A Mate to Share [Wolf Pack Mates 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (3 page)

So, he hadn’t planned to shop for picnic tables, but it was better than shopping for shoes. Picnic tables said outdoors, and outdoors was a man’s world. He just hoped he didn’t get asked any questions he couldn’t answer. Although he was pretty sure Eve would have done her homework and he could leave her to answer questions, and just contribute his muscles and physical presence to the shopping expedition.

The Internet must have offered a store map as well, because Eve unerringly worked her way through the enormous precinct past all sorts of things he’d never even heard of, far less knew how to use, to the garden section where the picnic tables sat. Quite a few of them were set up and Eve pointed to the one she liked. He and Jett stuck their heads under the table, noting where the bolts fit. “We should be able to assemble them quite easily. It’s only a couple bolts to attach the base to the actual table, and the legs to the bench,” he said, hoping he was right.

There was a pile of boxes containing the picnic tables sitting beside the shelves, so Morgan went off to get a flat trolley to load everything on. He easily followed the signs to where the trolleys were parked and a few minutes later he made his way back to them with two trolleys. “It doesn’t look big enough to hold all six,” he explained.

Together they loaded three tables and six benches on each trolley. “We’ve just about cleaned them out,” he said nodding at the shelf where just two more sets leaned against the shelving.

“Yes. I thought about getting the last two, but I really think six will be enough. We need to make sure there’s plenty of space for the concession trucks to set up their place to sell from, as well as parking spots for the clients. Too many picnic tables and we’d be running out of room,” Eve said.

Trying to steer the trolley was a bit like trying to steer a brick, so their walk back to the exit was a lot slower than their entry. Once Eve had paid for the picnic tables and they’d loaded them all into the truck, not needing the blankets after all because they were all in boxes, Jett said, “Why don’t we have a cup of coffee together while we’re here.”

“Actually I haven’t had lunch yet. Let’s eat. Or have you already eaten?”

“No, I haven’t had lunch,” Morgan replied honestly. Actually he’d eaten a very large late breakfast, but hey, he was a man and a wolf, and could always manage another meal. Besides, that was the best part of three hours ago now.

“I’m hungry, too,” said Jett. Morgan guessed he was sidestepping the question as well. But still, if she was agreeing to spend more time with them there was no way they’d say no. First, they needed to get her used to them, to accept them as they were. Once they were certain of her feelings they’d explain a little more about their community. Like, for example, that they weren’t human.

Morgan was sure Jasper would have told Taige not to break silence on this issue. So he was quite sure he wasn’t in any way lying to Eve. It was going to be damn difficult though, to be honest and truthful and build confidence with her, without discussing their heritage. But Jasper and Cornelian had evidently managed to do it, so he and Jett would as well.

Morgan turned in a semicircle, looking around the parking lot. As far as he could see it was either junk-food take-out or a health-food bar. He had a sinking feeling he’d be eating healthy. How terrible could it be? He’d be with Eve, which would have to make up for the trauma of eating raw organic vegetables whose names he didn’t know and which likely tasted disgusting. Taking a deep breath he said, “Do you want to go to Healthy Habits?”

She stared at him with piercing silver-gray eyes. “I felt sure you’d rather have a steak sandwich.”

Jett took her arm, turning her away from Morgan. “I’m multitalented. I eat anything. Come on, Morgan, let’s go.”

Morgan stepped up beside them and they walked through the parking lot over to the health-food restaurant. He opened the door for her, and followed Jett in. Eve was already standing at the counter, looking at all the containers of freshly chopped vegetables. They certainly did smell nice, and he could recognize a surprising number of them. The server offered a choice of breads, then made a sandwich as the customer pointed out to what they wanted on it. It was exactly like any other salad bar he’d ever been to, but with some new-to-him ingredients. Fortunately Eve asked some questions about various items, which incidentally let him know what they were, so when it came time to get his sandwich he was able to choose items he knew he liked.

The same pattern was followed when it came time to choose a drink. Eve pointed to the fruits she wanted, they were placed in a blender, and she was handed a big glass of fresh fruit juice. Morgan chose orange, watermelon, and pineapple, and was surprised at how refreshing a drink it made.

But the best part was simply sitting and watching Eve’s face as she talked. He let Jett ask most of the questions, happy to watch her silver eyes sparkle, and her pale cheeks glow with pleasure as the conversation ranged widely across a huge number of topics. Morgan was almost sad when it was time to drive back to the schoolhouse. While Jett drove the big truck he needed to come up with the perfect reason why she should go on a date with them, and where they could go.

The closer they got to the schoolhouse the more stressed he became, unable to think of a single good idea. Finally, as they turned into the access road he blurted out, “So, Eve, how do you feel about BDSM sex?”

For a moment Eve wondered how long Morgan had been stalking her. Had he seen her go to the BDSM club in town? Surely not. He wouldn’t have asked that particular question if he knew she’d been there. He’d have asked how long she’d been interested in it or something like that. Unless he only thought she’d been there and wasn’t quite sure. If he was looking for confirmation, perhaps…

When in doubt, always answer a question with a question.

“Why do you want to know?”

Morgan stared at Jett and it was Jett who answered this time, although his gaze was fixed on the road in front of the eighteen wheeler. “Morgan and I are both involved in that world.”

“Involved how?”

“We’re both Doms. Do you know what that is?”

Eve’s belly clenched with anticipation, but she maintained her cool façade. “Why are you asking me these questions?”

“Do you always answer a question by asking a question?” That was Morgan sounding a bit tense.

“Why not?”

Jett parked the big truck in the schoolyard and turned to put a hand on her arm. “This isn’t a game of twenty questions, Eve. This is about our lifestyle and we’d like to know your feelings about BDSM.”

She knew they were serious now. She’d seen the tension in their muscles and heard the seriousness in their voices. They were genuine, not just trying to find out her secrets. “Yes, I know about BDSM. Yes, I’m a sub. Yes, I’ve been to the BDSM club in town, and no, I’m not at all sure I’d like to be with two Doms. I don’t see how that’d work.”

“What if we promise it would work. That’d we’d ensure it worked. Would you give a try?” asked Jett.

“As a strictly once-only test, perhaps.” But her panties were soaked with her cream. Her body was definitely willing to do more than a one-off test. The thought of two Doms was incredibly arousing. She could hardly even imagine all the things they might require of her, the number of orgasms she’d experience. And hell, they were both totally delicious to look at. Morgan, big and burly, blond and blue eyed like an ancient Viking warrior. And Jett so tanned and fit, muscular, with broad shoulders and dark hair and eyes. He looked as if he spent a lot of time out of doors either for work or for playing sports. The two men were the perfect set—light and dark, night and day in coloring, yet they seemed to get along so well together, their personalities must be similar or at least complementary.

Was she seriously considering getting naked in a dungeon with two men? Two Doms? This was not her usual restrained style at all. She was the kind of person who liked to watch a Dom for weeks, if not months, before handing her body into his care. And then it was never for sex, only ever for the punishment she craved. Her work was very intricate, very precise, and ordered. Her entire life was all neatly compartmentalized, run to a strict plan and system. But in the dungeon she was free to hand over all control to a Dom and simply to be, to rest, to do as he instructed her, assured of release and fulfillment at the end of the session.

How would that work with two Doms? Especially ones who aroused her so intensely? Physically they were everything she could ever hope to desire in a man. But she didn’t really know them as people. Okay, certainly they’d gone to considerable effort to help her get the picnic tables right now. But con men did nice things to entangle their victims in their webs, too.

Eve turned so she could look right into Morgan’s face. “Why were you following me? Do you stalk a lot of women?”

She was surprised to see his pale skin blush fiery red. Not just his face, but his neck as well. Even the tips of his ears were red. One part of her mind thought how cute he looked. The other part wondered why he was so embarrassed.

“I wanted to find out more about you. I wanted to know if you were indeed the right woman for me. I didn’t think you’d notice me following you.”

“Yeah, well I did notice. Not all blondes are stupid, you know.”

Jett laughed out loud. “Oh, man, she’s got you there. Thank all the fates I’m not a blond like you.”

“I’m sorry.” Morgan’s words were soft and contrite. She liked that he was man enough to apologize and he really sounded as though he meant it.

“That’s okay. Now, I need to ask Taige where she thinks we should store this furniture. Perhaps the foyer. Just let me go check,” she replied.

* * * *

Morgan jumped out of the truck to open up the back door, ready to unload the picnic tables and benches, but Jett stayed behind the wheel. He scrolled through his cell phone for the correct number, then rang the BDSM club. Less than five minutes later he had a booking for the following night for his favorite dungeon, and both floor shows. He wondered about booking a bedroom as well, but thought that might be pushing things too far. It’d be better to see how Eve coped with two Doms in the dungeon first. And by booking for both floor shows, they could pace themselves, staying as long as they needed before or after their dungeon scene.

Later he and Morgan might take turns planning scenes for Eve, but this very first one, they needed to design together, with lots of options to ensure she was relaxed about every step they took. Scaring her off on their first date would not be a good look at all.

He looked up just as Eve and Taige opened the big double front doors of the schoolhouse, so he climbed out of the truck to help Morgan carry all the boxes inside.

“Just stack them all here in the porch for now. It doesn’t make sense to put them all in the shipping room just for a week. They might as well stay here closer to where we have to take them out and assemble them,” said Taige.

“We’ll come back and assemble them for you. Your inaugural craft market’s in a bit over a week, isn’t it? We’ll come on the Friday and assemble the furniture then set it up where you want it,” said Jett.

“Thank you. That’ll be very helpful,” said Eve primly.

Jett waited until the truck was unloaded, then he said to Eve, “Morgan and I’d like you to come out to dinner with us tomorrow. Then, perhaps, we could share in a dungeon scene?”

She flicked her gaze from one to the other of them and Jett waited with increasing tension for her answer. He wanted this woman so much he could hardly believe he didn’t really know her yet. All he knew was that he had to have her. She was so cool, so restrained, so self-possessed, it was difficult to know what she thought. But he didn’t get an aura of dislike or distrust from her, so he had to hope she’d agree.

Finally she nodded. “What time?”

Morgan said, “Seven?”

“I’ll be ready.”

And she would be, too, he knew that. She wasn’t one of those women who’d make a man wait half an hour or even longer, either because she couldn’t decide what to wear, or just to teach him a lesson. Instinctively Jett knew she’d be ready and waiting, or very nearly. That was just the kind of woman she was. His kind of woman.

* * * *

With only a week and a day to their opening craft weekend, Ginnie, Taige, and Eve were working frantically to have an abundance of goods to display. Eve was trying to juggle the need for lots of small items to attract browsers, with the need to keep on schedule with her big commissioned wall hanging. Ginnie was driving over almost every night with sketches, paintings, charcoal drawings, and more, for them to hang on the walls, or display on their tables.

“I’m going to sit and sketch people when it’s my turn to take the entry fee and box up the purchases. Just small sketches quickly done that I can sell for a dollar or two.”

“Hey, that’s an awesome idea,” said Taige, smiling and dancing around the room, her hands full of beaded bracelets, her long dark hair flying out behind her.

Eve smiled at her vivacious friend, then at Ginnie, the one who liked to push the envelope. Ginnie’s nose, eyebrows, and bellybutton were all pierced, and her dark hair was razor-cut close against her head. But instead of looking like a punk, Ginnie, in Eve’s opinion, simply showed the perfect lines of her face. High, defined cheekbones, a symmetrical head, and clear skin. Ginnie was beautiful even when she was deliberately trying to look like the artist she undeniably was.