A strong knock on the door drew my attention to what time it was.
“Come in,” I said, then realized I probably should have confirmed it was them. No time to fret. My heart had never been so full as when the door opened and my three stepbrothers entered.
I took that as a sign that my gut had been right. When I trusted my instinct, instead of listening to everyone else, it rarely steered me wrong. That’s why I didn’t dateDamonsin my regular life. There was nothing wrong with nice guys. They just weren’t the right guys for me.
Everest set a bag beside the door as they entered and they lined up in front of the table. I felt like a queen with her servants ready to cater to her. Nice, but not what I imagined a sub would do.
I’d enjoyed my stepbrother shirtless, in work clothes, in casual wear, and in suits of armor. Now I could add button down shirts and jeans to the looks they pulled off well.
Their cowboy boots shone, but I didn’t think they’d have them on long.
“So this is a yes?” Atlas asked.
I wasn’t going to risk misremembering whatever question he was referring to since it must have come a few hours before. “Yes, I want to explore a relationship with the three of you. That this is the magical thing that was waiting for me at Rawhide?—”
A knock on the door saved me from rambling awkwardly. Atlas reached for the door, but paused and glanced my way, waiting for a nod before he opened it.
Service subs entered with silver dome-covered plates. Atlas sat across from me. Phoenix was on my left. And Everest was on my right.
I kept my hands in my lap and took a deep breath. Asking them to feed me suddenly felt so… I didn’t know how to describe it. I recalled what Catherine said… “The only way to know if it works for you is to try.”
“Would my babygirl like me to feed her a bite of this steak?” Atlas remembered I wanted to be fed.
A huge breath escaped me as if I’d been holding it. This already felt so right.
“I would.”
He cut a tiny piece of meat from my steak and brought it to my lips. I stared into his eyes and took the meat into my mouth. Beef had never tasted so good. He slowly slid the tines from my lips, letting them linger just long enough that I recognized it as a tease.
My eyes fell shut as I definitively confirmed that I wanted to be fed.
“That’s it, babygirl, savor that meat.”
The sounds of another piece of meat being cut came from my plate. Everest said, “Just open your mouth when you’re ready for me.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Phoenix said, “You mentioned that you’re pi… that you have specific food preferences. Before we go any further, is there anything you need to explain?”
I studied my plate while swallowing the bite. “Only one thing on the fork at a time. Basically don’t mix foods or textures.”
“Got it.”
“And feed yourselves, too.”
They readily complied.
“The potatoes have butter…”
Phoenix’s statement made me realize how complicated my preferences could be, yet he’d said it with no judgment.
I smiled at him. “That combination is okay.”
“Do you like the butter mixed in? Or do you want me to just scoop potatoes and coat them with butter?”
“Mix it in, please.”
Everest waited with the cut piece of meat while food preferences were clarified. No discussion of turns, just patience.
