Page 67 of Five to Love Him
We took his hand and pulled him along down the stairs, but our gleaming one stopped right in the middle, facing us with his jaw set when we turned.
“Me too. I love you too, hive. I’m sorry it took me a hot second, but I do. I really, really do.”
It didn’t matter that we were in public where humans were. We went to him, hugged him close, and Leo put his arms around our necks, tilting his head back and inviting our kisses.
We missed the subway, and while we’d brought the umbrella, the wind was so strong and the rain so heavy that we were soaked once we got home. It shouldn’t have been funny, but Leo and we were laughing all the way. Back home, he let us towel dry his hair while we sat in the window seat and watched the thunderstorm come down.
thirty
The thunderstorm with sharp lightning, wind, and the rain-drenched world outside was a sight to see, yes, but that wasn’t the best thing about staying up late.
“What’re you looking at?” I asked one of the hivelings who was sitting in the rocking chair, eyes glued to his phone. The big mug of tea in my hands was warm, and I felt extremely comfortable, even as the buzz from the alcohol was wearing off.
“Wallpaper,” answered another while stroking my already dry hair.
“Really?”
“Yes. Shouldn’t we?” Their hand on my belly tensed possessively.
“Of course, just…I didn’t think you’d be this eager. I know you always have to coordinate how you come and go, and that sucks. At least I don’t really talk to the neighbors, so that’s less attention on the house.”
“We don’t mind that.” “We can work around it, and since we work nights too, it’s easier.” “How would you feel about using the wallpaper as a base but then painting the walls?”
“You live here too. If you think that’s the right decision, go for it.”
“You mean it?” the one who I was leaning against said.
“Sure. I don’t know how to paint either, but that’s probably easier than the wallpapering. I’ll help.”
“Yes, we think so too. You don’t have to help. Oh, but you could watch a few episodes of a new K-drama with us while we work,” they said, but I got the sense they were a good deal more interested in the wallpaper than me.
Which really was their right and prerogative. One thing Instructor Arick had said but I hadn’t really understood before was the way you were treated when mated.
Honestly, it was just insane. Not only did they do so much for me, so much around the house, they also did their best to put a smile on my face daily by picking fresh flowers from the garden, making sure we never ran out of cashew milk, or always sharpening the pencils back at the office that I liked to use.
It wasn’t just me either, they went out of their way to be nice to the single friend I had. The hive had told him how amazing his brownies were right away, and Tate had totally warmed to them and had become one of their biggest fans.
And then there were the other things the hive did for me, giving me the kind of sex I’d never have been able to have with anyone else. Like back in the storage room at St. Auguste.
My face flushed at the memory. Had anyone asked me a year ago whether I was someone who’d have sex in a public place—a semi-public place—I would have laughed. But the hive had managed a convincing argument, not that I remembered their talking points right then and there, but letting them have their wicked way with me had been the right thing to do in the moment.
And here they were, so happy about moving in. They’d told me they loved me, loved me and wanted to be with me. I swallowed as thunder struck and lit up the world for a heartbeat.
I was getting the better deal out of being mated, I knew that. Sure, they’d tempted me to do stuff in the storage room, but that had been for me, focusing on my pleasure. I hadn’t failed to notice that they hadn’t cum while sucking me off.
When we did anything together, they didn’t always, and I hadn’t been sure how to bring it up. I’d thought about it, and probably the conclusion was that there was one of me and five of them, and maybe I wasn’t enough, maybe what we were doing together wasn’t enough to satisfy a hive.
I looked at the one across from me. “The two from the Dazzle, when are they going to be here?”
“Not long now. We’re on the subway already.”
I nodded, then sat up. “Oh, do you need umbrellas? We could head out and bring you some. I mean, some of you and I could take umbrellas to the rest of you, you know.”
They stroked my arms and neck. “You are being too good to us today, Leo. Coral gave us rain capes, and we’ll be fine. It’s not a long walk, and the rain is letting up a little bit.”
“Right. Your boss is really nice.”
“We think so too. We’re glad you like him.”
