Keira Kendrik (14 page)

The rest of the day went perfectly for Jasmine.  She spent the time with Keni, Olivia, and Sophie talking about her wedding.  Keni and Olivia promised to come back the following weekend so they could really begin planning.  They ordered her to pick a date so they could take time off to help her.  All of them, including Sophie, hugged good-bye and promised to see each other the following weekend.

As her friends pulled off, Jasmine turned to Sophie
.  "Okay, sister.  You have to come with me now to pick out what the hell I'm going to wear to meet my new in-laws.  I want to give a great first impression.”  She grabbed Sophie's hand and dragged her up the stairs, laughing the whole way.

*
***

"What the hell is going on
?  Jasmine could have been killed.”  Phoenix could barely control his fury.

Gabe placed a hand on his shoulder
.  "Jackson and Cade, along with some other men, are scouring that hill.  They will pick up a scent."

Trent and Cord were also sitting with them in the office and Trent sat forward to say, "It was definitely a gunshot
.  I heard it.  These people are getting bolder."

Cord nodded
.  "This could get more dangerous before we find them."

"We will restrict the women to the house, no more riding for a while
,” Phoenix said. "One of you is to be with them at all times.  They are to never be left alone.  Sophie is just as much at risk because she is Jasmine's twin."

"I think we need to inform Sophie of what she has fallen in to
.  I know Jackson and Cade were trying to give her some room, but she needs to be aware," Gabe added.

"I agree
.  I will talk to Jackson and Cade when they come back in," Phoenix said.

They continued to make plans for when their parents arrived as well as trips to town
.  They organized shifts for security as well.  Cord and Trent went out to set more sensors around the entrances to the ranch.  Even though the ranch was well wired with high security, adding more was what they called cushioning.

Jackson and Cade returned later that evening after dinner
.  The women were out on the back porch, sitting in the swing, drinking some wine.  Phoenix directed all the men to his office, asking Lucy to keep an eye out on the women.

Jackson remained standing but said, "There were no scents, Phoenix
.  None at all.  It is really odd."

"We searched the whole hill and the trails as well
.  Nothing.  It is puzzling," Cade said.

Phoenix frowned
.  "That is odd.  Everyone has a scent.  They must be masking it."

"We are underestimating these people
,” Gabe observed.

"Have we heard from Marco and Dominik?" Phoenix asked.

Jackson shook his head.  "Not yet."

Phoenix sighed, frustrated
.  "Okay.  We are done for tonight.  We tighten up and wait for the parents and news from the others.  It's all we can do for now."

All of them agreed and then said good night as Jackson and Cade stated they were in need of a shower
.  They left by way of the kitchen where Lucy had a basket of food waiting for them since they had missed dinner.  They each kissed her on the cheek and left through the back, saying good night to the women as they passed.

Sophie and Jasmine watched as Jackson and Cade walked across the yard toward the bunkhouse
.  Jasmine nudged Sophie in the side.

"What?" Sophie said.

"You know what," Jasmine answered.

Sophie laughed
.  "No, I don't.  I was just watching two nice looking men walk across the yard.  I may be on a no-man-kick right now, but I'm not dead."

Now it was Jasmine's turn to laugh
.  "Uh huh, I hear ya.  You know you are attracted to them.  More than just physical.  Don't you feel them 'calling' to you?"

Sophie
’s head snapped around to look directly at Jasmine.  "How did you know that?  I mean, maybe." She shrugged.

"Sophie, I felt that
, too.  For Phoenix and Gabriel.  You can't resist the pull," Jasmine told her.

"Oh yes I can
.  And I will," Sophie said, looking in the direction the men had gone.  "I have to," she said softly.

Jasmine opened her mouth to ask her what she meant by that, but Sophie jumped up and said she was tired
.  Jasmine decided to let it go for now and said good night as Sophie went to go upstairs.  Jasmine remained on the porch for a little while sipping her wine, she said good night to Lucy as Marty came to walk her home.  Gabe came out on the porch a few moments later and stood in front of her.

He held out a hand
.  "Ready to come to bed?"

"Always with you, my love
," she answered as she took his hand and stood.

As they began to go upstairs, Phoenix joined them and they all headed for Jasmine's room
.  When they entered, Jasmine noticed there were more items on the dressers than had been there.  She frowned and walked into the bathroom, noting more men's things in there.  She turned to the men in question and raised a brow.

"We moved our things in here
.  We are mated now.  This will be our room from now on," Phoenix stated.

"Besides, with all the people showing up lately, we need all the room we can get
," Gabe said, laughing as he undressed.

Jasmine nodded
.  "I agree.  I want you here with me at all times.  I won't be able to sleep otherwise."

"As if you had a choice
," Phoenix muttered and turned his back to begin to undress.

Jasmine stuck her tongue out at his back and Gabe laughed out loud
.  Then she did it to him, but he was facing her and smiled, "Do that again and I will put it to work."

She sidled up to him and ran her hand along his chest
.  "Oh you will, will you?"

"Mmhmm
.  You bet I will," Gabe murmured as he grabbed her up into his arms.

She squealed and then moaned as he began kissing her neck, biting her between the shoulder and neck lightly.
He leaned in to kiss her mouth and she opened her mouth and savored the intrusion.  As he was kissing her, he pulled off her t-shirt while Phoenix pulled off her jeans, then they laid her down on the bed between them.

Gabe
ran his hands down her body, as Phoenix took her breasts in his hands.  He licked them through her bra.  The roughness of the lace over her nipple made her want more.  It wasn’t enough.  She tried to wiggle to touch them, but both of them had her pinned to the bed.

“
Please,” she cried when he let her up for air.

Gabe
began kissing her again.  She was lost in the sensation but sighed when she felt Phoenix pull her panties over her legs as Gabe got rid of her bra completely.  He kissed his way down her body, nudging her legs apart, as Gabe took over teasing her nipples. 

Phoenix
lifted her legs over his shoulders and smiled against her naked mound. "Well, well. It seems someone is going to be more sensitive now, brother."

Gabe leaned down to see what Phoenix was seeing and smiled.
"Yes, that does look delicious. We can see your juices coating your lips. I can't wait to lick that nice, smooth pussy."

She had shaved earlier, making her bare all over.  Keni and Olivia had suggested it months ago, now she had a reason to try it.  She had laughed, excited at the thought of what they would do to her when they saw what she had done.  It felt a little naughty them not knowing but walking around them all day that way.

Phoenix
licked her folds and she almost came off the bed, she was so sensitive now. "Does that feel good all bare? It sure feels good and tastes even better." She moaned as he leaned down to her sensitive skin once again.

Her friends were right when they said she would feel everything.  She could feel his breath on her skin as he licked and teased her clit.  He put a finger inside her and began pumping it in and out, as he flicked his tongue over her sensitive nub. 

Gabe
latched on to one of her nipples and sucked it in his mouth hard.  He rolled the nipple around and she could not decide what felt better.  They had amazing mouths.  Jasmine reached between her and Gabe and grasped his thick cock in her hand.  She couldn’t get her hands fully around it.  She pumped him a little and smiled when she felt his body respond and he stopped what he was doing for a minute. 

“
Oh, baby!” he muttered against her breast as she moved her hand up and down. 

Phoenix
looked up, smiled, and then began sucking her clit at the same rhythm that she set. 
Holy shit
, she thought and almost lost her grip.  But she continued and then Gabe came back to life, licking and sucking at her breast.  They all worked in concert together, playing with each other.

Phoenix
kissed her mound one more time and then kissed his way back up her body and captured her lips.  She tasted herself in his mouth and moaned.  It was exciting. 

Phoenix
pulled back and then watched as Gabe settled on the bed and pulled her on his lap until she straddled him.  He smiled and then moved around so he was behind them.  Phoenix spanked Jasmine lightly and then pulled and pushed her hips until he had her in the right place. 

He used his hands to guide her down on
Gabe’s cock as he watched from behind her.  Once she was fully seated, he smiled over her shoulder at Gabe.  “Don’t let him fall out,” he said and grabbed the tube of lube and began to prepare her.  She felt the sting of one finger, then two.  All the while Gabe held her hips, not allowing her to move at all.  She was crying in frustration by the time Phoenix had prepared her and both of them laughed.

Phoenix
lined himself up and slowly slid in her.  She was so full.  Jasmine threw her head back and rested it on Phoenix’s shoulder as they finally allowed her to move.  She set the pace.  First, she was slow, wanting to feel every inch of them as they moved in and out of her.  Then she began to move faster.  Gabe circled her clit with his finger and Phoenix plucked at her breasts while she rode both of them.  It didn’t take long for her to scream her release, but they weren’t done yet.

Gabe
grabbed her hips and began pumping faster.  Phoenix held her up as she tried to slump.  Jasmine felt the passion rise again and then they all cried out when they came together.

J
asmine sighed when they collapsed in a heap and she was snuggled between them.  This was home. 
No matter where she was, as long as she had her men, she would be safe
, she thought, as she fell into a deep sleep.

Jasmine stood in her room and primped one more time
.  Phoenix and Gabe's parents would be here soon and she was nervous.  This meeting was important to her even if the men had assured her their parents were going to love her.  She had never done the 'meet the parents' thing before.  She wanted to make a good first impression.

She headed downstairs and saw Lucy dusting the living room
.  "Can I help with anything?"

Lucy turned to her and said, "Heavens no, child, not in that getup
.  Don't you look pretty today.  That dress is very nice."

Jasmine had opted to wear a dress today
.  She had only worn shorts or jeans while she had been on the ranch.  The dress she had on was a sundress with spaghetti straps.  It was a deep purple with green and white flowers along the trim.

She smiled at Lucy
.  "Thank you.  I wanted to look nice for when the Raines arrived."

Lucy walked over to her and place
d an arm around her shoulders.  "Honey, they are going to love you.  You have nothing to worry about."

Jasmine laughed
.  "You sound like Phoenix and Gabriel."

"See there
?  If they say you have nothing to worry about, then you don't," Lucy said with a nod.

Jasmine smiled at her and then wandered out to the back porch
.  She heard a car approaching down the drive, then Gabe came out the back door looking for her.  He slid up behind her and put his arms around her.  She leaned back against him.

"They're here
.  Ready to go meet them?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be
," she answered.  She turned around to face him.

"Honey, you look really sexy in that dress
.  I would love nothing better than to rip it off you right now," he growled and leaned in to nip at her neck.

'Where are you two?'
Phoenix's voice came to both of them.

They broke apart and Gabe answered him
. 
'We are coming.  You will understand when you get a look at our life mate in her outfit.'

'Mate, come to me
,'
Phoenix ordered with a growl.

Jasmine shivered with desire as she heard the hunger already in Phoenix's voice
.  Gabe took her hand and they walked in through the kitchen.  They heard voices coming from the living room.  Just before they entered, Jasmine saw their parents for the first time.  Even though Phoenix and Gabe had two fathers, they were obviously brothers as well.  They looked like older versions of her men with just a little gray showing on their temples.

Their mother had long, black hair that was braided back with touches of gray but for all intents and purposes, she still looked very young
.  Her eyes were a bright blue while the men both had green eyes.  She had a kind face, as did their fathers.

When they stepped into the room, everyone turned to them
.  Jasmine felt her face go red, embarrassed by the attention.  Gabe still had her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

Phoenix made the introductions
.  "Mom, dads, we would like to introduce you to our life mate, Jasmine.  Jasmine, these are our parents, our mother, Chloe, and our fathers, Nathan and Joshua."

Jasmine inclined her head like she had seen people do to her men and said, "It's very nice to meet you."

Chloe approached her and said, "Honey, you don't have to be formal.  We are family now.  I am so pleased to meet you finally.”  She grabbed Jasmine in a warm hug.

Jasmine hugged her back and smiled at the dads who took their turns hugging her as well
.  "Welcome to the family,” they each said to her.

"Thank you
," she answered.

They all sat down and chatted about the parents drive down while they drank some iced tea
.  Then they talked of how the men had found Jasmine, which the parents already knew most of what happened, but not all.  Then talk turned to the current problem they were having.

"Someone took a shot at Jasmine on her horse yesterday
," Phoenix informed them.

Chloe gasped.
"Are you alright, honey?"

Jasmine nodded
.  "Yes, I'm fine.  I'm tougher than I look.  It was nothing.  I just want to find out who's doing this and why."

"As we all do, dear
," Nathan said.

Joshua sat forward
.  "I think the journals are our best bet."

"I agree
.  We need to start going through them," Gabe said.

"How long are you staying?" Phoenix asked.

Chloe stood.  "We are staying as long as is needed.  The winery is in great hands.  We are needed here.  Plus, we have a wedding to plan.”  She beamed at Jasmine.

Jasmine smiled back
.  "I am so happy that you want to be a part of that."

Chloe walked over to her and made Gabe get up
.  She sat down beside Jasmine and took her hands.  "Of course I do.  You are already our daughter, we are just going to make it official with a ceremony.”  The women hugged again while the men looked uncomfortable.

Nathan stood and said, "Why don't we go out to the car and get the journals
.  Not to mention our luggage.  It's going to take all of us to bring in Chloe's bags," he teased.

Chloe laughed and said, "Yes, well, you will be happy later, Nathan Raine."

Jasmine smiled at their banter, loving that everything had turned out all right.  Phoenix leaned over her, kissed her ear, and whispered, "See?  That will be us and we will still want you."

The men all went out to start carrying everything in and Chloe turned to Jasmine with a serious face
.  "Now they're gone.  Tell me the truth."

Jasmine was confused
.  "About what?”  She was suddenly nervous again thinking that Chloe was thinking she was a horrid person because she had no family background or that she might not really care for her sons.

"Are you really alright after being shot at and this horrible woman treating you the way she did?" Chloe asked as she held Jasmine's hand.

Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and said, "I really am.  I just want to find these people who threatened us."

Chloe beamed at her and said, "I love that you just said 'us'
.  You are already thinking of Otherkin as your family.  That's important for a princess to do."

"I'm not really comfortable with the title 'princess'
.  I'm just me and I do think of Otherkin as my own.  Phoenix and Gabriel mean everything to me.  I love them deeply," Jasmine said to Chloe, looking her right in the eye.

Chloe was silent for a moment and then said, "I believe you, dear
.  I know how daunting it can be to get the title.  I had to get used to it, too.  It is difficult, but you will get used to it."

"I suppose so
.  It's enough the men have been kneeling around me the last couple of days, pledging themselves to me,” Jasmine said.

Chloe laughed
.  "Yes, I remember that.  The first time shocked me and back then they slashed their hands as well to show you they would bleed for you."

"Oh, now that would have been way too much for me
," Jasmine said and they laughed together.

Chloe stood
.  "Come on.  I want to help them look through the journals and you will learn so much from them as well."

****

They went into Phoenix's office where he had a large conference table set up in the back section.  The men had set the boxes on top of it and were obviously carrying the luggage up to the guestroom as they were nowhere in sight.  Chloe walked over to the boxes and began to look on the sides.

"See how on the sides we have noted the dates?
”  At Jasmine's nod, she continued.  "Okay.  They date back pretty far.  Let's get them lined up in order so we can go through it consecutively.”  Jasmine nodded and they got to work.

The men came in to see that all the box
es were in order and the women were reading the first of the journals that seemed relevant.  Chloe explained to the men that the really early journals weren't relevant as there wasn't anyone who knew of their existence at that time.  The men joined in and they were still reading when Lucy called them all in to eat lunch.

With everyone's blessing, Phoenix asked Lucy to bring lunch to them in the office
.  They all wanted to continue reading, Jasmine especially was learning a lot about Otherkin.  It was later in the afternoon when Nathan looked up from the journal he was reading.

"I think I may have found something
," he said.  They all looked at him and waited as he continued.  "There is talk in here by the leaders of this time, back about a hundred years ago, of a group of men who showed up at their town with talk of eradicating them from existence," he said as he continued to scan the page he was reading.  "It says here that they called themselves 'Hunters'.  There is a symbol here that the leaders say the Hunters used to represent them."

"Does it say what happened to them?" Phoenix asked as he and Gabe walked over to read over his shoulder.

Nathan continued to scan the pages and then spoke up again.  "It says they took care of the Hunters and that as far as they knew there were no more of them."

"What does the symbol look like?" Chloe asked.

Nathan looked down at the journal he was holding.  "It is a knife with a vine going around it with—"

"Tiny roses scattered throughout it
,” Jasmine finished for him on a whisper.

Every eye in the room turned to her
.  Phoenix went to kneel before her and said, "Little one, how did you know that?"

Jasmine began to shake a little
.  "It was on my baby blanket when I was left at the church.  Sophie's, too.”  She stood.  "Will you all excuse me for a minute?”  At Phoenix questioning glance, she said, "I will be right back.  I promise."

At his nod, she ran out of the office and upstairs to knock on Sophie's door
.  When Sophie answered, she said, "Do you have your baby blanket with you?  Did you get it from your apartment?"

Sophie turned to go in to her room as she said, "Yeah, I brought it with me so I could use it to track our family
.  Here it is.”  She held it up in her hand, the symbol was there.

Jasmine grabbed her hand
.  "Come with me.”  She dragged Sophie back down to the office.  She made quick introductions and then showed them the baby blanket with the symbol.  "It's a match, isn't it?"

After several moments of silence, Nathan looked at her and said, "Yes, it is."

"Oh god.”  Jasmine turned to Phoenix and Gabe with tears in her eyes.  She could feel herself beginning to panic.  "What does this mean?  Who am I?"