Playing Favorites: A Reverse Harem Romance

by Scarlet West

  He made my body ignite as he stroked between my legs, playing with my clit in a way that made me scream, or almost scream.

  He was undressed too, and as he plunged into me, I felt my body start to heat up and soon, seconds before he did, I came.

  I lay in his arms afterward, looking up at the ceiling and then across at him where he lay, eyes closed, beside me. I wondered what it was I felt for him.

  I studied him carefully, trying to put a name to the vague mix of fondness and distaste I felt when I looked at him. Fondness, for the person he was and the way he made me feel. Distaste for the look I sometimes saw in his eyes when he looked at me.

  He was obsessed.

  In my experience, I thought, shivering, obsession had absolutely nothing to do with love, or even affection. It had a lot, however, to do with hate.

  I realized then that, when it came to Donnell, I was and always had been a bit frightened.

  But, I thought, turning over onto my side, at least I knew now. After all, knowledge was a liberating thing.

  13

  Heath

  At work on Monday, I noticed something off about Donnell. And Grayson. Donnell was very quiet, even more than usual. Which was scary. And Grayson was avoiding me.

  I tried to focus on my work, but, with my brothers out of sorts, it was hard. At midday, I stretched and stood decisively. I had to do something about this.

  “I’m going to lunch,” I told Ashby, my secretary.

  “Great, Mr. Bradford. See you later.”

  I went past Donnell’s office and tapped on the door.

  “Donnell?” I called.

  He was hunched over his bookcase, his back to the door. I coughed.

  “Hey, Donnell?” I called, raising my voice. “Want to go for lunch? I need to chat about something.”

  He looked up. His dark eyes—identical to my own—were red rimmed. He looked like a man short on sleep. My sympathy was with him.

  “Heath,” he said, standing. “Fine. Let’s go.”

  I nodded. We headed out into the windy afternoon.

  We went to our usual place—Bran Cafe—and settled down to eat. Donnell didn’t make any special effort at conversation and I found myself feeling impatient.

  “Donnell,” I began. “We need to talk.”

  “About what?” he frowned. He set aside his fork, fixing me with a long-suffering expression.

  “Well, about whatever it is that’s on your mind. I’ve noticed you’re a bit, well, quiet, now.”

  He laughed harshly. “You could say that, yeah?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I could. And it’s bothering me, Donnell. I know there’s something weird between you and Grayson and Clarke, and it’s getting to me.”

  I had a good idea what the something was, too, though I wasn’t about to say so.

  “There’s nothing the matter,” he said tightly.

  I laughed. “Donnell, who the heck are you lying to? I know there is. And I know what it is too,” I said.

  “You don’t know, Heath,” Donnell said in a low voice. “You might think you do, but you don’t.”

  “Yes, I do,” I said, leaning forward. “I know you don’t want to discuss it in here, in public, but we need to talk about it when we get back, okay? I can’t focus on work for stressing about this.”

  “Fine,” he agreed.

  We met in my office.

  “This thing with Kelsey,” I began. I saw Donnell whiten instantly.

  “Heath, you have no…” he began.

  I interrupted him. “I know it’s none of my business,” I countered quickly. “But it’s upsetting things.”

  “I can still work productively,” he said.

  “I can’t.”

  He laughed. “Fine,” he agreed. “We need to talk.”

  “Yes,” I said. “We do.”

  We did talk.

  At the end of it, we’d come up with a plan.

  I had to go to a meeting after that, and I found I felt more confident and better able to concentrate now that we had a plan. I went to start putting it into operation later.

  “Grayson?” I said, knocking at the door of his office lightly. It was five P.M. and when he looked up at me his face was tense. I hadn’t noticed how gaunt and strained he was looking and I felt bad for not noticing sooner.

  “What, Heath?” he asked tiredly.

  “I just wanted to chat,” I said lightly. Inside my heart was thumping and I had no idea whether or not this clever plan of Donnell’s and mine was so smart. But we had to try.

  “Yeah?” he asked, frowning. He didn’t seem eager to trust me and at this moment I couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t like our plan required me to be up-front. Quite the opposite, in fact. I drew in a steadying breath.

  “Well, I have a lot to discuss with you, actually,” I said slowly. “I was thinking it might be better to discuss in the park sometime? Maybe tomorrow after work?”

  Grayson sighed. He looked like a man who couldn’t care less what I did. I tensed.

  “Sure,” he said wearily. “Why not? I’ll see you then.”

  I let out a big relieved sigh. “Great,” I agreed.

  I went back to my office, heart thumping with apprehension and excitement. We’d put the first half of the plan into operation. Now, I just had to try the second half.

  I took out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. I found Kelsey’s number. Taking a steadying breath, I texted her.

  Wanted to ask if you could meet in the park tomorrow. Just to chat? It’d be nice to see you so I hope you can make it. Heath.

  I let out a long sigh and sat for ten aching minutes, trying to read market reports while I waited for her reply. Eventually, it arrived.

  Okay, fine, she texted. But I can’t be long. Should we meet at six?

  Great, I texted back. That seemed to make sense.

  I let out a long sigh. Now the second part of the plan was in order. All I had to do was to put the two halves together and make it work. I rested my head in my hands a moment, feeling suddenly old. I wasn’t at all sure I could do that. I wasn’t even sure that, even if I could, it was going to work. I just had to try.

  As I packed up and got ready to go home, I couldn’t help thinking a bit about Kelsey and how she’d stirred up my brothers.

  I smiled to myself. I remembered her firm, curved body and the way it had felt under my hands, and remembered the gasps she’d made as I pleased her, the way she’d felt under me as we coupled so eagerly.

  I smiled. She was really something. It was no wonder two of my brothers at least were obsessed about her.

  At least, obsessed was what I would have said about Donnell. And not in a healthy way at all—if it was possible to be healthily obsessed. It worried me.

  I had wanted Kelsey, of course I had. And oddly enough, it didn’t bother me to imagine her being with my brothers. I was just pleased to know they were happy.

  I recalled her sweet body lying under me on the bed, the way it felt when I thrust inside her, the warmth of her enfolding and enveloping my cock, so satisfyingly. I sighed.

  Imagining Donnell or Clarke being recipients of such paradise didn’t bother me in the least. Other than a vague curiosity, I felt nothing about it at all. It was maybe surprising, but I couldn’t help it. I just wasn’t a jealous person—not in the least.

  Throughout my life I never had a problem with sharing—maybe because I’d always been assured of Dad’s affections. For the others, I had my doubts that they’d felt as much assurance as I had that Dad loved them. For me it had been easy to share, because I always knew there was plenty for me.

  Probably that’s what’s causing the problem now, I thought to myself. My brothers were all used, on some level, to vying for Dad’s affections. It was probably natural that they felt as if they had to fight about Kelsey too. The idea of having too little affection to go around was something normal in their world.

  I shook my head. I was probably trying to be too smart. I was
a businessman, not a shrink. I should stick to what I knew.

  I went upstairs to my apartment and collapsed on the luxurious leather couch, staring up at the ceiling.

  I was just recalling having Kelsey there when the phone buzzed.

  “Hi?” I frowned.

  “Heath!” the voice on the end of the line sounded tense. I recognized it instantly.

  “Kelsey?” I was astounded. That was absolutely the last person I’d expected to hear from. I tried to suppress the sudden stab of arousal that went up into my groin at the thought of her. Hearing her voice brought it all back to me, vividly. “That’s you?” I asked, stupidly.

  “Heath. Yes, it’s me. I needed to talk to you about tomorrow.”

  “Yeah?” I frowned.

  “What is it exactly you wanted to talk about?” she asked. “I mean, I might be late and I just want to know. Is it about Donnell?” She sounded really stressed out.

  “Donnell?” I was genuinely surprised. Of all the questions she could have asked me now, that was the easiest to answer. I didn’t have to lie. “No,” I agreed.

  “Good,” she said with a sigh. “Well, then. What exactly is it about, then?”

  Now, she sounded curious more than tense, which was odd in itself, if I chose to think about it. But I didn’t. I had something more important to think about now—like how to answer Kelsey’s question.

  “Well,” I paused. I didn’t lie—all my brothers knew that—but I couldn’t tell the truth. Not exactly. Not to her about what we’d been planning. Inspiration struck. “It’s about the company,” I said. “Mainly. I’m having some issues and I think you can help me straighten them out.”

  “Issues?” I could almost hear her frown. She was so sexy that even her frown made me smile, just to thinking about it, but it didn’t alleviate my stress now.

  “Yeah. Um, some basic issues. Like, HR stuff,” I said quickly. “I know it’s not your department, but…”

  “It Grayson’s department,” she shot back. “Isn’t it?”

  “Um, yeah,” I admitted, realizing that I’d cut closer to the truth than I’d intended to by mentioning him.

  “Listen, Heath,” she said. “I hope you’re not planning any, um, funny business,” she said carefully. “Excuse me not being explicit, but I don’t want anyone to overhear and you know what I mean. And, well, I’m having enough trouble with the funny business from Donnell and Clarke just now.”

  I laughed, despite myself. “No,” I promised. “No, I know you’re having trouble with the, um, funny business,” I said. “And I wouldn’t dream of imposing funny business of my own on you to cope with. Now or ever. I promise.”

  “Good,” she said. “In which case, six o’ clock in the park tomorrow. Good?”

  “Great,” I confirmed. “See you.”

  “Bye.”

  When we’d ended the chat, I leaned back, with a soft smile on my face. Much as I had deeply enjoyed the funny business with Kelsey, I wouldn’t, indeed, dream of imposing any of my own on her—not if she didn’t want me to.

  14

  Kelsey

  I drove to the park after work. I had a mix of apprehension and excitement in my tummy. What exactly was it that Heath was planning? And why?

  This story about HR issues didn’t convince me in the slightest. If he was having HR issues, as he put it, he would either deal with it by discussing it with Grayson, or he’d outsource for some help.

  Grayson.

  This had to be about him.

  I frowned, trying to recall him. My memory conjured up a picture of a handsome man with black hair and big shoulders, a sort of brooding expression on his strong features.

  I’d not seen much of him since that first night when we met. Yes, we had connected quite strongly that evening, but, of all the brothers, he seemed the coldest, the least likely to want to have anything to do with me.

  And as far as I’m concerned, that’s it.

  I guess some women would have reacted to the challenge; tried to catch his eye. I wasn’t like that. If a guy wasn’t interested in me, probably I wouldn’t like him much either. I wasn’t about to go trying to conquer hearts. I’d rather people came to me with their hearts.

  “Maybe I’m just arrogant,” I told my reflection, smiling wanly at myself. I was nervous. Really nervous, though I had no idea why.

  I parked in the parking garage near the place we’d agreed to meet and headed out.

  On the way into the park, I called him.

  “Heath?” I said, noticing my voice sounded strained and being unable to help it. “Where are you, exactly? I’m at the entrance.”

  “Oh. I’m at one of the benches…the third lot in from the entrance. Just keep going along the center path and you’ll see me in a minute or two.”

  “Okay,” I said and hung up, feeling jumpy.

  I headed down the path, feeling impatient with the need to get this over with.

  “Kelsey,” a familiar voice said. I turned around and there was Grayson. Not Heath. I glared at him.

  “Where is your brother?” I asked. I saw his face fall and I realized that wasn’t a very polite thing to say. I sighed. “Sorry,” I added. “But Heath called me and said he wanted to meet. And I was just wondering where he was.”

  “He’s over there,” Grayson said stiffly, indicating a small stall near the second entrance to the park. “And he didn’t tell me about this.”

  I stared at him. “What?”

  “He didn’t tell me he’d called you,” Grayson said insistently. “I thought he wanted to talk to me.”

  “Oh for…” I rolled my eyes and strode off toward the entrance to the park with a vague, half-formed plan to slap Heath and walk away, never setting eyes on him or any of his wretched brothers again. I heard someone call out.

  “No. Wait.”

  I spun around. Grayson was standing behind me, his brown eyes wide.

  “What?” I said. I hadn’t realized how angry I was—the word came out like a hiss.

  “Um, I’m sorry,” he said, going a little paler. “But I guess there are some things I wanted to say, and maybe I should say them.”

  “Like what?” I asked. I tried to keep my voice neutral, but really I was curious. I frowned at him.

  “Like,” I saw him take a steadying breath, “about the night when we met. I, well, oh, heck, what am I saying? You’re right. Let’s go find Heath. He must have had something to say.”

  I frowned, then shrugged. If he had to tell me something, he was going an odd way about it. I followed him as he strode along the path toward Heath.

  “Heath?” he called. I saw Heath turn. His handsome face went pale.

  “Oh,” he said. “Um, hi, Kelsey. I’m sorry—I got distracted. Guys? What’s happening?”

  “You said that…” I began.

  “Why didn’t you say that…” Grayson interrupted.

  “Wait!” Heath said. We both waited, looking at him.

  “What?” Grayson asked sounding more curious than mad at this interruption.

  “Maybe we can go sit down somewhere and talk?” Heath asked. He looked pained. I nodded.

  “Let’s go find that bench.”

  “Great,” Heath said. He looked like he was going to throw up sometime soon. I couldn’t blame him—there was tension in the air you could have cut with a knife. I followed him to the bench. Sat down.

  “Okay,” I said. “Now what?”

  Heath cleared his throat. Grayson didn’t say anything, just sat there looking stonily up at him.

  “Um, I know I wasn’t entirely honest with either of you,” Heath said slowly. “I didn’t actually lie, but I sure didn’t tell the whole truth either. For which I apologize.”

  “Good,” Grayson muttered. I didn’t say anything.

  “Okay,” Heath said, clearing his throat. “Well, now that we have that out of the way, maybe I can continue my speech?”

  I nodded, unable to help a smile. Grayson didn’t say anything
.

  “Well,” Heath continued carefully. “I have noticed that there’s something not quite right about my brothers at the moment. And I guessed that, well, there was some affection toward you. And,” he paused. “And since it seems like everyone has been sharing except, well…except Grayson here, I was going to suggest that we share you.”

  I stared at him. Horror warred with curiosity, warred with amazement in my blood. “What?”

  Grayson had gone white. “Heath?” he whispered. “What are you thinking?”

  Heath went pink. “Well, since it seems to me like there isn’t going to be any end to this unless I step in and change things, I reckoned the easiest way to end it was if we all went home together.”

  He ended the sentence in a rush, his face going pink.

  I stared at him.

  “Heath,” I said. “I thought you said you wouldn’t…”

  “I said I wouldn’t impose any funny business on you,” he said, having the decency to shoot me a grin. “But if you choose it, well…it’s not an imposition, is it?”

  I stared at him. My body was heating up with curiosity, with the sheer shock of the suggestion. I couldn’t quite believe that my life had just gone crazy. The thought of being shared was, well, demanding. It made me feel sexy and demanded and I liked it.

  I looked at Grayson. He was white. His thin lips were pressed in a line. His face was in contrast with jet-black hair. His eyes were big.

  “Um, Grayson,” I said softly. “I don’t want to make anyone do this…” I trailed off as he fixed me with a look.

  “If you want it, I’ll do it,” he said.

  I stared at him. “Grayson, I…”

  Again, he interrupted me. “If that’s what you want,” he said tightly. He looked up at Heath. “It’s up to Kelsey, not to me.”

  Heath nodded. “Well, Kelsey?” he asked. “It’s up to you, truly.”

  I paused. I knew this was crazy. I had a feeling that it felt wrong. But in all my life I had never been offered something so exciting, so different, so wild.

  “Um, yes,” I said.

  I felt the silence settle.