After the ceremony, Jasper swept me off my feet and carried me back to the castle. The after party had started without us.

When we entered the great hall, the orc cheered and toasted with ale. To my surprise, there was now an identical chair to Jasper's at the front of the great hall.

However, I didn't get the chance to use it because Jasper pulled me atop his lap. I was a tad bit embarrassed, but he seemed too pleased with himself to fuss.

I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes to listen to his heartbeat. Soon the familiar sound of orcish drums and drunken brawls drowned out the sound.

I paid no mind but opened my eyes to see Jasper smiling. His tusks grazed my forehead as he kissed my skin gently. My body was in a state of shock. I was exhilarated by all the happiness in my heart and the thoughts of the wedding night. I didn't know whether to be excited or afraid.

It seemed like everything was a blur today, but my mind was begging to go back to reality to take in that tonight Jasper would finally take me.

I was afraid of it hurting or not satisfying him, but all the same, I wanted to be entirely his. I wanted him to lay his hands on every surface of my body.

The evening drug on. First, there was the feast and toasts to us with ale. The usual drunken fights and shows of strength. Toward the end of the celebration, many came to give us gifts.

Most of the gifts were reasonable. They included furs, bedding, cloth, natural spices, and herbs. Sten, of all people, brought us a handmaid cradle with his own twist.

He left a note tied to it that read, You'll be needing this soon. Jasper mumbled something that sounded like an insult toward Sten when he read it. That wasn't even the most peculiar gift.

I did not expect this. Paige even came to us. Jasper gave her a questionable look. He seemed very uneasy with her presence around me.

"Relax, oh mighty one..." She taunted him. "It's only fair that I am diligent."

She placed a small package in my hands, wrapped in parchment and carefully secured with twine.

She gave me a wink before adding, "Be sure to wait to open this in the bedroom." She smiled slyly before walking off.

Jasper exhaled all his tension. I could tell it made him unhappy. He looked at me apologetically.

"Brenna... I..."

"It's alright." I comforted him. "It's all in the past... if I recall, I left and denied my interest in you at the time... besides, Paige and I have become acquainted somewhat, well at least I think we have."

He looked at me questioningly and laughed. "Why am I just now hearing of this?" He teased me.

I suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Now that we are married, should I be open with Jasper? I hadn't mentioned my conversations with Paige to him.

"Well, uh." I stuttered. "After everything that happened, I spoke to her..."

He waited for me to continue. He seemed intrigued by the subject. Did I need to go into depth with this? Would it be wrong of me not to? It hadn't crossed my mind before.

"Jasper... I want to be honest, but I'm afraid you'll be angry. There wasn't an opportunity to really bring it up before. Honestly, I had forgotten about it."

He immediately seemed very concerned. "What is it, Brenna? Tell me."

"Well, I went to confront her... well... she told me about her past... and then... she... and then she kissed me."

For a moment, his brow stayed furrowed in concern. He scratched his beard before finally grinning and showing off his tusks.

"It seems I have some competition, little warrior." He teased me.

My face was burning at this point. Jasper pulled my face to his by my chin and kissed me again gently.

He whispered in my ear. "After tonight, you'll be mine in every way."

I could feel his bulge digging into my ass.

"I didn't like it!" I said, mortified, thinking he may have misunderstood.

"I know, little warrior, I'm only teasing. Ready to turn in for the evening?" He said with a lustful gleam in his eye.

Once the celebration began to slow, Jasper scooped me up and carried me to his quarters. To my surprise, all my belongings had been brought to his room and put away.

He sat me down on the bed and watched for a second. I think he was at a loss on what to do next. I guess he didn't want to offend me or rush things.

He cleared his throat. "Would you like to freshen up before we lie down," he asked.

I hopped up from the bed in an instant. My nerves were getting the best of me. This was really about to happen.

I went to the washroom to find a hot bath already drawn by the ladies' maids. I gulped, remembering that everyone... absolutely everyone knew what was about to go on in this room.

My face turned red, and my legs trembled. Oh, lords... I thought to myself. I sat on a stool next to Jasper's enormous bathtub to get my bearings.

I removed the veil from my hair and laid it neatly on a stool. I remembered that I would need help with the buttons of the gown. I worked up the courage to poke my head out to see Jasper shirtless on the bed.

The light from the hearth danced across his hardened muscles. I stood there, not able to help but admire him. My voice was caught in my throat by the sight of him.

"Jas...per?" I squeaked.

His muscles rippled as he propped himself up to see what I needed.

"Can you help me... undress?" I asked sheepishly.

His lips curled into a grin. He responded by lifting himself from the bed and walking to me. With each step, the floor vibrated under his massive body.

I turned away from him so he could undo the buttons of my gown. His hands were large and rough, so it took him some time to unfasten the dainty things securing me into the dress.

After a few moments, I felt a draft against my bare back. Jasper wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his bare skin to mine. He slid the gown down a bit more to expose more of my skin.

He took the time to gently kiss along my shoulder and up my neck before reaching the most sensitive part by my ear. My body shivered at his touch. He dropped his arms to his side.

"There you are... Do you need anything else?"

I remembered the package Paige gave to me during the celebration.

"Could you hand me the package from Paige?" I asked.

He did so before returning to the bed, awaiting me patiently. I quickly shuffled back into the washroom. I did my best to hold up my gown and the package. Once inside, I let the gown drop to the floor, leaving me completely bare.

I stepped out of it and didn't bother to fold it as neatly as I had the veil. I was too preoccupied with my curiosity. I wanted to know what the package contained.

I held it with one hand and gently pulled one end of the twine bow to unfasten it. I let the twine fall to the floor and unfolded the parchment to reveal what was inside.

My face immediately began burning again. I gently picked up the clothing article wrapped inside to get a better look at it. It was much like the short gowns Paige wore while entertaining.

It was much longer than the ones she wore. In fact, it reached the floor. It was made of white transparent material. The bodice was fitted right under the breast and was see-through as well.

It had no sleeves, just two thin translucent straps. There were slits on both sides that rose all the way up the fitted part under the breast.

Dear lords, this thing leaves nothing to mystery, I thought. The package included a note that said, "for tonight, have fun." An image of Paige winking played through my mind again.

This was to be a nightgown. I assumed it was something women wore to entice their husbands. I quickly sat it to the side to pin my hair up to keep it from getting wet.

I didn't want to keep Jasper waiting much longer, but my body didn't want to move. I sunk into the large tub and began to dab at myself with a cloth to wipe away in grime or swear I had accumulated that day.

I hopped back out and nearly went down due to the water I sloshed out during the quickened process. I patted myself dry and looked back to my nightgown. Was I really going to wear this thing?

I slipped into it and let my hair fall down around me. I turned to look in the mirror at myself. My mouth gaped at my reflection. I looked like a seductress. I had to admit the slits in the gown did accentuate my pear-shaped figure all the more.

I wrapped my arms around my chest as if that would shield my body. This gown kept nothing from the eye. Paige definitely knew what she was doing... giving this to me.

I paced back and forth, trying to muster the courage to come out and expose myself to him. It wasn't like he had seen me before. Why was it so difficult now? Jasper would fully take me tonight.

He wouldn't merely touch and kiss me. He would partake in my body in every imaginable way... and I wanted him to. I breathed out and forced my legs forward, finally stepping out into his gaze.

He was still in the same position I had left him in. I stepped out a bit further so I would be in full view of him. He didn't open his eyes at first, not until my shuffling interrupted his daydreaming.

He opened his eyes and suddenly had a shocked expression on his face.