Beautiful Sin - Chapter 11
Spicy BL/MM/GAY Stepbrother Reverse Harem Romance
Haru
Finding a moment to talk to Aiden was like trying to catch smoke with chopsticks. Between him playing master chef with Reo and Noah, and the house slowly filling up with what felt like half the city’s population, I was running out of both time and excuses.
By five, the apartment had transformed into some kind of frat house meets food festival meets United Nations summit. The air was thick with competing scents—sizzling burgers, Mason’s signature spiced wings, and enough testosterone to qualify as an environmental hazard. Music thumped from Isaac’s ridiculously expensive speakers, and every flat surface had been colonized by either food, drinks, or people with questionable sitting postures.
Mason and Isaac rolled in with their entourage—Lucas, Carter, Matt, Ryan, and Jason—looking suspiciously pleased with themselves, like they’d just pulled off a heist involving nothing but charm and good looks. Then came Reo’s friends, Evan and David, followed by Noah’s bestie Connor who somehow managed to look even more intimidating than Noah himself, which I hadn’t thought physically possible.
And because the universe loves its little jokes, Jess showed up too, armed with party food like we weren’t already drowning in enough calories to feed a small country through winter.
“Haru!” She launched herself at me with her usual dramatic flair. “Miss me? Of course you did. I’m irreplaceable.”
“You didn’t have to bring food,” I eyed her reusable bag, which was suspiciously heavy for someone who once burned water. “We just went shopping this morning. There’s enough food here to survive the apocalypse, plus dessert.”
“And miss a chance to play the perfect guest?” She winked, a gleam in her eye that spelled trouble with a capital everything. “Besides, I needed an excuse to check on my favorite soap opera. The Davis-Ono Show, now with extra sexual tension!”
I clamped my hand over her mouth, glancing around frantically to make sure no one had heard. “Could you possibly broadcast that a little louder? I think there might be some people in Canada who didn’t quite catch it.”
She licked my palm—because apparently we’re five—forcing me to release her. “Please, like anyone’s paying attention to us when there’s food. Come on, let’s make our grand entrance.”
Walking into the kitchen-dining room felt like entering a wildlife documentary. Every male head swiveled toward Jess like meerkats spotting something shiny. Not that I could blame them—even in casual jeans and a braided blonde look, she had that effortless beauty that made everyone else look twice. But that was just Jess—gorgeous inside and out, and the best friend anyone could ask for. Even if she did occasionally threaten my sanity.
“Hi, everyone!” she chirped, waving like she was auditioning for a Disney princess role.
A chorus of “hey”s echoed back, some more enthusiastic than others. Isaac and his trio of troublemakers—Matt, Ryan, and Jason—were sprawled on the floor, decimating our chip supply while pretending to play video games. Mason’s crew—Lucas and Carter—had claimed the sofa like it was prime real estate they’d fought a war over. Meanwhile, the responsible adults—Aiden, Noah, Reo, Connor, David, and Evan—were actually being useful in the kitchen, though “useful” in Noah’s case seemed to mean criticizing everyone else’s technique.
“Hey, Jess.” Aiden’s smile could’ve powered a small city. Not that I noticed. Not that I was specifically looking for him the moment we walked in. And definitely not that my heart did a little tap dance when our eyes met briefly.
Jess practically skipped to Aiden, brandishing her bag like a peace offering to a particularly attractive deity. “Brought provisions for the troops! There’s cookies, brownies, and those little pastry things that made Haru cry last time.”
“They were emotional tears,” I defended from behind her. “That cream filling was a religious experience.”
“You know you didn’t have to,” Aiden said, but took the bag anyway because he’s, well, Aiden. The perfect host, the perfect brother, the perfect everything—except for the small detail of giving hand jobs to his stepbrother, which probably wouldn’t make it onto his resume.
“Oh please, like I’d miss a chance to contribute to the Davis brothers’ feast.” She turned to Noah with a bright smile, fearless in the face of his perpetual scowl. “Congratulations on landing the dream job! Marketing for a gaming company—finally putting those perfectionist tendencies to good use?”
Noah’s expression softened slightly, which for him was the equivalent of a bear hug and tearful declaration of friendship. “Thanks,” his lips twitched in what might have been a smile in another dimension. “Someone has to make sure these games sell well enough to fund Isaac’s chip addiction.”
“I heard that!” Isaac called from his position on the floor, not bothering to look up from his game. “And it’s not an addiction, it’s a lifestyle choice!”
“A lifestyle choice that’s going to give you a heart attack by thirty,” Mason quipped, expertly flipping burgers like he was born holding a spatula.
“Worth it!” Isaac shouted back, stuffing another handful of chips into his mouth as if to prove his point.
“Jess!” Isaac called from his floor kingdom once he’d swallowed enough to speak coherently. “Want to help us destroy Matt’s dignity in Mario Kart? He thinks he can beat my record, the poor delusional fool.”
“You cheated last time,” Matt protested, throwing a chip at Isaac’s head with impressive accuracy. “No one gets three blue shells in a row without some kind of black magic.”
“Rain check on the destruction,” Jess called back, then turned to me with that gleam in her eye that meant trouble was not just brewing but had already boiled over and was making a mess on the stove. “Haru and I need to have a very important discussion about... things.”
Before I could protest, her arm was around my shoulders and we were heading for the door. I heard Reo’s amused voice behind us: “There they go again. The secret society of two.”
“Are they dating?” Jason asked, subtle as a brick through a window. “Because they’ve got that whole couple vibe going on.”
“Nah,” Isaac’s voice carried down the hall. “They’re best friends. Haru’s way too high-maintenance for dating.”
“Says the guy who once cried because the store was out of his favorite chips,” I called back, earning a chorus of laughter and an indignant “That was ONE time!” from Isaac.
“How do you know they’re not dating?” Matt pressed. “They look really close.”
Jess was practically vibrating with contained laughter beside me, and I just knew she was hamming it up on purpose. Traitor. She pressed closer, making exaggerated lovey-dovey eyes at me as we disappeared down the hall.
“Because if they were,” I heard Reo’s dry voice, “Haru wouldn’t have time to spend hours staring longingly at—”
I quickened my pace, dragging Jess along before Reo could finish that sentence and completely destroy what little dignity I had left. The last thing I needed was for everyone to know about my pathetic pining for Aiden. I’d never hear the end of it.
The moment we reached my room, she tossed her suspiciously heavy backpack on the floor with a thud that screamed ‘contraband’. I didn’t need three guesses to know what was in there—knowing Jess, she’d brought her entire Boys’ Love collection. Again. Because apparently one emotional crisis per day wasn’t enough for me.
Why do I have a feeling this day is about to get so much worse?
“Sit,” she patted the space beside her like a queen summoning her subject to receive judgment. “Tell me everything that’s happened with Aiden since last night. Leave no steamy detail unturned. I want the full HD experience, with surround sound and director’s commentary.”
“You’re giving my brothers and their friends ideas,” I deflected, crossing my arms defensively. “They all think we’re dating.”
She waved her hand dismissively, like she was shooing away an annoying fly. “Please, like that’s not the perfect cover story. Besides, watching them try to figure us out is better than any drama series. Did you see Noah’s face? He looked like he was trying to solve a particularly challenging math problem while simultaneously sucking on a lemon.”
I collapsed next to her with a sigh that could’ve moved mountains. Or at least caused a minor landslide.
“Oh my god, stop channeling your inner Victorian heroine and spill,” she nudged me with enough force to nearly topple me over. “What’s got you doing the whole brooding protagonist routine? You’ve been avoiding eye contact with Aiden like he’s Medusa and you’re afraid of turning to stone.”
I bit my lip, debating whether to tell her about last night. If I did, she’d probably spontaneously combust from pure joy. Her favorite real-life Boys’ Love drama finally getting steamy? She’d never let me live it down. On the other hand, if I didn’t tell her, she’d probably figure it out anyway and then torture me for not sharing the details immediately.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, which was about as convincing as Isaac claiming he was on a diet or Noah pretending he didn’t color-code his protein shakes.
She wrapped herself around me like an octopus on a mission, face buried in my neck in a dramatic display that would make soap opera actresses proud. “Please, please, please! I’m dying here, Haru! Your best friend privileges are at stake!”
The door creaked open just as Jess was doing her best koala impression on me. Isaac stood there, freezing mid-step like he’d walked in on something scandalous. “Haru, we’ve got something for—Oh...”
“It’s not what you think,” I said flatly. Though honestly, at this point, I wasn’t sure what anyone thought anymore. My life had become a sitcom without the laugh track. Or maybe with the laugh track, but it was just the universe cackling at my misfortune.
Isaac’s knowing smirk made me want to throw something at him. Preferably something heavy. Like a dictionary. Or Noah.
The door swung wider, revealing Matt, Ryan, and Jason clustered behind him like paparazzi at a celebrity sighting.
“Are you two making out?” Matt asked, waggling his eyebrows in a way that made me want to staple them to his forehead.
“No, we’re not. Jess is just being... Jess.” I pried her arms off me while she grinned like the Cheshire cat on catnip. “It’s a condition. The doctors say there’s no cure.”
“I’m just trying to extract secrets from my best friend,” she announced cheerfully, like that made it better. “He’s being stubborn about it.”
Isaac’s eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. “Secrets?” His gaze zeroed in on me like a heat-seeking missile. “Well, well, well... What kind of secrets would our innocent little Haru be hiding?”
He sauntered in, his friends trailing behind like ducklings, and suddenly my room felt about as spacious as a shoe box. Matt was clutching what looked suspiciously like a stack of magazines, and my stomach dropped. I knew that guilty look. I’d seen it enough times on Isaac’s face to know exactly what kind of ‘literature’ they were about to unleash.
Please don’t be porn. Please don’t be—
“We brought you these!” Isaac announced with all the pride of someone presenting a Nobel Prize instead of questionable material.
Matt deposited the pile in the middle of our little gathering like he was making an offering to some deity of dubious tastes.
“I don’t want those,” I hissed, pushing the stack away like it might bite me. “And in case you haven’t noticed, Jess is right here!”
“She’s nineteen,” Isaac shrugged, like that solved everything. “Old enough to appreciate the art form. Besides, we’re all adults here.”
“Some of us more than others,” I muttered, eyeing him pointedly.
Jess’s laugh bubbled up, bright and mischievous. “Trust me, those aren’t my taste.” She reached for her backpack with the air of someone about to trump everyone else’s hand. “Now these...” She pulled out her own stack of manga with a flourish, “These are art.”
She dropped her collection of BL manga right on top of the porn magazines like she was making a statement. Which, knowing Jess, she absolutely was.
“These two are totally going at it,” Matt announced, turning the book sideways as if that would help him understand what he was seeing better. “Is that even physically possible? That angle defies the laws of physics.”
“Oh, just wait,” Jess leaned over, flipping a few pages ahead with the confidence of a professor about to reveal a groundbreaking theory. “This scene is where it gets really interesting. See how the dominant one is all protective but still respects the other’s boundaries? That’s quality content right there.”
Isaac frowned, squinting at the pages like he was trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphics. “Hold up—where are the dicks? I mean, if you’re gonna draw guys doing the dirty, at least show us the goods.”
Ground, please swallow me now. Or better yet, swallow them. All of them. Especially Jess, who’s clearly enjoying my suffering way too much.
“Censorship,” Jess explained sagely, like she was imparting great wisdom. “Japanese publishing laws.” Her eyes lit up with that dangerous gleam I knew too well—the one that usually preceded me wanting to find a new best friend. “But if you want to see everything...” She whipped out her phone, fingers flying over the screen. “Korean BL webtoons don’t hold back.”
“Holy shit!” Isaac’s eyes went wide as saucers at whatever she’d pulled up. The others crowded around her phone like moths to a flame, their expressions shifting from curiosity to shock to something that looked disturbingly like appreciation.
“The art is gorgeous,” Matt breathed, clearly forgetting his earlier discomfort. “And it’s all in color!”
“Are those...” Ryan squinted, his face turning scarlet. “Light sabers?”
“More like baseball bats,” Jason whistled. “Is that even anatomically possible? Like, do they need medical attention afterward?”
“Look at how hot these guys are,” Isaac gushed, completely abandoning any pretense of heterosexual curiosity. “Like damn, those abs! I need to step up my gym game.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I probably saw my brain. Great. Jess just created a BL fan club in my bedroom. Next they’ll be writing fanfiction about characters from Isaac’s video games. Actually, knowing Isaac, he probably already does.
The door creaked open, and Noah’s imposing figure filled the frame, his broad shoulders practically touching both sides. “Please tell me this isn’t turning into an orgy. I just cleaned the living room, and I’m not in the mood to disinfect another space today.”
“Nope!” Jess chirped, not even slightly intimidated by Noah’s brooding presence. “Just converting your brothers to the joys of Boys’ Love manga. Educational purposes only. You’re welcome to join the seminar.”
Noah’s eyes swept the room before landing on me, that familiar glint appearing—the one that always preceded some form of torment. His lips curved into a smirk that made me want to throw something at his stupidly handsome face. Preferably something that would mess up that perfect hair he probably spent an hour on this morning.
“Quite the education you’re getting here, little brother.” The way he emphasized those last words made my skin prickle. Even his tone changed when addressing me—sharp where it was warm with others, pointed where it was playful. It was like he had a special voice just for making me uncomfortable.
“Shut up, Noah,” I muttered, which only made his smirk wider. It was like telling a cat not to knock things off tables—it just made them more determined.
“She’s expanded our horizons,” Matt declared solemnly, still engrossed in Jess’s phone. “I feel like I understand art on a deeper level now.”
“That’s not all you understand deeply,” Ryan snickered, earning himself an elbow to the ribs from Matt.
Noah chuckled at the others but kept his predatory gaze on me, like a wolf who’d spotted the weakest member of the herd. “Well, as fascinating as this cultural exchange is, the burgers are ready. Unless Haru’s planning to hide in here all night? Aiden’s been asking where you disappeared to.”
There it was again—that subtle jab, that slight edge to his voice that he reserved just for me. I gritted my teeth, trying not to react to the mention of Aiden. The last thing I needed was Noah picking up on that particular vulnerability. He was like a shark with blood in the water when it came to finding ways to torment me.
“Food!” Isaac scrambled up like someone had lit a fire under him, nearly knocking over Ryan in his haste. “I’m starving!”
“You’re always starving,” Noah’s voice softened as he addressed Isaac, the edge completely gone. “It’s like feeding a black hole with legs.”
“A black hole with excellent taste,” Isaac corrected, already halfway out the door. “Come on, guys! Last one to the kitchen gets the burnt burger!”
One by one, they filed out, though not before extracting promises from Jess to send them links to more webtoons. As I moved to follow, Noah’s arm blocked my path momentarily, his presence overwhelming in the narrow doorway.
“Try not to get too... educated,” he murmured, just low enough for me to hear, before moving aside with that infuriating grace of his. “We wouldn’t want you getting ideas that might lead to... disappointment.”
I shot him a glare that could’ve melted steel, but as usual, it just seemed to amuse him more. Why does he always have to be such an ass to me? Everyone else got normal Noah—stern but fair, occasionally even funny. I got whatever this was—this weird, antagonistic, almost predatory version that seemed to live for making me uncomfortable.
Jess linked her arm through mine as we headed to the dining room, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “That was fun! Did you see Isaac’s face? I think we just awakened something in him.”
“Great,” I muttered. “Just what this household needs. Another sexual identity crisis.”
“Speaking of sexual identity crises,” she whispered, leaning in close, “you still haven’t told me what happened with Aiden. And don’t think I didn’t notice how you tensed up when Noah mentioned him asking about you.”
“Later,” I promised, spotting Aiden at the grill, looking unfairly attractive in an apron that read ‘Kiss the Cook’ (a gift from Tina last Christmas that had made me choke on my eggnog). “When there are fewer people and more alcohol.”
“I’m holding you to that,” she warned, but mercifully dropped the subject as we rejoined the party.
At least the porn magazines had been forgotten. Small victories, Haru. Small victories.