Page 12 of The Cabin-A Reverse Harem Romance
A lump formed in my throat, and I had difficulty swallowing for a moment as the memory washed over me. Stopping before things had gone too far had been the right thing to do. It didn’t mean, though, that it had been easy, or what I really wanted. I adored Trevor, but I adored all my guys. Aaron wouldn’t have liked me hooking up with one of his friends – especially Trevor who’d had a reputation for sleeping around – so I’d avoided it.
As far as Trevor went though, I’d seen past that reputation he had, but I wasn’t sure Aaron would. He would have kicked Trevor’s ass for coming on to his little sister, and even though he was gone, both Trevor and I felt guilty for doing something Aaron wouldn’t have approved of.
The thing was, it wasn’t just Aaron’s memory that would be tarnished by us hooking up. The guys would disown Trevor if they knew. I’d always been the beloved baby sister to all of them. I was strictly off-limits, which was something I’d hated from the first time I met them. Because truth be told, they’re a fine group of men, and if they were good enough to be my brother’s friends, they were good enough to be with me. That’s what I thought at least.
Problem was, I couldn’t choose between the guys anyway. They all had their own personalities and quirks, which was something I adored about them. Trevor was a badass, or at least he liked to think he was, and played the part. On the inside though, the part very few people got to see, he was a teddy bear. He wanted love like anyone else. He wanted a family and a white picket fence one day, which was something you’d never guess by his normal attitude.
Then you had Chase. The good old boy-next-door. Chase was the type of man any woman would want to bring home to meet her parents. With his sweet smile and boyish good looks, I’d swooned over him from the moment I first laid eyes on him.
Every friend group also needed a nerd and a bad boy to be complete, and that’s where Nolan and Sean fit in perfectly. Nolan with his thick rimmed glasses and styled hair, his khakis and button-up shirts, it was hard to imagine him being part of an elite Ranger unit in the Army at one point. He’d settled into the civilian world nicely and was sharp as a tack. Sean, on the other hand, was always down to party. Like Trevor, he had a reputation as playing the field a bit, but I knew better. I knew Sean had a softer side, I’d seen hints of it before.
Taken as a whole, the group of them were an amazing team. Aaron had completed the team, being an athlete and was always in top physical form before he lost his leg. He was strong both mentally and physically, even though he struggled with his demons.
God, I missed him.
What would he think of me now? Dating a guy who put his hands on me like Brad did? I used to think he’d hate me dating Trevor, but I think Brad was worse. I just didn’t know that at the time. I had no clue he was the monster he turned out to be when we first started dating.
At first, he’d been so charming. That all changed later, though. Had my big brother been around to meet him, I don’t doubt he would have seen right through him, and he’d have told me to send him packing. I was as sure of that as I was of my own name. Aaron was always a good judge of character, or so I’d thought. He’d never liked anyone I’d dated before, didn’t think any of them were good enough for me. Maybe no one was in his eyes, but in this case, he’d have been right. I deserved better. I deserved a hell of a lot better than Brad could have ever given me.
I tossed and turned, listening to the sounds of Trevor in the next room, desire flaring up inside of me. My insides tingled as I closed my eyes and imagined what he was doing. We’d come so close to having sex that night not all that long ago. So very close. I’d touched him, and he’d touched me. His hands had been rough and wild as they explored my curves. His mouth pressed against mine with such need, such desire. I remember being elated that he felt the same way I did, and yet, he pulled back from me.
He stopped so suddenly, he pulled away and nearly fell off the bed. It was like a light went off in his head, and he was hit with the realization that I was Aaron’s sister. That I was a no-fly zone. I remembered that he stared into my eyes with such horror, but there was still that look of lust burning deep into his hazel eyes. He’d wanted me that night, and I’d wanted him. I reached for him, trying to pull him back to me.
