easy way to do it, Ben grazed her cheek with his lips and said, “I’m sorry. I’ll be gentle.”

Imara wrapped her arms around his back and steadied herself against his chest as she prepared for the unknown. From the way she burned, Imara feared that every move he made would be agony, but as he slowly rolled his hips into hers and grunted his hot, moist breath into her ear, Imara’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling and she took a deep, throaty breath as the excruciating ecstasy devoured her slowly.

As Imara melted back into the bed and her legs fell open wide for him, Ben closed his eyes as he plunged deeper with each thrust. He braced himself on his elbow and pushed himself to hover over Imara so that he could see her face. Gripping his shoulders, Imara arched away from Ben, offering her firm breasts to him. Remembering the way they looked under her silken gown, Ben leaned down and took one of the ripe cherries into his mouth. As his teeth brushed against her hard, sharp nipple while he tried to hold onto it, it sent Imara over the edge and the pulsing squeeze of her tight walls made Ben suck back a breath through his clenched teeth as she brutally clutched his thick cock and begged for it to fill her.

Taking the hint, Ben gladly pumped harder. As she cried out, “Ah! Ah! Ah!” Ben gritted his teeth and hissed in her ear then exploded inside her.

Ben buried his face in her neck and fisted his hands. He wanted nothing more at this moment then to sink his teeth in Imara, but he knew she wasn’t ready. As the last drop of him spilled, Ben pulled out and collapsed on the bed beside her.

As she panted and tried to catch her breath, Imara turned her head to Ben. “I want more.” Ben turned to her and licked his lips. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to spend every night of your life pleasing you every way I can.”