Haru’s Love (A Stepbrothers BL Harem) - Chapter 38

It wasn’t long before I found myself, along with Aiden, immersed in the hot spring after we had washed ourselves clean in the shower with the essentials provided. The water temperature was perfect, easing my aching muscles and joints from the days of traveling.

I sighed as I relaxed back against the side of the rocky pool on the opposite side of Aiden.

“Feeling better?” Aiden asked.

I nodded. “Mm-hmm. Much better.”

I was just enjoying the peace and quiet, when suddenly, noises came from the sliding door of the suite.

“Whoa! Awesome.” It was Isaac, and he sounded, as usual, excited. “Bro, Haru, you guys are already in? Why didn’t you call me?”

“Isaac, you’re so noisy.” I heard Noah’s voice next.

I turned to see Isaac, stark naked, rushing into the pool. “Jesus! It’s cold out here.” Then a splash, followed by a satisfied sigh. “Ahh… It feels so good in here.”

Noah, also naked and with a tiny cloth covering his front, came into the pool as well. A few moments later, Mason, followed by Reo and Connor, joined us.

I had just only recently gotten used to this, bathing in a hot spring pool with all my brothers and Connor—naked—since we had stayed in a Japanese inn back in Kyoto a couple of days ago.

Noah sat beside Aiden, and both had their eyes closed, looking like they were simply enjoying the pool. Next to Noah was Connor, and then to the left was Mason and then Reo.

Isaac was heading my way on this side of the pool, and I knew he was up to something, like usual. When he was close, he started splashing water on me.

“Isaac!” Since I couldn’t help myself, I splashed water back at him. “Take that!” I hauled a handful with all my might, throwing the mineral water his way. I thought I had gotten him good, but Isaac wasn’t backing down. He did the same to me, and suddenly, we were tackling each other in the pool like a pair of pro boxers, laughing our heads off.

“They’re still acting like kids,” Noah said from the across the pool.

Isaac paused his attack and turned to Noah. “Who are you calling kids, Noah?” he said as he gathered water.

Noah stared, his gaze zeroed in on the water in Isaac’s cupped hands. “Don’t you dare, Isaac, you rascal.”

But it was too late. Isaac splashed water at Noah, who glared at him. Beside him, Connor cracked up, laughing loudly, though that didn’t last long because Isaac splashed water on the man, too.

Isaac’s joy came to a sudden halt when he noticed the dark look on Connor’s face. “Shit,” he said.

Yep, shit was right, and it was about to hit the fan. I chose that moment to make my escape. A showdown was about to begin, after all, and I didn’t want to be in the way.

I found myself sitting beside Aiden, whose eyes were twinkling. He had a big grin on his face, too.

He stroked back wet hair back from my face and said, “You having fun?”

I chuckled. “Yeah. Haven’t done that for a long time.”

He pulled me to him and kissed me on the lips. It was nice, and I melted in his arms. God, but I just felt so happy.

I heard Noah say, “You two, stop being lovey-dovey in front of us.”

Aiden terminated the kiss, and I reluctantly moved back.

Reo said, chuckling, “You sound jealous of the two of them, Noah.”

Noah said, “They’re the only two in our family who have somebody. Of course I’m jealous as hell.”

Aiden raised a brow. “Jealous? I didn’t know you were jealous of us, Noah. That’s news to me.”

“Me, too,” I said.

Mason said, “It’s not like you can’t get yourself a girlfriend, Noah, considering your looks.”

Reo nodded in agreement. “Most are only too willing to go out on a date with you.”

Noah said, “A girlfriend is too much work.”

Reo said, “Then a one-night stand?”

Noah waved Reo’s suggestion aside. “A one-night stand is a pain in the ass, and I don’t go and spend the night with just any random girl. That’s not my style.”

Mason said, “You’re a lost cause.”

Noah chuckled. “I am, aren’t I? Though I don’t mind that.”

A loud scream suddenly erupted, and I turned to see Connor tackling Isaac in the pool, with the boy demanding Connor to let him go at the same time begging us for help.

I considered saving Isaac, but knew I’d only get tackled as well, brutally, by Connor’s hands, and so I decided to stay put to save my own hide. Naturally, the others wisely did as well since they didn’t want to ruin Connor’s fun. Isaac was a hot mess and his skin was all red with bruise marks by the time Connor decided to let him go.

“You left me to die, didn’t you, Haru?” he moaned to me thirty minutes later when we left the pool, with small towels wrapped around our waists. “I begged for help and you wouldn’t even save me from that bastard’s brutal hands.”

I scratched my head as I said, “Sorry, but I figured I’d only get in the way.”

“Get in the way of what?” Isaac demanded. “Of Connor finishing me off?” He was seething now. “I swear I’ll get him back for this. My skin is all bruised.”

“Well, your skin does bruise easily,” I said.

“How long are you going to continue bitching about Connor, Isaac?” Aiden said behind us. “Get dressed. Dinner is being served soon.”

After rinsing ourselves off in the shower room, we changed into dark-green yukatas provided by the hotel and headed into the living area. There, two Japanese male staff were already setting everything up, with three low tables being joined together, along with an array of delicious-looking food arriving behind us. This was definitely kaiseki to the finest, with the star ingredient being wagyu beef. Nice.

“Whoa! Looks awesome,” Isaac said. “Wagyu beef. I’m in heaven.”

“Me, too,” I said, and we eagerly took our positions on the floor like two obedient little boys, waiting to be served. We must have amused Aiden because he cracked up laughing.

“What are you laughing about?” It was Noah who asked that question as he entered the room.

Aiden said, “Them.”

Noah looked over at us, and he must have found us amusing as well because he chuckled. “You two are a pair of idiots.”

Isaac pulled a face. “How rude, bro. We’re not idiots.” He pointed a finger at Noah. “You’re the idiot who doesn’t stop your friend from bullying me. From this moment on, I declare that you are no longer my bro because you neglected your duty to protect me.”

Noah raised a brow. “Hah? Are you disowning me because I neglected to protect you from Connor? Are you fucking kidding me?” He marched to Isaac and caught the boy by the collar of his yukata. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around, you little rascal, causing me so much trouble. Know your damn place already, you brat. If Aiden and I hadn’t pitched in to pay for your flights, accommodations, and food, you wouldn’t be here enjoying your goddamn time in the first place. Be grateful.”

Isaac must have realized he was overstepping with his jesting and looked a little freaked out by Noah’s sudden outburst.

“Joke,” he said, his voice a little shaky. “I’m sorry, bro. I was joking. Jesus, can’t you take a joke?”

Noah let Isaac go, who heaved a sigh of relief.

Aiden came to sit beside me and then poured himself a cup of green tea.

The staff must have felt uncomfortable at witnessing what had just transpired between Noah and Isaac because one of them came over to Aiden and asked, “Is everything all right, sir?”

Aiden nodded, along with a handsome smile. “Everything is fine. Don’t mind them. This is normal.”

The guy bowed his head. “Is that so?”

Noah sat down opposite Isaac, and he, too, poured himself a cup of green tea. As he was sipping, Isaac asked, “Seriously, bro, what came over you?” He leaned forward and asked, “Are you, by any chance, pent up or something? Because seriously, if you are, I know a yaoi manga app—”

Noah covered Isaac’s mouth with his hand. He said, “You’re so annoying, you little brat, so just shut it, will you? And who told you I’m interested in shitty yaoi manga? How is that going to get me off?”

“Really? You’re not interested in yaoi manga? Seriously?” Isaac wasn’t backing down.

Then Mason, Reo, and Connor came in, and they took their seats around the table.

Connor asked, “What are you guys talking about?”

Noah said, “It’s nothing, just Isaac being Isaac, working on recruiting me to become a yaoi fetishist like him.”

“Fudanshi,” Isaac said. “It’s called fudanshi, when a guy likes gay comics.”

“Really? Isaac, you like gay comics? That’s news to me,” Connor said.

Isaac folded his arms across his chest as he said, “Everything about me is news to you, Connor, so no need to be surprised.”

Reo chuckled. “He and a bunch of his friends love yaoi manga. They have yaoi conferences every Saturday night at the apartment.”

Connor said, “Hmm, I might be interested in gay comics. How about showing me the ropes, Isaac?”

Isaac’s eyes brightened up at hearing those words, but just as quickly, he changed his expression to one of suspicion. “Yeah, you nearly got me there, Connor, like you’re interested in that sort of stuff. I’m not falling for your tricks.” He turned to the staff and asked, “Can we eat yet? I’m starving.”

The guy chuckled. “In a moment, sir.” Then he and his friend got down to the real work, cooking us our meal. Naturally, we were all immersed in their preparation, and boy, but the food was simply divine. When it came to the wagyu beef, my mouth was literally watering. I couldn’t wait to bite into the soft morsels.

Noah suddenly burst out laughing. It seemed he couldn’t help himself. He said, “Damn, but you two look like a pair of pups when staring at the meat like that.”

He was referring to me and Isaac, of course, and he was right, the two of us acted like little pups who couldn’t wait to lap up our dinner.

When the guy who was cooking us the meat finally said, “Dozo,” Isaac and I dug right in.

The moment the meat was in my mouth, I felt like I was in heaven, so good it tasted, with the morsel literally melting against my tongue and the fat dancing around in my mouth so sensually.

“Ngh…” I groaned out, basking in the delight, just savoring the taste. But then, my delight came to a sudden stop when I felt Aiden’s hand cover my mouth.

He said, “Stop making that sound, Haru.”

I was confused at first but then realized what he meant. The satisfying sound I was making while eating wagyu beef was similar, if not the same, to the ones I cried out when Aiden was making love to me.

Noah said, “Stop making that annoying noise, Isaac.”

I turned to see that Isaac was also in his own little world where the only thing that existed was wagyu beef. He was making that so-good sound loudly, like I had done.

But of course, Isaac wasn’t listening and continued to enjoy his meal loudly.

Reo said, “If you don’t stop expressing that silly noise, Isaac, I’m taking away all your wagyu beef.”

Isaac finally stopped and snapped his eyes open. “What? No way, Reo. I promise to eat quietly. Please don’t confiscate my meat.”

Dinner went smoothly after that, and we thoroughly enjoyed our kaiseki meal. Since I was tired and still feeling slightly feverish, I turned in early, leaving the others to enjoy a card game. I was just making myself comfortable in my freshly made futon when Aiden came in.

I raised my head from the pillow and asked, “You’re not playing cards with the others?”

Aiden shook his head. He came over and peeled away the duvet from me. “I’d rather spend time with you.”

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Can’t I share a futon with you?” he replied with a question of his own.

“But it’s too small,” I said.

Aiden wasn’t listening. He got right in and pulled me into his arms. “I don’t mind. Besides, it’s cozy, since it’s cold.” He snuggled his nose against the crook of my neck. “You smell nice.”

Despite my act of protest, I liked it that I was sharing a futon with Aiden. He was right; it was rather cozy and warm with him close to me. I said, “I’m tired. I’m going to sleep now.”

Aiden kissed me on the cheek. “Good night, Haru.”

“Night, Aiden,” I said, closing my eyes.