Colin leaned forward to kiss her neck before stepping back to avoid the hand that was swatting at him. He knew better than to coddle his wife, but he still enjoyed doing it and riling her up. It made for some hot nights of lovemaking.
“Go away, both of you, or you’ll be sleeping in the spare room tonight!”
Both men smiled as they took a step away from their wife. They would let her have her way for now. But after their alpha and beta and their mate left, they were going to love her until she screamed both their names. They flashed the picture of their intent into their wife’s head, and she turned to them, winking and nodding in acceptance. Seeing their immediate grins, she turned to face Laurie once again.
“Is Nikki all right?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Laurie nodded, her eyes filling with tears once again. “She’s awake. The doctor said she has a concussion, but she should be fine.”
“What about you?” Julia asked, her concerned gaze watching Jace and Jackson as they stood silently beside Laurie.
“I’m fine.” Laurie’s answer was clipped. She was not important. Her friends were. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay and tell you I’m sorry for what happened.”
Julia’s brow furrowed with confusion. “You don’t owe me an apology, Laurie. You’re not responsible for that man’s actions. Don’t you understand that?”
“Yes, I am.”
“No. You’re not.”
Laurie shrugged and stepped away. “I’ll let you rest,” she said quietly. There was no use arguing. She knew the truth. Leaning forward, she took her friend in her arms and hugged her gently. Turning, she walked away, aware that Jace and Jackson remained behind. She would expect them to make sure that a member of their pack was all right. That’s why they were good leaders. They truly cared.
* * * *
Laurie turned off the shower and slid open the glass enclosure. She was too tired to even jump when she saw both Jace and Jackson standing before her, each holding a towel, waiting for her. She looked at them silently, seeing the worry in their eyes. She couldn’t hurt them anymore.
Stepping out, she allowed them to wrap the towels around her body and her hair, not moving as they rubbed the cooling water from her body. Throwing the damp towels into the sink, they pulled the terrycloth robe from the back of the bathroom door and helped her into it, tying the belt loosely before turning her gently and leading her toward the bedroom.
Jace sat in the large wingback chair facing the fireplace, pulling her down to straddle his legs, facing him. Carefully pushing up the sleeve of her robe, he gently placed a cotton cloth around her wrist before wrapping a cold gel pack over the material and securing it carefully with the compression bandage Doc had given them. Throughout his ministrations, she sat as he had positioned her. Jace looked at Laurie with concern, noting how her eyes were devoid of emotion as she stared off, not really focusing on anything.
“You should feel better by tomorrow, Laurie,” Jace explained to her quietly. “Our claiming bites have changed your physiology. You’ll be able to heal faster, be healthier, and your lifespan has been expanded to match ours.”
Laurie barely acknowledged his words. She was aware that Jackson stood behind her, brushing the tangles out of her hair. A moment later, she heard the whir of the blow dryer and felt the heat of it against her hair and scalp as Jackson dried her hair. At another time she might have relished the spoiling but not now. She just wanted to sleep.
Jackson looked at Jace as his concern for their mate grew. He brushed her hair until it shined, loving the softness of it in his fingers. He wanted to pull back on it to tip their mate’s head back so he could take her lips in a sweet kiss, but he fought back the urge. He saw the way Jace gently caressed her arms and knew that he was fighting his own desire to hold her tightly against his chest and shield her from all the cruelty of the world.
Careful to make sure that his movements were slow and gentle, Jackson pulled her from Jace’s lap so that she stood before him. Guiding her slowly, he turned her toward their bed and settled her in the middle of it, toeing off his boots and climbing up to lie beside her. Jace did the same, and they gathered her gently against their bodies, not allowing one inch of space between them. She lay between them, unmoving. They could feel her body tensing and knew her mind was racing with thoughts and emotions. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t break through the barrier that kept them from her thoughts and feelings.
“Just rest, baby,” Jace finally told her, gently caressing her forehead until her eyes closed.
They lay together silently for more than an hour. Jace and Jackson could feel the exact moment that Laurie fell asleep. Her tense body finally relaxed, and she allowed herself the luxury of feeling cocooned between them, but the barriers her mind had put in place stayed firm.
She’s shut us out, Jace.
Jace looked at Jackson and nodded slightly. I feel like a part of me is missing.
The soft brown of Jackson’s eyes misted with tears as he nodded at his triad mate. My heart hurts.
Jace nodded, unashamed of the tears that came to his own eyes. Mine, too.
He reached down and slid his hand inside Laurie’s robe to rest possessively against her belly. When Jackson’s hand met his to rest gently against Laurie’s abdomen, he smiled despite the deep loss he was feeling at being unable to connect with her mind or emotions.
Our baby is growing inside her. Can you feel him? Jace’s voice was filled with emotion as he gently caressed her belly.
Yes. But it might be a girl. Jackson whispered in his head, smiling at the thought of their little girl growing within Laurie’s womb.
Laurie moved restlessly between them, reaching down to cover their hands and push them gently against her stomach. She sighed softly and whispered both of their names.
“You can feel it, too, Laurie,” Jace whispered against her temple, kissing her lightly. “You know that our baby is growing inside of you.”
Jackson nuzzled against her cheek and kissed it tenderly. “I hope you know how happy that makes us, sweetheart,” he whispered against her ear. “We can’t wait to feel our baby moving and growing inside of you.”
Jace smiled through his tears. A vision of him holding an adorable little girl of about three years old flashed through his mind. Her hair was dark brown like Laurie’s, and her face was sweet and beautiful as she snuggled against his chest. She was reaching out, and he saw Jackson move forward to kiss her cheek gently, causing her to giggle.
“Papa, Daddy is tickling me!” the little girl squealed with delight as she snuggled into Jace’s chest, laughing as Jackson surrounded them both in a loving embrace.
Jackson, I didn’t create that vision. Jace quickly told him, astonished at the realness of the pure joy that they had just experienced.
I didn’t either, Jace. Jackson told him quietly. He caressed Laurie’s belly lovingly, looking across the sleeping beauty of their mate to face Jace with tears in his eyes and smiling. I think our daughter did.
Chapter 17
Laurie woke with a start. Jace and Jackson’s arms tightened around her as they pulled her back into their embrace. Her heart was racing as she fought to remember what had scared her so thoroughly. Squeezing her eyes shut, she refused to open them. The vision of her ex’s face bombarded her, and she kept replaying the violence he had directed against her friends.
“Is Nikki okay?” she whispered, her voice soft and unsure.
“She’s fine,” Jace assured her. “Alexander and Butler are with her. They won’t let any harm come to their mate.” He leaned forward and kissed her temple gently.
Jackson carefully removed the compression bandage from her wrist, pulling the gel pack away from it. His hand rubbed her bruised skin carefully, pulling her hand up so he could place gentle kisses against her wrist, sending shivers up her arm. He gazed across their mate to look at Jace.
“You’re nearly healed,” Jace whispered, running his finger gent
ly over Laurie’s wrist.
Opening her eyes, Laurie looked at her arm and was shocked by what she saw. She flexed her wrist carefully, surprised that she felt very little pain.
“I’m sorry we weren’t there to protect you, Laurie,” Jackson whispered against her ear. “We should have been there for you.”
Laurie turned to face him, reaching up to touch the dark stubble on his cheek gently. “Don’t,” she told him firmly. “None of you are responsible for what happened.” She looked at him with fire in her eyes.
Leaning forward, she kissed him with all the love she truly had for him, reveling in the fact that he opened his heart to her immediately and drew her body against his. She needed him with a desperation that she couldn’t deny. She could feel his love and desire for her in the way he held her. She could feel the same from Jace as his body molded against hers. She needed to show them that she felt the same, but she just couldn’t open her mind to them. She hurt too much and felt too much guilt to allow them to see her thoughts or feel her emotions.
When Jace pulled the robe from her body and kissed her back tenderly, she leaned back against him, reached up to card her fingers through his hair, and pulled him toward her. He claimed her mouth as Jackson stepped from the bed and quickly divested himself of his clothing before rejoining them. Pulling Laurie toward him, he covered her body with his and leaned down to capture her mouth.
“I need to be inside you, Laurie,” he whispered desperately against her mouth.
Without hesitation, Laurie reached down and guided his shaft to her opening, moaning as he pushed into her waiting channel. Pulling out slightly, he inched back inside, rocking his hips to gather the moisture that awaited him to ease the passage into her body. When she wrapped her legs around his waist and moved with him, he was lost to her. She rocked her hips to meet each thrust, her eyes never leaving his face as he stared down at her with such open love that her heart actually hurt.
Jace reached out to gently caress her breasts, needing the connection. He had been afraid that they had lost her forever last night. The fact that she had turned to Jackson and was allowing him to love her made his heart have hope that everything would be all right between them.
His hand trailed down to gather some of her juices, taking them to the small bundle of nerves that he knew would make her soar. He rubbed her gently, increasing the pressure as Jackson’s thrusts became more forceful. He could feel Laurie’s body tightening and knew she was close.
“Come for us, Laurie,” he whispered, pinching her clit as Jackson slammed home and held himself still as he pulsed deep within her.
Laurie moaned as her orgasm took hold and raced through her body, crying out Jackson’s name as the mating knot formed, joining them together. She gasped as Jace’s fingers continued to rub against her, and she shook with tremors, fueled by the steady pumping of Jackson’s release deep inside of her.
Jackson lay against her chest, his face nuzzled against her shoulder, kissing her neck gently as he fought to control his breathing. He was knotted deep inside his mate, and his seed was bathing her warm channel. His baby was resting safely within her womb, and he couldn’t be happier.
Laurie rubbed his back tenderly, kissing his shoulder lightly as she breathed deeply, willing her racing heart to settle down. When Jackson lifted his head and smiled down at her, she had to close her eyes to the emotion that she saw. It hurt too much to care about someone so much. She knew she would put them, as well as the rest of their family, in physical danger if she stayed. She also knew she would hurt both of these wonderful men emotionally if she left. She didn’t want to do either.
Jackson kissed her forehead, her temple, her eyes, moaning as the knot slowly released and he was able to pull from her warmth very gently. He kissed her lips as he slipped from her body. Her heart hurt more as she thought about how tender they both were to her. When they made love to her, they thought about her feelings and her finding her release before they found their own. Even when they pulled out of her body, they thought of her physical well-being, never allowing her to feel any amount of pain.
As Jackson lay beside her, she turned to kiss him gently, caressing his cheek lightly. “Thank you,” she whispered, a sad smile covering her face.
“My pleasure,” he told her, winking devilishly.
She couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her, and saw how happy that made him. Jace snuggled against her back and wrapped his arms around her, his hand splayed across her belly, caressing her gently before reaching up to tenderly cup her breast as he kissed her neck. She could feel his arousal against her bottom and was surprised that he was content to just hold her. These men continued to amaze her. They truly put her first in all that they did.
Kissing Jackson’s chest lightly, she turned and faced Jace as he released her to allow her to settle against his chest. She raised her leg over his hip and gasped as his hard cock brushed against her folds. She saw him close his eyes at the intimate contact and knew she needed him just as much as she had needed Jackson. Without hesitation, she reached down and took hold of his shaft, pulling up on the silky hardness, closing her eyes in joy at the feel of him in her hand. She heard his moan against her forehead as she guided him to her body, pushing the mushroom head into her and angling her hips forward to take him inside her. He helped her then by pushing against her until his entire length was taken in by her warm and willing body. He pumped carefully for a bit before turning her body so that she lay open and inviting beneath him.
“Laurie,” he moaned as his body found the rhythm that allowed them both to feel the building of physical and emotional heights that Jace admitted he had never hoped to find with anyone in his life.
Laurie held him to her tightly, loving every thrust and retreat. Her body opened to him easily, taking every inch with total joy and yearning. Their bodies made hers sing. She just wished she could give back to them one-tenth of the joy that they gave her.
Jackson reached out and tenderly cupped her breast, teasing her distended nipple and pulling on it lightly. Gasping at the feel of his touch, she covered his hand with her own and pushed it against her swollen breast, loving the strength of his large hand touching her. Her body tightened as Jace’s thrusts brushed against her already stimulated clit, tensing at the immediate rush of excitement. She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her as she found her second release of the morning, pulling Jace tightly against her as he stiffened, his mating knot taking hold inside her. He bellowed her name as his body pulsed with pleasure as great spurts of his seed emptied into her body.
As they fought to control their breathing, Jace kissed the side of her face tenderly, gently stroking her body as he waited for his knot to release her. Lying in her soft embrace, he was content. Breathing in contentedly, he kissed his mating mark and smiled as she sighed softly beneath him.
The still-hard length of his cock slid slowly from her body, making them both moan at the sensation. He settled beside her, pulling her against his chest and kissing the top of her head lightly as he breathed in the new scent of his mate, made different by the miracle of their child that was growing deep inside of her.
Laurie reached out to entwine her fingers with his hand as Jackson reached for her and encircled her waist and pulled her back so that she lay on her back between the two of them. Despite their intimacy, there was a sadness that still enveloped her. Both Jace and Jackson could feel it. The feeling of utter despair bled from her soul, and her mates were pained by each throbbing ache that emanated from her.
Laurie, please open your mind to us. Jackson’s voice spoke softly through their bond, but only Jace heard him.
She’s still closed herself to us, Jackson. Jace’s worried voice mirrored his own concern.
Jackson nodded sadly but refused to give up. Reaching out, he covered their mate’s belly and rubbed it tenderly, sending love to their baby sleeping peacefully within Laurie’s womb.
* * * *
Laurie slowly made her
way down the wide staircase, holding onto the banister as she went. She felt exhausted and a little dizzy, but she wasn’t surprised by that. Every waking moment and those few moments she had been able to sleep had been filled with worry and guilt. Her friends had been hurt. Because of her. It didn’t matter what everyone told her. She knew the truth. She brought danger and sadness to everyone whose lives she touched. She couldn’t allow anyone else to be hurt because of her.
Knocking lightly on the office door, she heard Jackson’s voice call for her to come in. Pushing the door open quietly, she stepped inside the office and hesitated. Jace was on the phone. He looked up as she entered and smiled, waving her in. Jackson reached out, holding his left hand out to her. She walked to him slowly, reaching out to touch his hand, gasping as he pulled her gently toward him so that she was seated sideways on his lap.
“Morning, beautiful,” he whispered against her neck, nuzzling her and taking in her wonderful scent.
“Morning,” Laurie said quietly, unable to look him in the eye. “I’m sorry to bother you both.”
Jackson pulled her toward his body, settling his right hand beside her hip, and laying the flat of his left hand against her stomach. He could sense her unease and worried at her distance. She still had her mind closed to them, and he wanted to cuddle her against his chest and assure her that everything was fine.
“Honey, you’re welcome in this office whenever you want,” he stopped her. “We want you with us all the time.”
Laurie nodded absently, their kindness touching her heart and filling her with warmth. How could she ever live with herself if these men were hurt because of her? Before she could say anything, Jace ended his call and stood up to walk around the desk and stand before them. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead lightly, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent.
I can scent her pregnancy. He smiled as he noted that Jackson’s hand covered their baby in their mate’s body. The baby has made her smell even sweeter.
Bernard, Lynnette - Laurie's Loves [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 21