Falling for Them Volume 3: Reverse Harem Collection

by Amy Sumida

  “And yesterday was the first time that it had been used,” guessed Chad as Aria nodded. He pinched his bottom lip with his thumb and index finger while Doug’s arms snaked around her waist. “But didn’t you say your ex left you at the hospital six months later while you were in surgery for your defibrillator?”

  Doug’s mouth dropped open and then he closed it quickly as his eyes narrowed in rage.

  Chad pointedly looked down at Doug’s arms to remind him not to squeeze Aria too tight.

  “My first one was recalled so that surgery was my second one,” she informed him as she pointed out her two different scars on either side of her upper chest.

  Pinching his lip again, Chad studied Aria. “Do you trust us? Trust me?”

  Aria nodded.

  “Okay, then.” Chad’s chest puff up with pride at her nod. “Doug, you close the side and back cabana curtains to keep the sun out. Aria, you crawl under the sheets and scoot into the middle.”

  Doug hopped up to do Chad’s bidding while Aria pulled the sheets down on the outdoor bed. She slid into the middle and waited.

  — Aria —

  Disbelief filled Aria at her actions. Never had she responded like this to a group of virtual strangers. Placing her trust in others so quickly flabbergasted her, but it felt right. A sense of peace and calmness ran through her whenever Chad spoke or Doug touched her. Disconcerted, she curled up on her side.

  Chad walked to her side and climbed into the bed behind her. He slid his arm under her head and rested his other hand on her waist. “Close your eyes and rest. I’ll be right here in case anything happens. Concentrate on feeling my skin and hearing my breathing so you know you’re not alone.”

  Aria relaxed into the bed and tried to do as he said. It may not work, but she was willing to give it a shot. After all, she slept in the hospital without any issue because she knew people were around if she ran into any difficulty. This wasn’t any different. She closed her eyes, but opened them again when the bed in front of her dipped.

  Doug climbed in on the other side and laid facing Aria. He gathered both her hands in his. “Try to sleep, my darling. I’m here as well and won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  Aria smiled as she squeezed his hands. She closed her eyes again and took in a few deep breaths, relishing the smell of the coconut suntan lotion surrounding her. Heat emanated off their bare chests. She never allowed this type of intimacy before with any other guys, but with them, it seemed right.

  As her body relaxed enough for sleep to find her, she wondered about the two other scents besides coconut that invaded her senses.

  — Chad —

  Within minutes, her breathing rate evened out.

  “Is she asleep?” Chad whispered to Doug who nodded. A relieved smile graced his face as he moved his head to kiss the back of hers.

  “She’s something, isn’t she?” Doug stared intently at Aria’s relaxed face.

  “She is.” Chad lifted his face until he looked at Doug. “We’re going to have to talk about this soon.”

  “I agree,” Doug murmured before closing his own eyes and letting sleep overtake him.

  Within minutes Chad joined the sleeping duo.

  ~

  The vibration against his leg from an incoming text woke Chad. He slipped the phone out of his pocket and read the text from Jason. After sending off a reply, he returned his attention to the sleeping Aria. Taking his hand off her waist, he used it to stroke her hair, pulling it behind her ear.

  He felt Jason’s shadow move over him as the other man stood in the entrance to the cabana. Sliding carefully out from behind Aria to keep her from waking, he made his way over to Jason who stood still at the entrance, gazing over the scene.

  Touching Jason’s arm, he motioned for them to step outside. “She didn’t sleep last night. Her defibrillator going off yesterday triggered some PTSD from an earlier hospital stay where her heart stopped. Having Doug and I close by, touching her, helped her to fall asleep. I’m hoping she’ll get another thirty minutes or so before I start to wake her.”

  Jason nodded and peeked back into the cabana at the sleeping duo.

  “Can you take my place while I run out to the bathroom?”

  “I can honestly say you won’t have to twist my arm to do it.” Jason gave Chad a grin before walking back into the cabana, stripping off his t-shirt as he went. He slid into the bed behind Aria, banding her waist with one arm while the other slid under her head. Pulling her close to his bare chest, he closed his eyes.

  Chad chuckled as he watched Jason. He hadn’t seen Jason act like this in years. This was the Jason he remembered from before all the heartache occurred for each of them.

  A talk between the three of us is definitely needed soon.

  Chapter Six

  — Aria —

  Slowly Aria awoke and tried to stretch, but stopped at the press of hard bodies against her. What in the world? She opened her eyes and found herself staring into Doug’s sleeping face. Her heart melted with the knowledge they stayed and allowed her to sleep.

  Her heart fluttered in her chest, not panic inducing, but she caught her breath in fear. This was not a physical heart issue, instead it was worse. Long forgotten feelings coursed through her, ones she last felt when she met her ex husband for the first time. No. No. No. It’s too soon. We’re only here for another week. This can’t happen!

  The arm around her waist tightened causing a momentary panic; a different arm and a different chest surrounded her back. The panic receded as she recognized the arm and the breaths against the back of her head. The third and missing scent filling her nose. Jason.

  She sighed as she snuggled back in.

  “Oh, no you don’t, sweetheart. It’s time to get up.” Chad’s amused voice caused Aria to open her eyes and search him out.

  She found his smiling face at the end of the bed and returned his smile. “When did you two switch out? And thank you by the way. I slept without any problems.”

  “You’re welcome and we switched out about forty-five minutes ago.” Chad found her lower leg and started to massage it through the sheets.

  “Shh. It’s still nap time,” Jason mumbled into the back of her head as he pulled her in tighter.

  Aria giggled. “Are you sure? I was thinking it’s swim time.” She tried to push the sheets down, but both Doug and Jason clutched them tightly.

  Chad laughed and motioned for Aria to poke both in the stomach.

  Slyly she let go of the sheets and slid her hands under them. At the same time, she attacked both guys with wiggling finger pokes around their belly buttons. “Let’s go swimming,” she chanted as the abdominal muscles of the boys’ clench under her fingertips.

  “Fine,” grumbled Doug. “But only after I do this.”

  He pounced on Aria and started to tickle her bare belly.

  Aria tried to squirm out of the way, but Jason jumped into the fray, holding her in place, and adding his own fingers to the mix until the three of them shook with laughter.

  As the boys rolled slightly, giving her some room, Chad reached out his hand towards her. She placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her out from between the other two and into his chest. With his spare hand, he handed her a drink and then the bottle of sunscreen.

  Jason and Doug dragged themselves from the sunbed, reaching for bottles of water as they stretched out their back muscles. Sunscreen applied, the foursome headed out to the beach and into the water.

  ~

  They played together in the surf until Chad called a halt for Aria’s blue tinged lips. They stretched out on the sun loungers in front of the cabana to rest and reheat when Shona, Trish, and Jennifer returned with Derek, Kyle, and Mark.

  “Hey girls, did you have fun on the boat?” Aria sat up carefully holding her undone bikini top to her chest.

  “Let me get that,” Chad murmured as he moved to sit behind her at the foot of the lounger. He grabbed her ties and started to tie up her top.
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  “It was awesome.” Trish plopped down on Chad’s empty lounger.

  “Yeah, these guys really know what they’re doing.” Jennifer sat down behind Trish while Shona and the other three guys pulled up some empty sun loungers.

  “So, what’s the plan for supper?” Shona laid back and casually undid her bikini top, pulling the cups down until only her nipples were covered. Lowering her hands, she tugged the string-like waistband on her bottoms down, stopping it just above her mons.

  Doug rolled onto his side to face Aria. “We have reservations at the seafood restaurant. I can get a bigger table if everyone would like to join us.”

  Aria glanced around. At the nods and smiles, she quickly agreed to Doug’s proposal.

  Pulling out his cell phone from the butler basket, Doug stood moving to the side of the cabana to call his butler. Walking back, he caught Aria’s eye. “No problem. He changed the reservation from four to ten.”

  “Four?” Aria’s nose wrinkled up in confusion.

  Doug opened his mouth to answer, but Jason beat him to it. “We hoped you would have supper with us.” He beeped her nose as he winked before settling himself back down on the lounger.

  With a smile, Aria flopped onto her back to soak some of the late afternoon rays.

  Chad stood and moved to Aria’s head. “Lift up, sweetheart.”

  Aria sat up allowing Chad to slide in behind her. He spread his legs around her and then pulled her back until her head rested on his chest.

  — Shona —

  Shona searched the rest of the group to see if they noticed Aria’s behaviour. Finding only smiles on Doug and Jason’s faces, she scrunched up her face as she eyed Aria and Chad.

  What’s Aria doing? I can’t believe she’s acting this way. This morning it was Jason, now Chad? I’m going to have to have a talk with the girl.

  The group suntanned before the call of the waves proved too irresistible to resist. After playing in the waves for another hour Shona herded the girls out of the water to give them time to get ready for supper.

  “What time tonight?” Aria dried her hair with a towel before wrapping her sarong over her bikini.

  “Reservations are for eight.” Doug picked up Aria’s beach bag.

  “What?” Shona screeched as she grabbed for the wrist of the guy standing closest to her. “That’s only two hours from now. Come on, girls. We need to rush.”

  Reaching out, she grabbed Aria’s arm, prepared to drag her back to the room.

  Aria rolled her eyes, standing her ground as she reached for her bag from Doug. At his uplifted brows, Aria shrugged and shook her head as the corner of her lips lifted.

  “See you guys there,” she called as Shona dragged her away to the laughter of the guys.

  Leading the girls back to the room, Shona continued to fume about the way Aria acted with both Jason and Chad. Doug’s avoidance of her advances only added fuel to her mood. Opening the door, she hoped to claim the bathroom first, but Jennifer beat her to it.

  Grumbling under her breath, she opened her closet to search for the top she planned to wear. “Shit. I forgot to bring it.”

  She stamped her foot as her hands rifled through her clothes.

  — Aria —

  Moving quietly out onto the patio, Aria opened the bottle of fruit water that she snagged from the fridge on her way by. She reclined back onto the daybed and crossed her feet at the ankles. Ahh. Closing her eyes, she relaxed as she listened to the chaos called her friends.

  “Aria! Where are you?” Shona called from the bathroom where she had just finished her shower.

  Aria bit her lip as she shook her head. With a resigned air, she pushed herself up off the daybed and headed back into their room. She stopped outside the bathroom door. “I’m here Shona. What do you need?”

  “Good. I can’t find my body lotion. Did I leave it by the bed?”

  Wandering over to her bed, she found the lotion Shona wanted. Picking it up, she headed to the bathroom where a towel clad Shona intercepted her. She handed the lotion to Shona, then walked into the vacated bathroom to finally take her own shower.

  ~

  “You can’t be serious. You’re not wearing that.” Shona stopped dead in the bathroom doorway and stared at Aria.

  “Why not?” Aria moved to stand in front of the full-length mirror. Examining her reflection, she thought she looked nice. Nothing like how she used to look. Definitely not a look to stop traffic, but pretty good, all things considered. She glanced over her shoulder, eyebrows raised in question.

  “It’s not sexy enough. You have Jason panting all over you. You need to up your game.” Shona headed over to the closet, a determined expression on her face.

  “Shona, this sundress is fine.” Aria returned her attention to the mirror. Her dress, a white body hugging thigh length sheath overlaid with a flowing sheer overdress and cinched at the waist, fit her body, highlighting the curves she wanted seen while disguising those she didn’t. The palm leaf pattern on the overdress began in a lime green colour at the scooped neckline and darkened to a forest green near her knees. The colour gave her a healthy glow.

  “I agree with Shona. You’re not showing enough boob.” Jennifer walked over to the closet to consult with Shona.

  Moving to stand behind Aria, Trish spoke quietly near her ear. “I think you look beautiful in this.”

  Aria turned to give her a hug. “Girls, I love you, but it’s almost eight, and I’m not about to change. I’m leaving with Trish, with or without you.” Walking over to her bed, she picked up her small purse before heading to the door.

  “Fine, but don’t blame me later if you end up back here alone.” Shona closed the closet door before wrapping her arm around Jennifer’s waist as the two followed Aria and Trish to the door.

  “Was Aria supposed to bring a guy back here with all of us in the room?” Trish winked at Aria as the two of them dissolved into giggles.

  “Argh, I give,” Shona muttered in mock seriousness.

  ~

  Aria enjoyed dinner. Glancing around the large table, her heart expanded as she enjoyed watching her girlfriends smile and laugh at something Derek said. Her eyes moved back to the three guys surrounding her in deep conversation, she took a moment, reflecting upon their greeting earlier. When they walked into the restaurant, Doug, Chad, and Jason greeted her with some sort of kiss to the forehead, nose, and cheek before exclaiming how beautiful she looked.

  Eat that Shona, she thought as the boys kept their gazes on her.

  “Are you four at the beach again tomorrow?” Jason held out a spoonful of his Caribbean style chocolate fudge cake to Aria who leaned in for the taste.

  “Mmmm.” She licked her lips. “I think we’re at the pool tomorrow?” She searched around until she caught Shona’s eye. “Pool?” she mouthed. At Shona’s answering nod, she turned back to Jason with a gleam in her eye. “Pool.”

  He laughed along with the other two before leaning in. With a conspiratorial whisper he said, “For some reason, I just don’t see you as a pool person.”

  Aria leaned in closer. “I’m not.” She winked before leaning back. “But they are, so compromise is the name of the game.”

  “Another cabana?” Chad held out a piece of his fruit tart for Aria to taste.

  She wiggled her eyebrows and gave a slight nod before opening her mouth for Chad to feed her. “Mmmm. I can’t decide which is better, although chocolate always has a slight edge.”

  “Mind if we join you at the pool?” Doug relaxed back into his chair with an empty dessert plate, from the dessert he shared with Aria, in front of him. His arm casually slung along the back of Aria’s chair.

  “You three are always welcome to join me.” What she said was true, but at the same time, she really didn’t want to watch Shona continue to hit on Doug and Trish and Jennifer make moony faces over Chad. She peered down the table to where everyone else was talking. “Why don’t we all meet up tomorrow at the main pool? We have a c
abana.”

  “Yes, please join us.” To Aria’s delight, Jennifer put her hand on Derek’s arm, while she glanced at his friends.

  The three other guys looked at each other and shrugged. Mark nodded. “Sounds like a plan. That way we’re close by when the water volleyball tournament starts in the games pool.”

  “We should all play,” Derek suggested.

  A chorus of “I will’s” came from Jennifer, Trish, and Shona while Aria declined.

  Jason informed them of his teaching the following day.

  Chad and Doug politely declined as well.

  “Shall we head to the bar?” Shona pushed back her chair.

  “Sounds great.” Kyle rushed to stand and help Shona from her chair as the others stood. “After you,” he continued as he held out his arm in the direction of the bar.

  “Thank you,” Shona called over her shoulder with a flirty wink and a swivel to her hips.

  The three girls grinned at each other watching Shona work it.

  After a single drink, over the protests from her girlfriends, Aria declared her exhaustion to the group, informing them of her intention to return to their room. She exchanged hugs with her girlfriends, and shook hands with Derek, Kyle, and Mark. She turned to say goodnight to her guys, when Doug pulled her in for a hug and a kiss to the cheek. As he let go, Jason’s arms slid round her waist drawing her in for another hug. Before letting her go, he placed a kiss on her other cheek.

  Chad’s arms replaced Jason’s. Pulling her close, he cradled her head against his chest, stroking her lower back. “Let me walk you back to your room.”

  Pulling back, he placed a kiss on her forehead as she nodded. He dropped one hand, leaving the other on the small of her back as he ushered her towards the door and out onto one of the garden pathways.