Page 21 of Delivered to My Fury (Mail-Order Matings #19)
Opal
They were so calm, moving the dishes to the kitchen and getting them loaded in the dishwasher. There were no leftovers and I suspected that was more often than not the case. This morning, the only things that went back in the fridge were butter and jam. Not even a single biscuit from the mountain on the platter when we began to eat.
The pie was on the counter, and I didn’t know where it had come from, but it didn’t matter. It would still be there when we came back inside. If that was how it worked. “Are we going back outside, or do you shift in here?”
Eero and Shay blinked at me, looking confused. Zyon just laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I didn’t think I asked any kind of crazy question.
Shay looked a little flushed to me. “We always shift outside.”
“Okay. Any particular reason?”
“No.” Eero looked at Shay. “Is there?”
“I think it’s because pack mothers don’t want their teen wolves or bears tearing up the house,” Shay admitted. “Adolescent shifters can be a little rambunctious.”
“Hard on the furniture.” I giggled. “But no reason now, right?”
“Habit,” Eero said,” I suppose.”
“Then let’s go outside because I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” I set a final fork in the dishwasher and closed it. “And because I’m dying to get a look at your fluffy fur.”
“Hey!” Shay followed me out the door. “I’m not fluffy.”
“Well that remains to be seen.” I hardly recognized my own voice, almost as flirty as those two tasting-room bimbos. I sat down at the table and folded my hands on it. “I’m ready.”
Zyon stood behind me, his body warming me even without actually touching. It was getting cooler out here, and I wondered if he did it on purpose.
Shay and Eero took up positions on the grass outside of the patio and before I had a chance to draw a breath, they began to strip off their clothes. I was thrown at first then realized that of course they would. How else could they shift without destroying everything they wore?
The clothing bills would be astronomical.
But those thoughts flew out of my mind when they stood there completely naked and even more incredible looking than they were in clothes. I always joked that I never wanted to go to a nude beach because most people looked better with their clothes on. They proved the exception to the rule. Zyon bent and said, warm breath caressing my ear, “That’s just the first part of the show.”
My gasp left him chuckling.
But then the two began to shift. I don’t know what I thought would happen, but my imagination had fallen short. Their edges blurred then shimmered and during a single blink, they grew fur and changed from hot men to stunning wild animals. Not that they were doing anything wild. No, rather, they were standing there, barely moving, merely magnificent.
“Go ahead, Opal.” Zyon took my hand and helped me to my feet, my knees too wobbly to do it on my own. “You can touch them.”
“But they are a bear and a wolf,” I breathed. I’d read the fairy tales. I knew what they could do. “Are they going to bite me?”
He chuckled and looped an arm around my waist. “Not in these forms, and never without your permission.”
I didn’t know where to go with that.
But I wanted to touch them so badly I didn’t think I’d survive if I didn’t. “I’m okay.” I stepped forward and reached for Shay’s bear. His long fur was not as soft as I thought it would be, but it was so thick and lush. He stayed very still while I moved my hands over him, learning his shape, feeling the muscles that made up his big form. Stopping in front of him, I met the bear’s gaze and could see the intelligence there. Was it the bear’s or Shay’s or both? I might never know and it didn’t matter especially. They were both in there, and I wanted the bear to understand how much I cared for them. And for the wolf. I petted Eero’s wolf with both hands, while saying, “You re both magnificent. Thank you for allowing me to meet you.”
It felt like a long time but was probably only a few minutes before I stepped back to allow them to resume their other bodies. Naked. Gorgeous bodies.
When they did, they dressed quickly and we all went inside to eat pie. With ice cream. Best day of my life so far.