Haru’s Love (A Stepbrothers BL Harem) - Chapter 60

“A housewarming party this weekend?” Tina asked from across the table. “Are you kidding me? Of course we’ll come.” She chuckled. “I’ve been looking forward to it since you announced you’re getting a new apartment, which is about time, by the way. I mean seriously, I was wondering how long you’d let yourself and your brothers rot in that old place where there’s barely any room to move. Poor Haru, having to put up with living in a closet-sized room for years.”

“Your brothers like the new place?” Peter asked. “It’ll be a big change, especially compared to your old apartment.”

Aiden nodded. “They love it and the space.”

Tina said, “I bet they do.” She took a sip of her soft drink and then sighed. “The office is so dull now that Haru isn’t coming into work anymore.”

“That can’t be helped,” Peter said. “He’s a student. He has to study.”

Once they finished lunch, the trio left the restaurant and headed back to the office. Aiden spent the rest of afternoon meeting new clients, and when he had a spare moment, he made himself a cup of coffee and then texted Haru, asking how things were going at home. There was no reply, and he suspected the boy was busy.

As he relaxed back in his seat and sipped on the coffee, Aiden thought about his relationship with Haru. Soon, he wouldn’t be able to have Haru all to himself anymore, and despite the fact he wasn’t looking forward to that, he knew he couldn’t stop the inevitable, the new members barging in that’d change the dynamics of their relationship.

Aiden brought his hand up and rubbed his finger and thumb on the bridge of his nose. “Fate, eh?” he said under his breath.

He was never the type to believe in anything like fate and destiny and legend or whatever. Since that trip to Japan and his private talk with Uncle Jin, however, his view of the world had somewhat changed a little.

Was he truly a reincarnation of some celestial creature? Was the purpose of his existence merely to be there for Haru, taking care of and protecting him like that of the Ono’s legend? He didn’t know, but there was no doubt where his attraction to the boy was concerned.

It was so damn strong, his attraction to Haru, that Aiden felt going a day without seeing Haru made him edgy and just plain morbid, as if his stamina had been drained away by a black hole. Another thing that still confounded him was why was it only him, Noah, and Mason who could smell Haru’s sweet, intoxicating scent; the scent that seemed to grow stronger every day. The new apartment was already filled with Haru’s fragrance, just as Noah had said it would. Aiden must admit that sometimes, he couldn’t stand the scent, especially when he had been deprived of Haru.

The scent, it acted like an aphrodisiac, making his blood run hot with desire, and it wouldn’t ease until he had had a taste of Haru’s sweet nectar by kissing him.

Come to think of it, Aiden hadn’t kissed Haru today, which probably explained why he was feeling a little agitated all morning. Fuck, if it was this bad for him when he could kiss Haru regularly, then how much worse would it be for both Noah and Mason? If the scent was overpoweringly strong in the apartment and they couldn’t control themselves, he wouldn’t blame them if they jumped on Haru and kissed the life out of the boy. Haru’s scent was probably partly to blame for Noah’s change in behavior toward Haru, Aiden concluded.

Speaking of Noah, Aiden knew he’d need to have a serious, private talk with the brother where Haru was concerned. He wasn’t about to stand for Noah’s continued harassment of Haru right under his nose, that was for sure.

“Hello?” Tina appeared in front of him, waving her hand in his face.

Fuck, he had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn’t seen Tina coming in.

He said. “What is it?”

“You seem a little preoccupied.” The woman chuckled. “Anything I can help with?”

Aiden shook his head. “No.”

Tina looked heavenward. “It’s not really a no, is it? It’s because you refuse to ask me for help.”

Aiden chuckled. “It’s going to resolve itself soon, so there’s no need to get you involved.”

The woman harrumphed. “Fine.” Turning on her heel, she said, “Your four o’clock is here.”

Aiden nodded. “Thanks.”

After he was finished with the new client an hour later, he started checking his emails and answering those. By then, it was six in the evening.

“Home time, hotshot,” Tina said at the door of his office. “I’m sure your cute Haru is eagerly waiting for your return, food ready on the table and all.”

Next to Tina, Peter chuckled. “That sounds great, doesn’t it?” He was looking at his wife, of course.

Tina narrowed her eyes at her husband. “Nuh-uh. I know that look. I’m not going to be a damn housewife, Peter, and you know I suck at it. Work is where I belong.”

Peter chuckled. “Yes, I know that, darling.”

Aiden eyed the two. He knew for a while now that they were working on getting a baby and that Peter wanted Tina to go part time. Tina, however, was a workaholic, much like Aiden, and refused to even consider reducing her hours at the office.

To Aiden again, Tina said, “We’ll see you tomorrow then. And say hi to your brothers for me.”

Aiden chuckled. “Will do.”

An hour later, he parked the car in the underground parking of the apartment building. Then he took the elevator up to the thirty-fifth floor where their unit was located.

“Tadaima,” he said as he came in through the door.

“Okaeri.” He heard Haru’s voice sing from a distance.

He came into the open-plan living area to see the place set up lavishly, which pleasantly surprised him. He must admit their apartment looked like a suite in a five-star hotel.

“Wow!” he expressed, chuckling.

Haru came up to him, grinning brightly, then said, “Do you like it?”

He nodded. “Yes, very much. Good job.” He leaned down and planted a solid kiss on Haru’s lips.

He missed this, the soft, warm lips that belonged to Haru against him. He wanted to deepen the kiss and plunge his tongue into that very desirable mouth, but he knew he couldn’t. Not here and not now. Reo was right there in the kitchen, after all, cooking.

He moved back and asked, “How was your day?”

“Busy,” the boy said. “And I’m tired now.”

He laughed. “I bet.” He left his briefcase on the sofa and went into the kitchen to the fridge. He got himself a can of beer. After taking a sip, he said to Reo, “That smells great.”

“I feel like tonkatsu tonight,” Reo said. “Mom always made tonkatsu whenever she wanted to celebrate.”

Now sitting on the bar stool on the other side of the countertop, Haru nodded. “Mom made the best tonkatsu, and we are celebrating tonight. It’s our first day eating home food in our new apartment.”

“Damn right.” It was Isaac’s voice at the door. He came skipping in and then took up a position on a bar stool next to Haru. Side by side, they looked like a pair of puppies waiting patiently for their food.

Speaking of a puppy, Aiden asked, “Aki?”

“With Mason,” Isaac said.

“Tadaima!” Noah’s voice came from the hallway.

“Okaeri.” A chorus sang out from Aiden, Reo, and Isaac.

“Something smells great,” the brother said as he came into the room. “Wow! Tonkatsu.”

Noah took off his suit jacket and left it on the side of the sofa, along with his briefcase on the seat.

“How was your presentation?” Isaac asked.

Aiden raised a brow. “You had a presentation?”

Noah nodded. “I did, and it was great. The higher-ups like my proposal so we’re working on it for the company’s next marketing promotion.”

“Sounds like a celebration to me,” Reo said, chuckling.

“By higher-ups you mean the heads of departments or…?” Isaac asked.

Noah burst out laughing. “You are damn keen on me making a connection with the Princetons, aren’t you?”

“Can’t deny that I am,” Isaac responded.

Noah loosened his tie and then rolled up his sleeves. “By higher-ups I mean Nicolas and Sebastian Princeton. They were there at my presentation, and me and my team are working directly with them.”

“Awesome, bro!” Isaac said.

Aiden chuckled as he patted Noah on the shoulder. “That’s great. Congratulations.”

Noah shifted his gaze to Haru, who was hiding behind Isaac, working on being invisible.

Aiden noticed Noah’s eyes on Haru and that Haru was doing his best to avoid the brother.

“What’s all the loud cheering about?” Mason appeared at the door, Aki in his arms.

Isaac said, “Noah did a presentation today, and the big boss Princeton brothers like his stuff. Now, they’re working together. Isn’t that great?”

Mason chuckled. “Sounds great, all right.”

Noah went to the fridge and got himself a can of beer while Mason put Aki down. On the floor, the little pup trotted over to Haru.

“Hey,” Haru said cheerfully as he bent down to pick the pup up.

Standing next to Mason, Aiden spotted the bite mark on the side of Mason’s neck and asked, “What happened to your neck?”

His words drew everyone’s attention to Mason, and the brother chuckled. “Just some little brat attacking me.”

Isaac rolled his eyes. “That’s what you get when you’re too good-looking. Must be girls. What? She got pissed you rejected her and she attacked you or something? That’s some scary shit, bro.”

On the other side of the room, Haru’s face had turned quite crimson, and Aiden noticed that the boy was a bit more quiet than usual.

“Dinner is ready,” Reo said, placing the last piece of the deep-fried crumbled pork cutlet that was tonkatsu on the plate. “Let’s eat.”

Everyone took their seats around the new fancy dining table as Reo brought around the food. Haru had Aki on his lap as they ate, and Isaac chatted nonstop about this and that, like usual.

“Is beer nice?” Haru blurted out.

Aiden, who had just taken a sip of his, looked at him.

“I was just wondering since I’ve never tried it before.”

Isaac chuckled. “You’re a beer virgin, Haru.”

Haru frowned. “Is that even a thing?”

Isaac nodded. “Yep.”

“Then I bet you’re one, too,” Haru said. “I’ve never seen you drink before.”

“I do drink,” Isaac said defensively. “When I’m with my friends. I don’t want to…be a bad role model to you since you’re my beloved younger brother.”

Noah snorted. “Is that so?”

Isaac nodded furiously.