Falling For Them Volume 2: Reverse Harem Collection

by Nikki Bolvair

  A loud rumble comes from Tomas’s stomach, and he rubs it, attention pulled to the kitchen door with sudden interest. “About time. I’m starving.”

  “Dinner’s the same time every Sunday.” I push him toward the open screen and walk to the railing to yell at Carrick and Bradan, “Time to wash up!”

  They abandon the ball in an instant, making a run for the door. With only one bathroom downstairs and Mom fully occupying the kitchen, they’ll have to take turns. They thunder past me, barely taking the time to kick off their muddied boots before stampeding inside. Their loud voices greet the O’Brien’s on their way to the hall.

  Instead of following, I walk down the short steps to the backyard to fetch the abandoned ball and give myself an excuse to linger outside a little longer. In the short time since I arrived, the sun sank behind the treetops, casting the yard into shadows.

  My boots slip in the mud, and I stick my arms out from my sides for balance as I pick my way toward the fence line. The shadows grow deeper the farther I venture away from the happy noise of the kitchen.

  Carefully, I bend to lift the ball and hold the muddy thing out in front to keep it away from my sweater. Turning back toward the house, I freeze.

  A purple will-o’-the-wisp hovers in the yard behind me at the very edge of the light cast from the open doorway. It flickers in place, thin tendrils wafting toward me as if to offer a comforting embrace. The gentle dance draws me closer, mesmerized by the swirl of colors as it shifts from purple to warm orange.

  Through the wisp lies endless happiness or a portal to my true desire. Either equals the same result, right? Wouldn’t my true desire lead to happiness?

  It drifts closer, flickering like questions sent in code, as a long tendril of light reaches for me.

  “Siobhan, get away from that thing!”

  Mom’s scream breaks through the trance, and I jerk out of reach. My eyes find her on the porch, her mouth open in panic as she rushes for the stairs. Behind her, Davin runs out of the kitchen, his brothers close on his heels.

  I stumble back another step, and my foot slips in the mud. Falling, I drop the ball, twist to catch myself, and discover another wisp waiting at my back.

  Blue light engulfs me, my gut wrenching, and then the back yard vanishes from sight.

  What Lies Beyond

  My feet slam into solid wood, and my knees buckle. Once more, I find myself pitching backward, unable to prevent the fall. My arms desperately pinwheel for any purchase available and find only air.

  Strong arms wrap around me; a solid body cushions the impact as we land together. I blink up at the porch ceiling in bewilderment.

  “My baby!”

  Mom’s shriek breaks through my confusion, and I turn my head to see her still in the process of rushing down the porch steps. Across the yard, the will-o’-the-wisps flicker in retreat as Davin follows, a flashlight in his hand to scare them away.

  How did I get from the other end of the yard back to the porch?

  The arms around me tighten. “Thank the gods, I thought we’d lost you.”

  I tilt my head back to see a strong, clean shaven jawline, thin lips, and a narrow nose before my gaze locks with a pair of terrified, whiskey-colored eyes.

  His head dips, forehead pressing into my curls. “Please, Sibby, don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  My heart races as I realize the wisp sent me back to the porch, back to my heart’s desire. I lay sprawled in his lap at an angle, one leg across a hard, warm body, the other on the wooden slats of the porch. Voice trembling, I whisper, “Jameson?”

  His arms squeeze the air out of me in a tight hug before he leans back, searching my face as if to make sure I really didn’t disappear. “Yeah, Sibby, it’s me. You’re safe.”

  My balled fist catches him under the chin. Pain explodes through my knuckles, and his head snaps back, more from surprise than anything. The angle took most of the force from the blow, but his arms loosen enough for me to wiggle around.

  The knee that catches him between the legs pulls a pained curse from him. I cringe. Didn’t mean to do that. I stumble to my feet, and a hand around my arm yanks me against another solid body. The musk of Hughe’s cologne fills my senses, and relief rushes through me.

  A large palm cups the back of my neck, smashing my ear against a broad chest. His shout rumbles through my head. ”She’s here! Mrs. McKathry, Dav, she’s here!”

  My eyes shut tight, and I cling to his warm flannel as a shudder shakes through my body. In the moment that I fell and the world disappeared, I realized I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t need a grand adventure. I needed Hughe and Davin, and even Jameson.

  Eyes opening, I search out Jameson. He hovers close by, just out of reach, his hands half raised, but uncertainty holding him back. Whatever else happened, after almost losing them again, I need him now.

  I reach out only to be yanked from Hughe’s arms. Pillowy softness wraps around me, my face falling into the crook of Mom’s neck. “My baby! I thought they’d taken ye, too!”

  “They didn’t, Mom, I’m okay.” I return her embrace with a fierceness I haven’t felt in years as tears gather behind my lids. Tonight, I could have lost so much if the legends of the wisps had followed the other path. “I’m not leaving.”

  She pushes me back to arm’s length, and her head turns, fearful gaze searching the yard. “Get ye inside where tis safe.”

  Over her shoulder, Davin hovers at the stairs down to the yard, the flashlight still on, though no sign of the wisps remain. His attention flickers to me for a moment before it returns to keep vigilance over the fence line.

  Mom pushes me toward the kitchen door where the rest of my family hovers in confusion, drawn by the shouts but unclear as to what happened. They part to let us pass, Davin at the rear. He shuts the door tight, not that a wisp has ever been known to enter a house.

  I find myself ushered into a seat, a hot cup of tea pressed into my hands a moment later. Then, Mom rushes around the house, snapping all the blinds down to cover the windows. My siblings shout questions, which Davin and Jameson answer, their tones calm as if used to the quiet magic of our world becoming so active.

  They talk over my head, a storm with me at the center, forgotten. I wrap my fingers around the hot mug to hide their tremble. A faint scent of chamomile rises with the steam, a brew meant to calm. My nose stings, and I swipe a sleeve across my eyes, then stare in horror at the beige smear of makeup left behind.

  “Shiv, are you really okay?” Hughe’s quiet question startles me, and I jump, scalding tea splashing over the rim of the cup.

  Flinching, I jerk my hand away with a quiet curse. He grabs a napkin and presses it over the burn. Head down, I peek at him. “Thank you.”

  His thumb sweeps across my knuckles where a faint bruise blooms from Jameson’s hard chin . “Do you need an ice bag?”

  Embarrassment fills my cheeks with heat. “You saw that, huh?”

  He leans close, breath ghosting across my ear. “The knee to the balls was a good addition.”

  I nudge my shoulder against him. “I didn’t do that on purpose.”

  “I know.” Lips press against my cheek quickly before he straightens. One side of his mouth kicks up into a roguish smile. “But he deserved it anyway.”

  Hughe’s gentle teasing helps ground me back into the real world, and the tremors fade as I give him a serious nod. “Yeah, he did.”

  “When you vanished out there…” He cups my knee, and an entirely different kind of shiver shakes through me. “Shiv, I—”

  “Come, son,” Mr. O’Brien interrupts as he joins us. “We should head home, let the McKathry’s tend to their family.” When his gaze settles on me, his eyes shimmer with a hint of tears. “I’m glad you’re safe, lass. First thing tomorrow morning, me and the boys are installing lights at the fence line. The wisps are getting too aggressive of late. Can’t have something like this happening again.”

  His kindness makes my chest tighte
n. Over the last two years, Mr. O’Brien became a part of our family, and his concern for our safety brings more comfort than I know what to do with.

  I reach for his hand and give it a quick squeeze. “Thank you, Mr. O’Brien.”

  Hughe’s brow furrows with unhappiness, but he rises to leave. As his brother’s follow, Davin and Jameson glance back with varying levels of disquiet.

  When the front door opens and closes, it sounds loud in the sudden silence. I turn to find my family clumped around the kitchen island. Mom wrings her hands, while Dad stands at her side, his hand on her shoulder in comfort. Carrick and Bradan lean against the counter near the back door, arms folded across their chests as they stand sentry. Maeve hugs one of Tomas’s arms to her chest, her eyes wide to keep her tears from falling.

  Sighing, I stand to join them. “I’m fine, guys, nothing happened.”

  “Mom said you vanished.” Maeve’s voice warbles and she blinks rapidly, then rubs her face against Tomas’s sleeve.

  “I’m not sure what happened,” I sooth. “But I’m still here, and that’s what matters.”

  “Darn right it is.” Carrick unfolds his arms. “Mom, Dad, I’m going to go home and check on Ava. I don’t like her being alone with our house bordering the woods.”

  “I’ll bring home some lights from the store tomorrow,” Dad rumbles. “We’ll get your fence line secured.”

  Carrick nods, then skirts around the counter, pulls me in for a quick, hard hug, and heads for the door.

  Bradan straightens next. “I’m going to go into work, let Mr. McArthur know what happened. Between him and his brother, they’ll spread the word.”

  “I’ll call Darcy. She’ll ring up the knitting nannies.” Tomas drags my little sister with him as he heads for the phone that hangs on the kitchen wall.

  I stare at my little brother in surprise. Why does he know Darcy’s number? As my siblings disperse, I join Mom and Dad. “Sorry dinner got ruined.”

  Dad rubs a hand over his stomach with a quiet grunt. “It’s not your fault, lass.”

  “My heart about stopped when you fell.” Mom reached out to squeeze my hand as if to make sure I’m really still there. “I’m so glad that wisp didn’t take you from us, like it did my sister.”

  I can’t help but wonder, from my own experience, what exactly my aunt desired to have vanished completely. If the wisps really did take people to what their heart’s desired, maybe she’s somewhere happy right now, but unable to let Mom know she’s safe.

  “Tomas will drive you home,” Dad rumbles. “No reason to take another risk tonight.”

  “Ack, no!” Mom releases him to latch onto my arm. “You’ll stay here until morning. And I won’t hear a word otherwise.”

  Not even two days on my own, and I’m already back home for the night. But Mom’s panicked grip on my arm holds my tongue. It won’t cost me anything to stay, and it will make her happy. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t really want to be alone tonight anyway.

  I pat her hand. “Of course, I’ll stay, Mom.”

  “Maeve, take the spare blanket and pillow up to Siobhan’s room.” At our Mom’s command, my little sister detaches herself from Tomas’s side and runs from the room. Mom releases me to march to the dining table, shoulders squared with determination. ”We’ll just pop the food back in to reheat, and then we can have a nice dinner, just the five of us. Siobhan, lass, get the potatoes.”

  As I hurry to help out, the shuttered windows draw my attention, and I shiver, glad to not be venturing out again tonight.

  The wisps will no longer tempt me, despite their hypnotizing flickers. I know where I want to be, now.

  ~

  “Good night, Mom, I’ll see you in the morning,” I say for what feels like the dozenth time since I announced I needed to go to bed.

  “Are you sure you don’t want another slice of dessert?” Mom hovers over the half eaten round of cake, serving spatula in hand. She seems unwilling to let me out of her sight, despite my many reassurances that I’ll stay inside.

  “I’m positive, Mom. Two’s my limit.” Actually, one is my limit, and my belly bulges with the second piece I forced down to appease her. “I need to get to sleep. I’m opening the community center by myself tomorrow morning.”

  “A cup of tea, then?” She putters over the kettle. “Something to help you rest easy?”

  “I’ll be fine.” I yawn, my jaw cracking. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, lass.” She rushes over to wrap me in her soft arms. “Pleasant dreams.”

  I give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Pleasant dreams.”

  I flee up the old, creaky stairs before she finds another excuse to keep me downstairs.

  Once I reach my dark, old bedroom, I close the door with a sigh of relief, before switching on the light on the nightstand. Maeve must have closed the curtains when she brought up the spare blanket and pillow because they now block the glow from the street light along with the view of my parent’s backyard.

  Exhaustion weighs on me as I change into the nightgown I borrowed from my mom, the material baggy around my chest. The collar slips off one shoulder, and I tug it back into place, then climb thankfully into bed.

  Mom’s hovering over the last few hours, while understandable, sapped away all of my energy. Every time I got up from the table, she flinched, her eyes darting to the closed windows.

  If we allowed it, I think she would have had us all sleep in the family room where she could keep a constant eye on us. Tomas and Maeve fled to their rooms an hour earlier, abandoning me to our mom’s attentions.

  As I snuggle down and reach for the light, a quiet tap comes from my window. I bolt up, heart in my throat. The tap comes again, this time more insistent.

  Pushing back the covers, I creep across the room to peek through the curtains, then choke back a shriek.

  Davin hovers outside my window, hand raised to tap again. He crouches on the porch’s overhang, the tree he used to climb up a few feet behind him.

  I push open the window and hiss, “What are you doing?”

  “I just wanted to check on you.” His hand touches the windowsill, his eyes questioning.

  With a huff, I step back, and he slips inside, quiet as a thief. The sight casts me back nine years, to a younger Davin sneaking into my room. The triplets had made regular visits back then, at least one of them always in my room. We read books or talked about television shows until we fell asleep. It took years to learn how to sleep alone again without constantly checking out the window, expecting to find one of them their waiting.

  When Davin rises, he stands a head taller than me now, his broad shoulders blocking out the window. Nothing like his fifteen year old self.

  He steps close and enfolds me in his arms. Face tucked into my shoulders, he whispers, “I feared we returned only to lose you again.”

  A fine tremor shivers through his body, and I wrap my arms around him, filling myself with his familiar scent of wood shavings. “I’m okay. I’m still where you left me.”

  He stiffens and pulls back. “Shiv—”

  My palm covers his mouth. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Gaze steady, he pulls my hand away. “I know we said we’d give you time, but I couldn’t stay away. Not tonight.”

  “I know.” And I do. When I thought, in that heartbeat of time as the wisp’s light folded around me I would never see them again, I realized I could never walk away from them. I press tighter against him, needing the contact every bit as much as he does, and repeat, “I know.”

  “Shiv?” His eyes widen for a moment in surprise before his head drops closer to mine with a groan. “Shiv, I had plans. I was going to woo you, like I should have back then.” His lips touch my forehead. “Flowers.” He drifts down to my cheek. “Candy.” His lips stop at the edge of mine. “Letters of love.”

  My heart races. “You’ve written enough letters.”

  “Does that mean you—”

  I stop
his word by turning my head, my lips covering his. Our first kiss. It’s every bit as sweet as I imagined it would be, Davin’s lips against mine closed in a gentle press. His hands cup my face, thumbs rough against my cheeks.

  Warmth blooms in my chest as he shivers and pulls away, eyes wide. His voice sounds gruff. “I’ve imagined that so many times.” He presses another kiss against my mouth. “Your lips are so sweet.” Another kiss. “Soft.”

  “Davin…” I groan with frustration, and drag his mouth back to mine.

  When I sweep my tongue against his lower lip, he opens in an instant, allowing me in to explore. His tongue pushes against mine, hesitant at first, then with more confidence. Our noses bump as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss, his breath ragged puffs against my cheek.

  He pulls away with a gasp, eyes glassy. “Shiv, I didn’t come here to—”

  “I know.” I kiss him again and step away. It’s too soon, and I don’t want our first time together to be brought on by the emotional adrenaline of fear. “Good night, Davin.”

  He hovers next to the window for a second, wavering, and a small part of me hopes he’ll refuse to leave. But ever the gentleman, he gives himself a shake and ducks back outside.

  Crouched on the overhang, he turns back. “When can I see you again?”

  I lean out the window, unable to resist one more chaste kiss. When I pull back, I smile. “Walk me to work in the morning?”

  He nods vigorously. “I’ll be here at seven.”

  “That’s fine, but I don’t need to leave until seven thirty.” I laugh at his chagrined expression. “You can come inside and have breakfast. Mom will probably be up early to make waffles. She does that when she’s restless.”

  “I’d love to.” His fingers brush my cheek. “Make sure to lock the window.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Be safe on that tree. You’re not as young as you used to be.”

  “I’ve climbed more difficult trees on the island,” he scoffs.

  His words peek my interest. I want to know more about this island they were trapped on for so long. But he turns to leave before I voice the questions that fill my mind.