Chapter 25 - Vol. 2: Aiden To Haru - 25

Aiden

After closing Haru’s bedroom door behind him, Aiden went into the kitchen. He needed a drink, preferably something cold and alcoholic, to cool the sexual heat that had enthusiastically reared its head the moment his lips had touched Haru’s moments ago.

He opened the fridge door and searched for a can of beer but found none. He had forgotten they had just finished the last of the batch at dinner.

“Damn,” he muttered.

“Are you pissed with me?” Reo said.

Aiden turned to see his stepbrother standing at the door of the kitchen. He raised a brow and asked, “That you took the last beer or that you mentioned Haru is too young for marriage?”

Reo looked confused for a moment and then laughed loudly. Once he calmed down, he came to sit on one of the chairs surrounding the dining table. More serious now, he said, “The latter, obviously.” He paused as he looked at Aiden. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like I don’t want Haru to tie the knot with you or anything. It’s just that…” He lapsed into silence, his expression dark.

Aiden stayed silent, too, knowing Reo was deep in his own thoughts. And since there was no more beer, he went for the second option, which was a hot drink. So, he made two mugs of coffee. Done a few moments later, he came over and passed one to Reo, who gratefully accepted it.

As he sat down on one of the chairs, he said, “You worry about him, I understand. Haru is your baby brother, after all.”

Reo chuckled. “Yeah, he’s a brat and doesn’t even know how to look after himself properly yet, even at nineteen. He’s so clueless.” He took a sip of his coffee, savoring the bitterness and the warmth. He continued, “It’s weird to… I don’t know…”

“The idea of your baby brother getting married to another man is…weird?” Aiden asked bluntly.

Reo glanced at Aiden and then nodded, a slight embarrassment displayed on his face.

Aiden leaned back against his seat, stretched a bit, and then settled down again.

He said, “I’ve been thinking about it. I know Haru is young, and hell, I don’t even think I’m that mature myself, especially when it comes to Haru and my feelings for him, but I love Haru, and he has loved me since he was in middle school. That’s a long time, if you ask me.”

Reo nodded. “Yeah, it’s a long time. What gay kid sticks with loving a straight guy that long when the odds are so against him?”

Aiden nodded, too. “I’ll be blunt, Reo. I want Haru as mine, officially. We’re dating and that’s great, but I keep thinking about it, about putting a ring on Haru’s finger.” He chuckled as if in amusement. “Have you any idea how jealous I get when another guy sees him and makes a move on him, despite my presence? Or the girls who think he’s so cute, they even have the nerve to come up to me and ask if Haru has a girlfriend yet.”

Reo laughed. “Jesus! I had no idea that sort of shit happens. I guess the Shrine Maiden’s gene is working to its full effect, eh?”

Aiden smiled. “Yeah.” He took another sip of his coffee, savored the taste, and then continued. “Despite that, though, I honestly don’t want to tie Haru down. You’re right in that he’s young. He’ll want to experience the world before settling down, and I want to give him that freedom.” He leaned forward. “Am I putting your mind at ease now, Reo?”

Reo chuckled uncomfortably as he raked his fingers through his dark hair again. “Yeah.” He paused and then asked, “Is that why you never asked Haru to move into your room? To give him freedom despite how much you want to share a bed with him?”

Aiden nodded.

“I see.”

Reo chuckled again. “Man, you’re really holding yourself back, aren’t you? You care too much about that rascal.”

Aiden folded his arms across his chest. “Same as you, despite the merciless teasing.”

Reo’s lips formed a tight smile. He said, “Can’t be helped. He’s all I have left after Mom died. You guys are all I have left.”

“Yeah,” Aiden said. “Everyone in this house is all we have left.”

Reo nodded. After finishing his coffee, he said, “Thanks, Aiden.” Then he got up, left the mug in the sink, and headed to the door. “Good night.”

“Good night,” Aiden said. Alone, he took in a deep breath and rested his head against the back of the chair, his mind, like always, on Haru.

“You’re just being Aiden like fucking usual,” a voice said from the door.

Aiden flicked his gaze to see Noah standing there, looking more alert. His hair was wet, so he must have just taken a shower.

The brother headed over to the fridge, took out a bottle of water, unscrewed the lid, and then took a deep gulp.

“You heard?” Aiden asked.

“Yep,” Noah said, wiping his mouth. “Sounds tough being in a relationship.” He moved over and took a seat on a chair beside Aiden.

“I thought you’d be dead to the world until late afternoon tomorrow, like every other weekend after work,” Aiden said.

“Yeah, well, this weekend is different. Fuck this exhaustion and fuck work. I have three weeks to decide on whether I should go through with it or not.”

Aiden said, “Sounds like you’ve come to a decision.”

Noah shrugged. “The decision was made a while ago, since the day that bastard fucked me up.” He paused. “I was just worried, that’s all.”

“About?”

“Money, what else?” Noah said bluntly. “Our family has only just gotten a second income coming in, and to lose it again…”

“That’s what’s been holding you back?” Aiden asked. “Our family’s income?”

Noah chuckled. “Yeah, it sounds stupid, doesn’t it? When you question me like that. But hell, that’s what’s been running through my mind. The pay there is good and—”

“We’re all grown-ups, Noah,” Aiden said. “I understand you’re worried about money, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your sanity and health. You’re practically burning yourself out the way I see it. You’ll be completely fucked within a year or two if you keep going the way you’re going. Not to mention that boss of yours.”

Noah was silent for a moment. “Yeah, you’re right, and that bastard isn’t the real boss. He’s just the head of the marketing department who has the nasty habit of stealing his staff’s ideas so he can look fucking good to the head honchos.”

“Corporate?” Aiden said, chuckling.

“Yep, corporate,” Noah said and then sighed. His face solemn, he continued, “Sorry, Aiden, and thanks. You guys were worried about me and—”

“That’s what brothers do; we worry about one another,” Aiden said. “Like Reo just said, we’re all we have left.”

Noah emptied the last of the water and then got up. “I’m going to have a fucking good sleep tonight.” He tossed the bottle into the bin. “Good night, Aiden.”

“Good night, Noah.”

With Noah gone, Aiden quickly finished his coffee. After cleaning the two mugs in the sink, he, too, left the kitchen and then headed into the bathroom to have a shower. When he was done, he found himself in his room and lying on his king-sized bed, which unsurprisingly, felt empty and cold.

He spread his hand out to the left side where Haru would usually occupy when they spent the night together after their heated lovemaking.

Heated lovemaking. He could have had that tonight, tasting every inch of Haru, licking and teasing those pink nipples with his mouth and tongue, and of course, stroking and sucking off that adorable penis. Not to mention driving his hard cock into the eager asshole that never ceased to please him.

Yeah, he could have had that tonight, but Reo’s words had dampened his desire for Haru, filling his gut with guilt.

Haru was still young for him to tie the knot with, despite how much Aiden wanted it. Of course, it was great—heavenly, in fact—that they were dating, but deep down, Aiden wanted more, craved more. He wanted to be more intimate with Haru, bond with him. Become official on paper. Fact was, he was damn possessive of Haru, so much so that he was appalled at himself. The desire to monopolize the boy was strong indeed.

Aiden had been holding himself back—Reo had gotten that right—and he was doing a damn fine job of it, too. The problem was, Aiden didn’t know how long he could keep on holding back. If he could have things his way, he’d whisk Haru away and have the boy to himself day and night, just spending time with him and, hell yeah, making love to him until they were both exhausted.

This last month had been lonely, to put it bluntly, and tonight was even worse. But really, what the fuck was he doing right now? Why was he lying here in this big bed alone when he could have Haru with him, at least in his arms while they slept? Haru didn’t need to concentrate on his studying any longer.

Mind made up, Aiden flipped the duvet away and got out of bed. A few moments later, he was knocking on Haru’s bedroom door. There was no answer, however. But of course, Aiden wasn’t deterred by the lack of an invitation. He’d get what he wanted, and that was to have Haru in his arms.

He opened the door and slipped inside. With the room dimly basking in a golden glow from the bedside lamp, Aiden watched Haru, a slight smile playing about his lips.

Again, the sight of the boy never ceased to please him. That dark hair, the thick lashes, the milky complexion, and the pretty face that was the source of most females’ envy.

Finding that he couldn’t hold himself back, Aiden made his move and lifted the duvet. As he got in between the sheets, Haru groaned softly, which only triggered Aiden’s adoration even more. He pulled the boy into his arms and gently kissed his forehead.. Then he, too, shut his eyes and drifted off into a deep slumber, with both their bodies being squeezed in a tiny single bed.