Delivered to My Elves (Mail-Order Matings #18)

Chapter Eight

Misty

One thing I hadn’t expected…Aerin and Callon were funny. Maybe I’d been reading too many romantasy novels with brooding, growly fae men, or perhaps I’d simply made the wrong assumption, but at one point during our conversation, I had tears running down my face.

That was, until we got down to the nitty-gritty of what we were getting ourselves into.

“Let’s talk about why you downloaded the app. Did you get on to find a mate at first?” curiosity led me to ask.

Callon shook his head. His blond hair, curly on the ends, brushed against his forehead. His long eyelashes were probably against the law in at least three states. One look at him batting those things might cause a wreck. He had a bit more thickness to him, but neither one of them were chubby by a long shot. “We knew why we were getting on the app, Misty. We want to build a family with someone. Besides, trying to find a mate who will accept the both of us as hers is exhausting and fruitless.”

“Can we go through some logistics? I have questions, and I’m sure you do as well.”

Aerin wrung his hands. He didn’t come off as a nervous person, but who could blame him. This was an uncomfortable conversation all the way around. “Since you are the one who is giving the most in this exchange, why don’t we start with your concerns.”

I flashed my list in front of the phone screen. “First one: Our children might be polar bear shifters, like me. Have you considered that?”

They both chuckled. “Of course. They will also be half elf. Are you okay with that?”

“I would love them no matter who they were.” They nodded. “Next one: How would the children be conceived?”

My face heated up just asking the question. One look at them and I was hoping, of course, for the old-fashioned way, but they might not be interested in that. Perhaps they weren’t attracted to me at all.

Callon rubbed the back of his neck. “We hadn’t considered any way other than the standard way of making babies, female. All of this is up to you though, please know that. There will be no…conceiving or sex until you are ready. Once you are comfortable with us and get to know us and not one second sooner.”

“Oh.” Hearing his deep voice cradling his words made my core throb. Goddess, I was in trouble and I hadn’t even met them in person yet. “I didn’t know If you were…I mean, I would understand if you two weren’t attracted to me. I’m not your mate.”

Aerin scooted closer to the phone. “Misty, we want to be clear about this. It won’t be any kind of an imposition for us. You are a beautiful woman. Any man would be honored to have you interested in him.”

“Oh.” I said that a lot. They consistently shocked me with how blunt and sincere they spoke.

“Unless…” Callon started, clapping Aerin on the shoulder. “Unless you don’t want to have sex with us. We are assuming you are attracted to us as well. Otherwise, why would you have accepted the match?”

“It’s not going to be any imposition for me. With either of you. Or…both of you?” I hid my face in my hands. Sure, I’d read about these things. These things and more. But talking about them with men I’d just met…well, it was strange to say the least. “That was one of my questions.”

“Look at that blush, Cal,” Aerin said. “You are more than we hoped for, Misty. If you want to have both of us or one at a time in your bed, that’s at your discretion. We’d prefer both to amp up the probability of a pregnancy but we won’t try to persuade you.”

There would be no such persuading. None. Not one bit.

“When…I mean, how soon would you want me to come up there? Do you want to wait?”

“Female, do you? Or are you ready to come up here and be with us?” Aerin’s eyes glimmered.

“No. Wait. There’s something I want to say.” Callon put his palms out. “I feel like we’ve discussed some of the details but from what I’ve learned about women—females—I’m sure you’re concerned about safety—security for you and our young, once they come. No matter what happens, you will have a place with us. Our home will always be your home. Even once the children grow up and move out. This isn’t just a transaction for us, Misty. This is us choosing to be together for life. We will take care of you financially, but if you want to work, that’s fine. I just want you to know that if you decide to come here, and we hope you do, that you will be our mate, our wife, for all intents and purposes.”

I blew out a breath. How did he realize I needed to hear those words?

“And if we find we need…intimacy after the kids are grown? While I’m pregnant?” I asked.

Aerin nodded. “Misty, when we say we will take care of you, we mean all of your needs. I wish I could explain this better. We can never compare to a fated mate, and we know that, but we would honor and cherish and respect you as though Fate had plucked you from the stars just for us.”

Who even needed a fated mate when I was staring at an opportunity to be with these two hot and sexy elves who were offering me a full and caring life on a platter? Not this girl.

They had covered all the bases.

“I’m going to ask again, boys. When did you want me to come?”

Callon’s smile grew wider. “Immediately. Now. Yesterday.”

I laughed hard, feeling relief flood my system. This felt right. This all felt…fated in its own way. “I have to quit my job and pack up my things. Did we need a trial period? Do I need to keep my apartment? What if you change your minds?”

Aerin shook his head. His hands turned into fists and then opened again as though he wished he could reach out and touch me. I also wished that. “We’re not going to change our minds. Do you need us to pay out the lease? How can we get you here as soon as possible?”

“I just need train or plane tickets, but I can buy those. I’m going to pack up what I need and sell the rest. I can send an email to my boss and get that over with right now.”

While I typed the email, I listened to them making their own plans. They wanted to get the guest room cleaned, and they were planning on what to cook for me and if I didn’t know better, it sounded like they were excited. They were excited to get to the baby making, probably.

I balled my hands into fists and reminded myself that this wasn’t me going to see my mates. They were going to be the fathers of my children.

That and that only.

Sure, there would be friendship and companionship, but who needed love and romance when these two checked off all my boxes, added more boxes I didn’t know I wanted, and checked those off as well?

Not me.

“There,” Aerin said, breaking me out of my spiraling thoughts. “I bought you a ticket for the day after tomorrow. Is that time enough for you to get everything done?”

I felt my cheeks rise in a smile. Goddess, it had been so long since I genuinely smiled or was excited for something. A new start. A new beginning.

A new life.

“That’s perfect. I can’t wait to meet the both of you.”