Celestial Seductions: The Complete Series: An MM Gay Paranormal Mpreg Romance Collection

by Odin Nightshade

  ***

  Three months later and Hugh and Ethan were in bed at Hugh's house. Ethan had moved in two months ago. It was better. And besides, they could drive to work together, after all.

  “Hugh?”

  “Yes?” Hugh traced his fingers along Ethan’s swollen belly, while looking deeply into his eyes.

  Their voices were drowsy; relaxed and sated.

  “I was thinking...”

  “Uh-huh?” Hugh leaned across and kissed Ethan on the forehead. Ethan smiled, and his grip tightened where his arm encircled Hugh's shoulder.

  “I was thinking...since we have every second fortnight as...a family...we could go somewhere together?”

  “Sounds good.” Hugh smiled, and stretched back, rolling his head on the pillow behind him. “How old will he be when it's safe to travel with him?”

  “Maybe four months?” Ethan suggested.

  “Sounds good to me.” Hugh repeated, and rolled onto his side, where he could see Ethan and still keep one arm around him.

  “Not long now before he's here.” Hugh noted, smiling.

  “About five months.”

  They lay back, thinking. They slept a while, drowsing in the morning.

  “Hugh?”

  “Uh huh?”

  They kissed.

  “You really are fine with Alex being part of our lives? Taking Baby every second fortnight, that is?”

  “Yes.” Hugh looked into his eyes, rich brown meeting pale grey-green. “I am. As long as I have you in my life too, I'm not going to be jealous of him. Not much, anyway.” He smiled, and kissed the line where Ethan's hair met his forehead. “It's really a small thing in comparison. I love you too much to mind, you know.”

  “Hugh.” Ethan sat up, and his eyes met Hugh's; a deep and steady meeting. “I love you too.”

  They kissed. For a while, they slept. Then Ethan rolled over, and moved himself up the pillows. He turned to Hugh.

  “How about Florida?” Ethan asked. “Our holiday, I mean.”

  “Miami?”

  “Uh-huh?”

  “He won't remember much of it, you know.” Hugh smiled, kissing Ethan's forehead.

  “I know,” Ethan said, rueful, “but we could make it, you know, a tradition.”

  “A yearly holiday in Miami?” Hugh smiled. “That sounds good.”

  “And we could teach him to swim.” Ethan smiled.

  “We could? I can't swim.”

  “What? No way.”

  “Really. I can't. Well...I can stay afloat, I guess.” Hugh smiled, wry. “But not anything he should be learning.”

  They laughed, a rich, lovely sound.

  “Okay. So we can have some lessons first. Then we can teach him.” Ethan smiled.

  “I'll go with that.” Hugh agreed.

  “And we'll be wanting to repair the fence...make the garden child-friendly.”

  “You!” Hugh grinned, rubbing Ethan's shoulder playfully. “He won't be able to walk for about a year.”

  “I know.” Ethan was silent a moment. “But we have to, you know, think ahead.”

  “Yes.” Hugh agreed. “We do.” He paused. “Rather wonderful, that.”

  “It is.”

  They lay beside each other, silent for a while, and the morning outside slowly came to life, bright and noisy and full of promise.

  They slept. When they awoke, it was time for lunch and the start of another day together; the start of many small miracles that made up each day together.

  THE END

  Flip the page for Bonus 2, Omega Claimed and Mated by Odin Nightshade!

  Omega Claimed and Mated

  As the gentle omega of his pack, Jesse has always felt content and in harmony with the peaceful surroundings of Sunset Valley—the soft, smooth sand dunes, monolithic purple mountains and cozy clusters of trees, all nestled under a canopy of indigo sky filled with endless sparkling stars.

  But lately, Jesse feels as though there’s a piece of him that’s missing. Inside, he longs for a strong alpha to step into his world; one who can take him to new heights of pleasure—and plant his seed deep inside.

  While on the hunt with his pack one dark evening, a strange encounter with a lone wolf leaves Jesse wondering if his deepest desires are about to be met. And when serendipity strikes again and the alpha and omega find themselves face to face a second time, a night of sheer ecstasy leaves him begging for Zayn’s seed.

  But just when his dreams are about to come true, a blast from the past throws itself in the way of Jesse’s happy ending, threatening to shatter his entire future with Zayn.

  Will Jesse get the lifelong mate he’s always wanted? Or will he be left to raise Zayn’s baby alone, longing for a lost love?

  Omega Claimed and Mated

  Chapter 1

  As Jesse lay on his back in the bed of his dusty old pick-up truck, the setting of the sun reminded him that it would be time to eat soon. He was starving, and hadn’t been on a proper hunt in ages. As his belly began to rumble he looked out at the small expanse of Sunset Valley. It was a small town and most of the inhabitants lived on the outskirts of the desert, with a good portion living in the mountains. Jesse lived down below in the forest, and enjoyed seeking solace within the dark clusters of trees. It was easier to hunt in the forest, and the food was plentiful—plump rabbits and foxes with glossy coats and ample meat.

  Jesse was almost six feet tall, sporting dirty blond hair and supple muscles from working outdoors. His bronze skin provided a complimentary canvas to his dark blue eyes, and when it was hot, he would shake his long black hair out of his eyes. His friends often commented that he looked like a wolf even in human form.

  As a wolf, his coat was stark white, with a patch of dark black on his belly. His snout was dipped in black as well, as if he had spent all day rummaging in a river made of chocolate.

  Still enjoying his view, Jesse suddenly heard voices surrounding his truck. His friends were approaching, no doubt to ask him to go hunting with him.

  “What are you guys doing here?” Jesse asked. “The sun hasn’t even gone down yet.” Jesse looked at the sky, which was turning a brilliant shade of orange.

  One of his friends, Travis, tapped the side of the truck. “We know it’s not dark yet, but I’m starving. I can’t keep eating burgers; you know me, I like ‘em so rare they’re practically mooing. Besides, don’t you want to shake off the human and run around for a bit?” Travis nudged Jesse’s arm. “It can’t hurt to have a little fun.”

  Travis was always flirting with Jesse, but the problem was, Travis flirted with everyone. That was just the kind of guy he was. He enjoyed playing games and being coy. It was his forte. Travis had dark curls with bits of blonde poking through. The sunlight did strange things to his body. His shoulders were covered in spiraling tattoos of black and blue. Jesse was unsure of what they symbolized, but asking Travis would be flirtatious, and he couldn’t risk getting that close to another omega. Things just wouldn’t work out between them. He’d probably end up breaking Travis’s heart.

  “Alright,” Jesse said, stretching back in the truck. “Last one to make it to the grove has to eat the winner’s leftovers.”

  “You’re on,” Travis said, bumping fists with him.

  The others were hanging around the truck, inspecting their nails. They were a high maintenance bunch that Jesse had known only a few years. They enjoyed hunting together and drinking, but for the most part, Jesse didn’t feel a strong connection with any of them. He would have much rather hunted alone, when all was quiet on the plain.

  Leaping off the truck, he began his transformation in midair. An enormous coat of fur spread all over his body, and his mouth turned into an inky snout. Instantly, his eyesight improved. He landed on the ground, looked up at the fading sun, and howled loudly into the sky. The others followed suit.

  “Go!” Travis shouted, startling the others. They began to run towards the first grove of trees, Jesse loving every second of it. He could feel th
e wind in his fur, and his groin felt bolts of pleasure racing through it. The open air turned him on and sedated all his anxieties.

  He had almost reached the grove when he noticed a small dot on his peripheral view. When he turned to look at the spot, he was met with empty desert and the occasional waving cacti or two.

  “What was that?” Jesse asked the others. “Did you see it?”

  They were running further ahead of him, not stopping to answer his questions. Jesse sighed and barked once before picking up his paws and rushing towards the grove.

  Once inside, the darkness unfurled around him. Each grove was like its own little world. The others had forgotten all about the game; they were busy prowling the ground for fat rabbits. Jesse crawled further into the middle of the trees, hoping to find some hidden, meaty treasure. He came across an enormous fallen log that was overrun with mushrooms. He headed towards them, sniffing them with his wet nose. He was about to open his jaws and eat one when he heard a rustling from behind. Had he also heard a voice?

  Jesse jerked his head around, trying to figure out the source of the sound. Suddenly, an enormous wolf appeared, with clear blue eyes and a thick, dark coat. His long pink tongue tumbled from his salivating mouth. He was breathing hard, staring Jesse down.

  They held one another’s gaze, but Jesse remained silent. He had never seen this black wolf before; was he new to Sunset Valley? As Jesse began to sense that this wolf was also a shifter, it began to circle Jesse, breathing hot air on his white coat.

  An intense shiver ripped through Jesse’s fur. The other wolf kept his eyes on him, watching Jesse’s every move. In the distance, he could hear the crunching of bones. Occasionally there was a loud yipping, the scuffing of paws against dirt. His friends had found their nourishment. It was time for him to feast. He looked back at the mushrooms and decided they weren’t enough. It was time to hunt.

  When he turned his attention back towards the new wolf, he found he was nowhere in sight. The only trace he left was an enormous paw print on the ground. Jesse looked around, making sure the new wolf was truly gone, before he stuck his nose in the paw print. He inhaled the scent of clothes, meat, and a faint tingle of alcohol. Corona, maybe. He felt a tug at his heart, the presence of a feeling he’d thought was forgotten. What was it called again? Oh yeah.

  Lust.

  After feeding on a few small animals, Jesse and his friends decided it was time to leave the forest. They didn’t believe in overhunting the forests, for they were small and the animals needed time to respond. Outside of the forest, the sky was a quilt of stars. The cacti were illuminated bright green; Jesse could see their needles glinting in the light. The moon was a crescent, the last part of a cookie to be dipped in tea before its own rebirth. Then it would be full and bright, Jesse’s favorite. Though he could change his form at any given moment, it felt better towards the full moon. The changing of his flesh to fur was somehow more orgasmic.

  Instead of going home, he decided to go to the bar with the guys. They left in separate trucks, agreeing to meet at Rosa’s Place. It was located on the outskirts of the desert in the Western region, and was known to have the most delicious blood margaritas. Jesse turned the radio up and bounced along in his truck. He could relax out on the open road, sand visible from everywhere he looked.

  Though he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about the black wolf. He kept wishing that he would catch a black dot in the rear-view mirror, a sign to prove to him that it wasn’t all in his head. Instead, he saw nothing but dark red sand and starlight. Occasionally he saw the headlights of the other trucks. His friends liked to screw around with each other, speeding and lightly bumping their cars together. Jesse wasn’t one for playing games. It was why he ignored the attention of the other omegas. Though they could still make love, they couldn’t create life together.

  It didn’t seem worth it to commit the ultimate act with one of his friends. He longed for a strong man to come into his life, one who would guard Jesse with his life. The people who inhabited Sunset Valley weren’t about cuffing. They were swingers, for the most part, sleeping around with anyone they saw fit. Jesse wanted something more out of his next relationship. Was that so much to ask? He cared about his friends, truly he did, but part of him wanted to move on. He fantasized frequently about running rampant in the mountains, biting and sucking, yelping and shoving with his mate. If only things turned out like they did in his daydreams.

  Chapter 2

  When they arrived at the bar, it was already packed. The bar itself was fairly small, made out of oily brown wood and murky glass paneling. It was fenced in on all sides and contained dozens of tables and chairs. There were awnings made of clear plastic for the nights when it rained, but everyone still wanted to be outside drinking. Jesse had been going to this bar since he moved to Sunset Valley a couple years back. He knew it inside and out, and knew the regulars as well—which was why he was surprised to find a newcomer outside. From a distance, he appeared tall and muscular.

  The man was leaning against the fence, smoking a cigarette. A table behind him housed four girls who continuously looked his way, then giggled.

  Jesse felt an urge to walk over and strike up a conversation with him. He seemed so lonely, and Jesse was desperate for conversation. He went to the bar first, and ordered a drink. His friends were busy shoving each other around, and checking out the different men and women. They hadn’t noticed the loner.

  Though he was nervous, Jesse took it upon himself to go talk to him. He knew what it felt like to be a loner, plus he wasn’t in the mood to get inebriated. He headed towards the stranger, heart in his throat and introduction in hand.

  He walked right over to the fence and stood next to him. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he realized the stranger was looking at him.

  “Hey,” he said, taking a sip from a bottle of corona. The hand that held the cigarette flicked ash into the sand.

  “Hey back,” Jesse said. “I saw you were standing alone and I figured I’d come say hi.”

  The other man didn’t respond for a few seconds. Jesse, nervous, swallowed a lump in his throat.

  “Yeah well, it’s hard to make friends when you’ve just moved somewhere new. People can be a little bit too friendly, if you know what I mean.”

  Jesse averted his eyes, casting them down at the sand. “Yeah, I do know what you mean.”

  “So, what’s your name?” he asked.

  “Jesse.” He extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. And you are?”

  “Zayn, likewise.” They shook hands; Zayn had a firm grip and warm skin that sent bolts of electricity up Jesse’s arm.

  They looked into each other’s eyes for a few seconds before letting go. Jesse knew his neck was probably pink, his pupil’s dilated. He secretly thanked himself for not extending his hand further, for fear of Zayn feeling his pulse. Zayn’s eyes were black, and it was hard to read him.

  He had light brown skin and dark hair. His chest muscles were so sculpted that Jesse could practically see them bursting through his shirt.

  From a few feet away, Jesse heard a low whistle. It was unmistakably one of his friends. He turned to look and, sure enough, his friends were walking over to them. They looked buzzed, and happy. Only Louis looked slightly agitated.

  “Hey guys, what’s up?” Jesse said carefully. Part of him was thankful that his friends cared. The other part of him wanted them to disappear so he could continue getting to know Zayn.

  “Zayn, what are you doing here?” Louis asked.

  Jesse turned his eyes on him, wondering how they knew each other. Jesse had only known Louis for a few weeks. He wasn’t exactly new in town, but he hadn’t met the others until recently. He was an omega, like Jesse. For a few seconds Jesse was worried about Louis and Zayn. Had they made love? The thought practically tore a valve out of his heart. He tried to ignore it, turning his attention back to Zayn.

  He looked like he was thinking; his brow was furrowed, and his lips were purse
d.

  “I didn’t know you would be here,” Zayn said. “I should probably go.”

  “No, you don’t have to go. But we do. Jesse, are you coming?” Louis looked expectantly at his friend.

  Jesse wasn’t sure what to say, so Zayn spoke for him.

  “You should probably go with your friends. Leave me to my drink.”

  But Jesse didn’t want to go. And he said so. “I’m sorry guys, but I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Louis narrowed his eyes at Jesse before walking away. The others shrugged their shoulders, heading back to the bar for beer and pool.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” Zayn said.

  “I know, but I wanted to.” He forced himself to look at Zayn. “Do you want to get out of here?”

  For the first time he saw a grin break out on Zayn’s face.

  “Absolutely,” he said. He downed the rest of his bear and followed Jesse out into the sand.

  “Do you mind driving?” Zayn asked. “I haven’t drunk much, but I probably shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a pickup truck right now.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Jesse said.

  He was excited to be heading out with Zayn. He wanted them to tear each other’s clothes off, and get lost in each other’s presence. Jesse would confide in him about the wolf from earlier, and the black fur that had been haunting him all evening.

  They climbed into Jesse’s truck and he turned the radio on low.

  “So you just moved here?” Jesse asked.

  “Yep. I used to live in Skull City, but I lost my job. Things weren’t going well, and I felt like I needed a change.”

  “Yeah, I hear that,” Jesse said. “I’ve been here for so long that I’ve forgotten there are other towns out there. But it’s nice, you know? Being part of a pack, living in roughly the same area. They’ve become a second family to me. Speaking of which, I’m sorry about their behavior earlier.”

  He chewed on his lip nervously.