Between Feather and Fur (Gryphon Melds #1) (2 page)

Turn around and leave, right now
.
Save me the humiliation, they’re not going to want me as a housemate anyway.

“Going up?” She blinked, startled at the man standing in front of the elevator. Her eye level met a wide chest, stretched in a blue t-shirt, with dark patches under his arms and around his neck from sweating; he must have just come from working out. She forced her head higher, meeting a pair of lovely hazel, almost golden eyes.

Wow.
The perfect symmetry of his cheek bones, long aristocratic nose and square chin, made her think of works of art. His full lips were sensual. Arial had no idea there were real men who looked this...this...brain meltingly perfect. His mop of hair fell in a haphazard style, sexy and dishevelled, also damp at the sides from sweat.

His lips quirked up in an amused smile and his gaze ran over her. She felt her cheeks blaze with sudden embarrassment, knowing there was more than enough of her to size up.

“Are you Anne by any chance?”

Her eyes widened, stammering. “Uh, no, I mean yes, oh, Mr. McCallun?”

“No, Ben’s my buddy, I share with him. I’m Steve Alzera. So, if you’re not Anne, who are you?”

“I’m Arial Alexander. I said I was Anne, but I’m not, sorry.” She took a step back to leave before she made a bigger fool of herself. She swayed a little—the world about her spun slightly, making her feet unstable. Very little sleep on the bus and not eating as much as she should was taking its toll. Not wanting to squander what money remained in her purse, she needed to find a cheap hotel for the night and food.

“Whoa there, little mermaid.”

Warmth flooded her body when a strong arm wrapped around her middle, pressing and holding her against his side, her mouth dropped in stunned awe of his strength. “You don’t look so good. It doesn’t matter if your Anne or Arial, you can rest up stairs and explain.”

Her mouth opened to say no, but she couldn’t find the words. She never thought sweat could smell sexy on a man, but the combined heat and spicy masculine scent invading her senses made her rethink her preconceived notion. His arm felt so good, making her lower belly flutter and her body betrayed her even more by sagging against him, the feel of his strength, it was... somewhat comforting.

“God, I’m an idiot.”

“Why do you say that?” She didn’t realise the elevator doors opened and he ushered her inside the confined space. Even if he is the most gorgeous stranger she ever met, she knew even handsome men could murder people without a qualm.

“I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

He chuckled. His chest rumbling as he cradled her against his side. Her mind swirled with confusion of why she found her knees weaker than before.

Lack of food and sleep is making me blurt out my inner thoughts to strangers.

“Because, I like you holding me?” she blurted out.

His lips quirked up in a bigger grin. Her face turned into a flash pan, so hot, water would evaporate instantly.

“Sorry, my brain to mouth filter has stopped working.”

His arm tightened around, her. He leaned down; she felt his hot breath on her hair. She heard him inhaling through his nose—smelling her. “I like an honest woman, and for the record, I like holding you. Is your hair natural?”

She nodded, fearful of opening her mouth to blurt out more stupid statements. “Do you always keep it up like this?”

This was bizarre. A man she met less than five minutes ago, holding her, blurting out confessions and him sniffing and asking about her hair.

It didn’t help her head spinning; things were spiralling out of control. “I need to go.”  She struggled briefly in his grip.

“Go where?” The steal band of his arm on her waist didn’t relent, and he wasn’t affected by her pitiful struggle.

“Just anywhere; this is, uh, weird.”

“Because we just met? Or because I like holding a stranger and you like being held?”

“I don’t....I’ve never...”

“Easy mermaid, neither have I, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Don’t go anywhere just yet, please? Can’t you see where this flow will take us?”

She lifted her head, meeting his steady gaze, not understanding what she was seeing in his. “Us?”

“Your new house mates.”

“Uh, um, okay.” Her gaze dropped.

“Good girl.” A warm giddy feeling slid through her at the faint praise on his lips, but it confused the hell out of her.

The door slid open and he guided her down a long hall, standing outside a large white door with the golden crest of a melded lion and eagle.

“Is that a Griffin?” She wanted to reach out and touch the metal and trace the creatures with her fingers. She kept her hands by her side.

“Gryphon actually. It’s our family crest. You like mythology?”

She shrugged sheepishly. “History channel fan.”

“You and Ben will get along great. He bores me to death making me watch those documentaries until my eyes bleed.”

“Let me guess, you prefer shoot em’ up movies with a massive body count?”

“Your intuition is downright spooky.”

Her body relaxed and she giggled at his waggling eyebrows. Was he flirting with her? She shook her mental head.
Impossible.

“Now, that’s a smile. Come on, Ben will be eager to meet you, Anne or Arial.”

“It’s Arial, Anne’s my middle name.”

“I like Arial; you’ve got pretty hair like the little mermaid, and I’m keen to find out just how long it is.” His voice dropped a notch with huskiness, sending a shiver down her body she felt in her toes.

If he felt it, he pretended not to notice, opening the door and ushering her through.

“Hey Ben, buddy, look what I found loitering in the lobby.”

“I wasn’t loitering.” She protested. Her mouth dropped open at the huge open space apartment. The living room was down two stairs into a kind of pit with a half circle sofa, a few ottomans and a massive plasma television screen. He drew her into a dining room, and pulling out a chair he helped her sit down.

“No, you looked like a scared, little red rabbit ready to bolt or faint.”

She scowled and he grinned. Damn it, did he have to be so good looking? “Don’t faint on us yet, sweet little mermaid. So, tea or coffee?”

“Um, coffee.” Yes, she needed coffee; it would help keep her awake, so she could leg it out of here and find a hotel before she made a further fool of herself. How was it she was keeping so calm around such a god-like man? No, her belly continued to flutter, she was freaking out inside.

Steve winked and walked towards a huge kitchen with sleek white cupboards and speckled grey and black marble counter top. Silver appliances sat in a few choice places.

“Well, hello sweetheart, you must be Anne.” Her head swivelled to see another man walking towards her.
Holy cow!
He had dark brown hair, trimmed in a short neat style, just as tall and broad as Steve. He possessed warm, chocolate brown eyes and a sharp chiselled jawline. His nose was a little longer, almost hawk like over his sexy full lips, he stopped and stared down at her for a long, uncomfortable moment. He looked to where Steve worked a coffee machine and back to her; clearly he wasn’t expecting her to be sitting there. Okay, they must be male models she decided, and this one didn’t want her here.

“Her real name is Arial—we have our very own little mermaid,” Steve said, in an amused tone before she could open her mouth to explain.

“Look, I’m sorry for this.” She glanced towards the door, wondering how fast she could get back the way they came.

“Ben.” Steve growled suddenly.

He blinked from his serous stare. “Sorry, just caught by surprise.”

“Yeah, me too. I didn’t expect it.”

Ben’s full lips suddenly quirked up in a broad grin. Sharp pain sliced through Arial, feeling like the rear end of some private joke.
Get out now, I don’t need this kind of pain
. Too late, it cut through her, worse than a put down from Carl. Why did it matter if she didn’t meet their approval? She couldn’t figure it out, but felt the need to escape.

“This is a mistake, I’ll go now.”  She stood up, her legs wobbled, the room spun, and she fell, but never hit the ground.

Ben’s arms were around her, her world tilted as he lifted her off her feet. She closed her eyes, trying to stop the world from spinning. “Easy, baby, take it easy, we’ve got you, and you’re safe, we promise.” It was the last thing she heard before blacking out.

Chapter Two

“Dehydration, fatigue, her blood sugar level is a little low; no doubt she hasn’t been eating well.” Steve watched his dad put away his stethoscope. Ben hovered at the end of the bed, his keen, eagle eyes taking in every detail.

“She was white as bleached sheet when I found her down stairs.”

“Clearly, she’s not been taking care of herself.” Gene nodded

“We’ll take care of her from now on.” Steve said firmly.

Ben nodded his agreement. “She’s ours.”

Gene grinned up at his son. “The one, eh?”

“Oh, yes, and came right to our door. Evil genius’ idea.” Steve nodded at Ben.

“I’m still stunned it worked. Our ‘one’ and it feels, wow, just like you and my dad described. The moment I caught her sent, I felt my beast clawing to get to her, claim her. Kind of like being hit by a ten ton truck,” Ben said.

“Best fucking feeling in the world when I first put my arm around her.” Steve remembered the first point of contact. Her blue jeans and loose t-shirt did nothing to hide her generous curves, an over-blown hourglass figure; she felt so fucking soft when he slipped his arm around her to stop her from toppling over, pulling her against his side. His dick reared to life—overly keen to bury his hard cock between her thighs, while his mouth explored every inch of her skin. Taste it, tease it and watch her skin flush when they make her come, over and over.

“But seeing her pale and weak, tears at me dad,” Steve confessed.

“It’s our natural instinct to protect what’s ours. Be careful, just because the gods have pre-destined her to be yours, doesn’t mean she’ll agree. She’s human, with human thinking. Accepting what you two are, and teaching her our ways will not be easy. When the time is right, maybe your mothers can come over and have a talk with her.”

“I get the feeling there’s more to her than what we’re seeing, but we’ll sort it out.” Ben’s firm assurance helped his own. They glanced at each other; they sensed her sudden pain and fear before she’d passed out on them.

Steve now appreciated the fact one of Steve’s fathers is head doctor at Melbourne’s St. Mary’s private hospital.

“Good.” Gene rose from the bed. “If you have any other troubles, call me.”

“Thanks, dad.” He hugged his father.

Gene chuckled, patting his son on the back. “I’ll see myself out. Congratulations boys, your mothers will look forward to having her around ().”

He walked out leaving Steve and Ben gazing down on her pale beauty, her pert nose dusted with a smattering of freckles, and her lush red hair. “Her breasts are amazing; I’m going to have fun putting these beauties in lots of sheer lace before peeling it off.” Ben moved in on one side, peeling down the blanket, gazing at her breasts straining against her t-shirt. He never touched them, instead reaching up to stroke the side of her face.

Steve removed the pins from her messy bun, carefully unwinding her soft strands. His amazement grew as he slid her copper locks over his hand and down across the pillow. He’d never seen natural hair so long. Women were always primping, styling and cutting their hair, he would be damned if he would let her do the same.

“Mermaid” He leaned over and drew in her scent—light floral and feminine sex. Thoroughly arousing, his dick so hard, it throbbed painfully. In that moment, Steve fell in love with her. There was no going back now; he would do everything in his power to convince her she belonged with him…with them. They would struggle to keep their hands off her, until she was ready. There was also much to learn about their new mate.

As painful as it was, they pulled away. “We have to take care of her needs, and then figure out how we’re going to make her stay.”

Ben nodded, knowing the reluctance of his friend to move away from their ‘one’.

“Let her rest and we’ll fix a feast, for when she wakes. Then, we’ll see how much we can get her to tell us. If she won’t, we’ll go digging.”

Ben knew digging meant a complete background check. Not that it mattered who she was, the important thing was she was theirs, the rest they could deal with.

“Good plan.”

“Yup, you’re not the only evil genius, plan maker around here.”

Their eyes locked, both grinning like idiots. Inadvertently, their gaze slid back to their one. Ben held up his hand and Steve high-fived him. They had her, now all they needed to do is convince her to stay, forever.

* * * *

The combination of light filtering through the window and her growling stomach brought her slowly back to awareness. She reached up, rubbing her eyes before opening them. She blinked up at a white celling, with small inset modern light fixtures. She rolled to her side on the soft bed, glancing around, the spars furniture, a plush white couch, small table and side tables. Large framed art hung on the walls, most were black and white impressions of city streets.

Where the heck am I?
She bolted up at a soft knock at the door to the left of the room. A sudden panic swelled in her chest with the door knob twisting and opening a fraction.

“Arial?” Sandy blonde hair appeared, followed by concerned, golden hazel eyes, set in a handsome face, with a gorgeous chiselled jaw and smile which could melt ice in the artic. His gaze met hers. “Hey, you’re awake.” He smiled and shoved open the door, striding right up to the bed.

“Are you alright?”

“I, uh, yes.” It all flooded back, she passed out on these men last night. Her cheeks flooded with warmth. “I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

“Oh, no, don’t start that. Trouble...” He leaned down and touched her nose, with the tip of his finger. “...you’re not. So do you like it?”

Her brow scrunched in puzzlement. “Like what?”

“Your room.” He swept his hand around. “You can of course change anything you don’t like.”

“My room?”

He shook his sandy-haired head. “Room to share.   Remember? Ben and I decided we like you and want you to stay and share this big ol’ place with us. Work keeps us out most the time, it’d be nice to have someone enjoy it more than we can

“You want me to stay, even if I, uh, fainted last night.”

“Of course” His smile never wavered. “You were dead tired no doubt. Ben’s been in the kitchen cooking. Your bathroom is there.” He grabbed her blanket and pulled it back, before grabbing her hand and tugging her up and off the bed, gently steering her to the second door in the room. “Hurry up, he’s eager to try out his cooking skills on someone other than me.”

“Wait my bag?”

He moved away to pick up the duffle bag and hand it to her. She clutched it to her chest; they stared at each other for a moment. He looked her up and down, studying her, his gaze drifting downwards.

Insecurity gripped her, still uncertain. “You really want me to stay?”

Steve nodded. “We’ll talk about the arrangement once you’re out of the shower and have eaten. Okay, now go.” Feeling like it was more a command, she hurried into the bathroom.

A little bewildered, she glanced and caught her reflection in the mirror; her eyes widened in horror at the state of her hair and crumpled clothing, after sleeping in them last night.

Oh, god, she looked worse than a transient. Carl would be yelling at her by now, his disappointed glare making her insides turn and feel worse than the dirt under his feet.

No, I won’t think of that now, put it behind me. I have worth; I will make a better life for myself
. She was practically homeless, and the thought scared her, but she would rather be homeless than go back to Carl. God, she hoped she had a home with two gorgeous housemates.

The bathroom was white with touches of black and silver. She quickly stripped off, stepped into the shower with the large head, milling over the situation in her mind as she washed every body part, and took her time washing her hair which it needed.

Oh, god, what if I can’t afford to live here? I really do want to live here
. She didn’t have a job yet. Two guys living together, they had to be gay. Gay models, it kind of made sense. She would ask them where to look for a job.

* * * *

“Someone’s done a fucking number on her, I can feel it.” Steve paced on the other side of the kitchen bench. “She’s so unsure of herself. I mean, she’s fucking gorgeous! My little sexy mermaid. She should be strutting those amazing curves not hiding them!” Anger swelled inside him, wanting to tear someone a part because of the mistrust he saw in her gaze. It hurt his chest, like a big, fucking empty hole.

“I felt her fear, too, buddy. She looked at me with such pain last night. I wanted to punch my own face for being so stupid as to stare.” Ben set down his spatula and set out three plates.

“Called work yet?” Steve sat his arse down on the chair.

“Yeah, Mikes going to handle things for a few days till we’re certain she’s going to stick around long enough for us to woo her.”

“Woo?” He raised his right eye brow at Ben. “Damn, buddy, been watching those Jane Austin chick flicks again?”

Ben shrugged. “Live and learn, bet I get into her pants before you do with all your macho crap.”

“They like me large and in charge buddy.”

Steve knew this was one of reasons they had melded so well together, their different natures matched, completed and balanced each other. Women loved Ben’s softer, sensitive side, he could sweet talk the panties off any woman, while women were drawn to Steve’s alpha male, take charge confidence.

They both heard the door opening and soft footfalls; they turned to hungrily watch their one emerge from the bedroom. Her beautiful blue gaze lowered, she glance up, her hips swaying in a light summer green dress with white swirling patterns. Steve almost swallowed his own tongue. His cock stood to full salute, not that it had gone down much knowing their one was sleeping just beyond their reach. Her damp hair was pulled back and platted down her back.

She lifted her head and smiled. “Um, thanks for taking care of me last night. I’ve had a rough couple of days.”

Ben moved in, like a sharp-eyed predator, he stood before her, his smile kind and gentle. Steve mentally nodded his approval, they wanted to reassure her, not send her running. “Don’t apologise, sweetheart; I was stupid to ask you to come last night, you were clearly exhausted.”

Steve watched him take her hands, and the arousing flush rise up over her neck and into her apple cheeks. “Formal introductions, I’m Ben McCallun, and you’ve met Steve Alzera. Welcome to our home, well, your home now.”

The smile she gave Ben knocked the breath from Steve’s lungs; so fucking beautiful. “Thank you.”

“So, come sit, eat, we’re both dying of curiosity, but food first.”

“You look much better.” Steve managed and mentally hit himself. Ben cocked his eyebrow, Steve knew his ‘lame buddy, lame’ look.

“Fresh from the shower, are you sure you’re not really a mermaid? Your hair is amazing.” He added playfully.

“Oh, no, my mom used to call me her mermaid and told me never to cut my hair.”

“I’ve seen a lot of fake extensions, nothing compares to your hair’s natural beauty.” She flushed and looked uncomfortable from his complement.

He forced the darker thoughts down, ones where he demanded she tell him who put her down all the time, and then hunt them down and rip them apart with his claws.

She slid onto the stool next to him, gracing him with a smile. Steve smiled back and gripped the counter rather than grabbing her, throwing her on the counter and fucking her until they both couldn’t walk.

Ben placed pancakes, scrambled eggs, and crispy bacon before them, encouraging Arial to eat her fill. Steve heaped his own plate and watched as she took a little of each. Ben frowned while he placed black coffee in front of her and pushed milk and sugar in her direction to make her coffee how she liked. They both took carful note, so they could fix it how she liked it next time.

After she fixed her coffee and nibbled at her bacon, Steve couldn’t help himself, he swallowed the pancake he was chewing to demand. “You’ve got to eat more than that.”

She glanced up at him, clearly startled by his demand. Ben swooped to the rescue with a calm, soothing tone.