Chapter 43 - The Courtship

The low hum of chatter and rustling fabric filled the family room as Steve’s women gathered. They filled every available space on the couches, perched on the arms, and sat cross-legged on the floor, a sea of curious, beautiful faces all turned toward him. The air itself seemed to thrum with their combined presence, a sweet, musky perfume of sex and family that was uniquely theirs.

Steve stood before them, his heart pounding not from nervousness, but from a profound sense of possession and gratitude. He cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the gentle murmurs. Every eye locked onto him.

“For the past two weeks,” he began, his voice strong and clear, “my life has been one shock after another.” He let his gaze sweep over them—Susan’s loving smile, Mia’s mischievous grin, Zoé’s intense focus, Charlotte’s proud smirk. “But the most pleasant, the most earth-shattering shock, is all of you. I never dreamed my love for you could be realized like this. So, as a thank you ... for being you ... I’ve arranged a shopping trip.”

He paused, letting the word hang in the air. “In Paris!”

For a single, silent second, there was nothing. Then, the room erupted. A symphony of high-pitched squeals, joyful shouts, and disbelieving laughter crashed over him. It was pure, unadulterated pandemonium.

The door swung open and Heather glided in, her entrance perfectly timed. The chaos didn’t falter, but all eyes flicked to her. “A Bombardier Global 7500 will be ready for us tomorrow morning,” she announced, her voice cutting through the excitement with practiced ease. “I’ve chartered it for the entire week, in case we feel like adding another destination to our itinerary.”

Before Steve could add that they’d be leaving first thing in the morning, another wave of joyous noise drowned him out. And then, in a dizzying blur of movement, they were gone. It was like a magic trick. One moment he was surrounded by a cacophony of beautiful women, the next, he was standing in the suddenly quiet room, the only evidence of their presence the faint impression of warmth on the couches and the lingering scent of their perfume.

“Wha—what happened?” he stammered to the empty room, blinking. “I’ve never seen them move that fast.”

Heather chuckled, moving toward the doorway. “They’ve gone to prepare, my love. It’s going to be tight, but I think they’ll be ready for the flight ... if they cut into their sleep time.” She paused at the threshold, throwing him a smoldering look over her shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I too have to pack.” She left the room far more sedately than the others, but the promise in her eyes was anything but calm.

By the time Steve left the family room, Evelyn, Charlotte, and Heather had already made their exits, whisking away with their children to pack for the whirlwind trip. The house, usually a haven of calm, was now a chaotic symphony of hurried footsteps and high-pitched debates.

An hour later, his own suitcase finally zipped shut, Steve ventured out of his room only to find himself navigating a sea of women in various states of undress. Mia stood in the hallway wearing nothing but a sheer bra and panties, holding up two dresses against her figure, furiously debating their merits with Zoé, who was herself clad in a lace corset and thigh-high stockings. Susan emerged from her bedroom with an armful of shoes, her robe barely clinging to her shoulders as she tossed pairs onto the growing pile by the stairs.

Everywhere he turned, there was a flash of skin, a cascade of laughter, or a heated discussion about which outfit would best suit the Parisian streets.

Steve decided that retreat was the better part of valor. With a silent shake of his head and a wry smile, he grabbed his keys and slipped out the front door, the cacophony fading behind him as he headed for the quiet sanctuary of his car. A drive, he thought, was exactly what he needed to clear his mind before the whirlwind truly began.

Steve leaned back in the driver’s seat of his car. The chaos of the house still lingered in his mind, a whirlwind of laughter, skin, and scattered clothes. But there was a gnawing thought that refused to be pushed aside, a task that couldn’t wait, no matter how much he wished it could. With a deep sigh, he started the ignition and pulled out of the driveway, the tires crunching on the gravel.

Rachel. He had to see Rachel. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as the memory of their last encounter flashed through his mind—the heat, the intensity, the reckless abandon. He cursed under his breath, his jaw clenching. There was no way to soften this, no gentle way to break the news. She needed to know, and she needed to hear it from him.

The campus came into view, its sprawling lawns and bustling sidewalks a stark contrast to the quiet introspection of his drive. Steve parked in the nearest lot, cutting the engine with a push of the button. His heart pounded as he stepped out of the car, the weight of what he had to say pressing down on him like a physical force.