I’ll tell you when I leave Abbey’s, Shelly told them both. Want to love you both silly tonight. Now leave me alone so I can finish my work.
Okay, sweetheart, Eli whispered, sending her the picture of him hugging her gently. Love you.
“Love you, baby, Max told her, smiling as he sent Shelly the vision of the two of them covering her and kissing her senseless in their bed.
Max, you’re not helping me focus on my job, Shelly warned him.
Sorry, baby.
No, you’re not.
No. I’m not.
Shelly’s sweet laughter filled their minds. Both men couldn’t help but feel the renewed sense of hope and love that Shelly constantly made them feel.
Max smiled as he took out the chicken that was in the refrigerator. He and Eli were going to make dinner for their woman. They wanted her rested and relaxed. She needed to be pampered.
“Grab some potatoes and peel them up,” Max told Eli as he pulled out the roasting pan to cook the chicken in. “I’ll get the chicken ready to bake.”
Eli nodded and reached for the bag of white potatoes on the counter. He pulled five potatoes out of the bag and opened the utensil drawer to take out the potato peeler and a sharp carving knife. He had the potatoes peeled and cut up into small, diced pieces in no time. Taking the deep pan from the drain, he filled it nearly to the top with cold water, scooped the potatoes into it, and set it on top of the stove. Turning on the flame, he stepped back and grabbed for the plates and napkins.
In just a matter of moments, Eli had the table set for dinner. He watched Max as he checked the oven one more time. Their home was already smelling delicious from the cooking chicken.
“What about dessert?” Eli asked.
“Shelly made chocolate cake,” Max said, pointing at the covered cake on the counter as he turned and leaned back against the sink, crossing his arms across his chest and smiling like he had found a secret treasure.
“She’s always spoiling us,” Eli said, shaking his head. “We’re going to have to make sure that she doesn’t do so much when she’s pregnant.”
Max nodded, thinking about spoiling their woman. “Can’t wait,” he said as he looked at Eli. He couldn’t help growling softly. His wolf was demanding that they mate and breed.
“Things sure have changed,” Eli said thoughtfully.
“Yeah,” Max agreed.
“I think Shelly is happy,” Eli continued.
“I think so, too.”
“She needs more fun in her life,” Eli said after a moment. “Sometimes I worry that her ability to feel everyone’s emotions can be pretty daunting for her.”
“Then we need to make her have more fun,” Max said calmly.
“Okay. How’re we going to do that?”
“Once the chicken is ready, we’re going to go and meet her,” Max answered.
“And how is that going to give her fun?”
“Our wolves are going to play with her.”
It was a charming winter night in Colorado. Beckett’s pack land was stunning in its beauty. Although it was only a little after five o’clock in the afternoon, it was already dark outside. It was snowing lightly and the wind was blowing. Two massive wolves, one white and one black, raced toward the home that Abbey Tyler shared with her mates.
Shelly walked along the snow-covered path between Abbey’s home and the lake that would lead her to the home that she shared with Max and Eli. Her steps quickened as her wolf urged her to get home. She wanted to get home and step into the waiting arms of her men. She loved it when they held her. She felt safe, she felt wanted, and she felt loved.
There was a soft woof that echoed in the darkness, stopping her in her tracks. She waited, listening for the sound to repeat. She didn’t have long to wait. A soft growl accompanied another low bark, making her realize that her men’s wolves were greeting her.
“I know you’re out there!” she called out to them. “Show yourselves! Come on! Are you afraid, my sweet…”
There was a blur of white as it leaped and hit Shelly’s chest, bringing her down to the ground and covering her with his big, warm body. Before she could react to Eli, the black wolf that was Max straddled her legs and barked repeatedly.
Shelly reached for both of her sweet wolves, surprised when they both jumped away from her and rested on their bellies as they looked up at her. She pushed herself up on her hands and looked at both of her mischief-makers.
“And you thought it would be fun to push me down in the snow because…”
Eli bounded up and pushed against her body to press her back against the snow, successfully cutting off her words. She gripped his strong body, entwining her fingers in his soft, white fur as she held him against her. He licked at her face repeatedly then growled softly in her ear.
With strength that surprised him, Shelly pushed Eli’s body off of her then grabbed a handful of snow and tossed it at his face, hitting his snout with a splat. She was readying another handful when she was pushed forward by Max’s wolf, and she found herself sprawled awkwardly on the ground with her face in the snow.
She twisted her body quickly, grabbing for Max’s fur as she tugged him with her to turn and pin him beneath her. She wasn’t fooling herself. Her strength was no match for either man’s. They wanted her to flip them. They wanted to play. How fun!
She laughed as she pressed snow into Max’s face, loving that he licked at it quickly before flipping a good bit of snow into Shelly’s face with the tip of his nose. Shelly quickly wiped the snow from her face, grabbing for both her sweet wolves and pulling them against her body. Giggles escaped her as both wolves pulled from her hold and leaped away from her to stand three feet from her, waiting.
“You’re asking for it, Mates,” she said as she struggled to her feet and stood before them with her hands on her hips. They watched her silently. She took a step toward them, stopping immediately when they backed up an equal distance from her. “So my wolves are turning into chickens?” Her taunting made both her wolves bark at her. “Well, it certainly seems so. Look how you back up when I try to walk closer.”
She took another step toward them. They matched her in reverse. As she took one more step forward, Max’s wolf jumped and pushed against her hip to bring her down to the ground again. Eli’s wolf was there to cushion her fall. Shelly rested against his strong body as Max stalked closer. He licked at her face before opening his mouth and biting down on her left shoulder, growling possessively.
Shelly couldn’t deny it. She was hopelessly and totally in love with her two wolves. Even in their play, they were careful to protect her so that she wasn’t injured. She hugged Max’s body to her tightly, laughing as Eli bit down on her right shoulder and held her securely.
“We’re never going to get anywhere if you guys keep throwing me to the ground,” she teased them. “Wouldn’t you rather get home so we could wrestle naked in our bedroom?”
Both wolves eased off of her immediately, turned, and began running toward the home that they shared. After running about twenty feet away from her, both of them stopped, turned to face her, and barked repeatedly.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Shelly grumbled as she pushed herself off the ground and walked toward them slowly.
They waited for her. When she stood between them, she knelt down in the snow and hummed happily. She allowed them to nuzzle against her cheeks, lulling them into a false sense of peace. Gripping two handfuls of snow, she pushed them against her wolves’ snouts before jumping to her feet and running as fast as she could toward their home. She knew her men were right behind her. She could hear their low growls of warning as they chased her.
Running up the front steps of the enclosed porch, she pulled open the door quickly and ran inside it, laughing when Max and Eli head-butted her rear end. She was laughing excitedly as she opened the front door and rushed inside, trying to close the door behind her before either Max or Eli could get inside.
She was too late. There wa
s a swirl of magic that surrounded her wolves, the blue color of it beautiful and bright. Her mates stood before her in their human forms—their naked and gorgeous human forms. Shelly reached for their hands and pulled them inside, closing and locking the door securely behind them.
She hadn’t had this much fun in—in forever.
Chapter 36
Shelly hummed happily as she pushed aside her plate. She could sense that Max and Eli were totally pleased with themselves—as well they should be. They had given her such joy playing with her in their wolf forms, and they had made a delicious meal. They sat beside her now in sweatpants and sweatshirts, insisting that she eat before they made love. Shelly had protested, but the delicious smell of the waiting dinner had made her mouth water.
“Thank you for dinner,” she told them. “Everything was delicious.”
“You’re welcome, baby,” Max said as he leaned forward and took a quick kiss from her lips. “You taste delicious, too.”
Shelly chuckled softly. “That’s the chocolate cake,” she told him.
Eli eased closer, his brown eyes twinkling as he looked at her. The happiness that shone back at him from her beautiful blue eyes was mesmerizing. He would be a content man to have that look directed at him for the rest of his life.
“Do you realize just how beautiful you are, sweetheart?” he asked her very seriously. “Do you understand how important you are to me and Max?”
Shelly’s entire body liquefied at his words. She didn’t need her omega abilities to know that what Eli and Max were feeling for her was sincere.
“Eli,” she whispered.
“I never thought we would ever see you again, baby,” Max spoke up. “Being without you left a hole in our lives and our hearts. Now that we’re together again, everything’s right. You’re ours, Shelly.”
“I am.” Shelly’s agreement was immediate. So was her gentle smile. She reached out and took both of her men’s hands within hers and squeezed them lightly. “And you’re both mine.” She laughed softly as she looked at them. “I don’t know if you realize it, but I’m a jealous person.”
“Baby, there’s not a jealous bone in your body,” Max told her, laughing at the absurdity of her statement.
“Oh, you’re wrong, Max. If I ever catch any woman flirting with either you or Eli, I will not be responsible for my actions.”
Eli looked at Max in surprise. Neither one of them had ever entertained the thought of being with any woman but Shelly. The years they had been without her hadn’t changed that. They were mated men. They were faithful, mated men.
“I’m not saying that either one of you would ever cheat on me,” Shelly explained, pulling their hands to her mouth to kiss their knuckles lightly. “I’m saying that you’re both so damned good-looking and sexy that other women can’t help but be drawn to you. When they also see just how incredibly kind you are, they’ll want you for themselves. I will not allow that to happen.”
“We don’t want anyone but you,” Eli told her gently. “Why would we? We already have the kindest, most loving person as our mate.”
Shelly couldn’t prevent the blush that stole across her cheeks. She closed her eyes and sighed softly as she felt Max and Eli place tender kisses against her temple before resting against her hair and holding her gently between them. She felt their loving caresses as they held her, each one slow and tender as they touched her hair, her back, and her arms. They made her melt against them. She felt completely treasured within their gentle hold.
“Nice,” she whispered as she rubbed her cheeks along their necks and soaked up their tenderness. She breathed in deeply and sighed. “I love the way you smell.”
Max laughed as he kissed the left side of her neck. “I’m glad, baby,” he whispered back. “Eli and I love the way you smell, too.”
He eased back and looked at his triad partner, smiling at the immediate grin that came to Eli’s face. It was difficult not to share the information that they both knew, but they had made a promise to Shelly. They wouldn’t compromise that promise. They wouldn’t allow her to become worried about something that was in the hands of the Fates. Whatever came of their night was going to be fine with them. They just wanted their mate to be happy.
Standing and drawing Shelly up between them, both men took her hands and tugged her gently toward the stairs that led up to the second floor. Shelly followed willingly, her wolf pressing against her mind to love their men.
Silly, wolf. You don’t need to push me to love them.
She felt the happiness radiating from her wolf and mentally caressed her dark fur. It always made Shelly feel at peace to be able to communicate with and love her wolf. She loved it when her wolf did the same. It was obvious to her that her wolf was more than happy. That was a very good thing.
“Aren’t we going to clean up the kitchen?” Shelly asked, knowing the answer before her men even voiced it.
“Not tonight, sweetheart,” Eli told her as they walked up the wide staircase with her nestled between them.
“Okay,” Shelly said softly, the intense desires of her men wafting through her senses. She had a sudden need to see to her mates’ desires.
“Are you tired, baby?” Max asked her as they made their way into their bedroom and she stood before them beside their bed.
“A little,” Shelly admitted.
“We don’t have to make love tonight,” Max offered. “We’ll just hold you.” He reached up and caressed the side of her face with his right hand, worry filling him that she was feeling tired.
Shelly leaned into his gentle touch, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply. She felt both at peace and in need in that moment as she took in her men’s scents and experienced their tenderness.
“Help me take off my clothes,” she told them, loving the way they both set to task and removed each piece of her clothing with careful and slow movements, punctuating each gentle touch with a tender kiss.
Max pulled the blankets and sheets back and pressed her forward to lie in the middle of their bed. He covered her quickly, determined that she not catch a chill. Even though their home was pretty warm, he still worried and didn’t want the cold, winter night to give their woman any bit of discomfort.
“You are joining me, right?” Shelly asked as her men stood silently beside the bed.
The soft smiles on their faces made a small flutter go through her chest. The intense, golden flash of their wolves displayed in their eyes made her happy. It didn’t matter how many times they were together. Each time she saw their wolves become involved, she was pleased.
“Do you need me to take off your clothes?” she teased them, growling softly when her mates made quick work of removing their own clothing.
The sigh of satisfaction that left her when they slid in beside her and their warm, strong bodies pressed against her, was long and ended on a soft moan. She pulled them closer, slipping her arms beneath them as they eased up onto their forearms to look down at her. She caressed their backs, enjoying every moment of the slow loving that the three of them were intent on sharing.
Shelly looked at Max then turned to look at Eli. The look on their faces told her how much they loved her. There was no hiding those kinds of things when you looked into your woman’s eyes. Shelly was so incredibly thankful that she was their woman.
“You’re looking at me all soft and sweet,” she whispered.
“Can’t help it,” Eli said gently. “Feeling a whole lot of love for you, Mate.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead lightly before easing back and smiling down at her. Drinking in the beauty of her smile, he knew without a doubt that he would never love anyone more that he loved their mate. He said a silent prayer of thanks that the Fates had deemed him and Max worthy to have her as theirs.
He traced the delicate arch of her eyebrow as he thought of spending his life with their woman. His chest felt full. His heart was bursting with the joy that enveloped him. Shelly did that for him. She was the light in
the darkness. She was the guide to happiness. She was the gentle touch that saved him from a lifetime of emptiness and pain.
Max could feel the emotions of his triad partner. Happiness and love filled Eli just as it filled Max. Since they had found Shelly and were lucky enough to reclaim her as theirs, it had been that way. Shelly’s omega abilities had spilled over into them, allowing them to know what the others were feeling without having to speak through their link. Max was thankful for that. He was glad that he could always know that both Shelly and Eli were well and happy. He took it as his personal responsibility to ensure that both of them were always protected and safe.
Bending down just slightly, he kissed Shelly’s temple and dragged his nose through the softness of her hair. Breathing in her scent, he was calmed by it and excited by it in equal measures.
“You give me hope, Shelly,” he whispered against her ear. “I’d given up, you know.”
He eased back and looked down at her with tenderness. Shelly couldn’t help but tear up. When he reached up and wiped the lone tear that slipped from her left eye, she turned into his hand and kissed his open palm.
“Oh, Max,” she whispered.
“Don’t cry, Shelly,” he told her, taking a gentle kiss from her quivering lips. He licked at her cheek, tasting the saltiness of her tear. “Eli and I are very lucky men. We’ve found the one woman who could tolerate us.”
Shelly laughed despite her tears. “I more than tolerate you both, Max,” she told him, reaching up and slipping her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck to caress the back of his head tenderly. “I adore you.”
“Baby,” Max whispered, completely overwhelmed by her declaration.
“Max, never question how much I care about you,” Shelly told him, her voice gentle with love. “You, too, Eli.” She slipped her fingers through Eli’s hair and tugged on it lightly. “I always knew that the mate pull was a strong one. I also knew that the men I would be mated to would be special. I always felt that Mother Fate would pick two men for me who were exactly what I wanted and needed who were kind and caring. I didn’t realize that I would find that I couldn’t breathe without them in my life.”
Shelly's Forbidden Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 36