After the Gathering, Heather slept most of the morning away rather than dragging herself out of bed to go to work. There were benefits to not owning a company.
It was a gray, drizzly day, typical of late September weather, and she was grateful for her waterproof hoodie as she walked down the square to Espresso Books.
Inside, she waved at Talitha, who was manning the latte machine.
Moya was sitting at a table close to the book section and already had a coffee, as well as a plate of pastries, for Heather.
“Perfect. It’s cold out there!” Heather took a seat and picked up her coffee. “I so need this. Are you dragging too?”
“Totally.” Moya smiled. “Although last night was wonderfully different. There was only one fight, and I can’t believe what a difference the remodeling made. I swear, some of the younger females went upstairs extra times just to try out the various rooms.”
Heather laughed. “I was in two. One looked like summer and the other felt like an Arabian palace.”
“I dragged the Cosantir’s brother—Madoc—up to what I’ve dubbed the purple room.” Moya grinned. “He has a great laugh, doesn’t he?”
The stab of possessiveness was totally unexpected—something she’d never felt before and shouldn’t be feeling at all, not for a mating under a full moon. What was wrong with her?
But at least Moya would have been far sweeter with Madoc than someone like Gretchen. And Madoc deserved all the sweetness in all the world. She smiled at her friend. “He does. They all do.”
“Mmm.” Moya nibbled on a scone. “After the Cosantir, I saw his brothers taking you upstairs. You go, girl.”
“Thanks, I guess.” After hearing the way her voice had gone stupidly breathless, she bit into a donut to prevent herself from talking. Even now, she could feel André’s hand on hers, giving her over to his brothers. How Niall hadn’t released her. How the two had…
The slow welling of heat inside was disconcerting, as was the knowledge she wanted them again, wanted their hands on her. Wanted to hear Madoc’s deep growl, see André’s wicked smile as he forced her into another orgasm, enjoy Niall’s hard hands, so very gentle on her breasts.
Gods help her.
“But… I wondered.” Moya’s brows drew together. “Were they… Why did you want two at once?”
Ah. Sometimes Heather forgot her friend was in her mid-twenties, younger than Vicki, even. Whatever Moya had lived through in her teens must have been ugly—and then her introduction to sex had left her cautious. “You’ve never been with two males?”
“Uh-uh.” Moya grimaced. “I have enough trouble dealing with one, even when in heat.”
Heather reached across the table and patted her hand. “It’s getting better, though?”
“It is.” Moya crumbled a few pieces of her scone, then her smile appeared again. “So what is it like with two? Why would you do that?”
Laughing, Heather told her about the overwhelming fun of mating with two.
“But you were up there for a long time. Why? I thought once you get off, you come back downstairs.”
Her innocent friend. Heather shook her head. “If the mating wasn’t particularly great, yes. However, if it was wonderful and if I like the males, then it’s nice to let the second one have a turn.” With Madoc and Niall, the way they’d simply…enjoyed…touching her afterward, they’d driven her right into demanding a second round.
What a lovely round it had been too. She felt her cheeks heat.
“And the Cosantir?” Moya grinned. “Was he god-like?”
“Totally.” Heather laughed. Because…it wasn’t a lie.
“In that case—” Moya stopped as a customer with an armload of books crossed to the bookstore counter. “Oops, excuse me for a minute.”
As Moya greeted the female, Heather leaned back and sipped her coffee, thinking about the previous night.
So amazing and intense. The Crichton brothers were simply irresistible. Why did she have to like them so much? And want to be with them again?
No, girl. A mating during Gathering was a simple act with no ensuing entanglements or expectations. And that was the way she wanted it.
Dreams were for the young. She knew better than to hope for more than last night—especially with males like them. Even if Niall and André hadn’t been Gods-called, the three would be popular with females. They were intelligent, perceptive, generous in mating, and physically…simply stunning.
Which meant if they’d wanted a mate, they’d already have one.
So there was that.
It was good she’d made it clear she didn’t want anything more than an occasional mating during Gatherings. There were no expectations on anyone’s part.
She rubbed her sternum to try to relieve the ache beneath…because she wanted more. Don’t be a fool. If she got involved with them and the relationship didn’t work out—they never did—she’d be shattered past any hope of mending.
“So what are you in town for?” Moya asked.
Heather jumped, then laughed. “Merely a bank run. Then to the Cosantir’s house for more work on the clan’s accounts.”
“I love that you’re finding work here. This is where you belong.”
Heather half-smiled, thinking of the numerous job offers she’d received since selling the company. Yet it’d been easy to say no to them. Because she had more interesting projects on her plate. “Did I tell you Madoc hired me to help with the restaurant? We’ve made so much progress it’ll open on the sixth.”
Moya’s happy squeal drew everyone’s notice.
Looking around, Heather called, “I told her the Shamrock Restaurant is re-opening a week from Saturday.”
Everyone cheered. She wasn’t the only person to enjoy food she didn’t have to prepare, let alone clean up after.
Smiling, she returned to their conversation. “Since I’m staying put, I’m going to see about finding a few more clients.”
Moya’s eyes became glassy with tears for a second. “I’m so glad. I didn’t want to tell you how much I would miss you if you left.”
Heather put a hand over her friend’s. Despite what she’d thought, not everyone had left her. She had some really wonderful friends.
Hearing the chime over the pounding rain, Madoc opened the front door, and there was Heather on the porch.
Her hair was drenched, and raindrops glistened on her eyelashes. “You look like a drowned pup.”
“Such a compliment.” Her laugh was husky and far too appealing, reminding him of how she’d sounded the night before. Right before she’d offered herself to him.
Gods, she was enchanting. Niall’s bite mark showed on her neck. The cat liked to use his teeth. Her lips were still slightly swollen, and he wondered if her nipples were as well.
No, bear. Females were different in real life than on Gathering nights. In fact, they had completely separate personalities at various times.
He’d learned the hard way.
Shutting the door behind her, he took a few steps back to establish an appropriate distance between them. “André’s in his office.”
She cocked her head, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows. “All right. Thank you.” Her tone was pleasant, her smile polite.
He watched her walk away. Surely he hadn’t seen hurt in her eyes.
They’d had fun last night; he’d be the first to admit it, but that was all there was to it.
Unsettled, he headed for the kitchen, needing to cook. Maybe he’d make some molasses cookies. For himself.
A few days ago, he’d treated Niall to Nanaimo bars. The cahir loved the chocolaty-yellow custard bars. Then he’d made pouding chomeur, a caramelly upside-down cake for André.
But there was nothing like the smell and taste of chewy molasses cookies like the ones his sire’s sister made when he was a cub.
As he gathered the ingredients and started, he tried to work out what felt like a horde of foxtails under his fur.
Last night had been a Gathering—and he’d mated with females. Nice ones. Nothing new there.
He’d shared a female with his brother. Nothing new, either, yet the mating with Heather still lingered in his mind, like an elusive scent on a breeze.
Why? Because he’d already known her before the Gathering?
Automatically, he started measuring ingredients into the mixing bowl. Sugar, butter, eggs, molasses…
That couldn’t be it. He and his brothers usually stayed in a town for two or three years. He’d mated with several females more than once.
He set the vanilla down, frowning. But had he ever talked to them? More than what was needed to undress and have sex?
No.
They’d talked more than he was used to last night. Had laughed together.
His brows drew together. Before and after the mating, she’d been as comfortable to be with as…as molasses cookies were to eat. Because he’d worked with her on the restaurant business. Had eaten with her. As a bear, he’d played with the little wolf.
He’d mated a female who wasn’t a stranger.
And he liked her.
A cold sensation crept up his spine. He’d made that mistake with a female before.