Staking Their Claim

by Rebecca Airies

  She paced forward and turned. “Am I good?”

  “You’re perfect.” Griffin strode forward. “We just need to get you into position.”

  “Since you’re here, I thought I already was.” She reached out, her hand searching, and patted his chest.

  “Not quite, just a few more steps.” Ethan eased around her.

  Griffin took her hands. He guided her a few steps further. He turned her a little.

  “All right. You’re in position. Now, the blindfold is coming off.” Griffin stepped to the side of her.

  “Good, I’m dying of suspense. You three are huge teases.” She tapped her foot.

  Ethan grinned. Griffin reached up and tugged off the cloth. She blinked and then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

  “Oh, my God, it’s so beautiful.” She clasped her hands together.

  Ethan glanced at the table. A low bowl of flowers sat in the center. Petals had been sprinkled across the tablecloth and food steamed on the plates. Wine filled the glasses.

  “I’m glad you like it. Come sit down on the pillows and let’s eat.” Griffin’s hand at her back urged her forward.

  “What’s the occasion?” She sat on the pillow.

  “You’ll find that out soon. Let’s talk.” Ethan took the spot across from her.

  “You expect me to sit and maybe talk about my day when this is one of the most romantic things I’ve ever seen.” She folded her arms across her chest.

  “Well, we won’t be talking about your day, peaches, so you don’t need to worry about that. We’ll get to the deeper reasons behind tonight’s festivities.” Dawson eased onto the pillows to her right.

  “That sounds intriguing, but what if I want to know it now?” She put her hand on his.

  “You’ll have to wait.” Dawson lifted her hand up for a quick kiss.

  “Not nice at all.” She pointed at him.

  “How about we get back on subject.” Ethan picked up his wineglass and took a sip. “How do you like our choice for you?”

  “I love Mama Lucia’s, but how did you know that the ravioli was my favorite? We haven’t had a chance to go there.” She smiled.

  “Maggie told us your favorite things. If we hadn’t wanted you to ourselves, we would have taken you tonight.” Griffin lifted his hand.

  “She talked to you and didn’t call me? She’s in trouble.” She scowled.

  “She answered yesterday after repeated calls. You should hear something in the next few days.” Griffin waved his hand.

  “That’s good. I haven’t talked to her a lot lately, and I miss seeing her.” She sighed.

  “It’s all right, peaches. Maggie will be back and you know she’ll visit when she can.” Dawson hugged her.

  “I know. So what do you plan for tonight?” She twirled her fork.

  “You know, I think you might have suckered us with that little ‘I miss her.’ Because that was very straight to the heart of things.” Griffin shook his finger at her.

  “No, I didn’t plan it, but it turned out quite well.” She smiled and forked up a bite of ravioli.

  “You know we love you, don’t you?” Ethan leaned forward.

  Her mouth dropped open. “Yes, I know you love me. You’ve told me in the way you treat and touch me as well as with words. I hope you realize I love you, too.”

  “We know you love us, peaches.” Dawson kissed her.

  “And we want to build a future with you.” Griffin took her hand. “Will you go through the mating ceremony with us?”

  “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close.

  Ethan drew in a deep breath. Warmth swelled through him. Part one was done. The second part wouldn’t happen until dessert.

  “Hey, save that for later. You need to eat to keep up your strength, because I am not letting you go tonight without making love to you at least twice.” Ethan pointed at her with his fork.

  “You’ll be a very busy woman.” Griffin nodded.

  “Good, because after this beautiful room, I expect nothing less than a night of bliss.” She took another bite.

  “If we could have found the right kind of tent, it would have been even better.” Dawson exhaled.

  “This is absolutely perfect. And when we finish eating, we can go to our room and make love in a very soft bed.” She squeezed his hand.

  “Don’t rush through too much, peaches. We have dessert, as well.” Griffin chuckled.

  “What if the only dessert I’m looking forward to is you?” She raised a brow.

  “Cute, but we got a hint from Maggie about something you’d really like. It’s prepared and waiting.” Ethan poured her more wine. Hopefully, it and the surprise rocked her world.

  “What is it?”

  “You have to finish your food and not tease and tempt.” Dawson drew his fingers over the back of her hand.

  “I know who’s teasing and taunting and it sure isn’t me.” She waved her finger at Dawson.

  “But, peaches, I’ll carry through on everything as soon as we finish our dessert.” Dawson laughed.

  They ate and talked. After a while, Penny put her fork down. Most of the food was gone from her plate.

  “That was delicious. Thank you. I loved it.” She sat back in her chair.

  “There’s a little more. I’ll go get our dessert.” Griffin stood.

  “I’ll help.” Dawson rose and followed Griffin.

  Ethan smiled, but his heart kicked into a faster pace. This was it.

  “Still going to leave me in suspense?” She leaned forward.

  “You don’t have long to wait.” Ethan reached over and lifted her hand.

  “Not fair.” Her lower lip pushed out in a pout.

  “We want tonight to be something special for you.” Ethan squeezed her hand. “And look, they’re already back.”

  She turned and gasped. “Oh, my, is that what I think it is?”

  “Triple chocolate layered mousse. Dark, milk and a little white chocolate thrown in between, topped with dark chocolate shavings. Maggie said you’d sell your soul for a good triple chocolate mousse.” Griffin placed the glass on the table in front of her. There was no bow on it. He must have taken it off before coming into the room.

  “Sell my soul might be a little strong, but I’d definitely take someone out for a really good one.” She cupped one hand around the glass and took the spoon in the other.

  Griffin and Dawson sat down and passed out the remaining mousse cups. Ethan took his. He lifted his spoon, but watched her.

  She dipped her spoon into the confection. When she lifted it, more than mousse rested on her spoon.

  “What the… What is this?” She looked up.

  “Why don’t you find out?” Dawson dipped his spoon into his dessert and took a bite.

  Penny plucked the floppy object from the mousse with her fingertips and lifted it to her mouth. She licked a bit of the confection from it.

  “Oh, my God, this is good.” She moaned and closed her eyes.

  “Yes, it is. The chocolate is a little different from what I’d normally have, but delicious.” Dawson nodded.

  Her eyes lowered to the object she held in her hand. A small plastic bag with a ring inside.

  “Oh…” She looked up.

  “Will you marry us?” Ethan asked.

  “Yes.” She nodded. “I want to marry all of you so much.”

  “Well, legally in human eyes, it will be one of us, but you can have whatever type of ceremony you want.” Griffin eased closer and slipped an arm around her.

  “I think you already know a little of that. I want friends and family around us and the dress that you don’t see until I walk down the aisle to you.” She smiled.

  “All right, we can do that. Did you want to go to the bedroom or finish your mousse?” Dawson swiped a bit of her mousse.

  “Hey, mine, I’ve barely gotten a taste of that.” She pulled her cup closer to her.

  Ethan sat back and laughed. “Set asi
de for a dessert.”

  “Temporarily. While I adore this for a few moments, I’ll savor you three for the rest of our lives.” She dipped the spoon in and lifted the chocolate to her lips.

  “And we’ll enjoy every moment we have with you, too.” Ethan exhaled. Finally, she was safe and they could begin their lives together.

  THE END

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