Gifts of Fate

  “I’m sorry about blocking the door. It was childish of me,” Felix said, walking over to stand in front of his mate. Claybourne pulled him close by the hips and buried his face in his stomach.

  “I thought that you were pregnant, that you had been too afraid to tell me. When you didn’t answer I thought you were losing the baby, possibly dying, and it was all my fault. That I had killed the only person I have ever loved.” Claybourne’s fingers dug into his back.

  “You love me?” Felix couldn’t stop the question from flying out. Claybourne looked up at him, shocked.

  “What have I done? Oh God, what have I done that you don’t even think I love you anymore?” Claybourne released Felix and buried his face in his hands.

  “It wasn’t all you. I was so afraid that I wasn’t good enough for you, that I haven’t been speaking up when something bothered me and it all turned to self-doubt, and then I doubted you.” Felix dropped to his knees and pulled his mate’s hands away from his face, taking them into his own. Claybourne looked at Felix and pulled both of his hands free to cup his face. The raw emotion he saw in his mate’s eyes made him ashamed for ever doubting that the man before him felt anything but love for him.

  “I love you so much that it hurts. I look at you and I physically ache. I never dreamed I could love someone so much. Sometimes I wake up early so that I can watch you sleep. I’m tormented by the desire to wake you up and make love to you, but find it hard to wake you since you look so peaceful and perfect in your sleep. Every day you make me laugh and smile. I’m scared some days that I will lose you because I have nothing to offer you. How can someone like me bring you the same happiness and joy that you bring to me?” His mate’s words were his undoing.

  Sobbing uncontrollably, Felix did the only thing he could think of in that moment. He leaned forward and took possession of his mate’s lips. Claybourne’s responding passion set his skin on fire. He felt as if his mate wasn’t inside him soon his prick would explode. Claybourne flipped the solid wood coffee table out of the way with one hand and lay Felix down on the rug gently. His desperation fueled a level of urgency that neither one of them could deny. Felix felt his dick harden to the point of pain at his mate’s aggression.

  His hips were jerked up when Claybourne roughly pulled the towel from his body. Claybourne stared down at his leaking cock and his eyes shifted to his tiger’s sky-blue color.

  “Lube?” Claybourne asked, his voice deeper than he had ever heard it. Felix could see his mate’s cock bulging from behind his slacks.

  “Under the sofa.”

  Claybourne’s hand disappeared under the sofa for a second and returned with a small tube of lube. He doused two fingers and gently eased them into Felix’s puckered opening. Felix hissed in pleasure.

  “God, please fuck me,” Felix begged. Claybourne shook his head.

  “I want to make love to you.” Felix grinned up at his mate.

  “Let’s compromise, make fuck to me.” Claybourne laughed, and Felix felt his heart soar.

  “Anything you want, my mate.”

  Soon Claybourne was plunging three fingers in and out of his opening.

  “Please.”

  Claybourne leaned forward and made sure Felix was looking up at him before he gently kissed his lips. Seconds later he thrust his hips forward, driving his thick cock deep inside his mate and hitting Felix’s sweet spot. With gentle lips Claybourne teased and made love to Felix’s lips and neck, while his hips and cock dominated him from the waist down.

  “You are a damn genius and I love you.” Felix tightened his grip in Claybourne’s hair, pulling the man down for a searing kiss. When Claybourne savagely pounded into him again he pulled back to scream his satisfaction.

  “I will always try to give you what you need. Sometimes you just have to tell me what it is,” Claybourne said, his eyes full of love.

  Claybourne alternated between driving his cock as deep as he could and pounding into his mate in short bursts. Felix could feel his own dick slap against his stomach, leaving streaks of pre-cum smeared across his body.

  “I can do that.” Felix gasped as Claybourne reached between them to fist his cock.

  “Close,” Felix whispered, and Claybourne began to thrust over and over again, pushing Felix’s body across the carpet. His mate’s dick was relentless as it stretched his body over and over again with its demanding pace. When his gentle kiss became a claiming bite, Felix cried out his release. Claybourne lifted his head from Felix’s shoulder and roared, filling his mate with his cum.

  Refusing to let his lover go Felix wrapped his arms and legs around Claybourne until he was forced to lie on his side so that they could stay connected.

  As their breathing returned to normal, Felix pulled back and looked at his lover as Claybourne eased from his body.

  “You thought I was pregnant?” he asked. Claybourne flushed and nodded.

  “You want a baby?”

  “Someday. I wouldn’t mind a small version of you racing around.” Claybourne smiled.

  “We better have a small version of you, I don’t think you could handle two of me.” Felix laughed.

  “I don’t even deserve you, much less two of you.” Claybourne kissed down Felix’s neck.

  “For that awesome statement, I won’t return your Christmas present,” Felix teased. Claybourne propped himself up on one elbow, his hand against his head. His entire face was transformed into an eager, boy-like expression. Felix felt his heart melting.

  “What did you get me?” he asked. Felix blushed.

  “You’ll laugh.”

  “I won’t, tell me. Please.”

  “I got you a new Dyson that picks up animal hair, since I’ve been shifting more in the house.” Felix watched his mate’s face for disappointment. Claybourne sat up excitedly.

  “The Dyson DC39? The one with the HEPA bagless system?”

  “Yup.” Felix grinned. It looked like he knew his mate better than he realized.

  “That’s way better than what I got you.” Claybourne frowned. Felix sat up, curious.

  “What did you get me?”

  “Oh. A car.” Claybourne’s eyebrows furrowed together. “But don’t worry, we’ll go out shopping to get you something fun. How about we get some things for the house that you pick out?”

  “You got me a car?”

  “I know, boring. You can’t play around with it, I’m sorry.” Felix wrapped his arms around his mate’s neck.

  “You got me a freaking car!” Felix demanded.

  Claybourne nodded.

  “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Where is it? What is it? When can I drive it?” he asked, practically vibrating.

  “I parked it in the garage out back. I got you the GL Class Mercedes SUV. I wanted you to be safe.”

  Felix squealed and launched himself toward the back door. Claybourne caught him around the waist, laughing.

  “You’re naked and it’s snowing.”

  “I wanna play with my car!” Felix whined.

  “Later, Trouble. How about I make us some homemade apple pie? We can listen to Christmas carols.” Claybourne pressed their bodies together.

  “Can I dance naked to ‘Good King Wenceslas’?” Felix demanded, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

  “Whatever makes you happy, baby.” Claybourne swayed them from side to side.

  “Best. Christmas. Ever!” Felix said, snuggling close to his mate.

  Felix knew that they would have ups and downs, but he also knew he would never again doubt the love of the man in his arms. He would never doubt this gift ever again.

  Chapter 4

  Damian

  Dec 22nd Morning

  “Everyone is at the diner avoiding you,” Damian said crossly as he watched his best friend pick at imaginary lint.

  “That’s a mean thing to say,” Rian argued.

  “It’s true! You’re driving everyone out of the house, including Sebastian who could give birth any day now.”


  “I need everything to be perfect.”

  Damian’s eyes went to the stockings hanging on the fireplace mantel. The names written in childish handwriting seemed out of place with the elaborate decorations.

  “Rian, no matter what, our families aren’t coming back. When are you going to accept that?”

  “Never!” Rian turned his back to his friend.

  “I’m heading to the diner to be with my friends and grab lunch. I hope you take this time alone, in your perfect world, to think about what matters most.” Damian slammed the door behind him when he walked out.

  * * * *

  Rian collapsed to the floor and stared at the room before him. It was perfect. From the drapes to the table runner. If it was so perfect why did it feel so wrong? It was quiet. It had been a long time since the house was this quiet. Back when Liam’s father ran the pride it was a common occurrence, but not recently. Not his with his misfits living here. He didn’t like it growing up and he didn’t like it now.

  He got up and looked around the room. He couldn’t put his finger on what was missing. He had made sure that the napkin rings matched the candelabra. The punch bowl sparkled. The lights in the chandelier dimmed. The tree was a work of art, each bulb perfectly spaced apart.

  Throwing up his arms in frustration he went to sit down on the sofa and remembered last minute he had just vacuumed it. In his effort to preserve his slip cover he missed the sofa and hit the floor. He looked up and grinned only to realize he was alone. There was no one there to razz him. He finally figured out what was missing. His friends.

  He jumped to his feet and grabbed his coat. You could have the most beautifully decorated house in the world, but that is all it would remain. A house. What made it a home was friends and family and that’s what he wanted most. A home. He hoped that his friends would forgive him for the way he had been acting lately. Smiling, he headed out to the diner to eat lunch with his family.

  Chapter 5

  Sebastian

  Dec 22nd Day

  “Hey, Doc, how are the newest citizens of Arkadia?” Sebastian asked when he saw Doc and Felix walk in the door the next morning. From Felix’s glow he figured that the two of them had worked things out. He felt relieved. He had hated seeing his best friend so hurt.

  “The boys are doing well. Both mother and babies are just fine,” Doc assured everyone.

  “I can’t wait to see them!” Rebecca said enthusiastically before turning to Madison.

  “Say cheese!” Rebecca grinned and snapped a picture before turning to Connor.

  “Your turn.” Connor grinned at his sister and Sebastian heard the click of the camera.

  “Rebecca, what in the hell is up with all the pictures?” Felix asked. Sebastian listened in, because he was curious too.

  “Not tellin’.” Rebecca turned to Rex and Talon. Both men hammed it up for the camera. Rebecca giggled and asked them to flex. Laughing, the men complied. Aleks growled from the counter.

  Sebastian laughed and then groaned as the pain in his back tightened.

  “It’s not any better is it?” Liam asked.

  “No, I think this kid is wrapped around my spine.” Sebastian tried to smile at his mate to reassure him but he was too tired. Liam reached over and began to rub small circles on his lower back.

  “You’re in pain? Sebastian, why didn’t you say anything yesterday?” Doc demanded, getting up from their table. He knelt beside Sebastian and took his wrist.

  “Felix, my stethoscope.” Felix, looking concerned, reached into Doc’s bag and handed him the instrument.

  “Ow, ow, ow. Motherfucker ow!” Sebastian complained as Doc listened in. Rebecca winced and rubbed her back.

  Doc sat back on his heels, staring up at Sebastian in shock.

  “You’re in active labor, Sebastian, those are contractions! You’re less than a minute apart. We need to get you to the clinic!” Doc stood.

  “What!” Liam and Kent yelled.

  “I’m fine, I don’t think I’m in labor, my back just hurts. There’s no pain across my abdomen.” Sebastian reassured both of his wide-eyed mates.

  Doc pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Sebastian, you’re experiencing back labor! How long has your back been bothering you?” He asked. Sebastian felt a sliver of panic.

  “Since Kate went into labor.”

  “So you’ve been in labor for approximately thirty-six hours. We need to get you to the clinic.”

  “I gotta go pee first,” Sebastian said, struggling to his feet. Liam pulled at his hair frantically as Kent helped him to stand.

  As soon as he got to his feet he felt a gush of warm liquid run down his legs. Mortified that he had just wet himself he stared at Kent with tears in his eyes. Seconds later a debilitating pain gripped his abdomen, driving him to his knees.

  “His water just broke. Get his pants off.” Doc ordered.

  “Like hell! I’m in the middle of the damn diner,” Sebastian yelled.

  “I need to check you, Sebastian,” Doc said calmly, looking Sebastian in the eye.

  Embarrassed beyond belief, Kent raised his hips as Liam pulled his pants off. Ma came over with some towels and pushed the hair out of his face.

  “I’m so sorry, Ma,” he began. She smiled down at him and took his hand.

  “Don’t you worry a bit about it, you just concentrate on your little one.”

  Sebastian nodded. Doc pushed his legs apart and he felt cool air hit his nether regions.

  “Kill me now,” he muttered.

  “Sebastian, did you realize that you had already shifted to female parts?” Doc asked, looking impressed.

  “No, I didn’t feel it shift. It wasn’t like that this morning.”

  “Well you are completely dilated and your baby is crowning. You’re having this little one right here.” Doc turned and grabbed a pair of gloves out of his bag.

  “What! No, Doc, we have to get him to the clinic! Where there are machines and medicines and needles and sterile tables,” Liam yelled, every ounce of blood draining from his face.

  “I don’t think the baby is going to wait, Liam,” Sebastian ground out between his teeth.

  “Breathe, kitten, you’re doing great,” Kent said, sitting close to his mate holding his hand.

  Liam scrambled to the other side.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Yes I’m goddamn sure!” Sebastian bellowed.

  “Okay, kitten, let’s uh, do this.” Liam swayed slightly beside him. Sebastian looked up to see where Rebecca was.

  “I’m here.” With Rex’s assistance Rebecca sat down on the floor behind Sebastian, helping to prop him up. Aleks sat behind Liam, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder.

  “This really fucking hurts,” he whimpered. She grimaced.

  “I know.” She took a deep breath. Doc looked up.

  “Becca, how are you doing?” he asked, concerned.

  “I’m evidently fine and never having this baby! I think he’s hibernating for the damn winter,” she said, exasperated.

  “It will be your turn before you know it,” Sebastian said before yelling out.

  “Okay, Sebastian, you can push whenever you feel like you have to,” Doc said.

  Sebastian nodded and grabbed both of his knees and bore down. He wanted to push more than he wanted his next breath.

  “Great job! One more,” Doc yelled.

  “Kitten, you’re doing it! You’re really doing it!” Liam said excitedly.

  “Keep doing it.” Kent held on to Sebastian’s leg, his hand over where Sebastian gripped his own knee.

  “Doc. Something’s wrong!” Sebastian panted. He could feel it in his heart.

  “Okay, I need you to give me a really hard push, Sebastian.”

  Sebastian felt Liam grab his other hand and he could feel their strength and love through their mating bond. He pushed.

  “I see the problem. The cord is around the baby’s neck. Push and don’t stop pushing, Seb
astian,” Doc ordered.

  Sebastian turned to Liam, terrified.

  “Push, kitten,” Liam said, tears in his eyes.

  “We have you,” Kent assured him.

  Sebastian pushed and pushed until he couldn’t feel his lower half. He pushed and suddenly he felt something slide from his body. He stopped pushing and tried to look down.

  “Where’s my baby?” he demanded.

  Liam and Kent held on to his hands, tears streaming down their faces.

  “Why isn’t my baby crying?” he demanded, his voice going shrill.

  He could see Doc moving and doing things but he couldn’t see his baby.

  “I want my baby!” he yelled.

  Rebecca wrapped her arms around him from behind, her tears falling on the back of his neck.

  “It’s a boy,” Liam said brokenly. But still there was silence.

  “Please, please, let him breathe!” Sebastian sobbed. Kent and Liam wrapped their arms around Rebecca and Sebastian.

  Sebastian looked up to see Rex and Talon weeping. Ma held a sobbing Rian and Damian.

  Minutes went by and Doc never stopped working on the tiny body. Sebastian buried his face in Liam’s neck and died inside.

  “Please, Fate. Not on Christmas.” He heard Rebecca whisper. From a distance he could feel Kate sharing in his frantic terror. Ashby and Nic, kneeling on either side of Rebecca, reached in to lay a hand on either one of his shoulders. His pain radiated through the entire Inner Court.

  “Please,” he begged between sobs.

  “Please,” was the whispered echo along their shared bond, and for a single moment the night held its breath.

  “There he is!” Doc yelled, and seconds later wails filled the diner. Pulling his face from Liam’s chest, he looked down at Doc who also had tears on his cheeks.

  “I think someone really wants to meet you,” he said, passing up his baby, wrapped in one of Ma’s clean dishtowels. His little man’s mouth was open and he was screaming for all he was worth.