Page 40 of The Cabin-A Reverse Harem Romance
I genuinely feared I’d never be the same without my brother, because when he died, a part of me died along with him.
Nolan put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to him, and I took comfort in his presence. Resting my head on his shoulder, I let it all out. I cried, not for the end of my relationship with Brad, but for my brother. Brad had only ever been a placeholder, someone I’d hoped might bring me happiness one day. Now, however, I had to put my faith in something else.
My period was still late. I could be a mother very soon, and that thought hit me like a ton of bricks. For the first time, I realized what it might mean, and I wasn’t scared or sad at the idea anymore. In fact, I felt a sense of relief, like a part of me had been returned. A child would never fully replace Aaron – nothing would ever do that – but a baby would give me a sense of purpose that I’d been lacking for so long.
Nolan lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his brown eyes. He wasn’t wearing his glasses again, and his hair was tousled a bit. His lips spread into a slow, sweet grin, causing my heart to skip a beat.
I’d just had sex with two of his friends, and there I stood, feeling like my heart might burst from my chest if I didn’t kiss him. Guilt washed over me, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. He was so gorgeous. Touching his cheek, I reveled in the soft and baby smooth feel of his skin. With eyes that glittered in the darkness, he looked down at me like I was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on, and it took everything in me not to kiss him.
It hit me then. Nolan wasn’t just telling me to be careful for me, but to be careful with the guys. He, along with both Trevor and Sean, probably even Chase, all had feelings for me. Just like I had feelings for them. What was I thinking getting involved with any of them, much less two out of four of them? It was wrong, and I realized the damage I could be doing.
I pulled away from his embrace, though it took a hell of a lot more willpower than I thought I had.
“I’m sorry, Nolan,” I said.
“Sorry for what?”
“For – for not realizing – ”
I didn’t know if I should say the words out loud. I couldn’t figure out how to string the words together, so I continued stammering like a fool instead.
“I mean, I see the way you look at me now,” I tried to continue. “And I’d just – well, you know what I did – ”
“Shh,” he said, pulling me to him, and stroking my hair. There was a flash of pain in his eyes, but it passed quickly. “I just want you to be happy, Elise. If Trevor or Sean make you happy, then so be it. Just be careful, they both care about you. As do I. And all any of us want is for you to be happy.”
“I care about you too,” I said, my voice coming out a bit thick and choked. “I care about all of you a lot, in ways I probably shouldn’t.”
Nolan cocked his head to the side and stared at me like I was some complex math equation he was trying to figure out, a problem he didn’t have the answer to, which was rare for someone with his intellect.
“Care about us how?” he asked.
“I love you,” I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I love all of you, and not in a platonic way or a brotherly way, I –”
Before I could finish my thought, Nolan swept me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. His kiss was softer and sweeter than the other two guys, and his lean, muscular body pressed me up against the wall, though he did so with a tenderness I found endearing. His hands found mine, lifting them up and over my head and held them down. The weight of his body pressed into me.
“I love you too,” he said softly against my lips.
His body stiffened, and he stopped moving. We’d both heard a sound. Someone else was moving about. Nolan pulled back from me and I almost crumpled to the floor, my heart racing, the adrenaline flowing, and my knees weak from the intense moment we’d shared. He grabbed hold of me, held me steady and kept me from falling, but refused to meet my gaze.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“No, I’m sorry,” I said.
“Maybe I should be the one apologizing,” Chase said, the sudden sound of his voice causing us both to jump out of our skins.
