by Walsh Maggie
“I want to go to bed and curl up under my warm blankets, but I’m too comfortable and warm here. I don’t want to walk around in the cold house,” Evan said as he cuddled closer to Raphael’s side.
Raphael kissed the top of Evan’s head. “I can carry you if you’d like?”
“Thanks, but I like it here,” Evan said around a yawn.
Raphael gave him a slight squeeze and then laid his head back against the couch. He couldn’t agree more. He liked it here, too.
His eyes fluttered open as he stretched out his arms over his head. Raphael looked around and noticed light coming in through the window. They must have fallen asleep on the couch. He looked down to wake Evan, but the man was gone. All he found was a blanket lying over him. The small gesture made him smile. He listened to the house but heard nothing. It was totally quiet. Raphael wondered where his mate had gone off to.
He grabbed the blanket, stood, and folded it. Then he placed it on the back of the couch. He went to the fireplace and threw a few more logs on. Maybe the power came back on and Evan had gone to take a shower? The vision of his mate’s naked body in the shower made his cock wake up. He envisioned all the beautiful olive skin glistening as the water cascaded across it.
A scraping sound came from outside, bringing Raphael out of his pleasant thoughts. He stood and reached down to adjust his hardening cock. He needed to take care of his morning business before he went in search of his mate. Raphael made his way to the bathroom.
When he was done, he made his way to the kitchen to see about preparing a no-cook breakfast for them. Looking through the fridge and cabinets, he found cantaloupe, yogurt, and a box of Grape Nuts. That would work in a pinch. He spooned yogurt into two bowls and sprinkled the Grape Nuts over the top. Then he began to cut the cantaloupe.
That scraping noise sounded again. Raphael placed the knife on the counter and walked to the window. Outside, he could see that the snow was still falling pretty heavily, but what caught his attention was the sexy man standing out in the storm, shoveling snow from the back porch. Raphael retrieved his boots from beside the front door and carried them to the mudroom. He put his boots on and then his coat, hat, and gloves. Stepping out onto the patio, he took a deep breath of the crisp air.
“What are you doing?”
Evan jumped at the sound of his voice and spun around to face him. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. Why are you out here in the middle of the storm shoveling snow?”
“When I woke up, I noticed a foot had already fallen, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon. I want to be able to at least get out of the house when it does. Then we can start the heavy shoveling.”
Raphael moved closer when he noticed the flushed look on Evan’s face. “How long have you been out here?”
“I don’t know. Maybe an hour. I got up just before the sunrise and started.”
Raphael looked at his watch. “You have been shoveling for two hours, mate. You need to take a break and warm up. Come on inside and have something to eat. Then I’ll come out and finish.”
“No, I can’t ask you to do that. You’re a guest, and I’m almost finished. I just have to clear the rest of the patio.”
Evan turned and dug the shovel into the snow again. He lifted and tossed the snow into where the grass would normally be growing in the spring. Raphael walked up behind him and lifted his mate off his feet.
“Raphael! What are you doing?”
“You’ve been going too long. It’s not healthy to shovel snow for long periods. You have to take a break in between. Let’s get you inside, warmed up, and get some food into us. Then we’ll both come out and finish the patio.” Raphael took the shovel from Evan’s hand and leaned it against the house, then carried Evan inside. Raphael placed Evan on his feet, and they both stripped their winter gear off and headed into the kitchen. Evan began to shake slightly as he rubbed his hands together. “You’re freezing,” Raphael stated and walked to Evan. He grabbed the man’s hands, began rubbing them, and then blew some hot air against them.
“I’ll be okay in a minute,” Evan answered, but didn’t pull his hands away.
“Why don’t you go warm up by the fire, and I’ll bring our breakfast in there.”
Evan didn’t protest and walked from the room. Raphael went back to preparing their meal. When he was done, he placed everything on a tray he found under the sink and added some orange juice and two glasses. Raphael carried the tray into the living room and found his mate sitting on the couch shivering with the blanket wrapped around him. He placed the tray on the table and sat next to Evan.
Raphael slid one arm under his mate’s legs and the other behind him as he lifted Evan and placed him on his lap. Raphael held him close as he rubbed his hands up and down Evan’s back and legs. Evan shivered again but didn’t try to move away. He leaned into the warmth of Raphael’s chest.
“You did too much. We need to get you warmed up faster than this.”
“No, I’m okay. Just sitting here by the fire and the warmth coming from you are making me warmer.”
His teeth started chattering as another shiver raced through him. Evan’s eyes began to close, and Raphael knew his man had stayed out in the cold for too long. His mate had never lived in these colder climates and wasn’t accustomed to it. Raphael needed to get him warm.
Raphael stood and carried Evan to his bedroom. He gently laid Evan on the bed and stripped him to his briefs. Raphael wanted to allow his eyes to roam over the gorgeous golden skin and tight muscle of his mate’s body, but it would have to wait for another time. Raphael stripped off his clothes, down to his briefs, and climbed into the bed beside his mate. The house was cold, and a small shiver ran through him. He pulled the blankets up to cover them, then wrapped his arms around his mate and pulled the man closer so that their skin could warm each other up.
Evan shivered again and cuddled against his chest. His eyes were closed, and Raphael knew his mate was already asleep. He smiled as he heard a soft, contented sigh and then a light snoring coming from his mate. Raphael closed his eyes and let sleep come to him.
* * * *
“It’s okay, Noah. Just breathe nice and slow. Like this.” Jesse instructed and he began to breathe calmly, showing Noah what he meant. Noah followed his lead as the two of them just stared at each other. Noah’s grip tightened around Jesse’s hand and his face twisted in pain.
“Why so long, Jesse? I need baby come out now,” Noah cried.
“I know, sweetie. I know it hurts, but the baby will come soon,” Jesse said in a soothing voice as he wiped a cloth across Noah’s sweaty brow.
“Is normal take so long?” Noah asked and then groaned in pain.
“Sometimes it can take a while, son. Once the pouch line begins to appear it, will be time,” Ryland explained as he sat on the bed on Noah’s other side.
“But it hurt too much, Ada. I want come now. It take all night. You cream no work no more.”
“Well you’re about to get your wish, Noah,” Aaron said. “I see the pouch line forming.”
Jesse and Ryland looked down to Noah’s belly and could see the dark line forming. Jesse turned back toward Noah. “I’ll be right back, sweetie. I’m going to go get your mates.”
“No. No leave me, Jesse. Please,” Noah begged as a fresh wave of tears started.
“Shh, it’s okay, brother. I’m not going anywhere. Would you like your mates by your side? I know they would both love to be here for you.”
“But they no want me anymore once they see this,” Noah cried harder.
“Oh, Noah. That’s not true. They love you. They are both outside that door pacing a hole in the floor, pulling all their hair out, and worrying themselves sick over you. You have wonderful mates who only want to make sure you’re okay.” Jesse leaned down and hugged his brother.
“Son, why would you think your mates wouldn’t want you anymore after giving them the best gift of their lives?”
“Because I not cute anymore. I fat and ugly. I always sleep and eat too much. Now I have hole in my belly. It only make me uglier.” Noah started to cry uncontrollably.
“None of that is true, cutie, and I never want to hear you speak about yourself like that again,” Bastian said as he came to the bed. Jesse released Noah’s hand and stood, moving away to make room for Bastian. Ryland did the same on his side to allow Storm to sit on Noah’s other side. Bastian took the cloth from Jesse and wiped Noah’s brow.
“You are so beautiful, Noah. You will always be beautiful to Storm and me. We love you for who you are, not for what you look like, but I must say, sweetheart, I have never seen you more beautiful than you are right now. I love you so much, Noah. I am so proud to have you as one of my mates. I don’t know what I did so right in this life to deserve someone as special as you or Storm.”
“He’s right, babe,” Storm said as he rubbed Noah’s arm. “I love you and Bastian more than anything I have ever loved in my whole life. I wouldn’t be able to live without either of you, and I have never been happier than I am right now. Noah, my sweet Noah, you are about to give us a child who is a part of all of us. A living, breathing testament of our love for each other, and as Bastian said, I have never seen you more beautiful than you are right now. I didn’t think it was possible for you to get more beautiful, but you did. With each passing day of our life together, and with each passing day as our child grew within you, you have only become more enchanting.”
Storm leaned down and tenderly kissed Noah’s lips.
Noah met Storm’s eyes as more tears spilled from his. Then he turned his head and looked at Bastian. Suddenly, a pang of pain hit him so hard that it caused Noah to lift off the mattress and scream. Storm wrapped his arms around Noah and held him up. Bastian released Noah’s hand and stood, he moved closer to the headboard and climbed on the bed behind Noah. He sat down and leaned back against the headboard, spreading his legs to either side of Noah. Storm carefully released Noah as he helped him lean back against Bastian.
Bastian wrapped his arms around Noah’s chest and held him tight. Storm climbed onto the bed, pressed against them both, and wrapped his arms around them. He gave them each a kiss. “We’re here, Noah.”
“It’s opening,” Aaron announced.
Everyone looked down at Noah’s belly.
Ryland moved closer and began to rub the cream over Noah’s belly again. “This is a natural numbing cream. It should help take some of the pain away,” he explained when Storm raised a brow at him in question.
“I sorry I not strong enough, mates,” Noah cried.
“Oh, cutie, no. You are one of the strongest people I have ever met. You’re doing wonderful, Noah. Just hold on to me and Storm. Squeeze us when you need to,” Bastian said, trying to soothe Noah.
“Jesse, are you ready?” Aaron asked.
“Me? Why me? You’re the doctor, Aaron,” Jesse asked in surprise, his eyes wide open.
“Yeah, and you’ve done this before with Dale. So instruct me on what you did.”
Noah cried out again as the seam in his belly opened and a trickle of blood leaked out.
“It’s now or never, Jess. Let’s help our niece or nephew into this world.”
“Yes. This little one will bind you both by blood, not just by love this time,” Ryland said proudly.
“Okay, let’s do this.” Jesse moved in closer to Aaron’s side. Aaron stood between Noah’s spread legs, Jesse on the outside of Noah’s thigh. “I still don’t understand why you need me to instruct you, Aaron. You’re a doctor and have delivered cesarean babies before.”
“You’re right, but not paranormals and never a fae. Just tell me exactly what you did with Dale, and we’ll see how close it is to human cesarean births.”
“Fine. Slide your hand into the opening and find the baby. Then gently slide your hand under its body. Once I found the head, I kept one hand there and slid my other hand in under the buttocks. Then pulled back and up,” Jesse instructed.
Aaron did everything Jesse had said, and after another five minutes he pulled his arms back and a white head of hair appeared. Slowly Aaron drew his hands out from Noah’s pouch, and a cute, blood-covered body came into the world. “It’s a girl,” Aaron announced as he placed the baby in the towel Ryland held out.
“A girl, cutie. You gave us a beautiful baby girl,” Bastian cried and held Noah tight as he pressed his lips to Noah’s head. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Thank you, Noah. Thank you for giving us a child, and she is so beautiful, sweetheart. Do you see her?” Storm said and kissed Noah’s head, too.
“She so small. She my princess,” Noah said around the tears spilling from his eyes.
“I don’t believe this,” Jesse whispered as he moved between Noah’s legs. Aaron turned from where he was helping Ryland with the baby.
“What is it, Jess?” Aaron asked.
“Same as Dale,” Jesse said with a happy, tear-filled laugh. He slid his hands into Noah’s pouch. Noah cried out again, squeezing Bastian and Storm from the pain. “Holy shit,” Jesse said in awe.
Aaron left the other baby with Ryland and moved to stand next to Jesse. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Get another towel,” Jesse said without taking his eyes off what he was doing. Aaron went for another towel and came back. “No. I mean another one.” Jesse flicked his eyes up at Aaron and then back to Noah.
Aaron followed his gaze and looked more closely into the pouch. He sucked in a breath as his eyes went wide. “No shit.”
“What, Aaron? What is it? Is Noah okay?” Storm asked in a panic.
“Yes, brother. Noah is doing fine. It’s okay.” Aaron moved away, came back with a second towel, and draped it over Jesse’s shoulder. Jesse pulled his hands back, and two tiny feet appeared, followed by a head of fuzzy blue hair. Jesse smiled wide and laughed as he held the baby close. “It’s a boy.”
“Another one?” Bastian said in shock. “Another baby?”
“And he have my hair.” Noah laughed and cried at the same time.
“Then we know he will grow up to be stunningly beautiful like his Ada,” Storm said around the lump in his throat.
Aaron held the towel open to accept the baby as Jesse placed him in Aaron’s hands. Aaron moved away smiling at the little one as Jesse slid his hands back into Noah’s pouch. Bastian and Storm were so busy showering Noah with love and kisses that they hadn’t realized what Jesse was doing.
“Okay, here it comes,” Jesse announced.
They looked to Jesse in time to see another little head with jet-black hair and white stripes appear.
“Oh my gods,” Bastian gasped. “Another one?”
“Yes. Another boy,” Jesse answered happily.
“He look just like you, Bastian,” Noah whispered.
Bastian looked down at Noah as all the emotions took over and he couldn’t control his tears. He hugged Noah tight and buried his face in Noah’s hair. “Thank you, Noah. Thank you so much for coming into my life and giving me a family. I love you so much.”
Storm shifted onto his knees so he could hold both his mates tighter. “We have our children, mates. Thanks to both of you, we have our children,” Storm cried against Bastian’s temple.
Jesse wrapped the baby in the towel and brought him over to Aaron. He picked up the now-clean blue-haired cutie. Ryland held his granddaughter, and the two of them walked back over to the bed.
“Bastian, Storm, Noah, would you all like to meet your beautiful children?” Ryland asked.
The three looked up and moved apart slightly. Noah held out his hands, and Jesse laid the baby on his arms. Then Rylan leaned down and placed the little girl in Noah’s other arm. He held them both close as he looked at them in awe and with so much love.
“So which one of you the one that like to kick your Ada?” Noah laughed.
“Is there room for this beauty?” Aaron asked as he brought the last baby over.
“A
lways room for all my little ones,” Noah said. “Bastian, Stormy?” He looked up at them, and each of them gently took one of the babies from Noah’s arms. Once Noah’s arms were free, he turned back to Aaron and held out his hands. Aaron placed the baby boy in his arms, then stepped back, and went back between Noah’s legs to clean him up and help close the pouch.
“Can I call Micah and Phenex in? They’re going crazy out in the hall. I think Micah may have chewed all his nails off,” Jesse asked with a laugh.
“Yes, they need meet they new family, too,” Noah answered.
“Micah, you and Dad can come in now, but brace yourselves,” Jesse said to Micah using the mating link. The door opened, and Micah and Phenex entered, stopping suddenly as they saw the babies.
“Holy shit,” Micah said.
“My sentiments exactly, sonny boy,” Phenex said in awe as they moved closer to the bed.
“Micah, you have two new nephews and a niece,” Bastian said proudly.
“Wow. Two boys and a girl. We finally have a girl in this mess of males?”
“I have a feeling this little girlie is going to be very spoiled with all her uncles,” Jesse said and gently rubbed the back of his finger down the baby girl’s cheek.
“And Grandpas,” Noah said.
“Grandpas?” Phenex asked with a raised brow. “Oh, that’s right. Storm’s fathers are still alive.”
“Them, too. I meant Grandpas here―Ada and you,” Noah said to Phenex with a shy smile.
Tears sprang to Phen’s eyes and he blinked to hold them back. He swallowed thickly and cleared his throat. “Thank you, Noah.”
“Son.” Noah smiled brightly.
Phenex sniffed and ran a hand over his mouth as he swallowed again. “Thank you…son.”
Ryland wrapped his arms around Phenex and kissed his temple. He then looked to Noah and nodded his appreciation.
“So have you decided on any names for these beauties yet?” Micah asked.
“We only had one name picked out. We weren’t expecting three. I guess now we’ll have to rethink names,” Storm answered.
