"Why am I here again?"

"Because we were invited."

"Well, no shit, Alec. What I want to know is why I am here. I barely even know the couple!"

Alec snorted. "And you think I do?"

He had me there.

"You know as well as I do, that we are going as representatives of the Volturi, to show our support." He sighed, ruffling his hair with a careless hand. "Your relationship with them is way less hostile than mine. And you are also human. In a way you can consider it your first mission."

I had pretty much stopped listening when he had started messing with his hair. God he was pretty.

"Anna?"

"Hm?"

"You're doing it again." Alec smirked. "Did you even hear a word I said?"

'Not really.'

"Oh, yeah. Human. Because I'm still human." I cleared my throat embarrassed that I had been caught staring, again. "I'm pretty sure they hate me more than you for that exact reason. You're all a bunch of hypocrites."

"Well, it is not as if you don't have a set date or anything. Hopefully them seeing you, being my mate and still human, will take the edge off our presence here. Show that we have a humane side."

I raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.

"Hey, I never said it was true."

I simply kept staring at him in amusement, my eyebrow raising even higher.

"Or that it would work. It was Aro's idea."

"I feel sorry for you when he reads through your memories again."

"You were thinking the same thing, tesoro."

"That's beside the point."

I couldn't help but grin as he took my hand in his and placed a kiss on my knuckles. My heart fluttered.

I sipped on a glass of champagne. While I was normally one to avoid alcohol, I felt like I needed it with the sudden onslaught of emotions I was feeling.

The wedding was stunningly beautiful. Bella (while a little awkward) and Edward seemed truly happy, and it made my heart soar. The way they had looked at each other… was that how Alec and I looked at each other in our private moments?

And of course, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if it were Alec and I up there. I shook my head to get rid of the thought, but it kept coming back and it was killing me. Of course, I had dreamed of it once upon a time, I think every girl does.

But once Aro had found me, that immediately went out the window. Even though I had been exceptionally lucky in finding my mate while I was still human, I hadn't really thought of it since I was still adjusting to my new world, and I had the process of turning into a vampire looming over my own head.

The wedding had brought all those old dreams rushing back.

Seeing as Alec and I were mates there was really no point in it. We were already bound to each other through our bond, using a piece of paper to make it official would be kind of silly. Although it was more of the symbolization of the aspect than anything else.

"Tesoro, what is on your mind?"

Alec had returned, a champagne glass in hand and taking tiny sips to keep up appearances. His hand on the small of my back was like a soothing balm, and I felt myself able to relax a little.

"Why do you ask?" I gave him a sweet smile.

He leaned in close to my ear. "Because you have this faraway look in your eye. And you're drinking champagne of all things."

How did he know me so well already? We had only officially been together a little over a year.

"I was actually wondering something." I looked up at him and lowered my voice a little on account of the other humans nearby. "When vampires find their mates… do they usually do something like a wedding? Or is it just… you know. Bam! They're together."

Alec looked slightly taken aback, before furrowing his brows, searching through his long years of memories.

"It is not uncommon per say… but still rather rare. Most others do not care. In this case, it just so happens that marriage is important to Edward."

"I see." I hummed a little in response and I could feel his eyes on me, searching my face before leaning down and placing a chaste kiss on my forehead.

I grinned up at him and nuzzled into his chest.

"Come." He held out his hand to me and swept me out onto the dance floor, a slow song playing in the background.

"You know, I think this is the first time we've ever danced together." I looked up into his eyes.

Sadly, they weren't their beautiful red, but a muddied brown due to the contacts he had put in, so as not to draw attention.

"Not exactly true."

Now I was confused. When had we ever danced together before?

He looked down at me with a smirk and I let out a huff.

"That doesn't count Alec. It lasted less than a minute and I was too busy trying to stomp on your feet."

"Yes, you looked like a rather awkward chicken with how you kept trying maim me and failing."

"Watch yourself, Volturi. You're walking on thin ice."

Alec snorted. "You know, Volturi is not my actual last name, right?"

"Do you even remember your last name?"

There was a pause.

"Touché."

I grinned up at him, swaying along to the music.

"I think it's time to say our goodbyes, my love. It is getting late, and you must get some sleep. We have a long day of travel tomorrow."

There Alec goes, foiling my plans again.

"But what if I wanted to continue dancing with you?"

He quirked an eyebrow at me. "As if we do not have forever already?"

"Not yet we don't."

I gave him another cheeky grin and he rolled his eyes.

"One last dance." He nuzzled against my ear, and I couldn't help but sigh happily.

This is where I belonged, in his arms.

We twirled around the dance floor one last time, slowly coming to a stop as the next song ended and went to say goodbye and give our congratulations to the happy couple.

I hope they knew that, at least from me, it was genuine.

It was a bit of a drive back to Seattle and I found myself half asleep when Alec asked a question that sent me reeling.

"Do you want to get married one day?"

"I'm sorry, say that again?"

"You heard me the first time, Anna."

"Where is- is this because I asked if marriage between mates was normal? Because it was a genuine question."

Alec shot me a side eye before returning them to the road.

"That does not answer my question."

"Do you?" I asked nervously.

"Yes."

I whipped my head around to stare at him.

"What?"

"Are you suddenly deaf or something?"

"Alec," groaned. "I was genuinely curious as to how it worked for vampires versus humans. I wasn't trying to push you into anything."

He let the topic slide as we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, cutting the engine and appearing less than a second later at my door, opening it and extending his hand to help me out.

The walk back to the room was slow, both of us relishing being in the others' company. You would think that being a part of the Volturi coven would have me used to the opulence, but I was still taken aback each time. And the hotel was nothing short of opulent.

I flounced on the big, king-sized bed, sighing happily as I sunk into the comforter. I felt the bed shift around me, opening my eyes to find Alec hovering above. My heart sped up at the sight of him. His eyes were their beautiful ruby red again. I reached up, placing one hand on his chest while I let the other one roam through his hair and eventually down his cheek. He nipped at it playfully, catching the side of my palm softly, before turning back with a serious expression.

He was silent for a moment.

"What would I have to do to convince you to marry me?"

I nearly choked on my spit.

"What?"

His gaze darkened in warning. "You know I do not like to repeat myself."

"Alec, you don't have to convince me to do anything."

"Then why didn't you answer me in the car?"

"Because I didn't want you to feel pressured into it?" It came out as a question.

He leaned in, placing a kiss to my ear. "Then marry me."

I was completely caught off guard.

"You don't need to do this, Alec."

"I am well aware, mio cara."

"I don't need a wedding." I smiled, nuzzling against his ear. "All I need is you. As long as I have you, I am happy."

Hiss mouth was brushing against my ear again, and it sent shivers down my spine. "What if I told you that I had been thinking about it since Aro got the invitation?"

'He what?'

He started kissing down my neck, his hands brushing against my breasts softly, reaching for the neckline of my dress. He pulled my dress down, tantalizingly slow, his mouth right behind.

My mind was reeling again. He had been thinking about it too? That didn't sound like Alec to me.

Pulling the dress off, he began making his way back up, softly kissing my legs and thighs.

"What if I told you," He whispered against my thigh. "that I pictured you up there with me?"

I sucked in a breath, confused and turned on. Alec kissed up my torso, placing a kiss on each breast before kissing my lips. I felt his cool hands travel lower, making their way beneath my panties, letting his fingers slide through my slick before entering me without warning.

Alec hid his face in my neck, breathing deeply as my back arched off the bed, a moan falling from my lips.

"I want to see you next to me, dressed in white." He pumped his fingers in and out of me faster. "Although, perhaps white might not be the most appropriate. You are no longer a virgin after all."

I whimpered, doing my best not to be too loud, but Alec wasn't having any of it.

"You are holding back, amore."

He pulled his fingers out and slapped my pussy in reprimand. I let out a small yelp and I couldn't help the moan that passed through my lips right after. Satisfied, Alec returned, curling his fingers and hitting my sweet spot.

"What if I told you that I want to see you walking down the aisle, flowers woven in your hair?"

Oh fuck. Why was him talking about marriage in the middle of sex so hot?

I could feel the warmth starting to curl down below.

"Alec." I breathed. "Please don't stop. I'm- I'm gonna cum."

I could feel my cunt beginning to tighten up. And so could Alec. He stopped, pulling his fingers out to give them a lick before he presented them to me. I willingly took them in my mouth, sucking off my arousal and cleaning his fingers with the swirl of my tongue.

He groaned as I kept eye contact, licking his lips. He spread my legs as he undid the opening of his pants, not bothering to get fully undressed, pushing my panties aside and lining himself up with my entrance. He eased himself in, watching as I dropped back my head in pleasure.

He began a slow and steady pace, his thrusts hard and deep, cold against my heat.

"Eyes on me, mio cara." He demanded.

I looked at him, letting out a small moan with each thrust.

"Marry me."

I sucked in a surprised breath when he thrusted particularly deep.

"Alec-"

He leaned down, lips against my ear.

"I will not take no for an answer, amore." I yelped as another particularly deep thrust hit home. "Marry me."

I moaned as my legs started to quiver. I was so close. Alec stopped, teasing me, keeping me on edge.

"Marry me." He repeated.

"Are you seriously denying me an orgasm so I'll marry you?" I panted, eyes wide.

He simply smirked, reaching up to give my nipples a tug before pinching them softly. I moaned again.

"That is not an answer."

He slowly moved his hips, just enough to tease me, just barely brushing against my sweet spot.

"Alec- please."

"Not until you give me an answer."

"Yes! For God's sake, yes! I'll marry you!"

Alec leaned in swiftly, capturing my lips with his own, thrusting hard, deep and fast.

"Oh!"

I could barely breathe, trying my best to keep up, wrapping my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss and biting at his lip. I could feel the warmth building up again.

"That's it, mio cara. Cum for me."

He laced one of his hands through my hair, yanking my head back softly and edging his teeth along my neck, his other hand traveling down to circle my clit.

It took less than a minute before he had me cumming around his cock. I felt him tense and then the coolness of his release as he came too.

After a moment he finished stripping before he collapsed next to me, pulling me to him and wrapping us both in the covers. He nuzzled into the back of my neck.

I felt something cold slip on my ring finger, and I looked up in surprise to see a beautiful ring.

I gaped at it for a minute before looking back at Alec.

"You planned this?"

"In a way. Although this was definitely not the original plan. I nearly had a panic attack when you started asking questions at the wedding." He then gave me a devilish smirk. "I have to say though, I like this way much better."

I rolled my eyes. "You would."

I let out another surprised yelp when he popped me on my ass, his cold holds following immediately after in a soothing motion. I could feel the purring in his chest.

"Careful, amore." He smirked darkly.