The Bear’s Mail Order Menage

“Ha! Yes, you could say it that way,” Andrew said with a devious twinkle in his eyes, “but I’m going to ask you anyway. You’ve been here for what, like two weeks now? Maybe three? Do you feel like you’re getting used to things at all, or am I just pulling you along for the ride?”

“Can I say both?”

“Sugar, you can say anything you want to say. I’m not ever going to cut you off. Believe that.”

“Sugar? Jesus, Andrew, you’re so smooth,” remarked Josh. “Smooth?”

“Smooth,” Josh said with a laugh, “like, slick. He’s good with his words. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.”

“Ah, well then yes. That seems like the good word for him. Smooth.”

“Well smooth or not, it’s a valid question, right guys? You’ve gotta give me that.”

“It actually is. What do you think, Alina? Are we dragging you around town too fast? Is there anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable? Because we will. All you have to do is tell us.”

Oh brother, sometimes he could be so earnest it made Andrew want to die. But that was Joshua, good to the bone and sometimes just a little bit too sweet to live, and maybe that was what Alina needed right now.

Andrew had never been fortunate enough to go much of anywhere, but he imagined that moving clear across the world could be a pretty traumatic experience. He knew he didn’t always do so well with the warm and fuzzies, so Joshua’s more sensitive side was a good thing to have. It definitely had been for him from town to town.

“No, no,” she said with a voice that sounded like a chorus of little bells, “not at all. It’s nice, the things you’ve done for me. I like it here. I think I could be really happy. I hope so.”

“I hope so too.”

Andrew saw Josh’s hand graze against hers for just the briefest of moments and couldn’t help chuckling to himself. They had been taking it slow with her, although all three of them knew that s*x was imminent, but it was clear that Josh was getting to the point where he just wanted to touch her. From the look on her face, it wasn’t an idea she was altogether against. Things were going well. Things were going better than he had had any right to expect and the high he was riding only got higher.

“It’s settled then. Let’s go.”

“Go where, brother?”

“Dinner. Man, I’m fu*king starving. Anyone else?”

“I could eat. Alina?”

“Sure, why not. I’ve only eaten in the apartment so far. It might be nice, doing something different. I’m nervous, though.”

“Nervous? Come on, sweetie, you don’t need to be nervous. What are you nervous for?”

“For the way people will react. For what they will think of me being here. I’m worried that they’ll hate it.”

“Well I can honestly say I can’t imagine anyone ever hating you for anything. Sh*t, I’d let you rob me blind and never even put up a fight. But just so you know, we won’t let anything happen. Right brother?”

“Right. We’ll be there. My guess is that people will just be excited to see someone new. That’s all.”

“Ok, boys. If you say so. My life is in your hands.”

Andrew waited for the two of them to catch up and grinned as Alina linked her arms through both of theirs. She gave them both the soft smile that Andrew was starting to think of as her signature and nodded her head, looking determined and maybe still a little bit afraid.

“Right. Lead the way.”

“Um, are you sure this is a good idea? Everyone is staring.”

“Of course they are, sugar, you’re probably the most exciting thing any of these people have seen in a long time. Let’s just grab a booth, what do you say?”

Alina looked at Joshua uncertainly, who in turn looked at Andrew for confirmation that this was actually a good idea. That was just fine by him. He was used to being the leader in unusual situations. Hell, he was the king of unusual situations. He gave his two comrades his most winning smile and turned and strode further into the dinky little restaurant.

It was one of the only places to go on a Saturday night, operating as both the best option for a place to eat and the most happening late-night bar. That meant that anyone who felt like being out and about was either there already or soon to be on their way. Andrew didn’t give a sh*t, not even when everyone in the place turned to stare as they walked by. As far as he was concerned, they should just be happy for the business.

“This work?”

“I guess so.”

“Seriously,” he said, taking Alina by the hand and shaking Joshua’s shoulder good naturedly, “relax, guys. It’s a diner, not a covert operation. We’ll just grab a pitcher of beer, how’s that sound? Maybe it’ll help you to relax.”

“It’s worth a try, I guess. Alina? You a fan of beer?”

“Sure, I’ll drink beer. If I’m telling the truth, I prefer vodka, but I doubt you’re surprised. I guess I’m a what, a cliché. That’s the word, right?”

“Yes, honey, that’s a word, but I wouldn’t use it to describe you. So we’ll get the beer and we’ll get you some vodka, stat. I want to make sure everyone is happy.”

Andrew raised his had to get the attention of the server closest to them, a plump little blonde named Crystal harboring a crush for Andrew that had been there since childhood. When she saw him, the biggest grin spread across her face and she practically ran to greet him, not even noticing the people she was with. It wasn’t until she was standing directly in front of their cracked booth that she took a moment to survey his company and when her eyes landed on Alina, her entire face fell immediately.