My Second Chance

by Shelley Munro

  “What’s up?”

  “Me, if you don’t stop that sexy wriggle,” Gavin answered.

  “I’ll wriggle if I want to.” Charlie sounded more alert, interested in pursuing the matter.

  A repeat of the noise attracted Charlie’s attention. “There’s someone in the house,” he muttered, his voice hard. Tense. Cop-like.

  Despite the tension, or perhaps because of it, a streak of lust slammed Gavin’s body. He groaned, the tension going straight to his cock.

  “Hold that thought,” Charlie said, sliding from the bed. A wave of sex and male musk filled the air.

  “Dammit, you’re not going without me.”

  “Stay. It’s my job.”

  “This is personal. You’re not working now.”

  “Lucas and Saul would have told us if they intended to visit.”

  Gavin gripped Charlie’s forearm, jerking him to a halt. “Yeah, they would’ve told us. Besides, they’re coming tomorrow morning.”

  “It could be someone after drugs. Stay behind me,” Charlie ordered. “I don’t want to lose you too.”

  Gavin rolled his eyes. As a shifter, he had a better chance of survival during a run-in with a thief. He’d protect his mate with everything he had. No way would he lose Charlie, not now when he needed him for survival.

  Charlie paused outside the internal entrance to the surgery.

  “They’re in the kitchen,” Gavin said, pinpointing their location after hearing another thump.

  “What the fuck are they doing there? There’s nothing to steal.”

  They prowled the remaining length of the passage, a stream of light spilling through the open doorway to pierce the darkness. They glanced at each other. What kind of thief turned on lights and didn’t worry about discovery? Gavin read Charlie’s intent with ease and nodded. Together, they burst through the doorway, coming to an abrupt halt.

  A feminine screech filled the air and an almost full bottle of milk hit the floor with a liquid splat.

  “Fuck.” Gavin gaped, taking in the empty plates and remnants of food on the table. His heart dive-bombed against his chest in staccato attacks.

  “What?” Leticia arched her brows, her posture defensive. “I was hungry.”

  “Leticia?” Charlie croaked.

  Gavin pulled out a chair and shoved his mate into it. His own legs trembled so bad, he sank onto a chair next to Charlie. They shared a glance before turning to stare at Leticia in consternation.

  She’d been close to death. So weak, he’d had to put her on an oxygen machine so she continued to breathe. Unresponsive to every test he’d given her, he’d intended to discuss pulling the plug when Lucas and Saul visited in the morning.

  How was this possible?

  He rubbed his eyes. When he focused again, she remained in front of him, sawing on a piece of roast beef with her knife. As he watched, she thrust it into her mouth and chewed.

  “Why are you staring at me as if I have two heads?” Leticia waved a fork in the air, her chin lifting in pure arrogance. “At least I’m dressed.” She gestured at her cotton nightgown.

  “Uh, maybe I’ll make coffee,” Charlie said.

  Gavin scowled at Leticia, his heart racing so fast he could scarcely hear himself think. “Make mine a whiskey.” How was this possible? The thought ran through his head like a video on continual loop.

  “Whiskey is a good idea.”

  Gavin noticed Charlie staggered as he made his way to the alcohol cupboard. He understood Charlie’s reaction. With a gulp, he turned his attention back to Leticia, he tried to study her with the eye of a medic. He failed. Instead, he scrutinized her as a man. A lover. Her breasts rose and fell beneath the white cotton. Healthy color filled her cheeks while she forked cold green beans into her mouth. The bloom of pink that hadn’t been present the last time he’d checked on her.

  “What? Why are you staring at me?”

  “Are you going to eat all that?” he asked, referring to one of the meals he and Charlie hadn’t eaten the previous night. An empty plate attested that she’d already eaten one meal.

  “Yeah. I’m starving.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “I already said I was hungry.” Her brow wrinkled when she caught Charlie’s perturbed stare. She turned back to glower at him. Gavin had never realized how much her glare turned him on. Pure lust sizzled in him and he had to grip the edge of the table to halt the urge to grab her.

  “Why are you staring at me? Jeesh, I sound like a stuck record. I’d stop asking the same questions if you gave me answers.”

  “Never mind that,” Charlie said, fumbling two glasses. He set them on the table and sloshed a generous measure of whiskey into both. The base of the whiskey bottle struck the table with a dull thud. With a trembling hand, he shunted one at Gavin and picked up the other. He drained it in one go, reaching for the bottle to pour more.

  Oh yeah. Gavin experienced the same mental confusion. He picked up the glass of whiskey Charlie had poured for him and drank it in one long swallow. Charlie refilled his glass without hesitation.

  “Before we answer your questions, apart from hunger, how are you?”

  “What is up with you two?” She spoke around a mouthful of mashed potato and gravy.

  Despite his earlier hunger, the rich, meaty gravy scent turned his stomach. The slug of whiskey hadn’t helped. “Answer the question,” he barked, losing patience. He didn’t believe this. Did not believe it.

  “I’m fine—a bit weak when I stand up but better now that I’ve eaten.” Her eyes narrowed as if she’d remembered something. “I was on a machine.” She gestured at a bloody spot on her left hand. “You attached me to a drip.”

  “They were there for a reason,” Charlie snapped. “Didn’t you think to call out?”

  “But I was hungry.” Leticia shrugged. “That’s all I could think about.”

  “You’ve been in a coma for over three weeks. You needed the oxygen machine to keep breathing.”

  “Three weeks? I don’t remember—no, that’s not true. I remember unbearable pain and…and that’s all.” Her knife and fork dropped onto her plate with a crisp clunk. “I’ve been out of it for three weeks?”

  “The machine was keeping you alive.”

  “I was dead?” Her eyes rounded and when she realized her right hand trembled, she slipped it out of sight below the table.

  “I need to run tests.” Gavin sent her a challenging glance. She opened her mouth and shut it again, apparently rethinking her intention to complain.

  “I’m glad you didn’t protest,” Charlie stated. “Because I will sit on you, if necessary, for Gavin to do his tests. You won’t enjoy that. No, stay there. Don’t move.”

  Leticia ignored his order. “I wanted to check the fridge for more food.”

  Gavin left them to their bickering and hurried to find the things he needed to check Leticia’s current state of health. A blood test first. Bloody fucking amazing. That was what this was—a miracle. He burst into the kitchen, half convinced he’d find her slumped in Charlie’s arms. Dead. Or he’d discover he’d been dreaming.

  Very much alive, she’d found more food and concentrated on demolishing the contents of her plate. Charlie scrutinized her, taking an occasional sip from his glass of whiskey. If anything, Charlie seemed more in need of his medical services than Leticia did.

  “Do you have to take more blood?”

  Charlie placed his glass on the table. “I meant what I said about sitting on you, if that’s what it takes for Gavin to do the tests. Don’t make me prove it.”

  “You’re bullies.”

  “You haven’t had to live through the last three weeks. You owe us,” Charlie said in a grim tone. He reached for the whiskey bottle again, cursing when the contents didn’t cover the bottom of his glass.

  “This won’t take long,” Gavin promised. “I’ll do bloods, and we can do the rest tomorrow.”

  Charlie drank the last of the whiskey and reached for
the phone. “While you do that I’ll ring Lucas. I don’t think they’ll mind an early morning call.”

  “Do you have to call them right now? Two males hovering over me is more than enough.”

  “You haven’t been around recently,” Charlie snapped. “I’m ringing them.”

  After a huff to show her displeasure, Leticia pulled out her chair and relaxed her left arm, extending it for Gavin. The procedure didn’t take long. Gavin took the sample to his surgery and started work in the small lab, equipped by months of fundraising by the local felines. He went through the process, concentrating on each step.

  This wasn’t possible. In his medical opinion only the machine had kept her alive, yet right now she seemed fine. He stared at the slide containing the blood sample, blinked and squeezed his eyes shut before he looked again. Well hell. The virus was still present but not in the same numbers. How? For months, the virus had multiplied, becoming dominant over her antibodies.

  Somehow, her body was fighting the virus. He’d done a blood test two weeks ago and things had appeared the same. Another study of the slide showed a foreign component. A gasp escaped, whistling past tight lips. He stood and returned to the kitchen.

  “Charlie, I need to do a blood test on you.”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t be such a baby,” Leticia said with a sly smirk at Gavin. “I’ll sit on you if you refuse.”

  “You and whose army,” Charlie scoffed. “I presume you have a good reason,” he said extending his arm.

  “Do you realize that neither of you is wearing clothes? My brother and Saul are on their way here right now.”

  “I don’t think they’ll mind,” Charlie said. “Besides, they’re coming from the farm. It will take them a while.”

  Gavin took a blood sample and strode back to the surgery. Charlie followed him, leaving Leticia alone in the kitchen.

  “Leticia is right about the clothes. I’ll bring you a pair of jeans.” Charlie paused. “Is there a problem?”

  Gavin snorted. “I know nothing. I’ll know more after I take a look at your blood.”

  A sliver of fear hit Charlie’s face. “Do I have FIV?”

  “No, but there’s something odd going on with Leticia’s blood. A mutation. I’ll know more once I can compare your blood. I’ll test mine too.”

  Charlie sat in silence while he prepared a slide. “Is that it?”

  “Yeah.”

  Charlie stood and disappeared down the passage while Gavin continued his tests. Half an hour later he’d formed a hypothesis. He had no idea if his theory was right, but it was his only one. When he entered the kitchen, Charlie cupped a mug of coffee while Leticia ate a pile of toast slathered with jam.

  “So what’s the verdict, Doctor?” Leticia asked. “Will I live?”

  “Frankly I’m not sure what’s going on with you. My best guess is that when you mated with Charlie he gave you some of the antibodies I’d passed on to him. Something about the combinations seems to have killed off some of the FIV virus.”

  Charlie stood and pushed Gavin into a chair, pouring him a mug of coffee and pulling out another chair. “Is it a permanent change?”

  “You mean I’m getting better?”

  Gavin hated to wipe the excited expectancy off her face, yet he couldn’t leave her with a false sense of security either. “It looks that way, although I’m not a hundred percent sure. You still have FIV but it seems mild compared to what it was before.”

  “I’m not going to die?” Leticia’s smile lit up the kitchen.

  “Not today at any rate,” Gavin said. “I’ll need to do more tests but I think the disease is in remission.” A broad grin tipped up the corners of his mouth. Charlie grabbed Leticia and danced around the kitchen. With an exuberant laugh, Gavin stood and joined in the dance, wrapping his arms around his lovers. They had a second chance and maybe a future. He had two mates. He had love. Acceptance. He kissed both Charlie and Leticia on the lips then exhaled with a long sigh of contentment, basking in the glow of love.

  Epilogue

  A gentle breeze blew over the hill. Leticia walked between Charlie and Gavin, crossing the tussock grasses to reach a private spot not visible from the road. Despite the onset of autumn, the warm and sunny stretch of weather provided the perfect day for a run. The distinct scent of mud, dried salt and plants filled every breath. Heat shimmered through the air, the sky a brilliant blue without a single cloud. It was a great day to be alive.

  “Here looks good.” Gavin stopped and dropped the blanket he’d carried from the SUV.

  Leticia yanked her T-shirt over her head and bent to remove her boots. A grin surfaced when the two men fired clothes left and right, trying to beat her to strip. Although she still carried the FIV virus, it continued to lessen, and they were hopeful she’d make a full recovery. Life was good. “I’m ready to shift!”

  “Wait,” Charlie said. “I want to watch.” He spread out the blanket and sprawled on it, wearing nothing but a grin.

  Both she and Gavin moved back, glanced at each other. Gavin winked and together they let the change take them. Fur sprouted, bones lengthened, reshaped. The usual sensation of displacement, laced with pain, zipped through Leticia while she shifted to lion. With a gasp, she fell to all fours, the sparkle of magic filling the air. Suddenly every sense worked at top speed, sensations pouring through her—the dried grasses, the tang of salt, the sharp note of cow manure and the lemon of the soap they’d used in the shower this morning.

  A soft growl claimed her attention and a black leopard nudged her on the shoulder before smooching. He purred, a sound of contentment. Pleasure.

  “Wow that looked amazing.” Charlie stood, his expression a trifle uncertain and one of awe. He took half a step before, both in accord, they leapt at him, playfully knocking him to the ground.

  “Ow,” he muttered, rubbing his butt. “I will make you both lick my bruises tonight.”

  Sounded like a plan to her. Gavin liked the idea because he purred and rubbed his head against their mate’s chest. Charlie grinned and reached out, stroking them both at the same time. Damn, his caress seduced her, the rough scratch of fingers bringing a rumble of contentment. Judging by Gavin’s continual purring, he enjoyed Charlie’s touch as much as she.

  “Are you going to run or stay here and annoy me?” Charlie’s soft laughter told her he loved their attention and reveled in seeing them this way. He truly loved them, just as they loved him in return. Happiness spread through her at the acknowledgement.

  Luck, love and laughter. Family. She had all of that now, along with hope for the future. That was the most precious thing of all.

  Gavin licked Charlie with his rough tongue and jumped away when his mate tried to retaliate. She leapt after him, playing a rough game of chase. They snarled and mock-growled at each other with Charlie clapping and cheering.

  After half an hour, she submitted to Gavin, sides panting with tiredness while she quivered beneath him. He let out a questioning growl and released her, letting out a bark. A second abrupt bark communicated his desire for her to shift back to human. Sounded good to her. She visualized her human form in her mind and seconds later, she walked over to join Charlie where he sprawled on the blanket, enjoying both the sun and the view.

  “You okay?” Concern tinged his voice.

  “Puffed. I haven’t exercised much recently.”

  “And it doesn’t help that I pushed you too hard,” Gavin said, dropping to the ground beside them. “Any pain?”

  “Don’t treat me like an invalid.” Leticia sniffed to make sure they understood her irritation. Their twin grins didn’t bode well. They knew all right and were unapologetic about their concern.

  “Don’t be angry with us,” Charlie said, tugging on a short lock of her hair. “You scared us half to death when you went into that coma. We need time to adjust. That’s why Lucas and Saul ring every day and visit as often as they can. Why London fusses at you to eat and Tomasine asks you to share her
lunch. It’s why Ramsay asks for help with his exercises and Emily and Saber call every few days to check on you. We’re clingy and we’re not apologizing.”

  Gavin’s grin widened as he nodded. “What Charlie said. Now are you okay?”

  Leticia heaved out a put-upon sigh, but it was for form. Inside she celebrated the love and caring she’d found with Charlie and Gavin, with her friends. She leaned over and kissed Charlie, a slow mating of mouths that she gradually took deeper. Her heartbeat raced when she slipped her tongue past Charlie’s lips, teased and tasted until they each pulled away, both of them breathing harder.

  “I’d like to kiss you, Gavin. A proper lover’s kiss. Do you think it’s safe?”

  “Yeah, I do. We’ll still need to use condoms during sex but I think kissing is safe. No biting though.”

  “Kisses are good.” Leticia grabbed his head and held him while she slid her lips over his, not that he put up much of a fight. His lips were firm yet soft, his scent familiar. They took their time, tasting and teasing each other until Charlie complained.

  “Hey, I’m a bit left out here.”

  Without haste they parted and jumped Charlie, pinning him to the ground and kissing his face and chest, gradually working down his sun-warmed body. Leticia licked his pectoral muscle with raspy licks, taking pleasure in his contented sigh, the way his eyes closed, his lashes a dark fan on his upper cheeks.

  “Don’t bite there,” he gasped.

  Leticia lifted her head. “I’m not doing anything.”

  “I am.” Gavin’s tone was smug. “But you’re right. We don’t want to finish this before we’ve started.”

  Leticia closed her left eye in a wink. “True. We should make this last.”

  “You don’t need to stop altogether,” Charlie protested.

  Leticia went back to kissing, working down his body. Occasionally, she paused to kiss Gavin, pleasure springing to life inside her. The stroke of Charlie’s hand in her short hair added another point of connection. Desire flared to life, shimmering inside, warming her. Gavin caught the tip of her breast between his lips and sucked until the pull echoed between her legs. The rough and sensual play of his teeth brought a surge of liquid arousal, and when she stirred, the way Gavin stilled told her he scented her readiness. A low moan rumbled at the back of her throat.