Kathrine’s povBryant misread my expression and said, “The thought of you with another man drives me crazy, but I understand if you’ve been with others before. I just need to know.”I reached out, running my fingers through his dark hair, letting my touch trail down his stubble cheeks. Locking eyes with his piercing blue gaze, I replied softly, “Bryant, I’ve never been with anyone else. I was waiting for you. You’re the only man who’s ever seen me, let alone touched me.”Relief and hope filled his voice as he asked, “Are you really a virgin?”“Yes, Bryant. I’ve always known you were the one for me.”Without another word, he dropped the towel and lifted me effortlessly, pulling me close. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as I clung to his broad shoulders. His strength made me feel safe, as it always did. With my arms around his neck, he carried me out of the bathroom.I thought he’d take me to my parents’ room since it had the bigger bed, but he surprised me by bringing me
Katherine’s POVSomeone was calling my name. The voice was familiar, a woman’s voice, but I couldn’t respond. I wanted to speak, but it was like my voice was stuck. Why would someone familiar be calling me when I was alone at home with Bryant? I kept hearing the voice, but what I really wanted to hear was Bryant’s. Then, suddenly, loud banging on the door jolted me awake.“Katherine, are you still sleeping? You know we’re moving out today. Is this on purpose?”It was my mom’s voice, the one that had been calling me. My eyes snapped open, but my whole body felt weak.“Was I dreaming this whole time?” I muttered to myself. My fingers were still in my pussy, and I realized I was completely naked. The spot of my pussy on the bed where I had been lying was wet.“Bryant!” I gasped, the memory of the pleasure I’d felt rushing back. My goodness. I didn’t even realize my mom could hear me through the door.“Are you still talking about Bryant?” she asked sharply. When I didn’t answer, she added
Noah's pov The Orchid Café was a fancy place, so I had to swap my t-shirt for a dress shirt and trade my comfy gym shorts for a pair of charcoal grey slacks. Dad was really pulling out all the stops to impress his new girlfriend. I didn’t have strong feelings about Clara. Honestly, I was just glad Pops was back in the dating game. If she treated him well and made him happy, why would I complain? Henry, on the other hand, wasn’t so thrilled about the whole “live-in” situation. He was super protective of Dad and was convinced Clara was just another woman trying to get his money. I’ll admit it did seem rushed, two months of dating before moving in together felt pretty quick. But Dad kept saying that at his age, life was short, and he needed to make the most of it. Besides, they weren’t strangers. Dad had known Clara for years. Her late husband had been a lawyer in the same chamber, just like Dad. So, she wasn’t some random woman he’d met online. And Clara came with a kid. Dad said she
Katherine's POVI sat cross-legged in my chair, not caring how fancy or expensive the restaurant was. I had no interest in impressing anyone, not even Mr. Robert, and definitely not his sons. Mr. Robert seemed nice enough, though he was a little stiff and dull. He was clearly smitten with my mom, constantly holding her hand, gazing at her, and showering her with attention. My mom soaked it all up like a dry sponge desperate for water. But at least, for now, she was happy. Mom had a thing for older men, and most of them came with grown children from previous relationships. Boyfriend number three had been divorced with kids younger than me, but they lived with their mom, so I didn’t have to deal with them. This was the first time I’d be sharing a house with a boyfriend’s kids. Not that Noah and Henry were kids, oh no, they were grown men.I tilted my head slightly to get a better look at Henry. He looked like he’d walked straight off the cover of a men’s fashion magazine, perfect hair,
Henry’s povMy father had completely lost his mind. It was like he was having some kind of late mid-life crisis. Ever since our mother died, he had stayed devoted to her memory. He hadn’t so much as looked at another woman, or at least not seriously. Then, out of nowhere, he started dating Clara Blair. I could have tolerated that. But moving her into his house? That was a whole different story. I hate change. I’ve always hated it, especially when it comes to my personal life. At work, I’m forced to deal with unexpected challenges all the time, but my home is supposed to be my safe space, a place where things don’t constantly shift. Now, because of Clara, that stability was being ripped away. Noah, my brother, had quietly suggested that maybe it was time for us to move out, to get our own place. But I thought leaving our father alone with Clara would be the worst thing we could do. What if we moved out and she took advantage of him? My dad wasn’t in his sharpest mental state right now,
Kathrine’s povI might not have been entirely honest when I said I’d seen better except in my dream with Bryant, but that was a figurative character. But how did this guy manage to stay in such great shape? No, I needed to stop thinking about Henry. First of all, he was a complete jerk. It was obvious he didn’t like us being here, and he wasn’t even pretending to hide it. Second, I didn’t have the time or energy to get distracted by a good-looking guy with a great body, especially one who wasn’t going to stick around in my life. Stay focus, Kathrine, stay focus. I let out a sigh and threw myself onto the bed. It was super bouncy, like it had never been used before. It was hard to relax and fall asleep in a bed that wasn’t mine, in a house that felt so unfamiliar.The house was full of strange noises. I could hear the low hum of the central air, the sound of Noah moving around in the room next to mine, muffled traffic outside, and even a dog barking in the distance. On top of all that,
Noah’s povShe was on my mind all day. Every quiet moment, she slipped into my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried to focus on work. This morning, when she walked into the kitchen wearing a small tank top and tight workout shorts, I nearly forgot my coffee on the counter. Her stomach was flat, toned, and smooth, with a tiny butterfly navel ring glinting against her soft, pale skin. She didn’t seem to notice how stunning she looked, which somehow made her even harder to ignore. I couldn’t shake the image of her out of my head. Every time I opened a new email or joined a Zoom meeting, I caught myself staring blankly at the screen, replaying that moment in my mind.By two o’clock, I couldn’t concentrate anymore. I closed my laptop, grabbed my keys, and decided to call it a day. Just as I reached the office door, Dante, the one in charge of marketing called out.“Noah, we’re heading to The Cornerstone for drinks.” Want to come?”“Not tonight,” I replied with a quick wave. “Got someone wa
Kathrine's POVNoah’s hands were on me again, but this time, I pushed him away. His strength was undeniable, and the pull of his presence almost broke my resolve. But I wasn’t about to fall for it. He was everything women seemed to want—handsome, muscular, with a smile that never left his face. I could feel the confidence radiating off him, the way he expected everyone to fall at his feet. But not me. I wasn’t just another conquest, another temporary distraction for his ego. I knew exactly what he was, a game player. And I wasn’t going to let him break down the walls I’d spent years building. So, I stuck to my usual plan and pushed him into the “friend zone.” That way, I wouldn’t have to deal with the constant battle of feelings and attraction that would inevitably come. My history with men wasn’t great anyway. I had two serious relationships in my life. The first one ended after six months when his family moved away. The second one lasted only ten months before it ended in a disastro
Kathrine’s POVI felt so dizzy I might have collapsed if I hadn’t been sandwiched between Henry and Noah, their strong bodies holding me up. The kitten, tired of being squished, had climbed onto my shoulder, her tiny claws pricking my skin.Was this real? Had I slipped into some alternate reality? Maybe the almond milk my mom gave me had sent me into a coma, and this was all just a dream. Because who in the world gives their girlfriend a house for her nineteenth birthday?But it wasn’t the price tag or the extravagance of the gift that hit me the hardest. It was the understanding.Henry and Noah knew. They knew that for the past three and a half years, my life had been nothing but temporary, unstable, unreliable, and downright terrifying. When I lost my dad, I lost my home, my safety, my security. I’d followed my mom from one boyfriend’s place to another, always feeling like an unwanted third wheel, always at the mercy of strangers. I thought I’d built up a tough shell, that I was str
Kathrine’s POVI wasn’t expecting any more gifts from the Robert brothers. They’d already spoiled me with flowers, a fancy stainless steel water bottle, an incredible dinner on the gazebo, and those stunning rings. I couldn’t stop twisting the rings on my finger, just to remind myself this was real. This wasn’t some scene from one of my romance novels—this was my life.But when they drove me out to the waterfall, I almost melted. It was such a sweet, romantic gesture, taking me back to where it all kind of began. Okay, technically, it started at the Professor’s house, but our first real date was here, at the swimming hole under the man-made waterfall. That was the moment I started to believe I could actually be with both of them.When we arrived, there was a blanket laid out on the grass, scattered with rose petals. A vase of fresh flowers sat beside a white box tied with a big red bow. They sat facing me, their eyes full of anticipation, like they were waiting for something huge. It
Henry’s povI woke up before the sun even started to rise, the sky still dark over the mountains. Kathrine was curled up next to me, our legs tangled together with Noah’s. My brother was on the other side of her, holding her close while she faced me. At some point during the night, we’d kicked off the blankets, but the three of us together kept the bed warm and cozy.When Noah and I planned her late birthday dinner, we never imagined it would end the way it did, with the most incredible, unforgettable night of my life. Maybe even our lives. I reached for her hand in the dark, my fingers brushing over the ring she now wore. She’d accepted it. She’d accepted us.Kathrine stirred, stretching with a soft groan. “Oh my God,” she mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep. She threw a leg over mine and sighed. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. No, make that two buses.”I smiled, brushing her hair back from her face. Even in the dim light, I could see how beautiful she looked. “I’m sorry,
Kathrine’s POVI should have done this a long time ago. Sliding behind the wheel of my new car, I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, just to remind myself that it was real, this was real. The scent of pine-tree air freshener mixed with the sharp, chemical tang of whatever they used to polish the interior at the dealership. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it smelled like freedom. Like a fresh start.No more asking for permission. No more borrowing keys. No more waiting for some taxi driver to show up at his own pace. This was my car, and I could go anywhere I wanted, whenever I wanted.It should have been a good feeling, liberating, even but there was a dull ache gnawing at the back of my mind.My mother wasn’t speaking to me.Late last night, I’d heard her voice sharp and angry, drifting from the other end of the house. I couldn’t make out every word, but I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what the argument was about.She must have gone to Weah, her voice rising
Noah’s PovEven though Kathrine was trying to hide it, I could see she was upset. When I got to the dojo, she was already there. She had taken off her jacket, put on boxing gloves, and was hitting the heavy bag hard. She wasn’t just practicing, she was putting all her strength into every punch and kick. I could almost feel the force of her hits. Her face was red, her breath was sharp with each strike, and sweat was running down her neck.It was impressive and attractive, but also a little scary.I wouldn’t want to be that bag, but that wasn’t what worried me. It was the way she was fighting, so intense, so focused, so fierce. It was like she was fighting for her life. Or maybe she was punishing herself.After what Henry told me about her meeting with her mom, I thought it might be a mix of both. I wasn’t sure if I should stop her or let her keep going. Since we were in the dojo and she was higher-ranked than me, I felt unsure of what to do.Luckily, Clement noticed something was wrong
Kathrine’s Pov“Time to face the executioner,” I muttered under my breath as I opened the door and headed downstairs to confront my mother. My purse was slung over one shoulder, and I could hear the keys to my new car jingling inside, almost as if they were taunting me. I kept my face calm and composed, but inside, my stomach was churning with nerves. I had no idea how my mother was going to react, and I really didn’t want Henry to witness it if she completely lost it.I found her pacing back and forth between the living room and the kitchen. She had kicked off her heels by the back door and I mean kicked. One of them had flown halfway across the room. Her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was now loose and floating around her flushed face. Her pupils were tiny pinpoints, and she was shaking with anger. She was furious, and it showed in every movement.I took a deep breath, trying to detach myself from her emotional state. It wasn’t easy. Her stress and anxiety felt like invisible
Kathrine's povBuying my own car might have been a little impulsive, but I didn’t regret it. Well, not entirely. The process wasn’t exactly smooth, though. I had to visit three different dealerships before I found a salesman who actually took me seriously. The first one looked me straight in the eye and told me to come back with my parents. Can you believe that? The second one laughed in my face when I said I wasn’t interested in financing and planned to pay in cash. It was frustrating, to say the least. But at the third dealership, I finally found a guy who treated me like an adult. We talked about the pros and cons of different cars within my budget, and after some back-and-forth, I settled on a modest, older Toyota with low mileage. It wasn’t flashy, but it was reliable and affordable.I paid for the car in full and drove it off the lot, feeling a mix of pride and guilt. This was my first car, and it should’ve been a happy moment, but instead, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in
Henry’s POV“How much longer?” I barked into the phone, my patience hanging by a thread.“We’ll wrap up by Tuesday,” said Guy Wilson, the contractor I hired to handle the asbestos cleanup at the old factory. “After that, you’ve got to wait at least 48 hours for the air to clear. Honestly, with a job this big, I’d give it a full week before we run the final tests to make sure it’s safe.”I rubbed my eyes, frustration gnawing at me. A week shouldn’t feel like a lifetime, but with the chaos at home, it felt like an eternity.I always knew Kathrine’s mom wouldn’t be on board with us, but I didn’t expect her to go full attack mode. The way she tore into Kathrine was disgusting, shaming her, calling her awful names. It made me sick.That morning at breakfast, Clara dropped the bomb. “You’re grounded,” she announced, her tone dripping with superiority. “And you’re not touching your car. Got it?”Kathrine didn’t even blink. She just raised an eyebrow, squeezed a lemon into her water bottle li
Kathrine's POVThis wasn’t going to blow over. I could feel it in my bones, like the ache of a storm before it hits. The tension in the house was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down. Unless I walked away from whatever this thing was between the Robert brothers and me, my mom and Weah would keep pushing. And I’d be the one caught in the crossfire.I was the odd one out here. The outsider. The girl who didn’t belong in the Robert’ world. And honestly, I could see why my mom was so uncomfortable. Weah, her professor boyfriend, was all about appearances. He was the kind of guy who ironed his socks and probably had a spreadsheet for his grocery list. I could practically see him breaking things off with her if I caused too much of a scene. The thought made my stomach twist.Even if I ignored my mom and Weah, this thing with the twins was a risk. A huge one. Relationships were messy enough, but with two brothers? It w