Falling For Them: A New Adult Reverse Harem Collection

by C. L. Stone

  Houses as old as this one usually had stone foundations, and a dirt floor. But this basement had drywall, and new windows. The floor was grey concrete.

  “This basement is in good shape.”

  It was warm, and the air was dry. The furnace clicked on, and she jumped.

  "Scared of basements?"

  "No." She shook her head. “It just surprised me."

  The essence of Seok was here, it was a glimpse into his mind. On a peg board he’d posted pictures of different styles of chairs and tables. "Are one of these going to be ours?"

  “No.” Crossing his arms, he watched her investigate. “Those are ones I would like to make at some point, but ours is over here."

  He gestured with his chin toward a board held in place by clamps. The last kitchen table had been heavy and huge. This one would be as heavy, but instead of being long and rectangular, it circular.

  "It must weigh a ton.” She ran her hand over the top. “Is this the wood from the last table?"

  "Some of it," he replied. "I used what could be salvaged, but it wasn't all worth saving. I found a few old boards and planed them down, and glued those together to make it bigger. I want it to fit all of us."

  She liked it, especially the shape. "This way I'll be able to see all your faces while we eat."

  "That's what I thought, as well."

  His quiet approval left her flustered, and she struggled to get herself together. Examining the table, she saw a few kerchiefs and grabbed one. She attempted to tie it around her head, but her hair was too thick, so she made due wrapping it like a headband around her head. "I'm ready."

  He watched her, smiling the entire time. It made such a switch from when she first met him and he seemed so distant. He was silent for a moment, before he seemed to shake himself aware. "Um." Spying what he needed, he picked up a tool. "This is a sander."

  She took it from him, turning it upside down and running her hand over the bottom where a rough piece of sandpaper was attached.

  "I want you to sand the top of the table, in the direction of the grain."

  Confused, she studied the table. Huh?

  "See the lines on the boards?" He ran his fingertips down the center, pointing out the texture. "When you sand, sand along those lines." He demonstrated with his hand. "Like this." Starting at one end of the board, his long-fingers smoothed across the wood. "Got it?"

  Nodding, she searched for the on switch.

  "Wait." He slid a pair of glasses over her face and placed giant earmuffs carefully over her ears before speaking again.

  "What?"

  He laughed, and took off the muffs. "Hearing and eye protection. Safety first.”

  After waiting for him to fit them on, she turned on the sander, moving to one end of the table. The machine sprung to life in her hands, vibrating so hard it seemed like it would travel by itself. She struggled to hold onto it, finally gripping it in a way that made her feel more in control. A nudge could guide it, she didn’t need to force it. Sweeping her hand across the place she sanded, she tested the board next to it, comparing the texture.

  A tap on her shoulder distracted her. "Okay?"

  Maybe? "You tell me."

  He ran his palm along the newly sanded board. “Perfect." One long-finger pointed to a drip of glue. "Make sure you sand those spots, we want it to be smooth when we paint and wax."

  When she nodded, he put the protectors back on her and she got back to work.

  She lost track of time. The table was giant, more than six boards glued together, each of those boards about six or seven inches in width. When she got to the center of the table she had to lean forward, reaching as far to the center as she could before going to the other side of the board, and starting from the outside to work back to the center again. She spent more time getting into position than she did actually sanding.

  Everything Seok made was beautiful. Each task got his full attention, and she wanted to do the same. Halfway through, she switched off the sander, carefully placing it on the table before stretching from side to side.

  A hand traveled the length of her back before Seok pressed his chest against her. "Sore?"

  "All the reaching." Her head fell back.

  He ran his hands under her arms as she stretched, pressing into her muscles. Groaning, she leaned toward him. He dropped his hands to her sides, gently trailing his fingers along her. "How are the grazes... and the bruises?"

  Covering his hand with hers, she pressed it into her skin. "Doesn't hurt anymore. I have a little twinge sometimes when I breathe, but miraculously, that's it. This soreness? This is because I've never worked these muscles before, and your sander vibrated all the way to my bones."

  He laughed, reaching for her hands. His thumbs massaged into the palm of her hand, pressing deeply into the meaty part near her thumb.

  "What was it you need to tell us? Or are you going to make me wait?”

  Crap. She formulated the words in her head, running them once or twice through her brain before she let herself speak. "There was someone who recognized me at the parish hall." She didn't know why she was being so careful with Seok when she'd been so blunt with Matisse.

  He gripped her a little more tightly, kissing her head and waiting. Still, there was a tension in him that hadn’t been there before.

  “A reporter?” he asked, remembering how she and Matisse needed to hide from one when she’d first come to stay.

  “Her husband died at the school. He was the one adult.”

  “What’d she do?”

  “Cornered me. She had a knife, but like I told Matisse, I don’t think she even realized she held it. She was overwhelmed. I mean, the church was her safe spot, I’m sure she didn’t expect to run into me there. It was traumatic for her.”

  “What about you, Nora? Maybe we need to call the police and have them reiterate your innocence. I mean— Jesus. You can’t even get a job. And she’s the second person who attacked you. Third, if you count the reporter.”

  “I don’t count the reporter…” she mumbled.

  Lifting her chin with one finger, he glowered at her “I do. There’s got to be a way so you’re not blamed for this anymore.”

  “It has to die out on its own. Or maybe I’ll always be associated with it. The only way people will feel differently, will be if I show them I’m a good person. You know? Like, with good works or something.” As soon as she said it, she liked the sound of it. “I can’t change what happened. I’ll always have guilt, even if I know I shouldn’t. But maybe I can lessen it, and eventually people will realize I’m not all bad.”

  Sadness settled on his features “You’re not bad at all.”

  She smiled wickedly and waggled her eyebrows. “I’m a little bad.”

  Wrapping his arms around her back, he held her close. “A little bad is good. Keeps things interesting.”

  17

  Birthday

  The morning of her twenty-first birthday, Nora awoke in a way she never had before, wrapped in love. With pancakes.

  “Happy Birthday…” Apollo whispered, kissing her ear.

  Humming happily, she opened her eyes. Cai held coffee, and Ryan pancakes, while Seok maple syrup. Apollo took his task of waking her up very seriously, because he kissed her again and again. She closed her eyes, letting him get his fill before she pushed herself back on the pillows.

  “I’m here!” The front door slammed and feet pounded up the stairs. Her door flung open and Matisse tumbled inside. “I’m here, don’t sing yet!”

  “You’re going to sing?” she asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

  Nodding, Apollo pulled her hand away and kissed her hard on the mouth. “Yup.” He looked back at the guys, who all began singing horribly, wonderfully out of tune.

  Her face ached, she smiled so hard. She tried not to laugh, because she didn’t want to drown out the sound of their voices. Matisse definitely wasn’t singing in English, and tilting her head to listen closer, neither was Seok. When t
hey finished, all at different times, she clapped, letting loose the laughter she’d held back.

  “Wonderful! Again!”

  Apollo opened his mouth, and Matisse smacked him. “She’s joking.”

  “Birthday Girl gets, what Birthday Girl wants.”

  Ryan placed the pancakes on her lap, while Seok brandished his maple syrup like it was a fine wine. Confidently, he drizzled it over the pancakes and she took a bite so huge it almost didn't fit in her mouth.

  “These are good.” Savoring them, she closed her eyes.

  When she opened them again, Apollo’s cheeks were flushed. He bit his lip, trying to hide his smile, but his dimples gave him away.

  “Hats off to the pancake master.” She cut another smaller piece, and cupped her hand beneath it. “Try it.”

  He chewed and swallowed thoughtfully. “She’s right. I am the best pancake maker.”

  Cutting another bite, she offered it to each guy. Ryan smiled, holding up his hand and she made a play sad face. “But it’s my birthday.”

  Groaning, he took a bite. “I hope none of you are sick.”

  Apollo picked up her empty plate and Cai handed her coffee. “What are we doing today?” She sipped, the warmth of both the coffee and her happiness making her giddy.

  “Apollo and I have to go.” Ryan imitated her sad face. “I know. Boo.”

  “Last test?” She sipped again. Best birthday ever.

  “Two for me.” Apollo pointed. “One for him. But his lasts three hours and one of mine is a presentation. We’ll be back to go to dinner.” He gave her a kiss on her head. “I have a present, but you have to wait for tonight.”

  “You do?” Her voice squeaked. It had been years since anyone got her a present beside herself.

  Nodding, he leaned down, dropping a kiss on her mouth and then one on her nose. “Happy Birthday, baby.”

  Ryan was next. As soon as Apollo stepped back, he sat next to her, taking her coffee and putting it on the bedside table. “I missed you this week, Nore.”

  “You’re a studying fiend.” It was okay he was busy. “Go get A’s.”

  His kiss was different than Apollo’s, who was always so careful of her. Ryan commanded her body, wringing out whatever respond he wanted from her. She arched toward him, holding his face to hers when he would have pulled away.

  “See you tonight.”

  “Good luck, Ryan. Are the rest of you headed out, as well?” she asked, trying to play it cool. Even if they all had to leave, this birthday left every other birthday in the dust.

  There were a series of head shakes, and one giant yawn from Matisse. “Nope. We are at your beck and call.”

  Poor guy. “I beck you to bed.” She pointed to Matisse and then the door.

  Ignoring her, he pulled out his phone. “I don’t know you can use that word like…” He shook his head. “No. Definitely not used that way.”

  Pushing her blankets aside, she stood and stretched. “Okay. Well, I want you to go back to bed. In a few hours, maybe, I will call you.”

  “Nope.” He threw himself on her bed. “I don’t want to miss the fun.” He folded his hands under his head.

  Nora pulled the covers over him and smoothed his long hair away from his face.“Go to sleep. Just for a little while.”

  Leaning forward, he kissed her quickly. “You sure?”

  “I’ll see you in a bit.” She grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt from her dresser and followed Cai and Seok out of the room.

  “I’m just going to throw these into the bathroom.” Hurrying down the hall, she put her clothes on the sink and came back. “So you’re mine today?” she asked the waiting guys, accepting her coffee from Seok.

  “We are. What will you do with us?”

  Hmm. Staring out the window, she smiled. “Could we go to Mount Charlotte? It’s only a mile up. We could be back after lunch.”

  “You want to go on a hike?” Cai glanced at Seok. “You don’t want to, I don’t know, go shopping?”

  Shopping wasn’t on her radar. “Nope.”

  “Birthday hike.” Seok grabbed her, spinning her around the kitchen. “You got it.” He held onto her, waiting until her body stopped listing from side to side.

  “When do we leave?”

  “As soon as you’re dressed. We let you sleep late.” It was nearly ten.

  “Why’d you even bring me downstairs!” she called over her shoulder as she charged back through the house. “Chop chop! I want ass-in-seats in fifteen minutes!”

  “She’s a demanding little thing on her birthday, isn’t she?” Seok told Cai, but she couldn’t hear how he replied.

  This was what it was like to have a real birthday. She ran up the stairs and into the bathroom, brushing her teeth, washing her face and braiding her hair so it rested over one shoulder.

  As she leaned over the sink, checking her reflection, she startled. Her eyes were sparkling. She’d heard people describe sparkling eyes, but she’d never seen them on herself. Usually she looked tired, or… regular. But now, she looked happy. Excited. Her cheeks were pink and her mouth turned up, ready to smile. She put her hands to her cheeks. She was jumpy and energized, and completely unlike herself.

  She was the girl she always wanted to be.

  Before she went back downstairs, she checked on Matisse. Still on his back, one hand hanging off the bed, and the other covering his eyes, he was fast asleep.

  Dead to the world. She crept inside and scribbled a quick note to him, propping it on the pillow.

  Cai and Seok waited at the bottom of the stairs. They smiled up at her, and for a moment, she had a flash of herself descending to them like it was the prom, or her wedding.

  Whoa. She needed to redirect her thoughts.

  “Have either of you been hiking at Mount Charlotte before?” she asked when they were all in the car and Seok had pulled out of the driveway.

  He shook his head, but Cai nodded. “We bring the kids up there in the summer. I’ve camped there a few times. Have you?”

  “Once. In elementary school. We had a field trip. Hiked to the top, had lunch, walked down the access road. It was beautiful. I’ve wanted to go back forever. I remember I could see the lake, and all the way to the Adirondacks.”

  “Should we grab some snacks for the way?” Seok asked.

  “I’m good. But probably water. I forgot to look for water bottles.”

  Cai rummaged at his feet before handing back a bottle. “I was on it.”

  “Then we’re good!”

  They were well out of town now, and on either side of them stretched grassy fields. The sun was shining so brightly it felt like summer. Nora hoped there would still be enough foliage left to see some color when she got to the top, but she didn’t really care. In the fall, after the leaves fell, the far off mountains took on purple hues which were just as pretty.

  “Tally-Ho,” she read. A giant iron horse stood guard in front of a run-down building proudly declaring itself the Tally-Ho Hotel.

  “We’re almost there,” Seok chuckled, and then glanced to the side when Cai nudged him. “Oh. Ha!” He snorted.

  She laughed at Seok’s snort, and Cai laughed at her laugh. If Nora had come across three people as goofily happy as they were, she would not have held back any eye-rolls. But she loved that she was the goofy one today. She got to laugh and she had nothing to do, nothing to worry about, except enjoy her birthday. A distant memory of a past birthday threatened, but she shoved it away. She didn’t want it tainting her best day.

  They pulled into a small parking lot at the base of Mount Charlotte. The leaves were mostly gone, but where they were a few trees hung onto their colorful foliage. With the sun shining, the air was warm and dry.

  “I’m ready.” She pushed her sleeves above her elbows and tucked an errant curl behind her ear. Bouncing on her toes, she waited for the guys to get their packs on.

  There were two signs pointing toward the mountain trail: easy, difficult. She didn’t even pause, hea
ding toward the side that said, difficult.

  “Are you sure you want to go this way?” Seok asked, jogging to catch up.

  “Yes. The easy way is the road.”

  “It’s better to come down the road. The trail can get muddy, and it’s pretty steep. They don’t want you stepping off the trail and ruining all the flora, so it’s best to take the road down.” Cai adjusted the straps on his backpack, tilting his head to look up at the mountain.

  God, he was beautiful. The sun reflected off his hair so she could see all the shades of gold. There were strands nearly white, and those so deep a gold they were almost brown. She touched his hair, running her fingers through the longer strands and cupping his neck. He turned and smiled at her, his golden eyes crinkling at the sides.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, standing on tiptoe to kiss his chin. It was as far as she could reach without him bending down to her. She should have known it wouldn’t be enough for him, because he dipped down again, this time making sure to catch her lips.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Reaching for Seok, who’d walked a little ways ahead, she snagged his hand and pulled him to a stop. When his fingers entwined with hers, she lifted it to her mouth, kissing it. “Thank you, Seok.”

  He held onto her hand, pressing it against his heart. Bowing his head, he stared at her with dark intense eyes. “My pleasure.” He glanced over at Cai. “Since you are the last person who was here as an adult, you lead the way.”

  In return, Cai saluted him. The hike was quiet. At first, the trail meandered along the base of the mountain. It crossed the access road, and went through a campground shuttered for the season. Soon though, the pitch increased. Panting, her lungs and calves burning, she lunged from one rock to another.

  “I don’t remember it being so steep!”

  “Need a hand?” A long-fingered hand appeared in front of her face. She followed the line of his arm up to Seok’s chest and then to his face. He was smiling widely, his posture courtly.

  “Yes.” She pushed off the rock and then the next. Now and again, Seok would turn around when the steps between each rock were longer than her stride. At one point, Cai pushed her butt, while Seok dragged her forward. It was inelegant, at best, but she didn’t care. She had Cai’s hands on her butt, and Seok tucking her hand under his arm. Quite a few girls in the world would envy her position. So what if she was, maybe, not having as much trouble as she looked. She got to hold their hands and feel them touch her body.