Triplet Time: A Reverse Harem Stepbrother Romance Read online

  I looked down at my fingers resting on the table top. “I had thought we were in with a real chance with her.”

  “We?” I glanced up to see Carl and Ben both with questioning looks on their faces.

  “Come on. We’ve talked about this. We all know we all want her. I was pleased for you both to see you go home with her last night, Ben, even though I wished it were me. If it’s not me, then I’d like it to be one of you two guys.”

  Ben nodded. “Yeah. Funny you should say that. I thought the same thing. If she doesn’t want me for anything more than a one night stand, then I hope she’ll date one of you two. I wouldn’t feel bad about that.”

  “It’s because we’re used to sharing between us,” Carl interrupted. “We’ve shared everything our whole lives; I don’t know why we wouldn’t share a woman too.”

  “You could be right. I just don’t feel jealous if I think of one of you with her.”

  “Whereas if it were another dude, you’d see red.” I finished the thought for him. “I’d want to rip the dudes head off and curtail his reproductive potential.” I wasn’t serious.

  We’d talked about this before, and the conversation confirmed again that we were of one mind.

  “Maybe you guys have got a chance with her, and I’d be cool with that,” Ben said and I knew he meant it. “But for whatever reason, I'm not the one for her. She’s made that clear. And you know maybe that’s why. Maybe she already prefers one of you two.” He looked between us and already seemed a little more relaxed than when he first walked in.

  “Well, first of all, you guys misunderstand me. I’d be happy if one of you dated her. I’d be happier if it were me. And I’d be perfectly fine with all three of us dating her,” Carl explained. “It’s not as if she’d be cheating if we all knew about each other. I think that would work well for us if she were into it.”

  “My mind has just, officially, exploded.” I looked around in all directions pretending to look for blood and brains splattered on the walls. “And it was obviously empty, hence the lack of a bloody mess.”

  Carl chuckled.

  “It’s weird, Carl. I don’t know anyone in real life who lives like that, but I’d be into it. Do tell me more.”

  “As I see it, three bros dating one girl has a lot of positive things to offer us.” He sat back in his chair and looked pleased with himself before glancing at his watch. “I should take my man, Ben here, out for a burger. He’s had a rough time. That will give you some alone time with her.”

  “Why me?” I asked.

  “Because Ben usually walks her to school and I’ve spent plenty of time alone with her too. It’s time you guys had some quality time. Just the two of you. You’re a cook. Cook her dinner.” Carl glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve made a start on the veggies, and there’s a ready cooked chicken in the fridge to go with it.”

  As Sophie was due home from school anytime soon, we didn’t sit around analyzing the pros and cons of Carl’s outrageous suggestion. Ben and Carl were up and out of the apartment within minutes.

  I wasn’t at all convinced that the idea of a menage with three brothers would appeal to Sophie. I certainly wasn’t about to suggest it to her, but clearly, Carl had gotten out of doing dinner, and I had to step in. I took stock of the peppers and onions that were partially chopped, and I turned my attention to the contents of the fridge.

  I decided to get out a tablecloth, napkins, and candles to make it just that little bit more special and romantic as it would be just the two of us. I set out wine glasses and a bottle of red.

  I didn’t have time to run out for fresh flowers, but the thought did cross my mind.

  Once all of the ingredients for dinner were laid out, and the room looked perfect, I nipped into my bathroom for a shower while I wondered what to wear.

  It would appear odd if I dressed too formally for a meal that I cooked for myself in my own home, just as I had done many previous times. Awkward when Sophie didn’t know we were on a date. But I wanted to make some effort. Clothes that were fresh and ironed and a clean body at least.

  While I showered, I thought about what Carl had said.

  We’d always lived together, assuming one day we’d move apart to live with our future wives, but living together worked well for us. It didn’t make sense to think that in a few years time I'd leave the brothers I’d lived with all my life to live with someone who at this moment was a stranger to me. There wasn’t anyone in my life currently who I’d consider as future wife potential, apart from Sophie.

  And if it was Sophie? She seemed to get along fine with the three of us, so why shouldn’t that work?

  Of course, Carl wasn’t suggesting the four of us living together as we do now. I didn’t know about Sophie, but I knew for damn sure my brothers and I weren’t ready to give up sex.

  We’d never shared a girlfriend before, and while I’ve heard of guys involved in tag-team, group sex events, that wasn’t something the three of us had ever done.

  Relationships were about more than just sex, of course. But it was important. I wouldn’t mind if we all did stuff separately or in the same room. There were obvious advantages as a guy on his own only has one mouth, one tongue and two hands. I imagined what we could do if we multiplied our assets by three. I liked the thought of all of us turning her on and blowing her mind with sexy fun.

  I was sitting back in the living room in clean jeans and shirt when she arrived home. I was holding open a book I needed to read for college, but I’d read the same page over and over while finding it difficult to focus.

  “Hi, Adam.” Sophie slumped on the sofa next to me. “I hope Carl’s on track with dinner, I’m starving. Where is he?”

  She must’ve seen the food out and almost ready.

  I stood up, abruptly. “He’s gone out with Ben, so I'm cooking tonight instead. It’s all ready to heat up, so it’ll be about ten minutes.” I walked over to the kitchen area.

  The chicken was already cooked. The rice needed reheating. It was just the vegetables that had to be stir-fried, and the salad brought out from the fridge.

  As I placed the salad bowl on the table, she seemed to notice for the first time the table linen.

  She stood up, came over, and sat in her usual seat. “This is very nice. What’s the occasion?” She asked.

  “I hope you don’t mind, the occasion is that it’s just you and me. Our first dinner alone. I thought it would be nice to make an effort to make it special.”

  “Ah.” She smiled warmly. “It’s lovely. Your cooking is always so delicious we should always have a fancy tablecloth so that it feels like we’re in a restaurant.”

  “Maybe. But without the silver service. And I’d feel under pressure to deliver something amazing every time. You know, arranging it on the plate instead of plonking it on in dollops.”

  “I don’t mind dollops.” She ran her fingers through her hair, holding onto a strand and wrapping it around her finger. “I don’t need everything done for me.”

  “I know. You’re far more independent than your mother knows.” I poured a little sesame oil into the wok.

  She cocked her head to one side and smiled. In stark contrast to Ben earlier, Sophie seemed perfectly cheerful. She was positively beaming.

  “Why you so happy?” I asked.

  “What’s not to be happy about? I live with three lovely guys who look after me in every way.”

  “Hey, when you cook it’s delicious too.” I scraped every last piece of colorful vegetable from the chopping board into the pan.

  “Well, it easy to make an effort when I’ve only got to cook once every four days. It seems the perfect living arrangement. I can’t believe we’ve only lived together for a few weeks and I can’t imagine a future in which I don’t live with you three.”

  “I feel the same.” I was itching to ask her about what happened between her and Ben. After all, the last time I saw her she was holding his hand and about to leave with him, but having seen Ben’s f
ace earlier, I couldn’t ask her.

  So far, we hadn’t developed the sort of relationship in which we’d share that kind of conversation, and. I couldn’t help thinking Carl should be with her right now, rather than me.

  I opened the bottle of wine to calm my nerves and help break the ice between us.

  Her eyes widened. “You boys never drink.”

  “And you exaggerate. It’s not never.”

  “Well, rarely then.”

  I walked around to pour her a glass of wine too.

  “I’m just going to wash my hands if dinner won’t be long.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  SOPHIE

  As I rinsed the soap from my hands, I looked down at my clothes and noticed the fine coating of charcoal dust, evidence of the artistic technique I’d been practicing that day. It must have been five minutes earlier when Adam announced we had ten minutes until dinner, so I figured I had five minutes to transform myself. If I put my hair up so that it didn’t get wet, I could take two minutes in the shower, two minutes for drying, and one minute to get dressed.

  I freshened up in great haste and felt better for knowing dinner would be on the table any second. I slipped into the first dress I laid my hands on, reasoning a dress would be faster than a separate top and bottom. And Adam had made an effort, and it would be nice if I dressed up for the occasion too.

  I was both relieved and disappointed that Ben wasn’t home. Relieved I wouldn’t have to face him and disappointed that I wouldn’t see him. After what happened the night before and the way he looked so deflated after our conversation when I said we should forget it, I was eager to get back to a status of normality in our relationship.

  “You’ve changed. You look nice.” Judging by the way Adam looked at me when I re-entered the dining area, he approved of my dress choice. I liked the way his eyes roved over my appearance. He began dishing up the hot food. “I'm going for the plonked on the plate approach again.”

  “It’s how it tastes that counts.” I sat down once again in my usual seat.

  Having a candlelit dinner alone with Adam wasn’t normal. I acted casual, but I couldn’t help feeling like we were on a date. It felt sweet, fun and romantic and it churned up all the emotions that I felt toward each one of these brothers. I liked them all more than I should and wouldn’t want to spoil what we had or choose between them.

  While we ate, Adam asked about my day at art school.

  “I’m experimenting with different materials and techniques. Today was charcoal.”

  “What was that like?” He nodded and seemed interested in what I had to say.

  “Done right, it can give a terrific effect. It projects an atmosphere. I worked on pictures of spooky buildings. It’s great for that atmospheric effect, but charcoal can be a difficult medium to use because it’s so easy to smudge and ruin the picture and charcoal is just so damned messy.”

  “Do you think you’ll use it often? Will it become a weapon in your arsenal?”

  “I don’t think so. I’m going to give it more of a chance. It’s good to have an understanding of different tools, but I don’t see me doing much with charcoal.”

  I paused to sip my wine between eating and talking. I wasn’t an experienced drinker. I could taste the fruity highlights, but the bitterness overpowered all else, and it was an effort to drink the red wine that Adam had poured for me. To keep him company I drank some of the wine and far more of the water which I’d gotten for myself.

  “What about you, what have you been doing today?” I asked politely because I knew Adam had been at college and everything about his business management course sounded dull.

  “Ah, well, we’re looking at motivation theory at the moment.”

  I must have looked blank. “What’s that?”

  “What motivates us to do we do the things we do. It’s fascinating.”

  “That does sound interesting.”

  “Yes. Understanding and using the theory could help predict customer actions and to motivate staff.”

  “And the application doesn’t sound as interesting as the subject.” Fortunately, Adam wasn’t offended. He’d gotten used to my blunt talking and laughed along with me. “I hoped you were going to explain why I do the things I do. It would be great to understand people like that.”

  “Agreed. I’m too new to the subject to come back with an answer. Or better yet, why don’t you just tell me what motivates you, Sophie.”

  I looked to the ceiling for an answer. “What motivates me? It depends on the situation. I was motivated to study art because I enjoy it and I’m good at it. Is that an answer?”

  Adam rested his arm on the table and cocked his head to one side. “I guess I’m more interested in what your motives are around Ben, and Carl, and me.”

  With each passing day it was harder to suppress the knowledge that I was very attracted to each and every one of these guys. Now I’d had a taste of Ben, literally, I was so curious to find out if that was a one-off or whether sexy times with each brother would be just as good.

  “Oh.” I swallowed. I knew my face went bright red; I could feel it. “I didn’t expect you to ask me about Ben. I thought he might have told you.” I thought Ben would be relieved when I told him we should just carry on as normal as if nothing had happened, but he looked really disappointed.

  Adam didn’t respond, didn’t move. Before the silence became uncomfortable, I felt compelled to say more. “Last night, I was motivated by lust. And then motivated by common sense when I left his room instead of staying there. Is that what you wanted to know? Do they have a theory about sleeping with the wrong person?”

  “Ben didn’t feel the same way. I mean, about you being the wrong person.” There was a small, almost imperceptible, change to Adam’s expression. He then sat up a little straighter. “If I could tell you what motivates people in one simple short answer, I’d be a very rich man. I think the purpose of the course is to make it clear that motives and aims are not always obvious or logical. So people don’t always do what you what you might expect them to.”

  I felt relieved we didn’t linger on my love life, and Adam moved the conversation on to more comfortable ground. “Oh. I can think of many examples of that. Or maybe I'm just bad at guessing what people will do because they always surprise me.”

  “Like I'm going to surprise you now, by suggesting cocktails. I haven’t got dessert, but I can rustle up surprising sweet drinks for after dinner.”

  I hadn’t finished the first glass of wine. I deliberately didn’t look at it.

  I was tempted to say I’d try anything once, but I didn’t think it was the right time for that comment, given what we’d just said about Ben. “I'm happy to give your cocktail a try. Although I should say I don’t have much experience of cocktails.” I didn’t have any.

  “Fear not. No prior experience necessary. You go and take a comfortable seat on the sofa in front of the TV and choose something for us to watch.” Adam picked up the empty plates. “I’ll be over in a minute with your alcoholic after-dinner beverage.”

  I was already buzzing from the evening of delicious food and pleasant company. I hadn’t finished a glass of wine, so I’d say the alcohol wasn’t to blame.

  I’d also been on a terrific high all day after the night before. I didn’t exactly regret sleeping with Ben because it had been an amazing experience, which gave me a lasting high. I wanted to do the same thing again and soon. I didn’t let myself dwell on the fact that I couldn’t be with one of my stepbrothers. Ben and I couldn’t be an item. We wouldn’t do that again.

  I guessed I was an optimist who was motivated by the slither of silver lining that I could see, rather than the vast gray-black storm cloud.

  I’d heard it said that sex, exercise, and laughter were three things that can elevate a person’s mood, so much so that it might lift them out of depression. Certainly, my first time with Ben had a great impact on my subsequent mood. It had been good enough to put a smile on my face for
the day. I loved it and wanted more.

  After leaving the table, I sat on the sofa and turned on the TV. I was still channel surfing when Adam came to my side. He handed me a drink andto deliberately dress in a way that was revealing.

  With my legs wide apart as I straddled him, I was both on top and in control but also vulnerable and exposed. I wouldn’t have wanted anything any different.

  I moaned, which must have revealed my thoughts as my hips moved slightly, rubbing my crotch against his, making clear my arousal. I knew I could stop this at any time. I knew I should. I knew stopping wasn’t going to happen.

  I’d wanted this so much. I’d initiated it. And now we were so close, I was hardly going to get up and walk away.

  I noticed him looking down at my thighs too, and I think I detected a wicked glint in his eyes. “Is this all right?” His fingers slipped under the hem of my dress and between my legs.

  “Yes,” I painted. My ragged breath betrayed my desires.

  My panties were probably as wet as they were when Ben had removed them.

  As this was my second journey into such intimacy, I felt a little less paranoid about my moisture than I did the day before.

  Adam must have liked finding me so wet as he moaned with pleasure when his fingers made contact with the wet cotton of my panties. I felt him push the gusset to one side. And I moaned with excitement when his strong fingers stroked up and down my pussy, over my sensitive clit and in between my folds.

  “Oh,” I sighed.

  I wished my dress would evaporate with my underwear too.

  I wanted to sit on his lap now like this, but naked, exposed, and wanton so that he could proceed to ravish me on the sofa.

  Maybe he could read my mind as his fingers invaded my entrance, probing into the passage, and making me moan.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ADAM