Falling For Them: A New Adult Reverse Harem Collection

by C. L. Stone

  “You keep mentioning him.” Her mother smiled. “I’ll take care of things, I promise. It’ll be fine. You’re not a child anymore, and I have to remember that.”

  Lily blushed as she realised her mother thought she liked Matt as more than a friend. Truth be told she liked them all a little too much, but something she said caught at her.

  “What do you mean take care of things?”

  “What? Oh, I just mean I’ll go off for a day trip somewhere and paint what I see. I don’t have to contain myself to just painting the manor. The sea isn’t far; I can paint some seascapes.”

  Something about her mother’s bright words didn’t ring true, but Lily didn’t push it. She was too excited with the possibility that she could stay.

  “So, we’re staying then?” she asked tentatively. She held her breath and watched as her mother turned from the sink and pulled her into a hug that Lily returned easily.

  “Yes, dear, we’re staying here for as long we can.”

  Lily squealed and kissed her mother’s cheek noisily. “Thank you! Thank you!”

  “Don’t deafen me.” Her mother laughed, but it was still strained, and when Lily pulled back to look at her, there were tears in her eyes again. The guilt returned stronger.

  “Mum, do you really need to go?” she asked quietly.

  “No, I don’t. I want you to have a fantastic year. I want you to do all the things you want to do. I want you to make friends and be free, Lily. I just want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy.”

  “Good. No more now, it was a moment of madness. I’ll fix us something to eat and then we can sit down and watch a film together. I feel as if we haven’t spent any time together for ages.”

  Lily grinned at her mother and hugged her again. “I’ll get my homework done quickly.”

  She went back to get her bag. Her heart was feeling much lighter now that she knew she was staying. But there was a tiny niggling doubt that her mother was only doing it for her.

  ***************

  Lily woke up suddenly from a deep sleep. There was someone in her room.

  Fear held her tightly, her heart beating, eyes wide against the darkness of the night. She gripped the blankets in her hands and held her breath, her ears strained to listen carefully. Silence was the only thing she heard and there was no movement. She moved her hand carefully until she could feel the switch on her bedside lamp. She flicked it on and sat up, her heart thumping as she looked around her room. Her empty room.

  She let her breath out on a whoosh. She must have dreamt it. Her heart was still beating madly as she looked towards her window. Her curtains were open, but she couldn’t see out with the light on. She looked around her small room once more and then switched off the light. Slipping from the bed, she crossed to the window seat to look for stars. The angle was awkward, so she slid the sash window up and leant forward. The scent of the trees and the distant smell of the sea drifted on the breeze and she inhaled deeply, her eyes closing as she leant on her arms.

  “Lilith.”

  She almost fell forward out of her window, her eyes flying open. It was a whisper on the breeze, coming from outside not behind her. She pulled back into the safety of her room, her hands on the sash, ready to slam it down. She searched the dark shadows of the garden, but she couldn’t see anyone. Her eyes went to the tree line, seeing nothing except the dark shapes of the bushes and trees. Sighing heavily, she shook her head. She wasn’t usually fanciful. Maybe the stress of the last couple of weeks was playing with her head. She slid the window down, leaving it open a few inches, and got back into bed. There was no one there, and no one had called her name.

  ***************

  When her alarm woke her, she felt heavy headed, as if she hadn’t slept very well at all. Her dreams were an odd collection of things; something to do with her mother, but when she tried to capture any of it they drifted away like cobwebs on the breeze.

  Breakfast was coffee, toast, and a quick look through the newspapers. It was one of the first things her mother did wherever they went, sometimes even before she connected the electric. She would find the nearest newsagents and put in for three newspapers to be delivered daily. The national newspaper, the local newspaper to the area, and one of what her mother called the gutter newspapers. Lily had asked why she had the gutter newspaper if she thought it was trash. Her reply was that they tended to report on things that were ridiculous but sometimes the ridiculous was true. The answer had confused her then, and it still did now. She hurriedly turned the page, quickly hiding the image of a scantily dressed female displaying her breasts for all the readers to see.

  “Lily, I want to get some pictures of the manor in the twilight. Mr Crowder has said I can go along this evening. He’s invited us to dinner with them. I think you may have met Matt anyway, haven’t you?” she asked casually, but the smile on her lips told Lily she was teasing.

  “I may have done,” she said, refusing to bite. She looked back down at the story of a woman who claimed her dog was taken by aliens for experimentation and then returned as a cat. Did people believe this stuff?

  “Good, we’re to get there for six. I got the impression dinner will be a semi-formal affair.”

  “I have to wear a tux?” Lily inquired, sending her mother a wink.

  “Yes, and spats,” her mother replied. Lily laughed and checked her watch; she had to make a move or be late again. She got up, taking her dishes to the sink, and then grabbed her bag. She dropped a kiss on her mother’s head and headed towards the front door.

  “Take your coat. It’s supposed to rain later!” her mother called. Lily grabbed her jacket from the peg and stuffed her feet into her shoes. They were nicely broken in, and she didn’t need to undo the laces anymore.

  “See you, Mum.” She called out her goodbye and headed out of the door, banging it shut behind her as she slung her bag over her shoulder. There was no sign of the others yet, but she was a few minutes early. She didn’t want them to have to call for her again, or worse, leave without her because she was unreliable.

  She sat on the wall that edged the front garden and looked up and down the road. Three identical cottages stood opposite hers, and that was the sum total of Derry’s Lane. Looking left she could see the road was lined with hedges and trees, some of them just starting to turn in colour with the approach of autumn. The national speed limit signs, set just after the last cottage, showed it was the edge of the village. She looked down the other way towards the green and sighed. It was beautiful here. Small, but really beautiful. There was a stillness here that settled her deep inside.

  She heard a car and turned her head thinking it was Matt, but it was a dark car coming down the road. As it neared, it slowed right down until it was level with her. The front windows were tinted and it wasn’t until it slid down that she could see anyone inside. A man sat in the driver’s seat, a smile on his handsome face.

  “Hey, can you tell me where I can find Mrs Johnston’s place?” His smile revealed a crooked eye tooth. His dark eyes seemed like liquid as he watched her. He was handsome, and she found herself smiling back at him.

  “I’m sorry, I just moved here. I don’t know where anyone lives yet.” She heard another car and saw Matt’s Land Rover coming up. “Matt might, he lives here,” she told him, pointing at the Land Rover. She jumped down from the wall as Matt slowed, his window opening.

  “Everything alright?” he called out, a deep frown between his eyes.

  “Where’s Mrs Johnston live?”

  “Number four, Toll Lane. Second road around to the left.”

  Lily repeated it to the man in the car, and he grinned at her.

  “Thanks. That’s the good thing about small communities, everyone knows everyone. See you around, beautiful.” He winked at her, his smile becoming slightly sardonic. She had the feeling he despised small village life or he was laughing at some joke she didn’t know. He drove forward, and she watched as the car disappeared around the e
nd of the road.

  “Hey, Lily Pad, c’mon. Another day of institutionalized learning awaits us.” She went over and climbed into the passenger seat.

  “Who was that?” Matt asked, and she shrugged.

  “No idea, never seen him before.” She looked behind her at the others. “Hey, guys.”

  “Good morning, Lily May,” Nate said softly. He wasn’t wearing glasses today, and Lily did a double take. He was hot with glasses, without he was breath-taking. His crystal blue eyes were clear to see, and it made his cheekbones stand out even more.

  “What happened to your glasses?”

  “Matthew happened,” he said and let out a long sigh. Lily grinned, looking over at Matt.

  “What did you do?”

  “He sat on them,” Josh answered for him.

  “And broke the frame,” Jake finished, and then they both started to laugh.

  “It’s not funny!” Nate whined. “I’m practically blind without them!”

  “You have contacts in; you’re hardly blind, Nate. And I already told you I’d take you to the optician's after college to get them fixed,” Matt said with a sigh.

  “Oh, yeah,” Josh sat forward now that he was in the middle. “Lily Pad, we’ll be taking a detour after college.”

  “That’s okay, I’ll catch the bus.” She almost felt him roll his eyes as he sighed heavily. He leant his chin on her shoulder.

  “Nope.” He popped the ‘p’. “We”—his breath fanned over her ear, sending a shiver down her spine—“includes you now. You haven’t seen the town yet, have you? We’ll get Nate sorted with his glasses, and then we’ll nip in for a pizza.”

  “Well, I don’t know, my mum—”

  “Text her.” Matt cut her off gently.

  “No. I mean, yes. I mean, she told me we were supposed to be at your house tonight,” she spoke to Matt, hyper aware of how close Josh still was. If she moved at all, his nose would brush against her skin.

  “Really? Nothing was said this morning to me. What’s that for?”

  “Mum wants some photos of the manor in twilight, and your dad invited us for dinner at six. Semi-formal affair apparently.” She kept perfectly still.

  “Oh, bloody hell.” Nate grunted. “Alright, we’ll postpone till tomorrow for my glasses.”

  “It’s okay, I can go on the bus. You have to get your glasses fixed, Nate,” she said. Josh shook his head, and she felt his nose brush her skin. It sent a frisson of sensation zinging through her. He moved back and relief was tinged with regret; a regret that she didn’t quite understand, so she ignored it.

  “I’ve got an idea,” Jake spoke up. “We get out in time to nip down to the optician's today. We can drop Lil on the way back to change, and then we can go for pizza after college sometime next week.”

  “Good thinking, Jacob,” Josh said, and held out his hand for Josh to shake.

  “Why thank you, Joshua,” he replied poshly, accepting his hand and making Lily giggle. She looked at Matt. He was grinning as he steered the Land Rover through the winding lanes.

  “All in favour?” Nate asked, and four ayes were heard. “I said all in favour? Do try to keep up, Lily May.”

  “Aye,” she said quietly, and she felt fingers slide across the back of her neck quickly, but she wasn’t sure who it was. “Do you always vote on things like that?” she asked.

  “I guess.” Josh spoke as if he’d not really thought about it. “I don’t remember a time when we didn’t vote on things. I know Nate likes to think he runs the show, but it’s mostly just us letting him think that.”

  “I don’t think it, Joshua, I know it,” Nate said smugly.

  “Careful there, Nate,” Josh said slyly. “One could always let slip what Nate is short for. One doesn’t think you’ve been brave enough to let Lily Pad know yet, have you?”

  “It’s nothing to do with bravery,” Nate spluttered. “And if one doesn’t shut up, one will be hurting.”

  Lily turned in her seat to look at Josh. “So what is Nate short for?”

  “I’ll tell her, not you!” Nate shoved Josh. “When I’m good and ready. Besides, I’m waiting to see if you can guess first, Lily May.”

  “Really?” Lily grinned at him. “And what do I get when I get it right?”

  “Jesus, Lily, don’t ask him that,” Matt shot out, laughing.

  “You get the dubious honour of being one of a very small number of people who know,” Nate said, glaring at the back of Matt’s head. His eyes slid to Lily’s, and she saw a gleam of wickedness there. “Unless there’s something else you would like from me?”

  Lily blushed when she realised how her words could be taken. She turned around abruptly.

  “Oh, look, cows.” She pointed out of her window at a group of cows in the field they were passing. There was a snigger from the back and then a thump, but nothing could make her turn around now. Her face was far too red, especially since she’d just compounded her embarrassment by saying something as dumb as, oh, look, cows!

  Trying to cover her embarrassment, she fished her phone out of her bag and sent her mum a quick text letting her know she’d be a bit later and why. Matt reached forward to put the stereo on, and music blasted out that had the twins singing along. She was glad of the diversion, but still couldn’t look at any of them. The song changed, and she recognised it and began to sing along quietly. They all knew this one and belted it out loudly.

  By the time they had parked, Lily was happily singing along with them, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. Matt turned off the engine, and Lily moved to open her door.

  “You’re on your own for last class again.” Matt put his hand on her shoulder to stop her getting out. “Don’t hang around waiting for us. Come straight here, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks.” She nodded. He winked at her and squeezed her shoulder gently before letting go and jumping out his own side. She got out and shut her door, the twins came up to her.

  “C’mon, Lily Pad, let’s go get registered.” Jake gripped her hand and started to pull her along.

  “I can find my way now, Jake,” she insisted. His hand was cool against her own, his fingers curled around hers tightly. She made no move to loosen his hold. Her heart skipped a beat and heat flooded her cheeks.

  He looked at her sideways as they walked, a smirk played around his lips. “Josh,” he said.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, certain she had it right when she called him Jake. She studied his profile as they walked and then looked to see where Josh—Jake—was. He was coming up behind her, a matching smirk on his face. He caught up, took her bag and then caught her hand in his. She blinked, thrown from her thoughts of figuring out which was which. They were both holding her hands, and it made her feel… she wasn’t sure how it made her feel. She’d held hands before, although granted, never two boys at a time. But it hadn’t felt quite like this before; even though she wasn’t quite sure how it felt yet. One thing she did know was that it wasn’t a bad feeling.

  At least it wasn’t until she saw the looks they were getting from the people they were passing in the corridors. She pulled her hands free and stuck them into her jacket pockets, putting her head down. She could feel the heat in her cheeks.

  “What’s up? Are we contagious?”

  “Everyone is staring,” she told them.

  “So? Who gives a fuck?”

  “They’re going to think—” She snapped her mouth shut. They were going to think she was dating both of them at the same time. And she wasn’t even dating one of them.

  “And in which realm would it matter what someone else thinks?” snorted Jake/Josh, she was almost certain it was Jake now. “I’m your friend, Jacob is your friend. Friends hold hands all the time. How many times have we watched you girls band together and hold hands going to the toilet?”

  “So you hold Nate’s hand as you walk into the loo?” she inquired, certain that she hadn’t mixed them up.

  “If he feels lonely.” He shrugged casually and
then ruined it by sniggering. They stopped outside the classroom.

  “That I have to see,” she said with a laugh. They leant against the wall, shoulders touching, and she took the opportunity to really study them as she stood in front of them. They watched her through strands of dark hair, their chins tilted down slightly, and their arms folded. They really were handsome, but she’d caught one of their tells. They’d been trying to catch her out, but there were small things that told them apart that she didn’t think they were aware of, and she wasn’t going to tell them. In this case, they crossed their arms differently, something she’d already seen.

  She stepped closer to who she was now certain was Josh. She stood toe to toe with him, so close she could feel his breath fanning over her face. His lips twisted into a sinful smirk as he watched her through his fringe. She reached up, a grin on her lips as she kept eye contact with him. Slowly, she slid her hand into the inside of his jacket pocket, her fingers closed over the smooth, round tin of the button badge.

  “Hello, Joshua,” she whispered. She stepped back, and her hand slipped free of his jacket. She uncurled her fingers, and held out the button badge to him. She saw his smirk grow, and then he reached forward to take the badge from her. He let his fingertips trail over her palm, making her shiver at the contact, his eyes never leaving hers.

  “Well done, Lilith.” The shiver extended down her spine. She’d never heard her name purred quite like that.

  “Okay, people.” Mr Peters broke the moment as he came down the corridor with a stack of yet more papers. “You know the drill now. Sarah, get the door if you would.”

  Lily stepped back from the twins and took her bag. Jake caught her hand before she could move right away; he stepped forwards till his mouth was by her ear.

  “What gave us away?” he whispered, and the shiver became a shudder. They were affecting her in ways she’d never experienced before.

  “I’m not telling,” she whispered back. She felt his lips brush her ear, and then he was moving back from her. Lily’s breathing wasn’t quite even as she went into the classroom. She saw them move ahead of her, shoulders bumping as they walked with their heads bent together. She took a deep breath and shook her head. She was attracted to them, and that was a perfectly normal reaction when faced with how gorgeous they were, but it didn’t mean any of them were attracted to her, or that she should read into anything that wasn’t there. They wanted to be friends with her, and that was all it was. She wasn’t going to ruin that by being stupid.