Chapter Six
Winter set his cellphone down and looked at Connor who was sitting in his baby rocker fast asleep. In the past few days since Creed came into their lives, he’d found the enjoyment of having a mate in his home and having someone to help him with Connor and most of all to cuddle with at night. It was more than just good; it was terrific.
“Everything all right?”
Winter looked up when his mother walked into the living room wiping her hands off.
“Yeah, that was Creed. He just wanted to let me know he was okay.”
“I hope I get to meet him soon,” she told him.
“Me too,” Winter told her.
His mom, Karen had made her weekly visit with the need to see her grandson. She loved Caroline and considered her to be her daughter. His dad, Edward, had been the one to give Caroline away at her wedding. They both cried with Winter when they found out that she’d died.
“How are you handling this whole mate thing?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that. There are times I want him to…” Winter stopped, realizing that he was about to tell his mother how much he wanted to fuck him until he couldn’t see straight. It was a conversation he used to have with Caroline about his best, and worst, sex partners.
“I know you’ve always had Caroline to talk to about certain things, but you can talk to me too, son.”
“Mom, I can’t talk to you about my sex life,” he said getting up and walked into the kitchen. He needed something to distract himself.
“Why not? I’ve had sex, and I still do. Don’t let the few gray stands fool you.”
“Oh gods, mom. I really don’t want to think about you and dad having sexever.”
“How the hell do you think you got here? Hate to break it to you kid. You weren't dropped on my doorstep by a pretty stork.”
“Leave me to my delusions, please,” he said getting one of Connor’s bottles out of the refrigerator.
“What’s holding you back from completing your mating?” Lauren asked him.
“How do you know our mating is incomplete?”
“I’ve been around for a while kid, I know the signs. So, tell me what’s holding you both back?”
Winter sat down in the chair nearest to him and rested his elbows on the table. His mother sat on the other side of him.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I can tell we both want to, but maybe it’s not the right time. We still haven’t moved past Caroline and Richard’s death.” Winter looked at the unopened letter from Richard to Creed still sitting on the table.
“Do you think Caroline would be happy to know you’re holding back because of her?”
“She’d kick my ass if she was alive.”
“Damn straight she would,” Lauren said then chuckled. “There were so many things I loved about her, and one was that she loved life and wanted to see everyone around her live it.”
“That’s true.”
“Let go of your guilt, Win.”
“I’m…”
“Don’t lie and say that you don’t feel guilty because you do. You got to live, and Caroline didn’t. She was my child too, Winter, and I miss her every day. But you have that little boy upstairs who needs you and your mate to care for him.”
Winter nodded, knowing that his mother was right. Although he wanted Creed, he could feel himself pulling back every time things got hot and heavy between them. Other than their first night together on the couch all they’d done was sleep next to each other.
His mom stood, and he did as well. She walked over and hugged him. “Think about what I said.” She leaned back and cupped his cheek. “Come and walk me to the door. I need to get home before your dad tries to order a pizza, which is against his diet.”
