She stepped down from the bus, wondering why she was doing this. Why she was selling herself. Then she caught her reflection in a window and she knew. Old maid. Too tall. Too much meat on her bones. She sighed and hoped her groom-to-be would treat her kindly. A few whistles and ribald remarks from the men lounging around. She strongly hoped he would not be among these lazy louts.
"My! Ain't she a big 'un," remarked one of them. "Come to work at Miss Lettie's?"
She ignored him. His friends laughed and teased him.
"Snooty, too," he sneered, pacing around her. She looked at him coldly and then looked away. He put his hand on her arm. Her anger flared. She twisted around and threw him over her shoulder. He landed hard and his friends laughed louder.
Cursing, he scrambled to his feet and started towards her. Only to stop suddenly, staring past her and turning very pale.
"The lady does not wish your attentions," said a deep rich voice behind her. All of the layabouts had become very quiet. "Do you not have someplace else to be?" said the voice.
A mumbled chorus of "Yes, sir" and they faded away. She turned to the man behind her. And looked up. He was easily over two meters tall, broad shoulders, well muscled. Honey blond hair, long and pulled back into a tail, and the darkest blue eyes she had ever seen. He looked down at her equally appraising.
"I am looking for Mr. Andros," she said. An approving spark was in his gaze. She had not flinched from him.
"I am Andros," he said quietly. "I apologize for my tardiness."
"I am Melea Thorn," she said, offering her hand.
He took it gently. "Ms. Thorn," he acknowledged. "Please come with me." He lifted her bags easily and led her to his car. He had a plain vehicle, large enough to be comfortable for him but not ostentatious. He put her bags in the back and opened the passenger door for her. He drove competently and quietly. He seemed to appreciate her quietness. They traveled steadily for about an hour. He glanced at her from time to time. He seemed to be waiting for something to happen and was surprised that it hadn't. Melea was looking around, studying the scenery as they passed. She knew he was glancing at her, but decided to wait for him to speak. The silence stretched but never became uncomfortable. She was pleased that she could be comfortable with him. Although his nearness was having a definite affect on her. She found him powerfully attractive and began looking forward to her wedding after all.
He finally pulled into a private road that wound through trees and glens. Then the house came into view. It was old, very old, made of stone, and quite gothic in the gathering dark. He took her inside to a guest room.
"Please come downstairs when you wish," he said softly. "The room on your right."
"Of course," she replied. He left her. She was glad to unpack a few things and freshen up. About 20 minutes later, she descended the stairs and entered the indicated room. It turned out to be a nicely appointed and cheerful sitting room. Andros was standing by a fireplace. "Ms. Thorn," he greeted her.
"Mr. Andros," she replied. Then, "Please, my name is Melea." He smiled at her and she almost stopped breathing. The attraction was almost overwhelming.
"Melea," he responded. "I am just Andros. I never use my surname. It is too hard to pronounce."
She smiled at him. Then she noticed the others.
"Please," he said. "Allow me to introduce my brothers." Five more very tall, very handsome, well built men came forward. All had varying shades of blond from almost white to Andros' honey blond. All had the amazing deep blue eyes. The attraction increased. Andros pointed to each in turn. "This is Tyr, Eidan, Loth, Donal, and Kel." They each came forward to take her hand. And she was surrounded by tall, extremely attractive men. Andros took her hand and led her to a chair. "Please, Melea," he said very seriously. "We must talk to you."
"What we tell you may change your decision to come here," said Tyr. They all took seats around her. She suddenly felt like a queen with her court. If they had not looked so serious, she would have smiled at the thought.
Andros said, "You came here to marry, Melea. However, we must apologize to you." She felt puzzled and felt her hands twitch. She had a strong urge to run her fingers through all of that blond hair. And she had a dilemma. She was attracted to them. All of them.
"Melea," said Kel, "you cannot choose just one of us. You must take all of us or none."
"All of you?" she whispered, shocked. "Do you mean I must…" she couldn't quite find the word she wanted.
"Yes, Melea," said Loth. "If you stay with us, you must have…relations…with all of us. Every night."
She couldn't think. She looked from one to the other of them.
"You do not need to make your decision now," said Donal. "Please give it some thought." The attraction to them was confusing her.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "This will not be an easy decision."
"We know, Melea," said Eidan.
"Then, if you don't mind," she said quietly, "I will go to my room to think about this." She stood. They rose with her. "Good night," she said. She went to her room, bathed, and slipped into her nightgown and a thin robe. She didn't even try to lay down. She turned out the light, opened the window, and sat looking at the stars. There was a slight breeze and she hoped it would cool her body and her thoughts. Six men! Every night! Was that physically possible? She thought about the six brothers. They were incredibly arousing. The sexual attraction made her weak with desire. How could she even consider taking six men to her bed at the same time? Every time the thought crossed her mind, she trembled with desire. How could they share a woman for a prolonged time without jealousy? She sighed, mind still in a turmoil.
Suddenly, she heard conversation below her. She shouldn't listen, but she heard her name and stayed at the window.
"Andros," said Kel, "do you think Melea will stay?"
"I do not know, Kel," said Andros. "She does not seem to fear us."
"But will she want us?" asked Tyr.
"I hope so," said Eidan, "I hope so."
"None of the others would," said Loth sadly.
"True," said Andros. "But they were all afraid of us individually and absolutely terrified of all of us together."
Donal added, wistfully, "I hope she stays. I like her." The conversation faded.
Well, she had a bit more information. It sounded like jealousy would not be a problem. But could she accommodate them. Or rather, should she accommodate them. She found that the longer she thought about them, the more she desired them. All of them. She sighed. She was not a virgin, but she had never considered giving herself to more than one man at a time. She sighed again and decided to ask questions in the morning. She finally went to bed. Her dreams were haunted by tall, blond, dark-sapphire eyed men.
In the morning, she went downstairs to talk to them. She saw Donal first. He looked at her hopefully. "Good morning, Melea," he said.
"Good morning, Donal," she replied. "Please, I would like to speak with all of you if I may."
Donal ushered her into the sitting room. "I will get my brothers," he said and left her for a few minutes. She only hoped their overpowering sexuality would not overly influence her. The six men came into the room. Their sexual attraction made her tremble.
"Please," she said, "before I decide, will you answer some questions for me?"