Page 24 of Delivered to My Humans

I wanted a shower, too, and for one brief sparkling second, I considered suggesting that Hale and Idris join me, but then I chickened out. So it was a half hour later by the time we gathered for dinner and conversation. Lachlan arrived, too, and Hale declared it breakfast-for-dinner night. He explained they often did that when they got stuck late at work. I thought it was a marvelous idea, but this time I insisted on cooking. I might not be a chef, but I could manage eggs and potatoes. And toast. They had all worked all day while I wandered around asking questions and generally making a nuisance of myself. A little scramble was the least I could do.

I found a red bell pepper and half an onion in the fridge as well as the potatoes and some cheese. While I listened to Hale and Idris telling Lachlan about the calf, I chopped veggies and grated cheese then broke a dozen eggs into a bowl. It was a pretty light dinner for three men who’d worked all day, and I didn’t see any bacon. We must have used up the last of it for breakfast this morning.

I beat the eggs until they were frothy while the chopped onion and peppers sizzled in a skillet then added the diced potatoes and stirred it around. The conversation from the living room sounded so homey, and the occasional burst of laughter had me hurrying to finish cooking. I wanted to be part of that. Finally I had the potatoes O’Brian and cheesy eggs along with a platter of toast ready.

“Anyone want to come bring the food in?” I called.

Two seconds later, all three were right there, with me, and I felt happy. Just having them here made me happy. They carried the food along with butter and jam and the pot of coffee I’dbrewed to the dining area and set it all down. I followed with dishes and silverware, and soon we were all digging in. I was amazed at how hungry I was, and I did justice to my share of the food.

When we were all finished, I pushed my plate away and looked from one of them to the others. “If you’d like me to, I would love to stay here with you.”

Their wide eyes did not give me a lot of confidence that they shared this idea. Then Lachlan said, “You want to stay as…”

“Your wife?”

“Really?” He was on his feet and coming around the table, scooping me up before I realized what he intended. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

The other two crowded close, hugging me as best they could and making me just a little terrified about what it might be like to be with three big men in the bedroom. I was no virgin but I’d never been with more than one at a time. It had sounded interesting in concept, but just now as they embraced me and passed me back and forth from one to the other, hugs turning to kisses and touching, I was both scared and turned on. But I still had a lot to say and to show them before we took this any further.

“Wait.” I struggled free. “You haven’t even seen my cat yet.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lachlan

If she was adorable as a girl, what would she be like as a cat? Whatever happened today while they were on that farm had solidified her intentions toward us. The three of us had known before we even saw her in person that we wanted her, and right this minute, I was torn between wanting her in our bed —one of our beds, with all of us —and seeing her other side.

But what she sought was most important. Her cat was a big part of her, and her willingness to share that with us was huge. I knew that without having to be told.

“Yes, please show us your cat,” Idris said, and Hale and I nodded.

Right now, she stood in front of us, hands on hips, breathing hard. Flushed and sexy. Hair tousled from our hugs and I couldn’t even imagine this woman becoming anything else. Especially when she grasped the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. For a moment, I thought she’d changed her mind and wanted to make love first, but then I remembered something from nearly every shifter romance I read. If they didn’t undress, they’d ruin their clothing while shifting.

Would that be the same thing going to a smaller animal? Either way, she kicked off her shoes and stepped out of her jeans, the strip tease also something that in the books the other shifters took in stride. But this was our mate, our future wife, and if a man could just shrug off her beauty and not notice. Dear gods, she reached behind her and unhooked her bra. My mouth went dry as her breasts, so pale with rosy peaks were revealed. By the time her panties landed on the floor, I didn’t even remember why she was undressing. I was hard as steel and sweating.

But before I or either of the other guys could do anything dumb, she shifted. The beautiful girl with auburn hair was now a fluffy gray cat. It was one thing to read about it in a novel, but seeing it happen, I couldn’t even begin to describe it. Magic didn’t begin to express how amazing it was.

I bent down and reached for her, offering to pick her up but not wanting to overstep. To my great pleasure, Audrey rubbed against my hand and allowed me to lift her. “What a beautiful girl you are.” I stroked the soft fur of her ears and ran a hand down her back. “Come and pet her,” I urged. “She’s so soft.”

Idris leaned in close and murmured words I couldn’t quite make out, but the cat began to purr, and soon we were sitting on the couch and passing our mate back and forth, wanting to get to know her in this form as well. I hoped she’d never regret choosing humans who could not shift with her, but I was so grateful she had. I’d known she had this in her, but I never dreamed what it would truly be like to get to know someone I already cared so much about in a second form.

“Amazing.” Hale rubbed his face against hers. “Will our children be shifters do you think?”

I shrugged. “No idea, but I wouldn’t mind, would you?”

“Not at all. In fact, I hope they carry their mother’s heritage like that.” He stroked her tail, letting his fingers slide off the end. “I think they will be awfully cute.”

Our mate, soon-to-be wife, was gorgeous in cat form, and I appreciated everything about her, planned to cuddle her on my lap on cold winter’s nights. But something in me insisted on more, and as if she knew the direction my thoughts, she shifted back, and I had to juggle a little to keep from dropping her. One moment, an eight-pound cat —I treated enough cats to be able to gauge within a couple of ounces —and the next a woman a bit larger than that. I was not fool enough to guess at her weight.

But the difference was marked and not just in pounds. And she was every bit as cuddly as her cat. I bent to kiss her lips then lifted my face, studying hers, questioning.

“Yes, please,” she murmured, circling my neck with one bare arm. “Mating time, unless you three aren’t interested?”

I slung her over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry and started down the hallway toward Hale’s bedroom. Maybe we’d try mine tomorrow, but for now closer was better, and when I entered, I was glad for the choice.

Sure, I had changed the sheets and aired the comforter at my place, but Hale’s bedroom was much more comfortable and cozy than mine. Better suited for our beautiful cat. I laid her on the bed and stepped back to admire her beauty. Idris lit the bedside lamp, and her skin glowed.

“Ummm, I feel a little watched here. Is anyone else going to undress?”

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