Crave: A Reverse Harem Romance

by Roma James

  I felt a little embarrassed telling the story. Not that I regretted what I did, not at all. I had kept Diesel from getting hurt. I had zero regrets. But at the same time, it made me sound violent, which, really, I wasn’t at all.

  But the guys looked impressed, which eased my worry.

  “Wow. That was…” Ryker seemed like he was trying to find the words. “Just… good job.”

  “Yeah, quick thinking,” Axel answered. “Thank you for helping my brother out.”

  I smiled and looked over at Diesel. “Well, he helped me out first.”

  “Harlow!” I heard someone else call, this time it was a female voice.

  Liza was running toward me. “Girl, where have you been all night?” She laughed, blissfully unaware of the insane series of events this night had become.

  “You have no idea,” I said, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

  She could tell by my tone that something bad had happened. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine now,” I told her as I sighed.

  She looked confused. “Well, I mean, is everything alright? Do you want to go home or—”

  Actually, I did. Lately, I couldn’t get enough of Crave. But I wasn’t exactly in a partying mood anymore.

  “You should go home,” Diesel told me. “You need to get some rest.”

  Ryker and Axel nodded in agreement. “Yeah, go sleep. Just relax.” Ryker added.

  This only confused Liza more because all of them agreeing I needed to rest added to the serious vibe of the situation.

  “Okay. Yeah, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

  “I’m completely sober,” Liza spoke up. “We can take my car home.”

  I nodded as I got off the bar stool. “Thanks for your help tonight, Diesel,” I told him.

  “Of course,” he answered, giving me a gentle rub on the back.

  I gave all three of them a quick wave and they said goodbye. As Liza and I walked away, she began to question me relentlessly.

  “What the hell is going on?” she asked. “What happened tonight?”

  I sighed. Where to even begin? “Well, you know how I disappeared to find Axel?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, I didn’t find Axel. I found Ryker.”

  She eyed me suspiciously. “As in, you found him and you…”

  “Hooked up? Yeah, that happened.”

  “Oh my God, girl!” She laughed. “But I don’t understand. You seem upset. I mean, what happened? Did Axel get jealous and there was some kind of fight? Or…”

  “No, no, nothing like that,” I told her. Though I wondered if the other guys knew about what happened with Ryker, would there be any jealousy? “No, everything with Ryker was fine. But afterward, I came down here to look for you and this total fucking creeper comes up to me. He’s mad that I am obviously blowing him off, so he grabs me and starts dragging me outside of the club.”

  Liza’s jaw dropped. “Holy hell, Harlow, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. We barely got outside when Diesel came and punched him in the face. He let me go, but then the creep started beating on Diesel, so I kind of… hit him over the head with a pipe.”

  In addition to her dropped jaw, which was still hanging open, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She had the expression of a cartoon character.

  “Holy… damn. You are kind of a badass.”

  I laughed. “Well, I didn’t feel like a badass when I had to explain that to the police. I was pretty nervous about, you know, having cracked a guy’s skull open.”

  “But it was self-defense!”

  “Yeah, and the cops seemed to see it that way. So all was good, but I’m just saying… it was stressful.” I avoided the crack in the sidewalk as we made our way to the parking lot, I didn’t want my heel to get caught.

  “No freaking kidding. You were right, you did have an absolutely insane night.”

  And I didn’t even tell her about the oral sex with Diesel. Maybe I shouldn’t…

  “Yeah…” was all I said in response. But I was a bad liar, even for a lie of omission, and she immediately knew something was up.

  “Wait, did anything else happen?”

  “No, not really. Just… I mean, it was no big deal or anything, but I may have fooled around with Diesel a little, too…”

  “You had sex?” She gasped.

  “No, no… just, you know, a little messing around.”

  She was cracking up. “Seriously, who are you and what have you done with Harlow?”

  Honestly, I had no idea. I did feel like a totally different person, someone I didn’t even recognize. This night was a far cry from my usual Friday nights of tea and reading.

  But I liked this version of myself. She was… better. She was brave, fun, spontaneous. This Harlow knew what she wanted and she went after it. I was proud of myself. And I was truly enjoying my life now, as crazy as it happened to be at the moment.

  We were about to reach her car when I heard someone call my name. “Harlow!”

  I turned around to see Axel running up behind me.

  “Oh, hey,” I said softly.

  “Can I maybe talk to you?” he asked.

  I looked over at Liza.

  “Sure, I’ll just wait in the car,” she said.

  “I’m sorry,” Axel began as Liza shut the door behind her. “I just couldn’t let you leave without finding out how you were doing.”

  That was sweet, though I’d come to expect nothing less from Axel.

  “I’m fine, really. It was a crazy night and I think I’m in a little bit of shock, but… I’ll be okay.”

  “Okay… I’m just really worried about you. This was an insane night. I’ve never seen you look so shaken up.”

  “It was pretty crazy,” I admitted. “And having to be violent with someone like that? Yeah… I won’t deny I’m feeling kind of a mess right now.”

  “Do you maybe want to come back to my place? Not to hook up,” he said quickly. “Just to stay the night, if you don’t want to spend it alone. I promise, no funny business. I just want you to feel safe.”

  I had to admit, I melted at the thought. And I didn’t really want to be alone.

  But I shouldn’t say yes. I was doing my best to keep my emotional distance from all three of these men. It was only supposed to be about sex. I couldn’t go getting attached. And a night of just sleeping at his house?

  Yeah, that seemed attached.

  I was preparing myself to say no, but evidently I had no willpower because what came out instead was “yes.”

  “Really?” He looked surprised.

  “Uh, yeah.” I was surprised, myself. “Let me just tell Liza.”

  I walked up to her car and knocked on the window. She rolled it down.

  “Hey, um… you don’t have to take me home after all. I think I’m going to go home with Axel.”

  She gave me a cheeky smile. “Not a problem. Call me tomorrow, okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah… I will,” I told her.

  She rolled it back up and then began to reverse out of the parking lot, giving me a wave as she drove by.

  When her car was gone, I looked over at Axel.

  “So, my place, then?”

  “Yeah, your place.” I smiled.

  I’d obviously never been to his or any of the guys’ houses before, so I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. As it turned out, Axel lived downtown in this absolutely gorgeous penthouse.

  When I walked in the door, I couldn’t help but gasp. It was straight out of a magazine. An all-white kitchen covered in gorgeous marble. A television that literally spanned his entire wall in the living room. Gorgeous tile floors throughout the place. It was one of the prettiest homes I’d ever seen.

  “You’re really living in the lap of luxury, huh?” I asked him.

  “Oh, it’s not all that…” He laughed, trying to play it off.

  I raised my eyebrows at him. “Seriously?”

  He chuckled again.
“Okay, okay, yeah. It’s pretty awesome, I’ll admit that. I enjoy it a lot. It’s so wildly different from the home Diesel and I grew up in.”

  “He told me,” I said, nodding. “I think it’s really impressive the way you guys managed to accomplish all this for yourselves.”

  He looked pleased. “Thank you, I really appreciate you saying so. It’s been a crazy journey, but I’m really happy to be here.”

  Then he looked at me oddly. Something about his stare told me that when he said he was happy to be here, he meant he was happy to be here with me. Like, in this very moment. But that couldn’t have been what he meant, right? I mean… I didn’t actually mean anything to him.

  Did I?

  “So, what do you want to do?” he asked me. “I want you to be as comfortable as possible. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you want me to order some food? Or we can just watch TV or—”

  I cut him off with a smile. “You’re so sweet, but relax. I’m totally fine. Honestly, more than anything… I just want to go to sleep.”

  I felt a little awkward saying so, since, you know, I was in his house and all. It felt so awkward sleeping at someone else’s place. But it was the truth. That was what I wanted to do in this moment. Just lay down for a while.

  “We can absolutely do that,” he told me.

  “Really?” I asked, comforted by the thought.

  “Yeah, sure.” He looked me up and down, staring at my dress. “You’ll probably want to change into something more comfortable, though. I’ve got a t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts you can have.”

  “Oh…” I hadn’t thought about that. “Yeah, that would be great.”

  “Follow me,” he said, as he stepped into his bedroom.

  His room was about as extravagant as the rest of the house. Once again, he had another giant television in here. Why he’d ever need both, I really wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t about to question it when he’d been so gracious in his hospitality. I really appreciated his kindness tonight.

  I had needed it.

  He went into one of his drawers, his dresser was a sleek black with more marble countertops, and pulled out a large black t-shirt and some dark gray gym shorts.

  “Will these work?” he asked.

  “Yeah, that would be fine,” I said, as I walked over to him and took them.

  “Okay, well, I’ll leave you to get changed…” he said, and he began to step towards the door.

  I had to laugh. “Seriously?” I said.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I mean… you’ve seen me naked several times now. You think I can’t get down to my bra and panties in front of you?”

  He laughed. “I had no problem with it, I just wasn’t sure what you would be comfortable with here. I said no funny business, and I meant it. I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “Well, don’t worry,” I told him. “I don’t think it’s possible for you to make me feel uncomfortable.”

  I truly meant that. He was such a sweet guy, and he was nice to me in every way. There was just no chance that he was ever going to make me feel weird. I loved being around him, I truly did.

  I pulled my dress off, and he made it a point not to stare as I pulled the t-shirt over my head and the shorts over my legs.

  “Alright, well, you can go ahead and sleep in here,” he told me. “But if you need anything like a drink or something, I’ll be in the room next door.”

  “Okay…” I said, a little disappointed that he wouldn’t be staying in here with me.

  “Alright. Goodnight, Harlow.”

  But I couldn’t just let him go. I didn’t want to watch him leave. The words came spilling out of me.

  “Axel, wait,” I called out.

  He turned around. “Yeah?”

  “Could you maybe just… stay here with me?” I asked. “If that’s not too weird, and if you don’t mind—” I did consider that he might not actually want to stay in here with me. Like maybe he enjoyed my company when we were having sex, but it was different when we weren’t. Maybe he just didn’t want to hang out with me if it wasn’t sexual.

  I began to get nervous that I was about to be rejected.

  “Sure. Yeah, I can do that. You want me to just… lie down with you?” he asked hesitantly.

  “I do. If that’s okay, I mean.”

  He nodded slowly. “Of course. It’s more than okay.”

  I climbed onto his bed and lifted his heavy comforter up as he went to his drawer and began to change into a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt. I kept my eyes off of him. I knew if I saw him changing I was going to get turned on, and surprisingly, I really didn’t want to have sex tonight. I was all sexed out today. I didn’t want any more adventures at all.

  I just wanted some calm.

  He climbed into bed behind me and inched closer and closer until he finally put his arm around my waist.

  I was hoping he’d do that. I so badly wanted to cuddle with him. I knew that wasn’t something I should have been craving since this wasn’t a relationship, but I couldn’t help myself. I’d had such a rough day, I was feeling so vulnerable, and I was desperate for that kind of attention.

  As soon as he put his arm around me, I let him know I was okay with it by inching back toward him until my body touched his and we were spooning one another. He grabbed onto me a little tighter, then put his whole arm around my torso.

  It instantly relaxed me. I felt warm, safe, and like I was at home even though I was in his house. It was the kind of comfort I so desperately needed right now.

  I hated that I thought it, but…

  I could really get used to this.

  Chapter 13 - Axel

  I looked over at Harlow, who was sleeping like a baby. Shortly after I had cuddled up next to her, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

  I didn’t fall asleep right away, though. I couldn’t, because I kept having to remind myself that this was real… that I was cuddled up with the most interesting, gorgeous woman I’d ever met. It took probably an hour for me to fall asleep. I was just soaking in the feeling of holding her in my arms.

  Eventually I did, though. But now, in the morning, I was once again staring at her as she slept, soaking her in. I couldn’t help myself. I’d never felt this way about any woman. She looked so peaceful sleeping next to me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

  It was different from the way I couldn’t take my eyes off of her previously. She was gorgeous, and when I’d stared at her before, it was with desire.

  But this went so far beyond sex. I didn’t only desire this woman, I had a genuine, serious interest in her.

  I felt a connection.

  The problem was that I could tell I wasn’t the only one who felt this connection with her.

  I wasn’t blind. I knew Ryker and my brother too damn well. We’d all been friends and co-owners for years. They both liked Harlow, I could tell. It had to be more than sexual with them too, because… well, first of all, Ryker doesn’t just hook up with any old girl at the club. And as far as my brother goes… I’d never seen him stare at any woman the way he stared at Harlow.

  He cared for her, which was saying a lot for my brother. He didn’t get attached to women.

  So what did this mean for all four of us?

  I was racked with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I was thrilled that Harlow was lying in my bed. Somehow I was even happier that we hadn’t had sex. That meant those emotions I had weren’t one-sided. She cared for me, too… enough to be content to just lie here and cuddle with me. That said something.

  Or did it? Was I reading into things? There was a chance that maybe it wasn’t me she had feelings for. Let’s be real here, Ryker and Diesel were some heavy competition. They were both rich like me, handsome like me… we all had our own qualities that made us attractive, interesting men.

  It broke my heart to think about that, though.

  So, what if she didn’t have feelings for me? What if this wasn’t reciprocated? That was a rej
ection I wasn’t even sure I could handle. I wanted her so desperately.

  On the other hand, what if she did like me?

  That meant that Ryker and Diesel would be heartbroken. Would this create a rift between us?

  I had no idea because this had never happened before. We had never liked the same woman prior to this. Occasionally we’d overlap in our hookups, but that was just sex. This was something totally different.

  What if they liked her as deeply as I did? Then no doubt, if she did have feelings for me and not them, it was going to bleed into our work and personal lives. They'd have to deal with the frustration and rejection that I was personally terrified of.

  It didn’t seem like there were very many ways that this could go over well.

  I felt some movement next to me and looked over to see Harlow stirring a little bit. She had this adorable look on her face. It was a little scrunched up, mostly at her eyebrows, like she was a little grumpy to be waking up. I thought any moment she was going to open her eyes and wake fully, but she didn’t. She just rolled over so that she was facing me and then seemed to fall right back to sleep.

  There was one thing I absolutely knew. Despite how complicated this situation was and how messy things could get, I wanted to explore it. Even if it meant potentially making things difficult with my brother and Ryker. Even if it meant I was going to get rejected and get my heart completely broken.

  I wanted that. I wanted her.

  That was the thought I was filled with as I looked at her, her dark hair falling in front of her face and beauty exuding from her like it did every second of every day… and she wasn’t just beautiful. She was smart, she was kind, she was funny, intriguing… She was everything I wanted.

  Though I wanted her more than anything, I also wanted her to be happy more than anything. So, yeah, I’d handle being rejected if it meant that she got to be with the man she truly wanted to be with. I wanted to see her get everything she wanted, even if it meant my heartbreak. She deserved that.

  It was a weird feeling that I’d never had before. Not that I wasn’t kind, because I was always nice, especially to women. But this was selflessness like I’d never known it.