Astrid Cielo

by Begging for Forgiveness (Pinewood Creek Shifters)

  "Tell me, please," she whispered.

  Skylar nuzzled her hand, his hand capturing her other arm and twining their fingers together.

  "I had a nightmare where I lost you. I lost both of my mates."

  "We're right here, Sky," Xavier said with a kiss to Skylar's shoulder.

  Skylar cupped Aspen's chin and bent to take her lips. Aspen sighed into his mouth and let go. She put the past away, at least for a moment. She'd been so lonely for so long and once more she was going to place herself out there. The need for love was too much to deny. Skylar's hands grabbed her hips and pulled her farther into his heat. She jumped at the feel of a hard muscled body from behind her. Hands moved her hair to one shoulder and lips caressed her neck. The dual sensation was amazing. Hands moved pulling her shirt up and Skylar released her mouth for the shirt to be pulled over her head.

  A moment of panic took over the desire pulsing in her veins. The last time he'd seen her, she'd had a flat belly. Now her belly was rounded with the baby that grew there.

  "My God you're beautiful."

  Skylar cupped a breast with one hand and splayed the other over her baby bump. Aspen relaxed against Xavier's chest when he cupped her other breast, all the while his mouth caressed her neck. As one they rolled her nipples between their fingers and Xavier caught her when her legs gave out. He picked her up as though she weighed nothing and settled her on the bed. Aspen's breath caught in her chest at the way the two men looked at her. Unrestrained a purr broke forth from her throat and their eyes widened.

  "Sexy," Xavier said crawling over her.

  Unlike Skylar, Xavier still wore loose sleep pants, but his muscled chest was on full display. Aspen smoothed her hands over his chest and down his abdomen. Xavier nudged her head to the side and nibbled on her neck.

  "W-what are you doing?"

  Xavier swirled his tongue around her pulse and pulled away to look in her eyes.

  "We're going to make love to our mate."

  "We?"

  "I'm still here, Aspen," Skylar said to her right.

  He lay reclined on his side, his head propped on one elbow as though they were having a random conversation.

  Xavier resumed his ministrations to her neck, this time not stopping at her collar bone. Aspen arched her back and Xavier laughed his breath teasing her already distended nipple. This teasing was killing her, but she still held back. What was she supposed to do? With Skylar it had been quick and all-consuming, but Xavier seemed happy just to nibble her slowly until she burned up in the inferno he created.

  His mouth closed over her nipple and she cried out. His mouth was pure sin as he flicked his tongue over her nipple, scraped his teeth gently across the bud, and sucked it deeply into his mouth.

  Torture at its finest.

  Xavier switched breasts, his attention to this one no less pleasurable.

  "Open your eyes, Aspen."

  Aspen opened her eyes and Skylar was there, kneeling at her head, his cock jutting from his body. She licked her lips wanting to taste her mate again.

  He's not my mate. If he were he wouldn't have left.

  Xavier lifted himself to sit on the opposite side of her, his hand caressing her belly. Skylar's hand brushed the distended abdomen.

  "It doesn't matter whose baby this is, Aspen. It's ours and we'll all take care of it together."

  Aspen slapped their hands away, her anger igniting at Skylar's words. She scrambled from the bed and stood at the foot of the bed with her hands on her hips.

  "You son-of-a-bitch. How dare you think this baby is anybody's but yours?"

  "Aspen-"

  "Don't you Aspen me, Skylar. You would know it's your baby if you hadn't left! Left me like...like you didn't even want me."

  Aspen bit her tongue, hard, the taste of blood and the bite of pain not enough to stop the sob that tore from her throat. Months of anguish, longing, and loneliness crashed over her and not for the first time she couldn't hold the emotions at bay.

  Skylar stared at her, his face a mask of horror, only making her cry harder. Xavier acted first pulling her into his embrace and cradling her like a child. He rubbed soothing circles over her belly and rocked her gently back and forth, words pouring from his mouth that she couldn't comprehend between her tears, but they soothed her all the same.

  The steady beat of his heart coupled with his nonsensical words soon lulled her and she welcomed the sleep that beckoned to her.

  ***

  Xavier breathed a sigh of relief when Aspen's tears stopped and her eyes closed in restful slumber. It was tearing him and his wolf apart knowing that his mates suffered and he wasn't sure what to do about it. The fight with Sky he'd had earlier only made him feel worse. He stood up still cradling Aspen in his arms and looked at Sky's defeated form sitting on the foot of the bed. His shoulders, always proud slumped as though in defeat as he cradled his head between his hands.

  "We've really done a number on each other, haven't we?"

  Skylar looked up his green eyes glowing in the muted light of the bedroom.

  "I was confused...I never-"

  "I know, Sky, but she doesn't. She's hurt and it's going to take a lot of begging to make up for what happened. Let's start by going to bed, and thinking of ways to make sure that she knows we're in this for the long haul. You're going to be a father, Sky. It's time to start making amends now, so that you can be the father this baby deserves."

  "We."

  "We what?"

  Skylar stood up and placed a small kiss on Aspen's temple, then took Xavier's lips in a hot kiss.

  "We are going to be fathers. She's your mate too and this baby will be just as much yours."

  Xavier smiled. "Thank you."

  Xavier placed Aspen in the middle of the bed, crawled in beside her and gathered her in his arms. Her head lay over his heart, a part of him she already owned though she didn't know it. Skylar stood rooted at the foot of the bed staring at them.

  "Get in the bed, Sky."

  "Maybe I shouldn't. She wasn't exactly happy with me."

  "Don't be ridiculous. How she supposed to trust that you won't leave her again if she wakes up and you're not there?"

  "I don-"

  "Please, don't go," Aspen said.

  Her voice startled them both, but Skylar nodded and climbed in on her other side. He didn't hesitate to spoon her from behind and to rest his hand on her stomach.

  "I'll never leave you, sweetheart," Sky whispered into Aspen's ear.

  Xavier kissed the top of Aspen's head.

  "Go to sleep, Aspen. We'll be here when you wake up."

  Aspen's breathing soon evened out and Skylar settled down beside her, his eyes still glowing mutedly. His dream had affected him more than he'd admitted.

  "You going to tell me more about that dream?"

  Xavier could feel the shudder that went through Sky. The silence stretched between them, so long that Xavier thought Skylar wouldn't answer the question.

  "I've always worked for the Council. Even as a kid I spent lots of time within my adoptive father's department and time at home was spent training. I thought that I'd never find a case that affected me...I mean I always did the jobs expected of me. I hated having to mete out justice in the form of death, but I'd been trained since birth..."

  Xavier clasped his hand with Skylar's over Aspen's abdomen. Aspen nuzzled Xavier's chest in her sleep, a purr breaking forth. Skylar sighed and kissed Aspen's shoulder.

  "I met her in a restaurant. She came to the table and asked how my meal was and it was instant. She didn't hesitate at all--not like you. Her smile erased everything from my mind and my wolf howled inside of me and I just wanted her. I never meant to betray you...but this last case...I've never seen anything like it."

  Xavier didn't say anything, waited for Skylar to finish. He held his breath hoping that for once, Skylar would share more than just the barest of details with him about his job. Xavier knew that Skylar didn't keep him in the dark on purpose, but it hu
rt all the same. He saw what each case slowly did to his mate. Skylar would never admit it, but Xavier knew the truth. Each case affected him more than Skylar felt it should. Xavier knew that Skylar stayed away for a week or so after each case just to collect himself. He didn’t know whether to rail on Skylar or kiss him for saving him the darker aspects of his job.

  "Most of the time I see the aftermath and I can handle it. I see all sorts of things that shifters do to humans and vice versa. This time though, I made it in time to see a victim that wasn't dead...at least she wasn't. He cut them and I know he loved to hear them scream. The smell of her blood was overwhelming. Then he would shift and I know the smell of her fear got him off. He then tortured her even more, biting her and growling at her. Torture. All of it just torture. Then he'd clamp his teeth around her neck. I tried but I couldn't save her. I..."

  "Sky, if it's one thing I know for sure, it's that if you could've saved her then you would have. Have you talked to you father about this?"

  Skylar jerked his hand from Xavier's and Xavier sighed. He'd done it this time.

  "He's not my father. Just because he took in the kid no one wanted doesn't make him my father."

  "I'm sorry, but he obviously cares for you."

  "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

  Skylar wound himself around Aspen and sighed. Xavier watched the worry that creased his face drained away as Skylar drifted to sleep. They'd been together for three years, yet it'd always felt as if something were missing.

  Skylar was less than forthcoming about his job and his past. Xavier never said it, but he hated that Sky didn't feel as though he could confide in him. He would always be thankful for Skylar saving him. He still shuddered when he thought of that day. Xavier grabbed onto Skylar's hand and let himself drift off to sleep.

  Chapter 7

  Aspen sighed and snuggled closer to the warmth radiating at her side. Smooth hot skin met her finger tips and a purr broke free. She kneaded the flesh under her fingers careful to keep her claws sheathed. Another arm snaked around her waist and a hard body pressed from behind. She arched into the body rubbing her buttocks over the erection pressed there. It'd been so long since she'd been held. It felt as though fire were tickling her flesh and her nipples pebbled waiting for hot mouths.

  Skylar. Xavier.

  It seemed weird that she felt so comfortable sandwiched between the two, and still felt so distant. Her cougar, however, didn't care what qualms she held about losing herself in the two it deemed her mates.

  A groan cut through the otherwise silent bedroom and she smiled. Aspen slowly opened her eyes to a still dark room, but it didn't matter. She could see perfectly in the dark. She could see how Skylar's muscles bunched each time she kneaded with her fingers, the restrained power behind the hand that held her so gently, yet firmly.

  "Aspen, if you keep doing that with your ass then I'm going to fuck you."

  Aspen smiled at Xavier's growled warning and arched one more time. Her squeal was cut off with a moan when Xavier pulled her leg over his and slid his erection through her dripping wet folds bumping her clit. She felt Skylar jerk and opened her eyes to see her nails digging into his chest.

  "I'm sor-"

  Her words were cut off by Skylar's lips his tongue plundering her with an intensity she remembered from their first night. His taste and touch were amplified by the hard body moving behind her. Xavier's erection rubbed enticingly over her clit and already she could feel the stirrings of an orgasm beginning.

  A knock on the door pulled her from the moment, but Skylar's incessant forays into her mouth soon let her forget the knock. But none of them could ignore the pounding.

  "Aspen, I'm sorry, but you're the only one left."

  Aspen pulled away from Skylar and sighed. It probably wasn't a good idea anyways.

  "I'm sorry, but that's Essence. I've got to get the door."

  Aspen dodged their hands and ignored their pleas to scramble off the end of the bed. She pulled on her sleep shirt and left the room and two horny wolves.

  Aspen shook her head. What had she been thinking? She stopped in her room and put on a pair of shorts before going to the door. Essence sighed when she opened the door and Gunner yawned before leaning against Essence's legs.

  "I'm so sorry, Aspen, but Mrs. Dawson is sick and no one else is available to keep Gunner. I've got clinical today and Zackary has class. Could you keep Gunner? It'll only be until after lunch and Zackary can make it home."

  "Sure, Essence."

  Aspen frowned when Essence backed up and pulled Gunner behind her. A low feline growl erupted from the strawberry blonde female and her hazel eyes glowed in the still darkened light.

  Aspen turned and found Skylar and Xavier standing behind her. She turned back to Essence.

  "It's okay, Essence. This is Skylar and Xavier. They're my..."

  "We're her mates," Skylar said and placed his hand on her shoulder.

  Essence took a deep breath and exhaled.

  "I don't know..."

  "We'll take good care of your son, ma'am. He won't come to any harm."

  Xavier joined Skylar in placing a hand on her opposite shoulder. Essence stared for what seemed forever before nodding. She knelt and turned Gunner to face her.

  "I want you to be good for Aspen, okay."

  Gunner nodded and yawned.

  Essence led him into the house and laid him on the couch. He was sleeping before she turned to leave. She hesitated at the door and Aspen patted her on the shoulder.

  "I promise he'll be safe, Essence."

  Essence sighed and smiled though it didn't reach her eyes.

  "Thanks Aspen."

  Essence left and Aspen turned to find Xavier covering a sleeping Gunner with a blanket. She placed a hand over her abdomen and could see Xavier doing the same to her own son. Skylar hugged her from behind and she stiffened.

  "I'm sorry, Aspen. I can't say it enough."

  Aspen nodded and looked at the clock on the wall. 4:30 am. She frowned. Nursing school was brutal. Thank goodness she'd gone to culinary school.

  "Let me get to cooking. If I know children, he'll be up in an hour or so ready to eat and play."

  Skylar turned her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips.

  "Didn't you hear me?"

  "I heard you, Skylar. Loud and clear, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm confused."

  "I know, baby. Do you need any help in the kitchen?"

  "Are you kidding? I'm a chef."

  Skylar kissed her again, this time with more heat.

  "How could I forget the first time we met?"

  Aspen smiled and pulled from him leaving her two...mates to guard a sleeping toddler.

  She found solace in the practiced movements of cooking. Cracking half a dozen eggs she added milk and whisked the ingredients. She chopped the ham and cheese and placed them to the side while she heated up the skillet. She'd always enjoyed watching the way the butter sizzled and then melted in the pan. She could use oil, but the flavor from the butter just made the omelets so much tastier.

  The egg mixture sizzled as it hit the pan and the aromas of the kitchen made her smile. Aspen loved an omelet.

  "Are you sure you don't need help?"

  Aspen turned to find Xavier leaning shirtless against the counter. Something about this male made her want him, not just the pheromones she knew dictated their mating. She could see herself liking him despite the mating bond that would eventually overtake them all.

  Aspen frowned. She could remember the arguments her mother and father always had. They'd never cheated on one another, but then again, Aspen didn't think it was physically possible to cheat on a mate. It was till death do you part, quite literally. But no matter the sacred bond her mother and father shared she could feel even as a child the dislike they shared for one another. The loathing they felt when their baser needs overcame their hatred and they mated, often in an explosive manner. Those were times she was grateful to have Caleb
and his parents. They were her safe haven of sorts.

  Aspen bit her lip when Xavier lifted her chin with his fingers to stare into his brown eyes.

  "What's made you so sad, Aspen?"

  She turned and flipped the eggs before adding the ham and cheese to the skillet.

  "Who says I'm sad?"

  "No one, you just seem sad. By the way, I'm not an expert with kids, but I'm pretty sure omelets are not their chosen fare."

  Aspen gasped. "But they're ham and cheese!"

  Xavier smiled and tapped her on the nose gently with a finger.

  "Be that as it may, my younger brother and sister wouldn't eat that type of stuff for breakfast. Loved pancakes and bacon or sausage though."

  Aspen smiled. "Did you take care of them?"

  Xavier laughed. "You could say that. As the oldest, it fell on me when my parents went to work. It was quite a learning experience."

  Aspen nodded. She transferred the finished omelets to a plate and pulled out the ingredients for pancakes. "I always wanted brothers and sisters."

  "Only child, huh?"

  Aspen nodded. "I had the kids in the pride to play with, but it wasn't the same. Caleb and I became best friends and I consider him my brother, but I never really had any."

  "Why didn't you beg your parents for a baby brother or sister?"

  Xavier took the spatula from her and mixed the ingredients together, his muscles bunching with each stir. Aspen squeezed her legs together and barely controlled the moan that threatened to spill from her lips. Xavier winked and gave her a knowing smile.

  "Let's just say that my parents aren't exactly each other’s favorite people."

  "Not true mates?"

  Aspen laughed though even she knew it held no joy. Laughter like that had always sounded wrong to her, like it shouldn't exist.

  "They are true mates, but lucky me, I got the two that hated each other despite the true mating pull."

  Xavier nodded and was silent as he poured the pancake batter into small half-dollar sized circles into the already heated skillet.

  "They're so tiny," Aspen said watching Xavier work.

  "Kids loved 'em."