My Second Chance

by Shelley Munro

  Gavin sighed. “I know.”

  “But you need to do this,” Charlie said, his eyes intent while he studied his mate.

  If she tilted her head a fraction, Leticia could see the two men and the way they looked at each other, almost hear the silent communication. Hunger clenched through her, squeezing the needy child she harbored inside her. Jealousy whispered, She could have had Gavin for her mate if it wasn’t for the disease.

  “I couldn’t save the mother but I’d like to save the foal if I can.”

  Charlie nodded. “We’ll be here waiting for you. Laura is opening up shop today. If Leticia wants, I might take her to Storm in a Teacup for breakfast. You want to meet us there?”

  “I’ll ring if I can’t make it.” Gavin turned his attention on her, smiling gently. With his thumb he traced the lower curve of her lip before dipping his head to follow the same path with his tongue.

  Leticia gasped, and he took advantage, slipping his tongue into her mouth and taking the kiss deeper. The coil of energy in her lower body shifted, pulsed. Her feline stretched when she had been unresponsive for days.

  Then Gavin lifted his head, breaking the kiss. “We’ll continue this later.”

  Leticia swallowed, an audible sound so loud it made her wince. She raised her gaze and fought to inject attitude. “A warning?”

  “No, sweetheart. A promise.” With that he climbed from the bed, flipping the covers back over Leticia before the cool air attacked her bare legs. Naked. He was naked. Oh, she’d noticed while they were in bed together, tried not to think about it too hard. Seeing him in daylight, his long limbs, tight ass and broad shoulders, his calm smile, as if leaving his mate in bed with her wasn’t a big deal. His unapologetic erection. “Charlie will look after you.”

  The door closed behind him, leaving shocked silence—on her part, anyway.

  “What did he say?”

  “I think he meant that you and I should continue our little adventure.”

  Leticia backed away, a sharp pull on her nipple a reminder of Charlie’s proximity. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I…you’re mates.” She peeled Charlie’s hand away from her breast and immediately regret chased her.

  “You could at least let me kiss you.” Charlie closed the distance between them and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Gavin got a kiss.” He puckered his lips and waited.

  “You’ll stay that way if the wind changes.” She wanted to laugh. With his tousled blond hair he looked cute and boyish, but his cock snuggling against her legs indicated a mature man. “Oh all right. If you insist.” She gave his lips a quick peck before attempting to slide across the bed.

  “Nah, we can do better than that,” he whispered. “I want a kiss like you gave Gavin.”

  “But this is wrong.”

  “Not to either Gavin or me. We both want this.”

  “But you didn’t discuss it. I was here the whole time.”

  “Shows what you know, babe. Just a kiss, okay?”

  Leticia chewed on her bottom lip, struggling with indecision.

  “Would it make it easier if I made you kiss me?” Charlie moved without warning and leaned over her, pinning Leticia to the mattress.

  Leticia knew the right thing to do—shove him off and kick him out of the bedroom. A knee in the balls wouldn’t go astray either, so he’d think twice about putting the moves on her again.

  Didn’t happen.

  Instead, she sucked in a hasty breath, which made things worse. His masculine scent, musk and a trace of citrus filled her lungs, enticing her to step into danger. She stared up at him—his jaw shaded with blond stubble, his sensual lips, the challenging glint in his pale blue eyes—and admitted to herself she wanted this. Desperately.

  She wanted to live a little—while she still could.

  Her eyes fluttered closed, and she relaxed, tilting her head toward him.

  “No, sweetheart,” Charlie said in a stern voice. “Open your eyes. I want you aware of what’s happening. No hiding. No pretending.”

  When she opened her eyes he smiled—a slow curl of his lips that lit up his features. Her heart kick-started with a solid thud, scampering like an excited kitten. Heck, his smile smoked her insides, leaving her breathless with anticipation. “I…I…thought…” She swallowed hard and tried again. “I thought this was just a kiss.”

  “No point tiptoeing around the truth. I want to fuck you.”

  “But…but…” Words failed her.

  His grin widened. “I thought you wanted plain speaking.”

  “I have no idea what I want,” she finally said, and it was nothing less than the truth. The two men had her confused and befuddled.

  “We’ll go with instinct.” Charlie swooped, not giving her a chance to argue.

  Oh hell. No point lying to herself. She wanted this—whatever this turned out to be.

  He kissed differently than Gavin, cajoling instead of demanding. Their lips slid together with warmth and sultry promise, and every one of her objections whimpered and died. His fingers branded her flesh while he held her in place to wreak havoc on her emotions. The taste of him, along with his scent and confident manner, drove her crazy. He nibbled her top lip and soothed it with his tongue before pulling back to study her expression.

  “Kissing you makes me happy.”

  Leticia tilted her head to stare at him. “As much as kissing Gavin?”

  “This isn’t a competition,” Charlie said, laughter crinkling the corners of his eyes. “I like kissing both of you. Why don’t you take off your T-shirt so I can see you properly?”

  “Good change of subject.” A spike of fear hit her and she chewed on her bottom lip, indecision whispering about rash decisions. This wasn’t right, so why did she want to obey?

  “I try.”

  Leticia stalled, wanting to follow his directions yet hesitant because she hadn’t been with anyone else for ages. “Gavin likes you. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like he looks at you. No way can I come between mates. I won’t.”

  “Gavin likes you as well. He’s your mate.”

  “No, he’s not.” A harsh note entered her voice. “He’s your mate. You shouldn’t be here with me, and you should be jealous of the fact he kissed me.”

  “Are you jealous of Gavin being with me?” Charlie countered.

  She wanted to lie. “Yes,” she blurted the truth. Her teeth clacked together before she said anything else incriminating.

  “I’ve seen the way Gavin looks at you. At first envy hit me, then I took a good look at you and understood.” He tugged at the hem and pulled the T-shirt over her head. Leticia didn’t think about protesting. Not once, even though he’d see her ugly scar. The cotton inched upward, baring her stomach, the lower curves of her breasts and finally taut nipples, one reddened by the plucking of his fingers.

  Charlie stopped, the T-shirt bunched around her neck. “Beautiful.”

  She tensed, knowing he’d seen the scar. Puckered and still red despite the time since it had happened. Part of her waited for questions. They didn’t come.

  “Exquisite.”

  A sigh eased out. It was a long time since anyone had called her beautiful. She’d lost a lot of weight, although her breasts were still plump. Nerves jumped inside and the urge to babble struck. “I’m too skinny. You shouldn’t do this.” Way to tell him, Leticia. Weak.

  “Don’t. Just let me go a bit further. I’ll stop as soon as you tell me.”

  Huh, the man had bricks in his head if he thought she wanted to stop. She was nervous—yes—not stupid. Leticia held her tongue, watching him with nerves scampering like frisky kittens as he studied her. He cupped one breast, stroking, his hand tan compared to her pale skin. She hadn’t spent any time basking in the sun after running in feline form, and her normal tan had faded. Biting her lip, she fought the self-conscious thoughts and the urge to say how terrible she looked, how ugly her appearance.

  Her flesh filled his hand, and she quivered at the ex
quisite sensation of his callused fingers dragging across the curve of her breast. The friction of his fingers stopped short of her nipple and drove away some of her reservations. It felt so good. Exquisite. She caught her breath, silently urging him to pinch and pluck again, to give her the bite of pain that would make her come alive.

  He lowered his head and breathed a stream of warm air across the taut peaks until her blood flowed hotly through her veins. A moan escaped, the sound holding every ounce of emotion pummeling her inside. His touch. Gavin’s touch. Between the two of them, they’d dragged her from the gloomy fog she’d inhabited this week. Shocked her out would describe the change better.

  She loved them for it, would remember with gratitude when she was too sick to leave her bed.

  “You still with me?”

  He’d noticed she’d drifted. Damn. The last thing she wanted was to discourage him.

  “Don’t stop.” Her hasty words drew a laugh from him and it lit up his entire face. Not handsome—no Gavin was much prettier. Charlie’s profile struck her as strong and rigid, his jaw suggesting a determined streak some might call stubborn. When he smiled, his pale eyes glittered and a hint of a dimple flickered to the right of his mouth. Mesmerized, she reached up and traced the tiny dent with her fingertips.

  “Don’t stop?”

  “No. Kiss me.” She grasped his shoulders and puckered up, hungry for another illicit kiss.

  “My pleasure.”

  Instead of tasting her mouth, he took her nipple between his lips, sucking hard at first until messages of lust pumped straight to her pussy. She jumped at the faint sting of teeth, the lick of his tongue and heard the suction. Moisture gathered between her thighs and she stirred restlessly, needing, wanting him to move faster, give her more.

  “Charlie.”

  He lifted his head, glancing at her before turning his attention back to a glistening nipple. “Pretty.”

  Their gazes connected and a frisson of pleasure streaked straight to her lower belly. Just with a look. Wow! As if he could read her thoughts, he smiled and licked the underside of one breast. He skimmed his hands across her rib cage and tiny tingles skittered in the wake of the contact. Her eyes widened when his hand drifted lower still, the ridges on his fingers causing a hitch in her breathing. He flashed her another grin. “You can touch me back. I like my lovers to participate.”

  “What are you trying to say? Are you complaining about my technique?” Horror stripped away the feel-good mood. Her ex used to put her down. She had done nothing right and that included bedroom activities. Like fucking a dummy—her ex’s words—which, according to him, was why he’d strayed. “We shouldn’t be doing this anyway. It’s not right.”

  “Steady. I didn’t mean to insult you. All I meant was that I’d love you to touch me. I crave your touch, and I wouldn’t be doing this if Gavin didn’t agree. He does.”

  “But how do you know? It’s cheating on your mate.”

  “There’s a bond between the three of us. It’s there. You know it too. You can try to lie to yourself but it’s there inside you. Touch me. Go on, Leticia. You know you want to.”

  It was true. Everything he said.

  Leticia sighed, losing a fighting battle. She needed his touch, and it was clear from his expression and words he knew it.

  “How do you like to be touched?” It was like being a virgin again, uncomfortable and out of her depth. Tension filled her, desire seeping away, replaced with an acute case of anxiety. What if she did something wrong?

  “Touch me however you want.” Charlie rolled off her and into the middle of the large mattress. “I’m yours.”

  All hers. Her gaze stroked his body from feet to face. Her tongue moistened her lips and a trembling hand reached out, coming to rest on his chest. His skin was warm, the reassuring thud of his heart soothing her fears. Taste. She needed to explore him with her mouth, to learn if he’d enjoy her touch. She tried not to think of the alternative. No, she refused to spoil this moment…

  Leticia fingered one nipple, jerking back in surprise when he shuddered. Wide-eyed she stared at him. Damn, he’d scared her. For a moment she’d thought he’d harangue for hurting him or handling him like a novice.

  “I’m putty in your hands, babe. Touch me however you want. It’s all good.”

  Was her fear that obvious? Did he think she needed encouragement? Well, he’d be right. Touching him terrified and elated her at the same time. So much at risk, so many images to store in her mind to make her last days memorable. Happy.

  Damn, she didn’t want to die.

  She swallowed and knew she needed to focus because Charlie seemed to read her easily. The last thing she wanted was to fall apart in front of him.

  “As long as all of you isn’t putty.” When she realized what she’d said, she clapped her hand over her mouth in consternation. She flicked a quick glance the length of his body, her eyes coming to rest on his erection.

  “No putty there,” he whispered, laughter shimmering in his eyes. “Shift closer. I can’t wait for you to touch me again.”

  Leticia licked the tip of finger and drew it across the engorged tip of his shaft. His cock jerked at her touch, his loud intake of breath bringing a delighted smile. Yes. She could do this. No pretense here, he really wanted her touch. Her hand curled around his shaft, and she forced aside her lingering reservations about right and wrong. Warm. Hot even, and smooth. His hips jerked when she tightened her grip, a hiss of pleasure escaping him. She eyed him with uncertainty.

  “Yeah, do that again. More. Please, Leticia.”

  Leticia went with gut instinct, exploring his cock and testicles. The stroke of her finger across the head brought a shudder from him. The pump of her hand made him groan. She scraped her fingernails across his balls, back and forth in what she hoped was a stimulating manner. At least she’d stopped trembling inside, worried about doing the wrong thing, about the enormity of touching someone else’s mate. The thing was, it didn’t seem so wrong. Touching Charlie seemed so right…

  Her hands glided along his length, the swollen head of his cock taking on a liquid sheen as pre-cum beaded at the slit. Charlie’s eyes glittered when she checked his reaction, and she realized he’d scrutinized her, taking in her every reaction. It made her want to pace like a caged lion in an exhibit. Why did he have to watch her like that? Too personal. Way too personal.

  “Carry on,” he encouraged. “Anything you’d like.”

  She licked her lips. “I want to use my mouth.”

  “Babe, I can’t think of anything I’d like better.”

  Charlie had to steel himself to hold still. It was obvious someone had hurt her, leaving her hesitant. The ragged scar that snaked across her shoulder looked recent. The look on her face told him not to ask questions. Not yet. Hopefully he and Gavin could fix her wariness and show her how special she was to them.

  Two mates. Hell, he couldn’t believe the way the three of them locked together puzzle-perfect.

  Meanwhile, she stared at his cock as if it might bite her. Charlie smothered a laugh. Oh yeah, he’d love to bite her, except according to Gavin that was how she’d caught FIV. The last thing he wanted to do was bring back bad memories, not when pleasure lay so close.

  To his disappointment, she released his cock and touched a tentative finger to his inner thigh. Damn. Even that turned him on, his cock bucking at her touch. She used her fingernails and made small circles, moving closer and closer to taut balls. Her finger glided across them, rolling and tracing the delicate skin between. No one had ever taken this much care with him. With Gavin, their lovemaking had been quick. Hot and hard. Pleasurable, yes, but this was different again. Despite his rising desire, Charlie let her explore. For the moment…

  She licked her lips again, giving away her nervousness, and after each time she touched him in a different manner, she checked his reaction. Charlie decided to start talking, to tell her what her touch did to him. Not something he would’ve done in the past, but
there was a connection between them—he sensed it—and it burned as strongly as his tie to Gavin. Damn, he wished Gavin were here to help. The last thing he wanted was to frighten her, so he talked, hoping to soothe her fears.

  “When you touch me like that I think about pushing my dick into your wet pussy.”

  Leticia gasped, her hands jerking off his body. In consternation, she stared at him. “But I’m sick. Look at me.”

  “I have looked. You’re gorgeous—a bit skinny but Gavin and I will make sure you eat more and put on weight. I bet you’re very curvy at a healthy weight.”

  “Pleasantly rounded.” And the way she said it wasn’t complimentary. Another piece of the puzzle fell into place. Charlie stored it away for a moment when he could talk to Gavin in privacy.

  “My favorite kind,” he said, and he ran his fingers down her biceps. She shivered, losing her pinched expression when he touched her. He liked that his touch did that to her and decided a talking and touch combo would work even better. He cupped a breast, brushing the underside, loving the way she quivered at the scant touch. “I can’t wait. I’ll flick my tongue across your swollen clit until it vibrates and you clench around my fingers.”

  “You talk a good game, mister.” Her fingers curled around his dick again, the exquisite friction making him impatient.

  “You’re good at that,” Charlie said, willing himself to relax. “You gonna let me have a turn? I thought I could wait. Not possible. I need you now.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to answer. Charlie moved swiftly, smirking at the tiny squeak she emitted when he flipped her onto her back. Seconds later, he was between her legs, lifting her to his mouth. His tongue lashed the length of her slit. He hummed, loving the spicy flavor of her. “You’re wet. You want me.”

  “I—we—shouldn’t be doing this.” It was a weak protest.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m sick. I’m—” She broke off, her mouth firming.

  “Gavin said it’s nothing I can catch. We have condoms, so unless you want to stop right now or you’re not well, then I’m continuing.” Charlie finished his sentence with a delicate lick over her clit. The bundle of nerves jumped beneath the pressure of his tongue. His finger slipped in and out of her with hot, easy glides. He hooked his fingers, searching for the special spot that would give her even more pleasure. “How does that feel?”