My eyes darted around the family room to all three of my friends before I looked at the TV Rico had put on mute during the commercial break.
It was quiet in the house. My mom and Rico’s dad left early this morning for another medical conference. Brock was one of the only plastic surgeons on the island and jumped at every opportunity to travel and learn more about advances in his field. My mother always traveled with him. Something that was working in my favor right now.
My twenty-first birthday was in two days, and I only wanted one thing.
I’d thought long and hard about it.
Soul was the first to break the silence, his perplexed expression giving way to an emotion I couldn’t name.
“Harley baby, you wantwhatfor your birthday?”
“I want to have sex.”
Christian stared at me, stunned into silence.
Rico’s eye twitched.
And Soul? Soul had his hand on mine in support, but I could feel the tension leaving his body and flowing into mine.
“Tough crowd,” I muttered, trying to break up the silence.
Rico rubbed his hand over his brow, a habit he’d picked up whenever something I said stressed him out. I couldn’t tell if he did it because he regretted getting my name inked there or if he did it to summon patience when dealing with me.
I was leaning toward the second option when he stood up abruptly and walked straight toward me.
He removed Soul’s hand from mine and grabbed me by my wrist. We were already halfway out of the family room and headed upstairs before I realized what was happening.
“Rico!”
He didn’t acknowledge me until we were in my childhood bedroom with the door shut behind us.
“What the hell has gotten into you?”
“Nothing, that’s what I’m trying to remedy.” I laughed at my corny joke but coughed to cover the silence that followed.
“You can’t just ask a group of men to have sex with you because you’re tired of being untouched.”
Ouch.
I was a late bloomer in every sense of the word. But that didn’t mean I didn’t have options when it came to dating and potential partners.
The problem was I didn’t trust any of the men interested in me any farther than I could throw them.
In fact, the only men I trusted were in this house with me right now.
“Why would you ask us that?” Rico backed away from me until his calves hit the plushness of my frilly pink comforter. He sat down with his head in his hands.
Damn, he was a drama king.
“Because I want to know what it’s like. And I trust y’all.”
“We’re like brothers to you, Harlow...” His words trailed as he looked up at me.
“I don’t see Soul and Christian as my brothers. And I don’t think they see me as a sister.”
“Your mom literally married my dad.”
“I know!” My voice rose with frustration. “But we’re not blood related. And you don’t have to fuck me. Nobody is making you?—”
