Haru’s Love (A Stepbrothers BL Harem) - Chapter 85

“I can’t believe you’re going to St. Joseph Island,” Isaac said, grinning. “If it’s nice there, maybe we all could go there some weekend, you know, for breaks and have some fun?”

Noah snorted. He reached out and ruffled Isaac’s bed hair. The boy had just gotten up, having spent the night sleeping there on the sofa.

“You’re always looking for fun, aren’t you, Isaac?” Connor asked from the across the room. The man was busy cooking breakfast: French toast with bacon.

“Well, fun is fun, isn’t it?” Isaac said, his eyes glued to the French toast Connor was transferring from the hot pan onto the plate.

“Then I’ll be tagging along,” Connor said. “Tell me when you guys are going there. St. Joseph Island is beautiful, especially in spring.”

“Really?” Isaac asked as he got up from his makeshift bed and headed over to the dining table. He eagerly took a seat and waited patiently as Connor divided up the French toast and bacon onto three plates.

Noah pulled a chair out and took a seat beside Isaac as he asked, “You’ve been there before?”

Connor nodded. “Once with Mom and Dad. It was ages ago, for a weekend trip. We drove past the Princeton Estate. They have a castle up there.”

Isaac widened his eyes. “A castle? For real?”

Connor chuckled. “Yeah. Or maybe not a castle, but it sure does look like one. Apparently, it looks even better in spring when the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. There’s supposedly a few hundred of those on the estate.”

“Wow!” Isaac said. “Now I can’t wait to visit there.” He turned to Noah. “Maybe if you can like get really friendly with Nicolas, we can stay with them in their castle?”

Noah said firmly, “That’s not going to happen. I’m not about to kiss Nicolas’s ass just so you can stay in a castle.”

Isaac pouted. “But it’ll be nice though, don’t you think?”

It was a bit later, when they were just about to finish with their meal when Noah asked Isaac, “Are you going to your classes today?”

Isaac nodded. “I have to. It’s important.”

“You need to go home and get your stuff? I’ll drop you off before heading to work.”

Isaac shook his head. “I brought my stuff with me since I knew I was going to stay here.” He chuckled. “And it’s okay, I’ll take the train later.”

“Suit yourself then,” Noah said, and after downing his coffee, he picked up his luggage and briefcase and then headed to the door.

“Have fun on St. Joseph Island, bro,” Isaac said. “Don’t forget to text me.”

“Yeah,” Noah replied.

“See you later, Noah,” Connor said.

After placing his luggage into the trunk of the car, Noah hopped into the driver’s seat, and a moment later, he drove out of the underground parking lot. He was stuck in traffic when his phone rang. He saw that it was Aiden’s name on the screen.

Two weeks. He hadn’t spoken with Aiden for two weeks. He accepted the call and put it on loudspeaker.

“Aiden?”

“Yeah,” Aiden said from the other side of the line. “You got a minute?”

Noah shrugged. “I kind of do, but if you want to talk about what happened, it’ll have to be another time. I’m on my way to work.”

“I see,” Aiden said.

Before he forgot, he thought to add, “By the way, I’m going away to St. Joseph Island for a week. It’s for work.”

“I see,” Aiden said again. “Look, this won’t take long. Haru and I talked last night, and I think you should come home and talk to him face-to-face when you return from St. Joseph Island, get things sorted out.”

Noah swallowed hard at hearing this. He said, “Has… Has Haru stopped being pissed at me?”

Aiden said, “You’ll know when you come home.”

Noah sighed. He knew, too, that he couldn’t keep up with this charade any longer. He missed the brothers, and he especially missed Haru. He was dying to see the boy, in fact. He, himself, had concluded the sooner he got things cleared up with Haru, the better.

“All right. I’ll do that.”

“Good,” Aiden said. “Have fun on St. Joseph Island and see you at the end of the week.”

“Yeah,” Noah said. “And thanks.”

“No worries.”

They ended the call, and Noah sighed in relief. Finally, for the first time in weeks, he smiled.

Noah’s smile didn’t leave him that morning at the office since, to his astonishment, work went so smoothly. There was no shit stirring up, and he even fixed problems that had suddenly cropped up due to others’ mistakes, which lead to Craig, his head of department, praising him. By twelve, Noah was in high spirits when the marketing team gathered around at the front of the building, their luggage in tow, ready to get into the bus that’d take them to the harbor where they’d then take the ferry to St. Joseph Island. He was just taking a step into the bus when his phone rang. Seeing that it was from Connor, he accepted the call and said, “What’s up?”

“Hey, Noah? You got a second?”

“Yeah?”

“I know you’re heading over to St. Joseph Island for work, but, shit, I can’t get in contact with any of your brothers.”

Noah felt his stomach knotting in dread at the sound of Connor’s tense voice. “What happened?”

“Look, this might not be anything serious, but you know that fancy restaurant, The BlueSky, the one we have at the Weston Hotel where I work?”

“Yeah?” Noah asked, coming to a stop right in the middle of the aisle in the bus.

“Noah, keep moving, man,” Zack said behind him.

Noah shifted to the side, allowing Zack to pass him.

Connor continued. “I saw Haru with a guy. The man looks like he’s years older than Haru, like around Aiden’s age. They seem friendly. Does Haru have friends that old?”

Noah, his voice dark, said, “No. He doesn’t.” Suddenly, he remembered Isaac saying something about Haru befriending a suspicious guy who Aiden and Mason didn’t trust. Shit! Was that bastard making his move on Haru?

“Thought so,” Connor said. “Shit, he’s putting his arm around Haru. They’re really intimate, Noah.”

Noah said, a dark frown on his face, “Can’t you do something? Go check on them. Get Haru to safety.”

“I’d love to do that for you, man, but I can’t. I’m on the clock. Me spying on Haru and that guy is dire enough. My boss would fire me if I make a scene in the hotel. I need the job until I move over to Japan.”

Noah swore under his breath. “Fuck! I’m on my way.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you on the twentieth floor.”

“Thanks.” After ending the call, Noah turned to Zack. “I have an emergency.”

“What? Is everything okay?” Zack asked.

“I’ll catch up with everyone later this afternoon at The Princeton Hotel on St. Joseph Island.”

“Okay, sure. I’ll tell Craig,” Zack said.

“Thanks, man,” Noah said and then headed out of the bus. He sprinted down the pathway toward the underground parking lot. A few minutes later, he was in his car and speeding out.

Twenty minutes later, sweating and worried sick, he rushed into the Weston Hotel and got into the elevator. When he came out on the twentieth floor of the hotel where the restaurant was located, he headed to the door. Connor, dressed in a dark suit uniform, called out to him. “Over there. Last table to the right.”

Noah slapped Connor on the arm to show his appreciation. “Thanks, man.”

“No worries. I have to get back to work. And, Noah, don’t make a scene.”

Noah chuckled. “That depends.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “Suit yourself, but don’t cause too much trouble. See you later.”

Noah nodded and then walked into the restaurant. He ignored a maître d’ who approached him, asking him if he’d like a table.

“Sir?”

Noah waved the man away. “No, I don’t want a table. I’m here to meet someone.”

The maître d’ looked confused, nodded, and let him be.

The moment he turned the corner, Noah caught sight of Haru, and he swallowed hard. As expected, the boy looked damn beautiful and radiant, and Noah felt his heart skip and ache.

He marched to the table and came to a stop right in front of the boy. “Haru,” he said, his voice firm.

Haru, who was chuckling away enthusiastically, turned to Noah the moment he heard his name being called. The boy’s cheerful smile faded, and his eyes widened when he saw who was standing before him. “Noah?”

Noah leaned over, grabbed the dumbfounded Haru by the arm and pulled the boy to him. “You’re coming with me.”

“Noah, wait,” Haru uttered.

“Excuse me, but who are you and what the heck are you doing?” the guy sitting opposite Haru asked.

Noah turned his attention to Haru’s companion and said, “I’m his older brother, and I’d appreciate it if you stay away from Haru.” To Haru, he snapped, “Come on. I don’t have all day.”

“Noah!” Haru snapped back. “You’re mistaken.”

Noah wasn’t listening, however, and dragged Haru from his seat until the boy was on his feet.

“I’m sorry, Sean,” Haru said apologetically.

“Don’t talk to him,” Noah said. “Come on.” His hand tight around Haru’s wrist, he led the boy out of the restaurant.

“Noah!” Haru said. “Noah? Are you even listening to me?”

“We’ll talk when we’re in the car,” Noah said. “I’m running late.”

“Huh? Who cares if you’re running late?” Haru snapped in irritation. “You’ve ruined my day.”

Noah whipped around and glared. Because he couldn’t help himself, he made his move and thrust Haru against the wall along the hotel’s corridor.

“I’ve ruined your day?” He grabbed Haru’s chin tightly. “Are you fucking kidding me, you little brat? I was worried sick about you, and you say I’ve ruined your day?” He leaned in and pressed his lips on Haru’s, kissing the boy.

Haru felt himself shaking, being pinned there against the wall and his lips being ravished. When Noah forced his tongue into his mouth and demandingly intertwined with his, Haru became breathless, his head dazed by the rough assault.

“Ngh…” He groaned out softly, his body shaking weakly.

Noah finally eased his sensual attack, and with his forehead resting against Haru, he said, “Let’s talk later. For now, you’re coming with me to St. Joseph Island.”

“Huh?” Haru expressed, his eyes wide, still dazed.

Noah took a step back, got his hand tight around Haru’s wrist again, and then led the boy out of the hotel.