I apologize for leaving you hanging for so long. Work and some health issues kept me from posting to any of my stories for a while. I put updates on my profile if any of you are curious as to what I am doing. It will tell you whether I am currently working on a different story or if something else has come up.

This chapter is like the little treat that housekeeping leaves on your pillow in fine hotels. Short and so sweet . . .

Warning: Some mild sexuality . . .

There had been so many people . . . Elle thought, contemplating the ring on her finger as she sat propped against the headboard of her bed. She glanced at the man asleep at her side. She had met so many of his friends earlier and he had actually gotten in touch with several of hers. How had she gotten so lucky? She couldn't imagine having bonded with a person that she didn't like, let alone someone she found unlovable. Arthur had told her that it was possible; that there were even stories of Sirens instigating the bonding with people for political advantage.

Apparently, Sirens weren't always very nice people. That made her a little nervous about her plan to meet the Sirens that Arthur had told her about. He had warned her that Dick wouldn't be happy with her for that. In fact, Arthur had admitted that Dick had asked him to not tell her about the brothers at all.

Elle made a face at her sleeping lover as she gently pushed his unruly bangs out of his eyes. She didn't appreciate his taking such a highhanded approach, but she knew she would forgive him for it. He loved her . . . He feared anything that might take her away from him. But they were bondmates! Nothing but death could separate them. She would wean him onto the idea.

Her mind drifted back onto the evening. The person that had made the biggest impression on her was the man Dick had introduced her to as his brother . . . Jason. Finally a face to go with all those remarks about black sheep and what not. But Jason didn't remind her of Aiden in the least, for all that he and Dick apparently didn't get on well. For someone who avoided family at all costs, Jason had been a pretty good sport about this evening; even going so far as to join into the dance when Dick sang "Marry You" to her. He and Dick's other two friends . . . The redheaded ones . . . What were their names again? Oh yeah, Wally and Roy.

She suppressed a chuckle. Those were some very good friends to have been willing to join into the hilarious dance number. Of the three of them, Wally . . . At least she thought it was Wally, had probably been the lightest on his feet, but still all of them had stomped around like bulls; Jason even more so with his heavy biker boots. But it made her love them all the more for it.

Jason hadn't stuck around for the party afterward. He had stayed long enough to meet her. It was mostly just Elle watching as Jason and Dick traded barbs good-naturedly, but there had been some tension on Jason's part. The two obviously still had problems, but the fact that his brother had shown up at all, let alone taken part, had made Dick ecstatically happy.

She had danced her feet off during the night, in between joining the guest entertainers for impromptu songs. Dick had even joined the band once, playing guitar. How had she not known he could play the guitar? How could he have kept it from her? When she had asked him about it, he had just shrugged and told her that he hadn't mentioned it because she hadn't asked. Exasperating man . . .

She smiled fondly down at the man snuggled up to, and currently drooling, on her thigh. Dick still had hidden depths that she meant to explore and talents that she planned to exploit on occasion; one of which that was fast approaching, in fact. Christmas was less than a week away . . .

Her thoughts were abruptly rattled by a loud snore. Giggling, Elle held Dick's nose until he snorted and woke up. He craned his neck to glare sleepily at her.

"What gives?"

"You were snoring," she explained, amused.

Dick snorted derisively and snuggled further down into the fresh linen. "I don't snore," he declared, pompously.

"Not often," Elle admitted, "but you did just a few seconds ago."

"That is a blatant falsehood," he yawned.

"Are you calling me a liar?" She gaped down at him in wide-eyed amusement.

"I'm calling you . . . beautiful," he murmured.

Elle laughed. "Nice save, buddy," she said as she tried to shove him over.

"Why are you still awake? You danced more than I did, and I'm exhausted," Dick complained as he peeked at her from his nest of covers.

"More so than when you get in from patrol?" Elle enjoyed teasing him.

"That's a different kind of exhaustion," he told her. Dick wrapped an arm around Elle's waist and dragged her down into the bed; ignoring her delighted squeal.

She smiled at him as she rolled to face him. "You were amazing tonight."

He returned the expression. "Yeah, I was, wasn't I?" He nuzzled her neck suggestively and lightly bit her ear. "Why don't you let me amaze you again," he murmured against her silken skin.

Elle rolled onto her back; spreading out her arms like a virgin sacrifice. "Okay," she said, grinning. "I've prepared myself. Go ahead and dazzle me."

Dick chuckled and leaned over her. He paused a moment to stare at her; his eyes flitting over each feature as if he were memorizing it.

"Thank you," he whispered against her lips.

She slid her arms around his neck; her fingers delving into his hair. "For what?"

"Saying yes," He rubbed his nose playfully against her own.

Elle paused to stare at him in astonishment. "You had to know what my answer would be! It was perfect tonight, you know," she told him honestly. "You are everything that I've ever wanted, even before I knew what I wanted."

"I cannot think of what I did to deserve you," he said, kissing the tip of her nose.

"It must have been something wonderful," Elle teased.

"It must have," he agreed.

"Silly man," she sighed contently. "It is I who am blest. You've made me so very happy."

"Then it's mutual," he agreed, and bent his head to kiss her.

His lips moved over hers softly at first, and then with greater fervency. Each stroke of her tongue against his sent a burst of electricity skittering down his spine. She moaned into his mouth and his heart pounded with the kind of excitement that was usually reserved for diving from skyscrapers.

Her hands pulled his head down to hers harder as the passion crashed over them. She stroked his back; trailing her nails over his skin and making him shiver in response. When he slid into her, Elle welcomed him eagerly. The love that enveloped him was all-consuming; overwhelming almost, but despite that he wasn't afraid or nervous. It was like coming home. Once more, Dick was reassured that his decision to marry Elle and embrace the bond was the right one . . . The only one he could have made.

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Another Chapter will be posted tomorrow morning. That's a promise because it is already written and ready to go . . . ;)