Babies for Nikki (3 page)

“Do you mind if we get something to eat before we go shopping?” Julia asked, pulling Nikki out of her internal dialogue.

Laurie and Nikki both looked at her and smiled. Nikki saw the embarrassed blush that covered Julia’s cheeks and reached out to touch her shoulder lightly. “Come on, Julia,” she told her, laughing. “I know just the place to start our afternoon.”

“Where?” Julia asked, smiling up at Nikki.

“The food court.”

Laurie laughed out loud and turned to lead the way. “I’m good with that,” she told them as she walked with purpose toward the myriad of delicious smells that awaited them at the large court in the middle of the mall.

Nikki followed Julia as she followed Laurie. Turning, she couldn’t stop the smile that covered her face as she saw that both Alexander and Butler were right behind them. “Better keep up, boys,” she teased. “There’s nothing more determined than a hungry pregnant woman.”

Both men shared a conspiratorial look then followed behind Nikki, loving the view of her feminine backside as she walked ahead of them. It took all their effort to control their wolves as the sweet scent of her filled their lungs. Their cocks rose to attention at the close proximity to this adorable human female.

The men stood off to the side as the women ordered Chinese food. They scanned the crowd continuously to make sure that the women were safe. They both were determined that no harm would come to any of the women.

“Come on, boys,” Nikki called to them, indicating the vacant white metal table and bench seats that the women had found. “Sit with us.”

It was pure coincidence that Nikki found herself sitting in the middle of Butler and Alexander on one side of the table while Julia and Laurie sat on the other side. At least, that’s how Nikki chose to see it. She liked the way they sat close to her, making her feel safe as she was sandwiched between them. It was also nice to feel their legs pressing against hers. She knew it was just because the table was small and the bench seat had little room to offer her and the two massive men. Whatever the reason, she was going to take any closeness she could get.

“Here,” she said quietly as she took two plates of food from the tray and set one before each man. “Eat up. You’re going to need to keep up your strength if you plan on spending the afternoon with us.” There was a definite twinkle in her eyes as she teased them and she was rewarded with both their smiles. Her heart sped up, and she felt a gush of liquid escape her as a flood of need exploded through her body.

Alex took the napkin and plastic cutlery she offered him, holding his hand over hers just a second longer than normal. “Thank you, Nikki,” he told her sincerely, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand before he reluctantly released her.

This is so not helping
.

Nikki closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to center herself. It didn’t work. The wonderful masculine smell that invaded her senses served to only heighten her awareness of the two men beside her. Opening her eyes, she reached forward and picked up another napkin and cutlery pack.

She had to cool it. These men were bodyguards for Laurie. She would get to the bottom of
that
later, but for now she had to mentally shake herself and focus. She knew these men were just being kind. She was not going to give in to the feeling that anything might happen between them. Turning, she handed the other set of plastic cutlery and a napkin to Butler, who took it gratefully, holding her hand a little longer than necessary as well.

“Thank you, sweetness,” Butler told her softly.

“Oh, you are a charmer,” she answered, teasing him, reaching up to touch his cheek gently. “You’d better be careful, or I’ll take you home with me.”

The sudden sound that could only be described as a growl from Alex startled her. She looked at him quickly, surprised to see the possessive gleam in his eyes. His silver gray eyes flashed hotly at her, and she could have sworn she had seen them change color.

“You can come, too,” she told him, laughing, touching his cheek lightly, surprised when he turned into her palm and rubbed his face against her hand.

She pulled her hand away and busied herself with her own meal. They were just being flirts. They probably did the same thing to every woman they met. There was no way she could let herself get caught up with any thoughts of fantasy no matter how gorgeous these men were. Instead, she settled in her little spot between them and concentrated on eating her food.

They ate in comfortable silence, Nikki smiling at Laurie and winking as she indicated how Julia was enjoying her meal. Laurie nodded and winked back, unable to keep the smile of happiness from her face.

“So, how far along are you, Julia?” Nikki asked her once all of them had finished their food.

“Five months,” Julia told her, smiling down at her belly and rubbing it tenderly. “I’m so thankful to finally be pregnant again. My mates are happy that we’re having another child. They want a big family just like I do.”

There goes that word again. Mates. As in more than one. She would have to ask Laurie to explain more about that when they got a chance to be alone. Even though she didn’t really get the whole double mate thing, Julia’s words made her heart happy. How wonderful that her men wanted a family. There must be some good guys in the world after all. Despite the ache in her chest at the fact that she would never have that future, she was glad that someone else did.

“Adrian and Colin are lucky men,” Alexander spoke up, looking directly at Nikki, his deep voice vibrating through her. “Julia is a wonderful mother. My niece Tammy is amazing. You’ll see when you meet her.”

Nikki smiled as she looked up at him, entranced by the way the silver in his gray eyes swirled as he looked down at her. “Your niece?”

Alex nodded. “My oldest brother Adrian is one of Julia’s mates,” he explained, surprising Nikki by the way he said it, as if relationships with three people were a common occurrence.

“Well, lucky you to have two men to love you,” she said without hesitation as she turned to face Julia. “I’ll bet you have some hot nights.”

Julia blushed but couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped her. “You could say that,” she admitted.

“So, Laurie, you seem to be also equally blessed with your two men,” Nikki teased, laughing as she reached out across the table to touch her friend’s hand. “You’ll have to tell me how that works exactly while we’re shopping.”

Laurie laughed and squeezed Nikki’s hand. “I’m so glad you met us here today, Nikki.”

Nikki nodded and sat back against the bench seat, a contented sigh escaping her as the two men beside her crowded against her. She closed her eyes briefly, taking in the wonderful feeling and the amazing scent that soothed her heart, then opened them and looked first to Butler and then to Alex.

“So what about you two?” she asked, her tone light. “Do you have two women each?”

Both men turned in their seats to face her seriously. The smile left her face as she realized how intensely they were looking at her.

“No, Nikki,” Butler answered hesitantly, his deep voice taking on a timbre that made her hands shake and her heart race. “There is only one woman that is destined to be our mate.”

Nikki’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Our mate? As in Alexander and Butler will share one woman as their mate?

Wow. Lucky woman.

Nikki turned to Laurie and smiled. “You
have
to tell me every intimate detail, Laurie. You’ll be giving me fuel for fantasies for the rest of my life.”

Laurie laughed as she helped the women stack the empty trays. Before they had a chance to get up, both men stood and took everything from them. Alex stood next to the table, standing guard over the women as Butler disposed of the trash and returned the trays.

Nikki scooted out of the bench and bent down to pick up her purse that had fallen to the floor beneath the table. Alex couldn’t prevent the growl that escaped him as he watched Nikki’s delectable ass presented before him. A vision of him burying himself deep within her from behind while she sucked Butler’s cock flashed through his mind. It was all he could do to prevent himself from grabbing onto her feminine hips and making it a reality.

Nikki stood up and turned around quickly, smacking into him, oblivious to the fact that he was having any erotic thoughts about her. His arms surrounded her immediately, and he held her to him to steady her. In that moment, she felt something snap into place, and it scared the living daylights out of her. She didn’t understand what had happened, but she knew that something did.

Before she could step out of Alex’s arms, Butler was behind her, trapping her between them. He held her arms gently and pressed his body against hers. She felt another jolt of warmth rush through her, reminding her of a gentle hug. What would have scared her with any other man proved to make her feel nothing but a sense of security as she stood between the solid strength of these two men. She experienced such total longing and desire as she felt the muscles of their bodies pressed against her.

“Are you all right?” Butler spoke against the side of her face.

“I’m fine,” she barely whispered, unsure if she felt him kiss her temple or not. “I just felt a little dizzy there for a second.”

She eased herself away from them, settled the strap of her purse on her shoulder, and stepped toward Laurie, who was watching her silently. She shook herself mentally then reached out and took both Laurie’s and Julia’s hands in hers.

“Come on, ladies,” she said finally, forcing herself to be cheerful and not allowing herself to be sucked into any delusions that might be flying through her mind. “We have some shopping to do.”

They turned as one and started toward the store, Alexander and Butler following silently behind them. When they arrived at the store that specialized in intimate apparel, Laurie turned and halted the men with a raised hand.

“Oh no, you don’t,” she told them seriously. “You guys go stand over there against the wall and wait for us. You are
not
coming into this store with us.”

“We go where you go,” Alexander told her gruffly, never taking his eyes off Nikki.

“Absolutely not,” Laurie insisted.

“My Alpha, it’s not safe for you to be alone,” Butler told her quietly.

“Look, guys,” Nikki spoke up, stepping between Laurie and the two men. “I promise I’ll keep everyone safe in the store while we try on negligees. I hardly think anyone will bother us.”

Nikki laughed as she heard the growls that escaped both men. Was she seeing things or did their eyes glow a golden color just briefly?
No. It couldn’t be.
She had to have imagined it.

“Please, Alexander, Butler,” Laurie spoke up. “We’ll be fine. You can watch us from the benches over there. I promise we won’t go anywhere but in this store. You’ll be able to see us through the glass walls. We won’t be long, and you can meet us right here as soon as we’re finished.”

The two men looked at each other, their expressions mirroring their concern for the women. Reluctantly, they nodded their agreement. Laurie smiled and turned to lead the way into the store.

Alex reigned in his wolf as he watched the women walk away. His wolf was demanding that he stay with the women.

Butler was in no better shape. He had to take deep even breaths to remain where Laurie had asked them to wait.

“Butler?” Alexander’s deep voice questioned his triad partner as the women walked into the store. “Are my emotions out of control or did we finally just meet our mate?”

Butler reached out and rested his hand on Alexander’s shoulder, squeezing it tightly. “You’re not out of control, Alex,” Butler told him finally, smiling broadly as he looked at him. “Nikki is ours.”

Alex turned and faced his triad partner. “She smells so good.”

Butler nodded.

“I need to claim her. Now.”

Butler growled softly in understanding and returned his attention to the store, smiling as he saw how Nikki laughed and hugged Laurie and Julia to her. “Look how much happiness she brings Laurie. I can feel her kindness. Her heart calls to me. Do you feel it?”

He turned to face Alex, smiling at the sense of peace that was finally evident on his triad partner’s face. He never thought he would ever see such an expression on him. The Fates certainly knew what they were doing when they allowed Nikki to come into their lives right now. It was just when they both needed her the most.

Alex faced him and nodded. “I do. I can feel her heart beating with mine. I felt a connection to her the minute I held her in my arms. When you stepped behind her and did the same I felt it stronger. We’ve always been told that it would be this way between triad mates, but I never expected it to be so intense so quickly. It’s amazing. It’s as if I can feel her in my soul.”

“The connection is there,” Butler answered without a doubt. “I felt it, too. Did you smell her arousal when we held her hands?”

“I did,” Alex admitted. “It increased when her body was leaning against ours while we sat and ate. I don’t think she realized how close to us she was sitting.” Alex hesitated slightly, taking a cleansing breath to try to calm his raging hormones. “I could smell the sweet honey dripping from her.”