Page 9 of Finding Her Panthers

I want that fantasy to be real. I don't want to mess this up. Having a mate didn't register as something I could have or even wanted for a long time. But right now, down to my core, I realize I will do anything and everything to protect these men and make this our home for the rest of our lives.

"Let's go in and warm up. Settle you in your room. Then we can shift and show you our property," Jax suggests.

He opens the door wide to let us all pass before shutting off the beeping from the security pad.

The entryway opens up into a living room, with the center being a massive stone fireplace. The biggest flat screen I have ever seen above it, facing two black leather couches that dominate the space. The whole place is done in blacks and browns, a typical bachelor home, yet this is done in style, my kind of style. It’s so welcoming I can picture myself curling up in the corner of the couch, wrapping the fuzzy black blanket that is draped on the back, snuggling with my mates. The two recliners opposite the sofa that are the same color are big enough to fit two people. My heels click on the beautiful hardwood floors as I move further inside the space.

I turn my attention to the kitchen, all done in the same colors. It’s like they looked into my dreams and plucked the vision of my dream kitchen right out. It had a large granite island in the middle, with black and gray swirls, deep wood cupboards, and stainless-steel appliances. There were four high stools tucked under the edge of the counter, inviting you to sit and watch whoever was lucky enough to be the one cooking in it.

I love cooking. As you can imagine, I didn't have a stable influence to teach me to cook, so I had to rely on myself. This, of course, brought on many disasters and close calls, almost burning down whatever kitchen I had at the time. I learned from trial and error. But now it’s nice to say I am an excellent cook and seeing this kitchen makes me want to cook for my mates. I always wanted a big family to take care of, cook for, and show my love.

“What do you think?” James asks anxiously, stepping next to me.

“I love your home.” I hear the happy purrs as I turn to face them all.

“We built it with our mate in mind,” James says softly, looking down.

I grasp his hand in mine, causing him to meet my gaze again. “Really, it’s amazing. I couldn’t have imagined it any better,” I reassure him, looking at the other guys, too, making sure they see the sincerity in my face. “I would be lucky to call this home.”

“You can start now. Let’s take you on that tour.” James pulls at my hand still in his, turning me to the wide staircase in the middle of the room. “We have five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a game room. The office is down the hallway from the kitchen, and the game room is downstairs, along with the gym. All the bedrooms are upstairs.” He pulls me behind him up the stairs.

I feel Jax and Blue coming up behind us, probably happy to let James lead the tour since he seems so excited.

“Four of the bedrooms have the bathroom attached. Yours is one of them. This is it.” We stop at the second door on the right, and he opens it with a flourish, waving his arm invitingly.

The space has a queen-size bed in the very center. It’s made of a light color wood with a jaw-dropping four-poster canopy. The carvings are so delicate looking yet sturdy. It is between two night tables that match. I see the bathroom to my right, but it’s what I see on the right side of the room opposite the bed that makes my jaw drop.

The curtains are long and white, blowing in the breeze that enters as Jax opens the double doors where my attention is focused. I have a balcony here? A beautiful, big balcony that looks over the backyard into the forest. I step one foot out, my smile blinding as I look over my shoulder.

“I have a balcony,” I state stupidly to my mates.

Jax smiles back indulgently. “You do, and it’s all yours. We can find a chair to put out there for you.”

I let out a sigh as I leaned my head on the door. Once again, I hope this isn’t a dream, and I get to keep them and this house. “Thank you. That would be great,” I say, smiling. Now that I am here, the day is catching up with me, and I let out a yawn.

“I’ll be in my room.” Blue suddenly exclaims. I didn’t realize before, but he hadn't even moved from the doorway, watching silently. An emotion swirls in his eyes I don’t recognize. “Goodnight,” he says before turning, going into the room across the hall, and closing the door softly.

“Don’t worry about him. He’ll come around. He just needs some time to work things out in his head.” Jax must have seen my hurt and confusion I had trouble hiding.

“I get it. There have been a lot of changes in one day. I think it has caught up with me too. Do you mind if we run tomorrow?” I was looking forward to it, but my body will shut down soon. I need some time alone. I need to process all that had happened.

“We can. We have time to do everything you want. No rush. So that you know, my room is the first at the top of the stairs. James is down on the right. So if you need anything at all, find us.” He steps into my space, cupping my neck. “I am thrilled you found us, baby girl. You may think you need us more than we need you, but that is not the case.” He leans in slowly and rubs his nose with mine. “Sleep well. Remember, I’ll be right next door.” He steps back, throwing me a cocky smile at my body's reaction, and leaves the room.

“He’s right, you know.” I focus on James as he moves closer. “I am grateful you are here with us. Sleeping in the same house. We were never sure this day would come. I, for one, will be the shining example of manly behavior, wooing you, keeping you safe and of course bringing all the fun so you’ll never want to leave us,” he exclaims, pulling me close.

I have decided James gives the best hugs of all the hugs. He totally wraps you up, head to feet. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him to stay. My body aches to be held all night, safe in the arms of one of my mates. I have never slept all night with a man. The feeling of being vulnerable never sat right. Being on my guard was the norm.

He must see my indecision, the battle with myself clear. “We have all the time in the world. Sleep, take a shower if you want. Tomorrow we can go to your place and get your clothes. Do you want a shirt to sleep in?”

“That would be great,” I say softly. I was expecting him to leave to get one from his room. I was not expecting him to step back and do that manly thing, the thing you don’t ever see in real life.

He reaches behind his neck, grasping the top of his t-shirt and pulling it over his head to hand it to me. Really? I blindly take the shirt from him, my gaze glued to all that is the glory of James. He’s ripped, golden chest with ridge upon ridge of lovely muscle. He’s covered in colorful tattoos from pecs to that elusive vee at his hips that most women have only heard stories about. I briefly wonder if my other mates have one too. Aw...things to dream about.

“Now I can sleep better, imagining you are having sweet dreams in our house covered in my shirt, in my scent,” he grins. I can see the spark of hunger and satisfaction on his face.

I still can’t string a coherent sentence together as he once again comes close, tips my head up, ungluing my stare, and presses his lips to mine. This is nothing like the soft kiss I gave him at the club. This is hungry, deep, and consuming. This is a side I was not expecting from joking, sweet James.

When he lifts his head and releases me from his arms, putting me back on my feet, I suck in a sharp breath. I didn’t even realize I had wrapped my legs around his waist, plastering my body against his.

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