Blinky had pulled Jim into a tight embrace for several minutes, but the celebration didn't last long. As he had predicted, Blinky wanted to keep the group moving; early as the night was, they were still relatively out in the open. Relieved to be with his pack again, Jim made no arguments, happily pulling his mate onto his back. Supplies and belongings were quickly gathered back up and the group set off into the darkness once more.
"I - love - you - so - much," Claire whispered in his ear, punctuating each word with a kiss to said ear. She held out her left hand in front of them, showing off the silver band on her ring finger. The magic imbued in the object pulsed in time with her heartbeat. She nuzzled his neck lovingly and wickedly nipped at his flesh.
Jim sucked in a deep breath at the sensation, his grip on her thighs tightening. He could smell her arousal and feel her heat pressed against his spine, and he growled in desire. "I love you too, but don't start something we can't finish."
"In the morning then," she laughed, nuzzling him again, though she thankfully refrained from using her teeth. Claire wiggled the fingers of her left hand, still outstretched in front of them. "They have magic in them; did Merlin give you these for us?"
Jim cringed lightly, but nodded. "I know I should have bought you a ring, but—"
"These are perfect," she interrupted in a soft voice, her chin resting on his shoulder as he walked. "Even if you didn't have any rings, I would marry you a thousand times over."
Jim sighed happily, gently nuzzling her cheek with his. "I... Blinky explained to me how troll marriages work... I mean, I know it won't be legal by human standards, but... it means more than a piece of paper."
"I know," Claire assured him, bringing her arm back to wrap around his shoulder with her other one. "And I already considered us essentially married anyway, but... I want to make it official in some sense. I've read about the magic used to make mating bonds between trolls — it's beautiful. I want us to be one like that."
Jim's stomach filled with warmth, his heart lodging itself in his throat at his mate's words. "Soon, then?"
Claire laughed and replied, "Definitely." She shuffled herself for a moment, her left arm leaving his shoulders again to reach somewhere behind her. After a moment of searching, she brought her arm back around again, holding his ring out in front of them. "Wear yours?"
Jim smiled, and released his left hand from her thigh to hold up in front of her. The five fingers were smaller than the four on his right hand, but still huge in comparison to Claire's. Gently, she slid the ring onto his ring finger, and he watched in surprise as the band magically expanded to fit his finger perfectly. They held their hands side-by-side to admire the matching jewelry, and then sighed together, breaking out into laughter at their love-sickness.
"I'll ask Blinky if he would do the ceremony in the morning," Jim promised, dropping his arm to grip her thigh again, hitching her body higher up his back.
"Before or after our date?" Claire whispered seductively, giving his ear lobe a soft lick.
"Before," Jim said with a low growl, a shudder rushing through his body. Grinning, a wicked idea came to him; two could play at her game. "I want to feel our souls bound while our bodies are doing the same."
Claire moaned in his ear, the heat against his back increasing. He wouldn't be surprised if there was a wet spot there when she got down. "That will feel nice."
"You're bad," Jim laughed, but his hands slid higher, grabbing her butt.
"Is it at all possible for you two to rein yourselves in until you're alone?"
