Yearning Absolution (Yearning Series)

by Rachael Orman

Two. There was TWO babies in there.

  After a few minutes passed, the doctor had finished doing whatever it was that she was doing with the machine and she turned her chair to face Gwen and Cole again.

  “After taking all the measurements, I would say you are right about 11 to 12 weeks pregnant. Both babies are right on track with size and doing well. I am going to print you out a few pictures to take home with you.” The doctor tore off a strip of black and white glossy pictures from the machine and handed them to Gwen, who just stared at them while the doctor wiped off the jelly from her stomach and turned off the machine. “And we should see you back here in four weeks, unless you have any reason to need to come in sooner. You can always also come into the emergency room as well.”

  “Thank you so much, doctor.” Cole shook her hand. Gwen followed suit and lifted her eyes only briefly to meet the doctors. She stood and walked down the hall in a haze. Cole made her follow up appointment while she once again stared at the pictures. He ushered her out of the office and into the bright sunlight. “Are you okay? You really haven’t said much the whole time we’ve been here.”

  “I think so. I’m not entirely sure.” Gwen looked into his eyes. “I was just trying to grasp the fact that there was one surprise baby and now there is two. I didn’t think I would ever be pregnant again. I’m not unhappy. More like shocked.”

  “I’m sure they are gonna keep us busy for a few years. But I think it’ll be interesting and exciting. I can’t wait to watch your belly grow and feel them move and kick.” Cole placed his hand over her stomach and kissed her forehead. “I’ll take care of you, baby. These are our babies. A little piece of you and a little piece of me. I’m sure they’ll be so perfect.”

  “I’m glad you are so comfortable with all this. I feel like the ground just fell out of my world. Everything is different than I had ever planned. My mind is so messed up right now. I can’t even be happy over this. I just keep thinking what would McKayla say if she was here. Would she be happy, would she be upset? Would they call her mom too? Or would she be called an aunt? How would that work? I guess it doesn’t matter.” Gwen trailed off as her eyes filled with tears. Too much was changing in her life and all too fast for her to even come to terms with one thing let alone the many things falling around her.

  “That’s not at all what I meant. I wish I could fix the McKayla situation. I wish I could change the way she is acting. This isn’t exactly how I saw things going either. I am just trying to find the happy side of it. I don’t want my children to ever think they weren’t wanted and loved. They might not have been planned, but I will love them with every inch of my soul.” Cole pulled her into a hug and pressed her head to his chest. “This is all so overwhelming with huge changes for both of us. But we will be ok. I hope that McKayla comes back and wants to be in their lives and ours as well. I’m sure she will. She loves you. She is just having a hard time with the changes being made.”

  “I hope so. She doesn’t even know about this new, huge change.” Gwen sobbed into his chest. “This is so freaking hard and confusing.”

  “Let’s get you home so you can rest and take it easy.” Cole pulled back and led her to the car.

  Once they returned to the apartment, Cole had Gwen in bed before she could really object. Cole said he had to work some so he tucked her in before going into the office off his room. He wanted to be close at hand if she needed him. Gwen dozed off as images of two sets of little hands and feet swirled through her mind.

  “Damn it. I told you to make sure no more calls got through. Block every number but the ones programmed into her phone if necessary. I don’t want her dealing with this shit right now on top of everything else.” Cole’s voice carried into the bedroom as Gwen woke. He sounded very angry with whoever was on the other end of the phone.

  Gwen slid out of the bed and silently moved towards his office to see what had him so upset. She rarely heard Cole raise his voice to anyone over anything.

  “Yes, I’ll take any information you were able to find. Send it over… No, I don’t think she knows anything, just take care of Gwen’s phone now.” Cole threw his phone on his desk just as Gwen entered the office. He had his fingers pressed into his eyes as he leaned back in his office chair.

  “What are you doing to my phone?” Gwen stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

  Chapter 21

  “Well, Cole, do tell. Who are you trying to keep me from talking to? Is it McKayla? Is that why I haven’t heard from her?” Gwen crossed her arms over her chest ready to have their first big fight.

  “Absolutely not. I would never do something like that.” Cole shoved back from the desk and swiftly moved in front of her. “Please, sit. We can talk about this, but you should be sitting.”

  “I don’t want to sit. I want to know why you are messing with my phone. You can’t just control shit in my life. It doesn’t work that way.” Gwen huffed but sat down in a chair in front of his desk. “Spill.”

  Cole ran his hand roughly through his hair and took a deep breath as he sat in the chair next to Gwen. He grabbed the arm of Gwen’s chair and moved it so they were facing. “It’s not what you think it is.”

  “Damn it, Cole. Just fucking tell me what is going on. I don’t want to play these games and stretch it out. Just fucking tell me.” Gwen nearly growled at him. She could feel her blood pumping through her body as her heart sped up. She couldn’t help it. Her hormones were raging from the pregnancy and if it wasn’t McKayla he was keeping from her, there was only one other person she could think of. The mere thought of him closed her throat. Especially now that she was pregnant.

  “I need to explain a lot and I need you to hear it through, okay?” Cole spoke calmly as he reached for her hand. But she pulled her hand away and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Fine.”

  “Ever since you moved in here. I have had private investigators searching for everything they could about your past. Especially the men who abducted you.” Cole swallowed before continuing. “It took a bit of work, but they found them. We know their names and a lot about their lives. Richard is the surviving brother. Dennis was the… other brother. They were both married, however, when Dennis mysteriously disappeared Richard’s relationship fell apart and they divorced shortly thereafter. The investigators have been unable to find where either of the wives ran off to but it seems as soon as the ink was dry on the divorce, Richard’s wife vanished along with Dennis’ wife. There has never been any mention anywhere of what happened to Dennis. His wife never filed a missing person report, no one did. As far as the investigator can tell, they were both abusive to their wives and the wives were both happy to finally get away. Dennis’ death being the event that they used to finally escape.”

  Gwen swallowed hard. Many times over the years she had thought up many questions about the brothers and now she was getting answers to them. At least it seemed that the women who had been married to the evil men had gained their freedom, as well as Gwen, with Dennis’ death.

  “Apparently right around the time Dennis disappeared, Richard became very erratic and lost his job. I’m sure he was busy trying to cover up the murder of his brother and their secret life.” Cole continued. “Richard got married again a few years ago. That relationship seemed to be yet another abusive one. His wife, however, filed for divorce a couple months ago and went into the witness protection program to get away. That is about the time we started finding hints that he started really searching for you again.”

  Gwen just nodded slightly. Her hands fisted under her crossed arms. Her jaw clenched. So he had decided to come after her when his second wife couldn’t put up with him anymore.

  “He has been mailing you flowers and other little notes at least once a week ever since you moved in here. I used some connections to block his number from being able to have a call connect to your phone after that first time. Instead it rings a different line and voicemail. That is until a few days ago when somehow he figured i
t out and started using a new number. That was who had called the day you and McKayla got into a fight. He had left you messages, which I got to hear and thankfully you didn’t. We are still trying to find exactly where in the city he is but we know he is still in the city. We are closing in. I just don’t want you to deal with this. I am handling it. We will find him and make sure he disappears from your life forever.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before now? Why hide it? I’m a big girl. I can handle it. It is good for me to know what is going on so I can help stay away from trouble, you know.” Gwen took a deep breath, trying to relax the tension that was gripping her shoulders. Cole stood and walked behind her to gently rub her shoulders.

  “I know, baby. I know. But I didn’t want you to have to worry about it. I didn’t want you to think about it. My guys are working on it. I want to protect you from him. He has done enough damage and doesn’t deserve to have even one more moment of your life.” Cole leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Especially now. With the babies on the way. We... I... I can’t lose you or our babies. I’ll do anything to keep you safe and away from that monster.”

  “Okay. So, then what was the call about tonight?” Gwen turned in her chair to look up at him.

  “He called and left another vile message from a different number. And my guys were updating me on the new information they had found and sending the paperwork over on it.”

  “What is he saying in these messages?” Gwen’s face flinched but she knew that she needed to ask the question even though she didn’t want to know the answer. But she had to know.

  “You don’t want to know. It doesn’t matter.” Cole moved to kneel in front of her. He bent and kissed her stomach before looking up at her. “All you need to do is take care of yourself and the babies. I’ll take care of him.”

  “Cole. Tell me.” Gwen used a stern tone that she rarely used so he knew she wasn’t going to back down on this.

  “He just talks about all the things he wants to do to your body or reminisces about the past times he was with you. The ways he wants to make you pay for what you did to his brother.” Cole grimaced as the messages replayed in his mind. He wasn’t normally a very violent person. But this man, this monster, who had abused the woman he loved more than his own life, made him want to do things he could get arrested just thinking about. “Gwen, my beautiful flower, I refuse to vocalize his disturbing thoughts to you. I don’t want you to link those words to my voice and my face.”

  Gwen reached out and cupped his cheeks with both her hands as a smile smiled tugged at her lips. Even with everything going on, he always knew the words that would get to her. “Cole, take us back to bed. Come lay with me and your babies.”

  “My pleasure.” Cole’s eye twinkled. It was one of the only times Gwen had even spoke of the babies. He knew it was because of her many forced miscarriages at the hand of the monster they had just been discussing.

  Cole scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to their room. He laid her down on the bed before climbing in next to her. Tenderly, he ran his fingers from her neck, between her breasts. They circled her belly button before softly rubbing across her slightly distended belly. “I will say that I’m a bit fascinated with watching your body change. I can’t wait to see you with a large round belly and feel our little ones push against my hand.”

  “I know. I never thought I’d enjoy being pregnant. Heck, I never thought I’d be pregnant and be happy about it. But I couldn’t be happier than to be carrying your babies. I can’t wait to see them and see who they look like.” Gwen smiled up at him. “I’m sorry I’m so hormonal. I really am happy. I just miss McKayla. I wish I knew how to fix the problems and make her come back. But right now I don’t see how that is going to happen. I’ve lost my girlfriend, my lover, and my best friend all at once.”

  “Sh sh sh.” Cole pulled her head to his chest as tears rolled down her face. She pulled back after a moment.

  “Ugh. These hormones make me even more weepy than normal. I’m gonna call McKayla tomorrow and try to get her to talk to me about things.” Gwen pushed her hair over her shoulder and wiped her eyes with the edge of Cole’s white t-shirt. She looked up and saw the amused look on his face. “Well, I figured I already got mascara on the shoulder, why not ruin it a bit more?”

  “Nah, it’ll wash out.” Cole pushed up and pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it off the bed. “There now you can stop ruining my $200 shirts.”

  “That cost $200? Oh my gosh. I’ll buy you a new one.” Gwen looked at the shirt that was so carelessly thrown on the ground.

  “I have a closet full of them. I’m not worried about it.” Cole laughed and pulled her back down to his chest. “How are you feeling? Sickness wise, that is.”

  “Better. I guess. The doctor did say that at 12 weeks the sickness would start to go away and it already seems to be fading. I think the shock of the pregnancy helped push it back too.” Gwen laid her head down on his chest. Cole ran his fingers through her hair, his other hand resting on top of hers on his chest.

  Chapter 22

  Gwen opened her eyes. The sun was beaming through the windows. They must have forgotten to close the curtains last night, although Gwen swore they’d already been closed.

  She rolled away from Cole’s sleeping back to come face to face with McKayla, whom was sleeping. Gwen looked at her peaceful sleeping face. She missed seeing McKayla. Although she didn’t know how McKayla came to be in their bed, Gwen was elated to see her there.

  “Hi there.” McKayla’s sleepy voice washed over Gwen’s ragged nerves. Just hearing her voice brought tears to Gwen’s eyes.

  “Hi. What…” Gwen stopped when McKayla placed one of her well-manicured fingers over Gwen’s lips.

  “Just kiss me. I missed you so much.” McKayla spoke softly as she brushed her fingers over Gwen’s cheek. Gwen didn’t hesitate to lean down and press her lips to McKayla’s. Her lips parted allowing Gwen’s tongue to slip between them. McKayla’s hands tightly gripped her neck as she pressed herself hard against Gwen’s body. Gwen groaned and pushed at McKayla’s shoulder. McKayla rolled over and Gwen moved to kneel next to her.

  “Sorry, my belly doesn’t like being squished so much.” Gwen softly smiled down at the woman she loved so much. The sheet had slipped down exposing McKayla’s small pert breasts.

  “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself. No words can describe how much I’ve missed you.” McKayla reached up and pulled the shirt Gwen had worn to bed over Gwen’s head. Kneeling before McKayla, Gwen was naked except for her lace panties. “Now that is a sight I could get used to.”

  Gwen laughed softly and leaned down to kiss up the side of McKayla’s neck. She bit the bottom of McKayla’s earlobe. McKayla’s hands were sliding up from Gwen’s hips to cup her breasts. “I need to make love to you. I need to feel your body with mine.”

  “Take what you need, baby.” McKayla groaned as her fingers pressed under the sides of Gwen’s panties around her hips. She pushed them down as far as she could. Gwen was kissing a path down McKayla’s neck to her breast, pushing the sheet further out of the way as she went. She took one beaded nipple in her mouth while her hand pinched and teased the other. Gwen flicked her tongue over the soft, sensitive nipple as she wiggled out of her panties. McKayla was bare from head to toe so there was nothing in Gwen’s path as she slid further down McKayla’s body to slip between her legs. She nuzzled her nose in the hot moist folds between McKayla’s soft thighs.

  “Mmm. Yea, I missed this pussy.” Gwen groaned sliding her tongue over McKayla. Using her fingers to part McKayla, she flicked her tongue over her swollen clit before lapping up the sweet hot juices that were waiting for her. She slipped two fingers deep in McKayla while sucking her clit into her mouth. McKayla moaned loudly sinking both her hands into Gwen’s hair as her hips moved with Gwen’s wonderful torturous swirl on her clit.

  “Damn, that’s fucking hot.” Cole’s voice caught both their attention. Their
heads snapped in his direction. Cole sat up on one elbow while taking in the scene in front of him. He quickly shed his sleep pants and boxers. His hand gripped his hard cock, sliding up and down while his eyes dragged over the two women’s naked bodies. “Oh, I didn’t mean for you to stop. I meant for you to continue while I watched.”

  “Gwen, go suck that cock. I want to watch.” McKayla bit her bottom lip giving Gwen a sultry wink. Gwen looked at Cole sitting back against the headboard and smiled. She pulled away his hand and replaced it with her own on his large cock. Gwen licked her lips when a bead of precum escaped the tip of him.

  Gwen bent to take Cole into her mouth. McKayla moved behind her as Gwen took Cole in her mouth, McKayla licked right up the center of Gwen’s pussy. Gwen moaned around Cole’s cock as he moaned.

  Gwen’s hand held firm onto the base of Cole’s cock as her mouth slid up and down the thick, hard shaft. McKayla’s tongue was gently flicking Gwen’s clit, her hands each digging her nails into Gwen’s ass. Cole reached around and grabbed McKayla’s thigh.

  “Move this way.” Cole’s deep voice growled while Gwen continued to work him. McKayla moved to lay with her head on Cole’s thigh, her mouth back on Gwen’s pussy. Cole plunged two fingers deep into McKayla, his thumb rubbing against her clit. His fingers pressed deep as Gwen took him deep in her mouth. The sensual triangle they’d made had them all moaning and groaning together, only pushing one another that much closer to the edge.

  “Oh, that’s gonna make me come.” Gwen groaned as she pressed against McKayla’s mouth. Gwen could feel Cole’s balls draw up as he too was close. Gwen felt the tingles start in her feet, then start up her legs. Just as she felt her orgasm start rushing over her body, she sat up in bed.

  It was all just a dream. She was sitting alone in the middle of Cole’s bed, breathing hard. She could hear him on the phone in his office. Whipping her head around, she looked for McKayla. It couldn’t have completely been a dream. It had been so real. She could still feel McKayla’s hand on her body, smell her unique scent in the air.