Astrid Cielo Read Online Free PDF Page A

stomach."
    "I'm
going to need you to point to it, okay.   Great.   Now, we're
going to load up and go to the emergency room.   I'm sure it's nothing since I didn't see you receive a blow, but better
safe than sorry with your condition.   I'll call Dr. Sanchez on the way in.   Okay."
    Xavier
breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Aspen's face regain some color.   He stepped cautiously towards her and when
she would've gotten up by herself, Xavier stopped her.
    "Let
me carry you."
    Aspen's
pupils dilated as she took in his scent and he knew the moment she knew.
    "Mine."
    "Yes,
sweetheart, let me carry you."
    Aspen
bit her lip as she looked toward the petite brunette.
    "It's
up to you, sweetie."
    Aspen
took a deep breath and her grey eyes returned to his.   He'd never believed in love at first sight,
even with Skylar he'd fallen in love weeks into an intense courtship, but with
Aspen something inside him shifted into place, something he'd not realized he'd
been missing.   He was undeniably in love
with this woman.

Chapter 4

 
    Xavier
slipped into the backseat of Sky's Tahoe and tightened his hold on Aspen when
she made to scramble off his lap.   Aspen's eyes widened, but she stilled.
    "Don't
worry, Aspen.   I won't hurt you."
    "Who
are you?"
    "Xavier.   I'm Skylar's mate."
    Aspen's
eyes widened."I...I-"
    Xavier
cupped Aspen's cheek and rubbed his thumb over her smooth skin.
    "It's
okay, Aspen, because you are my mate, too."
    She
bit her lip and he longed to kiss her.   Smooth pale skin, a heart-shaped face with black hair tumbling around
her shoulders, and beautiful grey eyes completed a beauty that Skylar didn't
possess.   Xavier thought Sky was damn
sexy, his tawny blond hair usually in disarray all over his head, green eyes
and a hard body he could lick all day.   But Aspen's beauty was different, feminine where he and Skylar were
definitely male.  
    Xavier
settled his hands on the curve of Aspen's waist and schooled his smile when she
gasped.   Her body went rigid, but slowly
relaxed against him.   The buzz of conversation
reached his ears and Xavier listened as Skylar spoke, his body tensing at Sky's
obvious defense of him.
    "He's
not going to hurt her, that man is her mate and would kill to protect
her."
    "He
won't hurt her?   That's why we're going
to the hospital now, because he yanked and threw her.”
    Xavier
turned to look out the window and see the male that had once held Aspen poke
Skylar in the chest.
    "I
caught her," Skylar growled.
    The
petite brunette placed herself in between the two, the once bare-chested male
hissing as her body came into contact with Skylar's.   Aspen's hands grabbed his and Xavier wound
their fingers together.
    " Shhh , he can take care of himself," he whispered into
Aspen's ear.
    The
petite brunette pushed the two males apart.
    "I
swear this is worse than when my kids get into an argument.   We'll blame each other at the hospital.   Now some one get in that truck and drive,
Caleb will take the passenger seat and me and Andrew will hop in the back with
Aspen and..."
    "Xavier,"
Skylar said.
    "Right,
thank you..."
    "Skylar."
    "Ah,
now let's go!"
    The
door opened and the rest of Aspen's tenseness drained, leaving her relaxed
against his body.   He looked up praying
it wasn't the male who'd held her--Andrew--and relieved to see that it was the
petite brunette.
    "Hi,
Xavier, I'm Miranda."
    "Nice to meet you."
    Xavier
looked over to the other side of the Tahoe when the door opened and
growled.   The sound of the slap reached
his ears before a slight pain welled on his shoulder.   His anger forgotten he looked back over at
Miranda.
    "That's
enough of that, Xavier.   Get in the
truck, Andrew.   You two will play nice,
do you understand?"
    Xavier
found himself nodding before he knew what he was doing.   Aspen's laugh pulled him from his
confusion.   He loved that sound and knew
he'd spend his whole life just to hear her laugh again.   She dipped her head when Xavier