***
Aspen snuggled closer to the warm, hard body and sighed. It'd only been twice that she'd been the ice cream filling of one of the most delicious ice cream sandwiches, but she was already addicted.
After Xavier had left, she tossed and turned her curiosity only growing with each passing moment. So, after like the fiftieth time of changing positions, she’d tracked her mates to the clearing in the woods they’d chosen. Her pussy moistened as scenes of hardened flesh met hardened flesh in the moonlight.
The shrill beep of her alarm made her groan. Hands moved from her waist to travel slowly up her body to cup her breasts. Warm breath tickled her ear when Xavier whispered, "Time for work, sweetheart."
She opened her eyes to Skylar's green ones and her mouth automatically turned up, a smile the most natural thing when he looked at her so intently. It was hard to believe that only two days ago she'd felt so alone and now she was contemplating sharing her life with two men.
Skylar traced her lips with his fingertips and she sucked his finger into her mouth. His eyes widened.
"I love to see you smile."
Aspen's heart swelled. Skylar pulled his finger from her mouth and looked over her shoulder. Nothing was said, but suddenly she found herself lying on top of Xavier, her legs held apart by his.
Skylar's movements were unhurried when he tapped the snooze button on her alarm clock.
"How long does your snooze last?"
"F-five minutes."
Skylar smiled his canines prominent and his green eyes glowing. Pure predator.
Skylar bent over her and took her mouth, his tongue wasting no time to delve within the recesses of her mouth. Aspen sighed and allowed it to happen. Allowed them both whatever they wanted.
Hands moved her shirt--Xavier's shirt--up her torso the cooler room air causing her nipples to pebble. Hands cupped her bared breasts, fingers pinching her nipples. She moaned into Skylar's mouth and arched into Xavier's hands.
Skylar pulled back and another second of pointed stares and she was placed on her back on the mattress the shirt fluttering to the floor.
Xavier bit gently on her shoulder before his mouth took Skylar's place. Hands--Skylar's--caressed her thighs before parting them to bare her most intimate flesh to his gaze.
"We've only got four minutes left, Xavier, let's make them count."
Cool air caressed her intimate flesh moments before warmth caressed her clit. Aspen squirmed then cried out, her yelp of surprise captured in Xavier's mouth, when Skylar's tongue snaked through her folds. He was merciless with his tongue, alternating with stabbing his tongue in and out of her sheath and flicking his tongue over her clit. Her climax was building fast when Skylar pulled away. Aspen groaned.
"Shhh, baby, Xavier wants a taste."
Aspen squirmed while they changed positions. Her hips shot off the mattress when a tongue flicked rapidly over her clit. Skylar cupped her face and took her lips like a man possessed. The taste of herself mixed with his flavor made her moan. Her hips moved of their own accord trying to get closer to the mouth and tongue that was delivering such delicious torture.
Skylar left her mouth.
"Two more minutes, Xavier."
One finger slid deep, slowly pumping into her aching core. Then a second finger joined the first while Xavier sucked her clit into his mouth. Aspen panted and Skylar bent to take her nipples into his mouth.
Xavier moved his fingers faster and faster, his tongue never ceasing its work on her clit. Aspen's breath caught in her throat and her cries of completion mixed with the shrill beeping of the alarm clock. Her whole body seized with the rapture of a climax she never thought possible.
Aspen opened her eyes to find Xavier and Skylar smiling down at her.
"Good morning, baby," Skylar said with a peck on her lips.
"Good morning, sweetheart," Xavier said and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Aspen took a deep breath and smiled.
"That was way more enjoyable than my alarm clock."
Skylar laughed. Xavier stood and took her into the bathroom. He sat her on the counter and turned to fill up the bathtub.
Aspen chewed on her bottom lip. Why wouldn't they take her? Was there something wrong with her? Finger's pried her bottom lip from between her teeth and she looked up into green eyes.
"What's wrong, Aspen?"
Tears were the last thing she wanted, but her hormones had different plans. Hands cupped her cheeks.
"Don't do that." Skylar said.
"Do what," she said between the tears.
"Cry, hurt like that."
Aspen turned her head and swiped at her tears.
"Please, baby, I'm sorry."
"I can't help it."
Xavier turned off the water.
"It's her pregnancy, Sky. She'll be on an emotional roller coaster even after the baby is born."
Skylar's panicked look made Aspen giggle. He moved out of the way when Xavier stood to his side and she was lifted again. She sighed as she sank into the warm water.
"How do you know so much?"
Xavier blushed. "As soon as I found out you were pregnant I read everything I could find on the internet."
Aspen smiled and cupped his cheek.
"That was so sweet."
"We're serious about being your mates, Aspen. It's not just because of the mating call, but we want to give you the time that you need. We need to do that." Aspen turned to Skylar's voice and nodded. She did need that, but...
"Why won't you have sex with me?"
Skylar growled his eyes glowing. He bent down and nipped gently at her shoulder. A matching nip followed from Xavier.
"We only have so much control, Aspen."
Aspen huffed. Ever since she'd been pregnant she'd wanted—no—needed something physical. She stayed so horny, her body choosing inappropriate times to cry out for its mate. At first she accustomed it to an unfulfilled mating, hoping that it would decrease with time. Then she found out she was pregnant...
Aspen took a deep breath, gathering her courage to ask for what she so desperately needed--To feel close to her mates in the most primal way.
"But I need."
Skylar took a deep breath and nodded.
"Hurry up, baby or you'll be late."
He stood up and walked away. Aspen turned to Xavier the strain evident on his face. Aspen sighed.
"I've got this, Xavier. I've been bathing myself for years."
His face softened for a second.
"Skylar's right. We can't do this right now or you'll be late for work. And I've neglected my work for far too long."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a website designer. I'm sorry, sweetheart."
Xavier stood and hurried from the room. Aspen huffed and finished her bath. She dressed and walked into the living room. Caleb looked up from his seat on the couch and Wesley stood the bear shifter cop nodding at her politely. Aspen sighed. It looked like she was going to be late.
Chapter 10
Skylar took off at a run. His need was coursing through his veins, his skin on fire from wanting her so badly. Xavier followed and they ran and ran. They let the surrounding woods bring back the level headedness they needed to face her again.
Twenty minutes later, they stepped into the living room of Aspen's house and accusing eyes turned their way. Skylar knew this look well, since he’d endured it during childhood often.
Aspen stood and moved toward them but Caleb stood up and blocked her path. Skylar growled. No one kept his mate from him.
"Caleb! They didn't do it!"
"You don't know that."
Aspen's face turned red. "Yes I do."
A large male stood and coughed to bring their attention to him.
"Caleb, nobody is blaming anyone. I just came to check and see if anyone knew anything."
"How could it be a coincidence that all this started when they came to town?"
Aspen stomped her foot and pushed past Caleb. "
Oh for goodness sakes, Caleb, I told you it wasn't them; they were with me last night."
Skylar reached out and pulled her behind him his wolf settling some with him between her and the perceived threat. The large male stepped forward.
"I think some introductions are in order. I'm Wesley Chambers with the Pinewood Creek PD and I'm investigating a homicide."
Skylar shook the hand extended to him.
"Skylar. This is my mate Xavier."
Wesley nodded his brows drawing together. Xavier stepped forward and Wesley extended his hand once more.
"So, you were with Aspen all night?"
"Yes, they-"
"Aspen, that's not entirely true, Skylar and I went running in the woods last night."
Skylar restrained Aspen who tried to step past him. His little cat hissed and he pinned her with a stare.
"Calm down, baby."
Tears welled in her eyes and Xavier pulled her into his arms. Skylar turned back to Wesley.
"What exactly are we being accused of?"
"I'm not accusing you of anything, but since you're new in town and we have a murder at the same time you have to admit that's suspicious."
"What murder?"
Wesley turned and picked up a folder off the coffee table.
"I don't normally do this, but given the nature of the injuries the victim sustained I'd say this is a special case. I think we need to sit down and talk."
Skylar turned to find Xavier whispering to Aspen.
"I'm going to take her to work while you handle whatever this is, Sky."
Even though he hated to see his mates leaving, but he was thankful that Xavier understood she shouldn't see whatever depravity humanity had to offer. Aspen broke from Xavier's hold and stood in front of Wesley her hands on her hips.
"They may have left me to go into the woods, but I followed them. They didn't do whatever it is you and Caleb think they did."
Xavier sighed and took her by the hand.
She pulled her hand from his and turned to Skylar. "I was there."
She'd seen it all. He waited for disgust to enter her eyes, rejection. Anything. But it never did. She allowed Xavier to take her from the house and Skylar sighed.
He followed Wesley and Caleb into the dining room and sat at the table a burgeoning file folder sitting in front of him.
"I was called out early this morning on a call. A couple of runners found the body of Marcy Stevenson partially hidden in the woods in between the pride and pack lands. We rarely have a homicide, but when we do the whole community panics. I'm trying to keep this hush-hush because…well open the folder and see for yourself."
Skylar nodded and flipped open the folder. He'd trained for this his whole life-his childhood a series of exercises that his guardian concocted to ensure he was ready to take his place as an agent within the human/shifter relations department of the Shifter Council. But no matter how many files he'd opened they always took his breath away. The pictures of lifeless victims, always tortured by a shifter were never something he’d gotten used to.
Marcy Stevenson was no different. Her hair, which was once a pretty blonde color, was red with the blood that should be coursing through her veins. Her face was marred by claw marks down her right cheek, her nude body displaying bite marks and knife wounds.
Shifter.
Skylar fought the bile as he sifted through the pictures, but one caught his attention. It made his blood run cold when he traced the X carved onto Marcy's left thigh. It couldn't be.
"He's supposed to be dead," Skylar whispered.
"Who's supposed to be dead?" Wesley.
Skylar shook his head.
"I learned a long time ago that if I knew their names then they were a real person before I carried out their sentence. This X here is the calling card of the last case I was working on. I executed the guilty party after arriving too late."
"Who exactly are you?" Caleb's eyes narrowed.
Skylar sighed. "I'm an agent for the shifter/human relations department for the Shifter Council. I am called on to execute those who purposefully harm or kill humans putting our secret in danger."
Wesley sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin. Skylar waited for somebody to say something. He slid the folder back to Wesley and stood. The chair made an earsplitting noise when he stood and it crashed to the ground. Wesley stood and gathered the file.
"If you'll excuse me I've got to contact the council. With that pattern of injuries it's obvious a shifter did this."
"Can I count on the council for help?"
Skylar sighed. "Of course you can. I'd be amazed if they didn't take over completely."
Wesley growled. Skylar held his hands up. He'd been a part of a Council take over more than he'd ever wanted. Each time the local shifters took offense to the high-handedness of the council.
"Calm down, bear. I'm the one you'll deal with and I wouldn't dream of stepping on your toes," Skylar said his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Caleb laughed and slapped him on the back. "I believe I'm going to like you after all."
Wesley shook his head. "First a cougar and a mouse and now a dog wants to get into the pride. What's next?"
"I make that call."
Skylar took out his cell and made a call he never enjoyed making.
***
"We're here," Xavier said when he pulled up to Haven’s.
"How am I supposed to work when I won't know what's happening to you two?"
"We'll be fine, Aspen. Don't worry about it, Skylar will have it all fixed before I get back."
Aspen turned to him and his wolf growled to see the tears still streaming from her eyes. He got out of the SUV and was at the passenger side before he knew what he was doing. He opened the door and pulled her into his arms.
"Shh, Aspen, I promise that it will all work out. We all know that Skylar and I ain’t guilty."
She cried into his chest and he held her.
"I'm usually not like this." Aspen said when she pulled away from his chest.
Xavier cupped her cheeks and smoothed away the tears with his thumbs.
"I know that, sweetheart; I've told you it's the pregnancy."
Aspen smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull his face down to hers. Xavier bridged the gap between them happy that she wasn't crying any longer. He hated to see her cry. But he did have to admit he was becoming addicted to kissing her tears away. He started gentle, his lips barely grazing hers, but soon he found he couldn't resist her. He couldn't resist the ease in which she gave him control. This time was no different. Aspen moaned when he pulled her ponytail a little harder than gentle giving him instant access to her mouth.
Aspen clung to him as he darted his tongue in and out of her mouth. He pulled her closer, her belly bumping against his groin. Xavier pulled back nibbling on her bottom lip. Aspen groaned and tried to pull him closer. He laughed and turned her toward the restaurant then patted her on the butt.
"Go ahead and work, sweetheart. I'll be back to pick you up and you'll see that everything will have been worked out. Besides, I've gotta get some work done, too."
Aspen sighed then entered the restaurant. He sighed and got into the truck hoping what he'd told Aspen was true. He whipped out his cell phone and was relieved when Skylar answered after only a couple of rings.
"How is she?"
"Worried and with good reason. Do we need to get a lawyer?"
Xavier only half joked because despite his faith in Skylar's ability to get them out of a mess they'd no hand in, he was worried.
Skylar sighed.
"I've contacted the Council and I've been given my orders."
Skylar's voice sent chills up his spine. It was the same each time he was ordered to execute a shifter who killed. He knew how much Sky hated it, how morose he was after the kill. Of course, in retrospect, it was probably what made Xavier love Sky even more, Sky's obvious hate for ending a life.
"I'm sorry, Sky."
"Yeah, me
too. Look, I've got a lot of work to do so I'll see you two back at the house tonight."
"Sure, baby."
When he got back to the house, Sky wasn't there. A sense of emptiness washed over Xavier while he worked in an empty house without his mates. Surely that emptiness would fade when Aspen was finally his. His and Sky's.
***
Months of watching his target had finally paid off. The black haired beauty with grey eyes settled into a kiss with the dark-haired male with obvious devotion. What a shame he'd have to end such true love. He felt the edges of his mouth curl into a smile. All in good time. That wolf and his mates would pay for what he'd done.
He entered the restaurant called Haven’s and his belly growled. It'd been a while since his last meal. A girl with black hair cut in layers to her shoulders and grey eyes smiled up at him. His cock hardened at the sight of such beauty.
"Hi, my name is Charisma, welcome to Havens. Will there be just one?"
"Yes, I'm currently unattached."
Charisma giggled and her face flooded with a most becoming pink. Yes this one was perfect.
"Follow me."
"Anywhere."
She giggled again and he followed watching the enticing sway of her ass. Strong and powerful legs that he couldn't wait to feel around his waist as he pounded into her aching and wet core only made her more desirable. She would be sweet. She was the perfect mix of siren and innocence.
"Here we are. Would you like to hear our specials?"
"Unless you're on the menu, Charisma, then I don't think anything will compare."
Charisma smiled and blushed again. It was so insane how easy it was to lure them in.
"If you'll give me a moment, please."
Charisma nodded and walked away, her grey eyes turning back for one more look. She would definitely be fun.
Chapter 11
Three days of searching and still Skylar wasn't any closer to finding the responsible party. The first rays of sunlight were cresting over the horizon and he felt the time away from Xavier and Aspen deep in his bones. Skylar stretched and allowed the change to take him replacing the form of a man into that of a wolf. He suppressed his wolf's need to howl and ran the morning air cascading through his fur. The need to be with his mates after barely seeing them for the past three days beckoned his wolf to run faster.
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