Chapter 10

When we arrived at the house, it was late in the afternoon. My snail pace delayed us by a lot, not only in the morning but as we returned, too. Luckily, coming back did not seem as hard as going up, so I coped with fewer rest stops. The one carrying the plants did not even look tired, and just a thin sheet of sweat adorned his handsome forehead.

Sigh, he looked even more handsome while sweating.

My eyes unconsciously sneaked a few peeks at him. But, probably the reason for the stolen glances was due to what happened back in the mountain. I said I would let happen whatever had to happen, but I was really nervous back then. Nervous, eager and a bit shy, but I really enjoyed it.

In the front yard, Ethan was already back and working on the bathtub. It was already taking shape. Perhaps I did not have to wait long to finally properly soak myself.

Felix was folding a few shirts and pants that he had most likely washed and dried during the day.

There were no signs of Joseph, but there were a few vats of soil ready in a corner of the front yard, together with several pieces of wood placed beside the vats.

Were those for the garden fence? Ah, it seemed he truly was reliable when it came to planting.

"You're back." Ethan greeted us. "How'd it go?"

Why do I feel his question had a different meaning? Especially when his eyes stopped at our linked hands. It is not what it seems! Well, just a bit, but I was actually being dragged for the last half an hour just so we could return today. Or am I just suffering from a guilty conscience?

I reluctantly let go of Lucas' big hand and replied to Ethan. "It went well. We found lavender high in the mountains. When it blooms, it smells good." I smiled, recounting the little I knew about the flower. "Though, I think we need to make another trip to bring a few more stalks. Or if possible, find another flower."

My mind buzzed in excitement at the idea of having a plethora of flowers of different colors in the front yard.

And to spend more time alone with Lucas, of course.

"You ain't going." Ethan easily broke my dream with a few words. "You look half dead on yer feet right now. You're still healin'. This long walk was enough exercise for you." He explained as he pushed me towards the table.

Felix did not argue his brother's words when he was ordered to bring water, and only put a cup of fresh water in front of me.

"I..." My retort died in my mouth seeing the serious face of Ethan.

He sighed. "I know the wound doesn't look so bad, and that yer head no longer hurts. Which is nice. But, you need to know when to rest, to take care of yerself." I looked down ashamed at my own stubbornness.

It was not that I did not want to rest. I just hated the feeling of being a freeloader in this house with the hardworking yet poor brothers. I did not feel good being a burden.

"You're not a burden." Ethan said, guessing my thoughts. "We like havin' ya here, and we don't mind raising you." My heart thumped. For some reason, those words… I inadvertently looked up at Lucas and encountered his shining smiling eyes. I furiously blushed and ducked my head. "Imma look at your wound." I nodded, letting Ethan do whatever he wanted.

As Ethan removed the used and sweaty bandages, cleaned the wound, put the medicine on and wrapped it with clean new bandages, I pondered about his words.

I was not dreaming, right? Did they actually mean what I thought they meant? Was it even possible?

The logical part of me told me there was never something so good for free. However, another big part of me told me it was fine. My heart loudly beat in my chest in excitement as I remembered what happened between Lucas and me back in mountain with the lavender field as background.

>>><<<

"Belle."

"Yes?"

Not hearing him talk, I turned to look at him. I was faced with his smoldering eyes heavily staring at me. My mind just had the time to tell me 'this is it' before his face got closer and his lips covered mine. I closed my eyes and relished in his clumsy yet rough – due to his beard – kiss.

Feelings, as I said, were irrational; and it appeared I had never been rational when it came to feelings.

That is why I got closer to him and coiled my arms around his neck. He paused, giving me the chance to search for him, to take control of the kiss. He was a fast learner and immediately copied my lips' movements. One of his arms tightly locked my waist while his other hand stiltedly roamed my body.

He shyly stroke my back, and, noticing I did not stop him, he pulled me onto his lap. We resumed our kiss that was evolving into a hot mess of lips, tongue and teeth. His hands did not stay in one place anymore, emboldened by my willingness.

One of his big hands pinched my waist as it loomed around my butt while the other dangerously crawled up to my breasts. Without any warning, his hand started fondling my left mound making me let out a gasped moan.

As my mouth ran away from his, my lungs begging for air, his lips attached themselves to my clavicle. Due to our movements, my lapel top opened, giving him the chance to leave a trail of kisses across the clavicle, and his tongue even naughtily slid in between my breasts.

I gasped when I felt his hardness poking me, throbbing against me. It prompted me to start rubbing on him. He lowly groaned at my actions, though it sounded more like a growl, sending a shiver down my spine.

As we rubbed each other, he pulled my top open and lifted the bralette, leaving my breasts in the air. I had no time to feel shy when his mouth latched onto my nipples, first sucking one, then the other. His inexperienced yet eager actions tore moans from my throat.

My whole body felt so hot that it was starting to weaken, so my hands tightly gripped his shoulders for support.

After some time, our moves started becoming very frantic, as if we were racing to reach our goal. It was so close! I could feel it building up…

It all started so suddenly, and it was all over in a flash when I let out a keen sound, followed by a suppressed groan from him. We stayed in the same position heavily panting and enjoying the afterglow.

For some reason, I felt as if it was not the first time I did that, but it was the first time I felt very satisfied. I refused that thought to take root in my mind; my life was there and then now, not in the past I could not remember.

And even if I remembered one day, I did not want to abandon the life I suddenly found myself in. Perhaps it was all my ulterior motive of wanting to be surrounded by handsome men; but, the idyllic, simple, and hardworking life was to my liking.

The brothers were very much to my liking. Maybe I even liked them.

"Lucas?" I softly called out his name as my fingers carded his short hair.

He was the only one with short hair among the brothers. Ethan and Felix had long hair tied in ponytails, though the former had longer hair than the latter. And Joseph had short hair at the top and long tresses in the back; he looked the epitome of a bad guy with his haircut.

"Hm?" He hummed as his face remained buried in my neck, peppering it with kisses from time to time.

"Lucas… Do you like me?" I was not asking to be loved, or the unnecessary 'until death do us part'. I just wanted to believe that even if this started as a physical relationship, that it could evolve to something else in the future.

It seemed Lucas caught my uneasiness as he straightened and started gently arranging my clothes; covering my breasts with the bralette, and closing the lapel top. Then, he combed the locks of hair that had escaped from my braid. "I do." He confessed with a smile.

>>><<<

"Done!" Ethan's voice took me out of my memories. "It'll heal in a couple of days. But I think hair won't grow anymore after it scars." He looked at me with a hint of pity.

"It is fine." I replied, not really caring about a missing clump of hair that I can easily cover. However… My eyes minutely narrowed and a mischievous thought crossed my mind. "With or without that piece of hair, I will still look beautiful." I shamelessly declared, waiting for Ethan's answer.

He was surprised for a second before smiling. "Yes, you are." His fingers grabbed a lock of my hair, slowly twirling it around, to then let it go after he realized what he was doing. And with Lucas and Felix as our audience. He coughed. "I'll continue makin' the tub." Saying so, he stood up and walked away in a hurry.

Oh! My! Lord!

My assumptions were true!

I…

Have I landed myself in my own harem?!