The Five Brothers Next Door: A Reverse Harem Romance Page 7

  When I turn around, I find Noah staring at me.

  He’s standing in my hallway, looking hot as hell in his jeans and striped button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

  But what’s he doing in my hallway?

  Noah grins apologetically. “Sorry. Did I scare you?”

  “Yes.” Not that I mind having Noah in my house, but I don’t remember letting him in. “What’s going on? Why are you here?”

  “Come into the kitchen with me. I’d like you to meet someone first, just so you won’t get scared a second time.”

  I follow Noah into the kitchen where Nathan’s standing by the stove and frying something in a pan. So that’s what smells so good.

  It looks good, too. My kitchen’s never looked this good before. But then again, I’ve never had stunningly handsome twin brothers standing in here before.

  Nathan’s wearing jeans and nothing on top. The ropes of muscles under his golden skin ripple as he cooks. I hear some sizzling—probably from the bacon that I smell—and Nathan curses, presumably from fat splattering onto his skin.

  “Glad you’re not homeless people who have broken in,” I blurt out. I realize, as soon as the words slip out from between my lips, how stupid that sounds.

  Noah laughs, and even Nathan chuckles as he pushes pieces of bacon around on the pan.

  “Unfortunately, things aren’t that exciting,” Nathan says. “We just took you home from Feral because some guy was bothering you, and you were kind of tipsy.”

  “My ex. Joseph,” I say with realization as I remember bits and pieces of what happened last night. I don’t think I was just “tipsy.”

  Oh god. Did the kiss in the car really happened, then, if the twins are really here?

  I take a seat as embarrassment floods my body. I raise my gaze up and study Noah’s face, then Nathan’s. They just stare back at me, their faces giving me no clues.

  “Did we . . . Um . . . Did I . . .” I lose my voice as my mind struggles to word my question. I want to know if I really kissed Noah in the car last night.

  Oh god.

  What if we took it even further?

  We couldn’t have slept together—the three of us—could we?

  I flush as I realize it could’ve been all the brothers instead of just the twins. Maybe only Nathan and Noah stayed the night, while the rest left after they’d had their fill . . . of me.

  My core clenches at the thought, and my face only grows hotter.

  I look up from under my lashes at Nathan, but he’s just grinning wickedly at me. I flick my gaze to glance at Noah instead. I have better chances of getting the truth from him.

  “You just passed out,” Noah says. “You fell asleep in the car, and we carried you to your bed.”

  “That’s all?” I furtively let out a relieved sigh.

  “Yeah. Then we realized we couldn’t just lock you up inside with your key because you may not have any spare. Obviously, we couldn’t just leave the door unlocked either.

  “So we decided to sleep over.” Noah gives me a small smile. It still feels like he’s hiding something.

  “Where did you sleep?” I ask. My rental house only has one big bedroom because the owners are a globe-trotting childless couple who likes to spread out.

  “In the living room, on the couches,” Noah says with a reassuring smile.

  “That couldn’t have been comfortable,” I say. “I’m so sorry. It was really nice of you to take me home. You shouldn’t have had to sleep on the couches, too.”

  “If you wanted us to join you in bed instead, you should’ve said so,” Nathan says with a sly gleam in his eyes. “We wouldn’t have minded, especially after that kiss you gave Noah.”

  Oh god. It wasn’t a dream.

  “How much did you drink last night?” Ollie asks with worry in his eyes when he joins the twins and me in my kitchen.

  “Just one shot,” I admit. “When my friend showed up, she challenged me to do a shot of vodka. I thought it was going to help me cut loose, but it was too much.”

  “Hey, no harm trying, right?” Ollie smiles kindly at me. He’s being so sweet.

  “Eat up,” Nathan says as he places enough plates to crowd the table.

  My table only fits four people, so Noah and Nathan take their plates to the living room, where they eat on the couch, while I sit with Mason, Liam and Ollie.

  “Who was that guy last night?” Mason asks with thinly veiled anger.

  “My ex,” I say as embarrassment spreads through my chest.

  “Such a douche,” Mason says. “He was all aggressive until I got him in a head lock, then suddenly, he was some scared little a mouse, begging for forgiveness.”

  “Thank you for helping me,” I say. I’m super grateful for the valiant rescue, but I hate that they had to see me make a fool of myself. It was embarrassing.

  “You can protect yourself, Ava,” Liam says in his deep, authoritative voice. “You can get a restraining order against him. He was harassing you and putting his hands on you. He shouldn’t have done that, especially when you clearly didn’t want him around you.”

  “I’ll think about it.” I nod at Liam.

  Truthfully, I don’t know if I can do that to Joseph. I mean, he’s annoying, but maybe there’s no need to involve the police or the justice system. It’s not like he’s ever been violent against me.

  Besides, that will attract too much attention from the town’s gossips, and my mom wouldn’t be happy about me being infamous for something like a bad break-up, especially when she’s still hoping I’ll get back together with Joseph.

  She’d probably be like, “He was just trying to get back with you because he loves you. Silly girl, getting the police involved. How much longer are you going to punish him? Just take the man back already.”

  Luckily, with the Hunter brothers all around me, it’s easy for me to forget about my mom.

  After breakfast, we all file into Nathan’s Mercedes-Benz SUV. It appears different in the daylight, but . . . it also looks a lot like the car in my dream. Another confirmation that it wasn’t a dream.

  It’s not like Nathan lets me forget it really happened, though. He keeps bringing it up at the most random times. For example, he tells the whole car a story and ends it with “I’m still not sure if it was real or if I was just lucid dreaming.”

  At this point, Noah jumps in to try and steer the conversation in a different direction—by asking his brothers some random questions about work, for example, or asking me weird, pointless questions about the places we pass by.

  “So after Mr. McTavish closed down his candy store, the shop got turned into a bookstore, and then a laundromat, and then a coffee shop. Wait. Or was it a laundromat first, and then a bookstore?”

  At least to me, Noah’s tactic seems obvious so he’s just making me feel more awkward, although I know that’s the opposite of what he’s trying to do.

  We stop in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art and go in as a group. Inside, though, the boys keep going missing.

  At first, it’s Nathan and Noah. After they re-join the group, Mason grabs Nathan and they disappear. After that, it’s Ollie and Noah. Lastly, it’s Liam and Noah.

  I know what they’re doing. Noah tells Nathan to stop bringing up the kiss, then the other brothers get curious and ask the twins about what happened last night.

  At the end of the visit, when we scramble back into the car and I tell Nathan we’re going to the newly-renovated sports stadium next, I’m acutely aware of the fact that everyone knows I kissed Noah last night.

  I wonder what they think of me. Do they think I like Noah and not the rest of them now? Do they think I was a . . . slut for doing that?

  I shake my head and try to remember Jessica’s words. Slut-shamers are just jealous, small, judgmental people.

  None of the brothers mention the kiss, but I can see from their secret little smiles that they know I want them—or, at least, one of them.

  As t
he day progresses, it becomes even more apparent that they know how I feel about them.

  It starts from little tentative touches. A pat on the back that lingers a second too long from Ollie. A stroke of my hair from Liam. An arm around my shoulders from Mason. Two sets of arms curled around my waist from both sides of me—the twins, of course.

  Every little touch that each of the brothers makes, I accept and respond in kind. I can’t help it. They’re so warm, kind, protective, and strong. They’re so different from Joseph they could be a different species altogether.

  By the time we finish dinner at my favorite burger place, all the brothers are comfortable slinging their arms around my shoulders and waist, playing with my hair, and caressing my face. I always seem to have at least two of them touching me.

  At the end of the day, after we’ve seen all the sights Ashbourne has to offer, we go back to my house and bring out the wines.

  We all sit around the coffee table, with me and the twins on one sofa and the other brothers on another long sofa. As Mason, Liam, and Ollie carry on a conversation, the twins inch closer until they’re pressing up against me.

  “You’re so sexy, Ava,” Noah whispers in my ear. His breath tickles me, but in a way that causes tingles in my pussy. He grabs my chin and turns me to face him, then leans in to claim my lips. His kiss is gentle and sweet. I still remember these lips from my “dream.”

  Meanwhile, on my other side, Nathan trails kisses down my throat and bites down hungrily, making me gasp into his twin brother’s mouth, who just continues to kiss me.

  Oh god, I’m making out with two guys at once—two guys who are brothers. Twin brothers. And their three other brothers are watching us.

  This is depraved.

  But also . . . we’re just making out, right? This is high school stuff.

  Just then, Nathan slips his hand under my shirt. As it inches up my abdomen, I feel another hand touching my thigh.

  I break the kiss with Noah and look around to find that Mason’s kneeling in front of me with his hand on my thigh, while Ollie and Liam are watching from across the table, their eyes hungry with lust.

  “What are we doing?” I feel like I’m in a daze.

  “Anything you want,” Mason says as he plants a quick peck on my knee, making my breath catch in my throat.

  Jesus, that felt so good. I want more of that. But . . .

  “Like I said, you can have all of us if you want, Ava,” Nathan whispers in my ear.

  My heart pounds in my chest, so strong I can feel the pulsing in my clit. My pussy is throbbing, aching for . . . for what? Am I really going to sleep with all five of them? Have I gone crazy?

  “Or we can just cuddle,” Noah says in my other ear, sensing my hesitation.

  “Can we?” I ask quickly.

  That sounds good . . . right? Relief and disappointment swim in my chest. Contradictory, I know. But we’re talking about five guys, for god’s sake. I can’t just . . . I can’t just go for it . . . can I?

  I don’t know why I can’t, but soon enough, I find myself perfectly happy in my king-sized bed, with Ollie and Liam on either side of me.

  They smell good, like aftershave and musk. And they’re so warm, too.

  For the first time since I moved into this house, this bed doesn’t feel too big.

  As I fall asleep, I think about how big a bed would have to be to fit all five Hunter brothers and me. I’d need, like, three king-sized beds pushed together.

  In the morning, I wake up to the feeling of something rough on my cheek.

  I open my eyes and look around. I’m in my bedroom. There’s something hot and heavy on my waist.

  It’s an arm—Ollie’s. He’s sleeping on his stomach next to me, with one arm draped over me.

  As I turn my head, the rough surface scratches against my skin. I look up to find Liam staring at me with a smile on his face. The “rough surface” was his stubble.

  “Morning,” he says.

  He looks alert. How long has he been awake?

  My head’s on his chest, which means he’s probably been pinned underneath me, unable to leave the bed since he woke up.

  “Morning, Liam,” I say, returning his smile.

  “How are you feeling? You didn’t drink too much last night, did you?” Liam puts his big hand on my cheek and gently caresses my skin.

  “No.” I shake my head and try to hide my mouth behind the covers. It’s so early in the morning my breath must stink.

  I nuzzle my face into Liam’s chest and mewl happily. He’s so warm and it feels cold outside the covers. I don’t want to leave the bed.

  I feel Ollie stir behind me. “Hi, Ava,” he says in a hoarse, sleepy voice.

  “Morning, Ollie.”

  Ollie scoots closer to wrap his arm around me, spooning me. He moves my hair aside and comes closer, putting his lips right up against the back of my neck. “Morning, Ava.”

  I gasp as a jolt of pleasure shoots from my sensitive neck, all the way down to my core. I have two men in my bed. Two strong, gorgeous, sexy, men who are obviously into me, too.

  This early in the morning, my brain seems to still be asleep. But my nerve endings aren’t. I can feel every little breath of Ollie’s that falls on my skin, and it kindles a hungry flame inside me.

  “Do you like that, Ava?” Liam asks as he stares intently at me, his hungry eyes studying me.

  “Yeah.” I bite down on my bottom lip to muffle a moan that’s threatening to escape.

  “I can make it feel even better.” Liam smirks as he puts his hand on my hip, under the covers.

  Liam keeps his gaze on my face, waiting for any sign of my disapproval. Seeing none, he drags his hand up my abdomen, slipping under my shirt. His fingers find my nipple already hard and erect. The smirk on his face grows wider.

  Liam kneads my breasts as Ollie’s hand on my stomach pulls me back until I feel his hard morning wood poking against my butt cheeks.

  It doesn’t take long until I can’t stifle my voice anymore. My lips part, letting my sighs and moans out.

  “Take her top off, Liam,” Ollie says as he pulls my shirt up from the back. “Lift up your hands, Ava.”

  I don’t sleep with a bra on, so as soon as the shirt comes off I’m naked from the waist up and lying on my side—not exactly a flattering angle for my breasts. Gravity does strange things to them when I’m in this position.

  Still, Liam doesn’t seem to mind. He shoots me a hungry smile as he kisses my throat and moves down to the valley between my breasts. He takes a deep breath, making me feel self-conscious about how I smell for the second time this morning.

  As Liam latches onto my nipple, Ollie’s hand wanders south and slips under the waistband of the sweatpants I wear to bed.

  I gasp when his fingers find my lower lips. Instinctively, I arch my back, which only pushes my ass back against his hard package behind me.

  “You’re wet,”Ollie whispers from behind me. “You like being with two guys at the same time, Ava?”

  I want to shake my head, but Ollie would know I’m lying. My panties are drenched.

  “Yeah.” My voice comes out in a sigh that’s heavily laced with arousal.

  Suddenly, we hear three knocks on the door and stop, looking at one another.

  It’s probably the other Hunter brothers behind that door, and they’ve probably heard my want-filled moans . . .

  Are they joining us?

  Do I want them to?

  Before I reach a decision, Liam pulls the covers up to cover my chest and says, “Who’s there?”

  The door creaks open and Noah sticks his head in through the gap. “I don’t want to interrupt you guys, but there’s someone at the door and he says there’s an emergency and you need to see him. He won’t tell me who he is or why.”

  Liam

  I have a bad feeling about this.

  I get out of bed and follow Ava down the hallway. The framed photographs she hangs on the walls look interesting, but I hav
e no time to take a closer look because Ava’s already at the door.

  I can hear bits of her conversation with the man who’s apparently come to let her know of an emergency.

  “Hi,” Ava says tentatively. She doesn’t seem to know the guy. That’s not a good sign.

  “Are you Ava Green?” the guy asks.

  “Yes. I was told there’s an emergency.”

  There’s a pause as the man hands her an envelope.

  Oh, no you don’t.

  “You just got served,” the guy says before he turns on his heels and walks away.

  “Wait. What’s the emergency?” Ava asks.

  “There’s no emergency,” I say from behind her in the hallway.

  “Then why . . .?” Ava frowns as she turns to look at me. All signs of arousal have disappeared into thin air, replaced by anxiety. She drops her gaze to the brown envelope in her hands. “What’s this?”

  “It’s a . . . I’ll have to take a look at it, but it seems like you may have come across a legal issue,” I say, trying to put the problem in the nicest, least threatening way I can.

  It won’t do to tell her, “You’re being sued.” She already looks like she’s about to cry.

  “What legal issue?” she asks, her voice shaking.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I say. “It’s probably nothing. Maybe you forgot to cut your grass and the city’s giving you a small fine for that. I’ll have to look through the document to make sure.”

  “Oh. Okay. How much is the fine for uncut grass?” she asks, confusion filling her kind eyes. “I did forget to do it a couple of weeks ago, I think. That was when Joseph was coming here all the time, and I didn’t want to run into him outside.”

  “So you were just hiding inside the house because you didn’t want to see him?”

  Ava nods, and the small gesture fills me with anger and sympathy.

  I want to kill that Joseph guy for putting Ava through hell. At the same time, I’d do anything to keep her safe from him.

  “What time do you have to be at the school today?” I ask.

  “Oh, shoot!” Ava exclaims. “It’s Monday, isn’t it?” She looks around and pats her pockets, presumably in an attempt to find her phone. “What time is it?”