Caleb's Tempting Mate (Saber Chronicles Book 3) by R. E. Butler Read Free Book Online Page B

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