Edwina and the Seven Snowed-in Scientists (21 page)

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Kieran shook his head in disbelief. It took six long weeks, but

they finally managed to get Edwina to attend their uncle’s medical

clinic in North Slope, Alaska. But they didn’t quite get the news they were hoping for.

“The claiming will change Edwina and probably heal a lot of the

damage. Whether it will be enough to ensure a healthy, low risk

pregnancy we won’t know until the changes of the claiming are

complete.” Kieran had never felt so annoyed in his entire life. He

wanted a definitive answer, not some half-baked idea of what might happen.

“But once they claim me,” Edwina said with a calmness Kieran

was far from feeling, “I’m bonded to them. Is there a way to break the bond?”

Uncle John looked startled by her question, and his gaze bounced

around the room making eye contact with all of the brothers before he tried to answer Edwina’s question.

“Nothing that I know of,” he answered quietly. “I’m sorry I can’t

give you a better prognosis, but the claiming seems to affect different women in different ways. It may well heal your injuries and even

reverse the procedure you had on your fallopian tubes. Or it may do

very little at all.”

Kieran could see Edwina pulling away emotionally and physically

as his uncle delivered the news she said she’d been expecting. But it was her disappointment that hung heavily in the air. Even though

she’d told them a million times that she didn’t believe in miracles, it was obvious from her reaction that she’d been hoping for one.

Suddenly Kieran wished he’d never talked her into this. If they’d

done as she’d asked, and let her pretend for eight months and then all
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moved on with their lives, it would’ve been far easier. But with

desperation had come hope and with hope plans for the future, and

even though Kieran knew there was still a chance, he also knew that

Edwina would never take it. She wouldn’t let them claim her if there

was any chance she couldn’t give them children.

He swallowed, the heavy feeling in his heart making it difficult to

think clearly. All he could feel was his overwhelming need to bind

this woman to him, to love her for the rest of his life, and never let her go. Children were not important to him. Edwina was.

He felt himself begin to change into his yeti form. Panic burst

through him. He hadn’t changed against his will since he was a

gangly teenager unable to control his abilities. He felt his clothes tear, and frantically kicked off his boots as his feet grew a couple sizes. He tried to reverse the change, tried to control his emotions, but it was no use. His alter ego wanted his mate, and nothing was going to stop him from claiming her.

Even as his brothers growled at him, even as they held him back,

even as he tried to calm himself down, he could see, hear, and smell

only one person.

“Kieran.” Her soft voice called to both sides of him, and he felt

whole, complete. “Kieran,” she said again as she pushed past his

brothers and reached up to touch his face. He closed his eyes,

savoring her touch, loving her nearness, needing her like he’d never

needed anyone before in his life. He grabbed at her clothes, desperate to have her naked, have her underneath him, claiming her, fucking

her, marking her with his possession.

But her soft voice stopped him. Her gentle touch soothed him and

his panic calmed.

He managed to change back into human form as she stepped into

his arms and held him tight.

“I’m sorry,” he said over and over, unable to apologize enough for

his loss of control.

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“It’s okay,” she said as her hold on him tightened. “I know that

you would never hurt me.” He shook his head, ready to tell her

otherwise, but she touched a finger to his lips and nodded instead. “I know it like I know my own name. Kieran, we’ll work something

out.”

“But you’ll leave.” His voice was raw, his emotions too close to

the surface. He should’ve been embarrassed that he was having a

meltdown in front of his brothers, but all he could think about was the woman in his arms.

“I can’t,” she said with a catch in her voice. “I’ve tried to pull

away, tried to let you go, but I can’t. I’m weak, and I’m sorry for being so selfish, but I can’t stop loving you.”

“Then don’t,” Jake said as he pressed a kiss to the back of her

neck. “Stay with us. We’ll work it out.”

“Absolutely,” Evan said as he gently pulled Edwina from Kieran’s

arms. Kieran let her go, peace settling inside him as his brothers all moved to convince their mate to stay with them always.

He didn’t even realize he was purring until Edwina moved back

into his arms and pressed her ear to his chest. “Come on, Kieran. I

think it’s time for you to take me home.”

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Chapter Eleven

Calvin had her practically naked before they walked in the front

door. Considering how cold it was outside, it wasn’t something she

planned on doing often.

“So…um…how does this work?” She was suddenly very nervous.

Knowing that the claiming happened while her lovers were in yeti

form wasn’t enough detail now that she was actually here.

“Traditionally,” Kieran said as he gathered her in his arms, “you

start with the eldest and work your way down.” She hadn’t even seen

him take his clothes off, but judging by the hard, naked cock pressed against her hip, he’d managed to strip off in record time. Heat wound through her lower half as his warm hands caressed her ass. He dipped

his head to take her mouth in a soft kiss, his movement gentle, his

caring obvious.

“Will you all be in yeti form?”

“Only when we’re claiming you. The others will be in human

form, so if you get worried or frightened, you just have to say

something.” She nodded her understanding. It was a big relief to

know that she wouldn’t be dealing with seven yetis. She loved them

dearly and knew they would never hurt her. She just didn’t fancy

trying to referee the sort of fights that could be caused by seven yetis all trying to claim her at once.

“You’re very tense, sweetheart,” Brian said as he ran his fingers

through her hair, gently massaging the scalp.

“Yeah, well, I’ve seen you guys aroused in yeti form, and if

memory serves me correctly, you’re even larger than you are in

human form.

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“Don’t worry, baby,” Gary said as he pressed a kiss to her

forehead. “We’ll make sure you’re ready for us.”

Edwina yelled in surprise as Kieran lifted her into the air and

placed her in the middle of a large dining table. The brothers quickly moved all of the chairs out of the way as Kieran arranged her so that her ass rested close to the edge. He dropped to his knees between her thighs, his tongue spearing into her pussy, licking the folds, thrusting deep into her core. She whimpered as he found her clit the same

moment two mouths sucked her breasts and her arms were lifted over

her head. She held onto the hands gripping hers, the incredible feeling of being laid out for their pleasure streaking through her with an

intensity she would never have guessed.

Her back arched as her orgasm approached. Calvin claimed her

lips as sensation twirled through her abdomen and burst over her

womb. Her pussy throbbed as Kieran licked at her juices, his

movements more forceful, his hands pressing her legs wider, his

tongue plunging deeper into her heat. She hovered on the brink,

gasping, begging for release, but Kieran changed forms, his cock

pressed against her labia, pushed a little farther, held still, waiting for her body to adjust, before thrusting deeper.

He pulled away then lunged back, forcing more of his cock into

her throbbing flesh. Fully seated, he stopped, watching her, his face and body fur-covered but his eyes still the same. She smiled at him,

realizing with amazement that he was purring as he claimed her. His

deep contentment seemed obvious even through his arousal.

But then someone pressed against her clit, and her orgasm

exploded. Kieran began to move, getting faster, moving harder,

thrusting deeper. He lifted her legs, controlling her movement,

pounding into her, finally claiming her. She felt his cock swell, heard his grunt as he came, and watched with tears in her eyes as he

changed back to his human form. He leaned over her, pressed a tender

kiss to her lips, and whispered, “I love you.”

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She whispered her love for him, even as he stepped away from her

thighs, and Calvin took his place. Calvin gripped her hips and plunged into her still in human form. She moaned at the forceful entry then

squirmed against the hard table as she felt his cock grow bigger inside her as he changed forms. He made a joyous sound as he started to

rock into her body. The others caressed her gently, but it was the man between her thighs who commanded her attention. Mercilessly he

pounded into her, thrusting hard, thrusting deep, stilling as he poured his seed deep into her body.

Jake quickly took his place. But he didn’t enter her. He caressed

her thighs, watching her closely as she relaxed into his hold. “Go get some pillows,” he told his brothers. Kieran nodded and did as his

brother ordered. With infinite care they lifted her and wedged the soft pillows between her and the hard wood of the table. She hadn’t

noticed any discomfort, but with five brothers still waiting to claim her, it was a very good idea.

Jake slid into her body as soon as he changed into yeti form. He

controlled his pace, slipping in and out of her slick flesh in a steady rhythm. She panted as she felt her orgasm climb to the surface once

more. She tried to increase his pace, tried to change the angle,

greedily asking for more as his slow claiming continued.

She whimpered his name, and it seemed to be his undoing.

Quickly he increased the pace, pounding into her over and over and

over. Bright colors swirled behind her eyelids as her focus narrowed

to this one man, this one yeti, who loved her. Heat slammed into her

unexpectedly, and she arched against his hold, her orgasm shaking

every muscle, sending lightning bolts of sensation skittering along

every nerve.

Jake filled her with his seed, resting his furry face against her

breast for a moment before pulling out and moving away.

Brian looked happier than she’d ever seen him. He’d told her he

didn’t want to love a woman who didn’t love him back, and she

worried at how hard it must’ve been for him in those early days. She

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twisted her arms until whoever held them finally let go, then reached up to touch Brian’s handsome face. “I love you,” she said, hoping he

could hear the truth in her tone.

“I love you, too, sweetheart, and I will love you forever.” In her

heart she knew it was true. They would all love her in good times and bad times, with children or without, these men would love her

forever.

He carefully rolled her onto her side, easing her bent knees toward

her chest, and then gently pushed his cock into her swollen flesh. He changed forms slowly and she would’ve sworn she felt every

movement. He held on to her hip and thigh as he pushed into her

welcoming heat, thrusting deep as he purred with satisfaction.

She felt the moment he let his more primitive side take over, the

gentle loving suddenly becoming more insistent, more forceful, more

violent. She groaned as he pulled her harder against him and shot his seed deep inside her. He caressed her ass as he slowly changed forms

once more.

Simon flashed that cocky, overconfident grin as he touched her

face and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“How are you doing, beauty? Do you need a break?” She shook

her head, lifting off the table to reach for him as Brian moved away.

Simon laughed quietly and pulled her into his embrace. “I’m not

going anywhere,” he said, obviously reading her fear correctly.

“Although, I was thinking a change of venue. Somewhere more

comfortable perhaps?”

She nodded as he helped her off the table. But he didn’t let her

walk. He cradled her against his body as he carried her into a room

with a large bed in the center. He smiled wickedly as he lowered her

to the soft mattress and followed her down.

“I love you, beauty,” he said as he moved over her and pushed his

cock gently into her slick and swollen pussy. He loved her carefully, handling her like she was precious, breakable. She moaned in mild

frustration when he pinned her hands by her head and refused to let

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her touch him as he made slow, sweet love to her. She could sense the others in the room with them, but it was Simon who held her gaze,

who pressed gentle kisses to her face as he laid claim to her heart as well as her body.

Eventually he changed forms, his yeti face still wearing the same

grin as he plunged into her a little faster. She lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, straining to match his rhythm. He grunted, pressed her

harder against the bed, ground his lower body against her clit,