Between Feather and Fur (Gryphon Melds #1) (5 page)

Chapter Five

Swept away were the dark days and darker thoughts; these two men brought light, life and laughter into her world, along with her self-determination to feel better and grow stronger. She felt nothing could hold her back now, well except this. Nerves made Arial’s stomach roll.

“Little mermaid, relax, they are going to love you.”

She clutched at Steve’s arms like an octopus dipped in liquid nitrogen. Ben gently pried one of her hands away and held it firmly as they walked towards the large house. Despite them telling her stories of how loving and kind their parents were, it didn’t help settle her nerves.

“Our mums have been chafing at the bit to meet you. I get texts nearly every day.” Steve patted her clenching hand and he didn’t complain she could be cutting off his circulation.

“Remember what the therapist always tells us.”

“Emotions lie; rely in what is real and what are true facts.” She parroted. It rang true—three weeks of therapy, twice a week. Ben and Steve insisted on sitting in with her, quietly supportive. Mrs. Ashfield was twice Arial’s weight and wore bright and bold, multi-coloured clothes. The woman was clearly comfortable in her skin. It made Arial feel more at ease; she never batted an eye lid at the two gorgeous, hunky men, by her side throughout the sessions.

“So, what are your feelings right now?”

“Fear of rejection. I feel I’m not going to be good enough and I won’t fit in.” A part of her therapy was to be open and admit all her thoughts, especially her feelings.

“Is it a fact, or is a false feeling?”

She took a deep breath, rejecting the negative emotions like Mrs. Ashfield taught her. “False.”

“Are we here to support you through this no matter what?” Ben gently squeezed her hand to get her attention.

“Fact.”

Her reward, their brain melting sexy smiles. God, how she loved it when they smiled at her. The way they touched her with soft caress, hugged her against their hard muscled bodies, declaring all her curves so soft, they can’t resist holding her close. At the same time, all the attention was slowly driving her insane with a building sexual hunger, unlike anything she ever knew. Being with Ben and Steve without the intimate connection of sex was like standing at an all-you-can-eat buffet, and starving to death.

Already her mind was made up to make the first move on them, soon…well, as long as the meeting of the parents went well. After all, what kind of girlfriend was she, having two sexy men devoted to her? It was time she gave back more than a tidy house, smiles, and helping Steve in the office filing away the paperwork for one of his businesses.

The boys kept their fingers in quite a few business pies, from the nation-wide tyre and auto business to real-estate developments under the umbrella of Gryphon Industries. She was stunned to learn not only did they own the penthouse apartment they lived in, but the whole building, as well.

“If anyone should be trembling in their boots, it’s us. I know my mum’s going to break out the photo album.” Steve pulled her from her musings.

“Ahhh… but you look so adorable, naked on your bunny rug.” Ben goaded.

“Just like the one of you having your first bath, peeing on your mother. Yeah, fucking fantastic.” Steve rolled his eyes making Arial giggle.

“Prepare for the stories, baby, don’t believe a word any of them say, we were perfect angels growing up.”

“Even I don’t believe that.” Arial giggled again, loving how she could join in the teasing.

“I’m sure I can sue someone for slander, somewhere,” Steve muttered in good humour, as they resumed their walk down the path to the front door. The door swung open before Steve raised his hand to knock.

A tall, curvy woman, with bright hazel eyes stood before them, her rich auburn hair hung around her shoulders, she didn’t look much older than Arial—early thirties at a guess—impeccably dressed in a pencil skirt and a pale blue, satin blouse.

“You know better than to knock young man; this is still your home, even if you’ve decided to live in that lofty tower of yours!”

“Hello, mum.” Ben moved in to hug the woman while Arial fought not to let her jaw drop. His mother pulled back from hugging her son.

“Mum, this is Arial, Arial my mother Payton McCallun.

“Oh, my boys, she’s absolutely beautiful, just like you said. You’ve done well for yourselves! Welcome Arial, welcome to our family.”

Suddenly, Arial was pulled into Ben’s mother’s arms and squeezed like she was the main course for a boa constrictor.

“Ease up, mum.” Ben chuckled. “She needs to breathe, you know.”

“Oh, sorry.” Air rushed back into Arial’s lugs as the woman pulled back, but grabbed her hands and pulled her inside the massive mansion. “They’re here, they’re here!” She sing-songed through the huge lobby and into a large sitting room with people milling around. Wide smiles greeted her, another woman bounded towards her, half a foot shorter than Arial, her sandy brown hair cut in a stylish bob around her face, and pixy like features with bright brown eyes.

“Oh Payton, she’s adorable! We have a daughter at last!” Her eyes sparkled in clear excitement.

“Arial, this is my mother, Serena Alzera.” Steve introduced.

“Nice to meet you.” Arial smiled at the woman.

“Oh, none of that formal stuff, you’re a part of our family now.” Serena pulled her into a tight hug. “Welcome, my dear.”

Heat infused her cheeks. “Um, thank you.”

Ben and Steve moved to pry her away from their mothers. “Let’s introduce you to our dads.” Ben bent down to whisper in her ear. “Things will make more sense now.”

She glanced up at him puzzled by his words until she came face to face with not two, but four strikingly handsome men.

“Arial, these are my two dads. Peter Macintyre and William Callun.”

Two? Macintyer and Callun, McCallun. Her eyes widened as the reality sank in, glancing between the two men.

“Welcome, love,” Peter said first.

“I guess from the look on her face, the boys didn’t explain things properly.” William chuckled. “It’s an honour to welcome you into our fold; I hope you feel happy and safe with us sweetheart.”

“She’s been though a lot; we didn’t want her to worry.” Ben Shrugged.

“I, uh, um, thank you.” She shook off her shock long enough to offer her hands, but like Ben and Steve’s mothers, she was pulled into hugs.

Steve tugged her away to turn her to meet his fathers. “These are my two dads, Hans Allen and Gene Hazera.”

“Alzera.” Arial glanced at Steve.

“Melded names are a part of our family’s history and tradition.” Gene explained. “You’re looking much better from the first time I saw you darlin’, you’re flushed with colour. I’m glad these two are taking proper care of you.”

Arial was confused by his words. “Sorry, I don’t remember meeting you.”

“My dad is a doctor. When you passed out that first night, I called him to check on you.”

“Oh, well thank you, I feel very well. Your, uh, son is a wonderful man.”

“Glad to hear it, love.”

“We’re all happy they finally found their one.” Allen smiled, drawing her into another hug.

“We have brothers as well; they’re away on business at the moment.”

“It’s a lot to take in at first,” Payton claimed Arial’s arm drawing her away from the men. “Having two husbands rather than the traditional one, but you quickly get used to having them following you around like lost puppies.”

Male groans sounded from behind her. “Gods, woman, you make us sound like a pair of whipped dogs.”

Arial nodded, she had never met such warm, genuinely welcoming people beyond her two men. Everything around her started making a lot more sense.

“Ignore them sweetheart, we’ll let the men catch up; we can have our talk in the kitchen, no doubt you’ve got a lot of questions.”

“Oh, yes.” In fact, her mind swirled with so many questions; she didn’t know where to start.

They passed down a long hallway, on the walls hung photos of the two families, always two men with one woman. She spied pictures of Ben and Steve and their brothers.

She spotted older black and white pictures, with a similar theme. Payton paused, her smile kind and caring as she stood with Arial.

“It’s a Gryphon family tradition, more like a calling for the men to share one wife. To them it’s as natural as breathing. Although it takes us a little while to bend our minds from how we were raised to accept a singular relationship, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re lucky women to have the love and devotion of two men, not only one.”

“You don’t get frowned upon, shunned?”

“There are those who will always do that, but why should we sacrifice our happiness for a few stuck up noses?” Payton winked. Arial smiled. Payton and Serena really did glow with contented happiness.”

“I noticed no daughters? All boys?”

“You’re a sharp one.” Serena said, pointing to a photo of her with her men and her sons. “I don’t want to worry you honey, but it’s another family DNA thing. Girls are never born within the Gryphon families. When you three settle down and start with a family, you’ll have twin boys. Mark and Thomas are overseas on business. We miss them terribly, but they should be home soon enough.”

Clearly, Steve’s and Ben’s family assumed she would marry their sons, settle down and raise a family. As nice as it was to belong in a family, it was a heck of a lot of assuming.

The women sensed her unease and patted her hand, at the same time drawing her into the kitchen. “Let’s not worry about it; we’re so thrilled you’re here. Sit down and relax, give us someone else to gossip to while we get things ready.”

“I’ll help—”

“No, no, you’re our guest, guests don’t lift a finger, we insist.” Payton smiled, as she fussed over bubbling pots on the stove.

Serena pulled out a few beef roasts, and started carving while telling stories of what the boys were like at school. Between the two of them, they prepared a large feast laid out on the huge dining room table, immediately beyond the kitchen.

“What did I say, sweetheart?” Steve wandered into the kitchen, followed by Ben; he stopped where she was seated to drop a kiss on the top of her head.

“All lies.” Ben finished, moving in on her other side, leaning further down, to kiss her cheek.

“Hush now, boys, take her into the dining room, we’re almost ready here.” Payton waved a spatula at them.

“So, what are you thinking?” Ben asked in a hushed tone, once they’d gotten her alone in the dining room, worry in his gaze.

She smiled up at him, swinging her gaze over to Steve. “I really like your parents, all of them.”

“But you’ve got questions?” Steve said.

“I’m getting this whole two for one deal, now, but it still feels strange.”

“There’s still a lot we haven’t explained, and we will, but like everything we’ve done, it’s a gradual introduction.”

“Oh,” She has already been introduced to a world where it was common for two men to share one wife, or with her one girlfriend. This she could accept, but what else was there? The way her men’s mothers said she would only ever have boys and twins.

“I won’t freak out. I’m stronger now, so why don’t you just tell me what else there is to know?”

Ben and Steve shared one of their ‘looks,’ doing their silent communication thing.

“There’s a reason behind everything we’ve done, sweetheart. I know it’s only been a few weeks, but can you trust us to always take care of you, and know what’s best?”

She frowned. “The asshole was nice at the start, too, and then things started to change. I’ve got no reason not to trust you, but if you’re still holding onto secrets when you know everything about me…”

During the past three weeks, she told them about her mother, who raised her without a father. He abandoned them while Arial’s mother was pregnant before she was born.

She grew up in a loving home, and her mother sacrificed so much to see her put through school, and worked hard always to have food on the table and clothes on their backs.