Chapter 12

'You are just like your Father. Like a restless dog...'

I had a dream that day.

There was a middle-aged woman standing before me with a distorted face. She was scolding me for something I must have done or said. I was not really sure the reason why I was being scolded, but I could take a guess.

A restless dog… That was enough to tell me I have always been like this. Pawing at this tree to then move on to the next one in a short period of time.

But, could the brothers be considered trees? Were they not also strange for being interested in the same woman and willing to share her between themselves?

Anyway, I realized, thanks to the dream, that being interested in several men at the same time was not that bad or unusual. Or at least it was not, in my opinion, or in this society. Is it not just a matter of having a bigger heart to share my love with several people?

We can love our set of parents, our siblings, closest relatives, and we can even have several lovers throughout our life.

Why, then, can I not love several men at the same time?

Ok, claiming it is love was a bit too far-fetched at the moment. Either way, having the hots for several handsome men was not bad.

The gentle and caring Ethan, the quiet and honest Lucas, the cheerful and lovely Felix, and the sharp and intense Joseph. There was an amalgam of personalities that got my interest. I already had a taste of the quiet Lucas who very straightforwardly took what he wanted and said what he felt.

I wondered what would happen with the other brothers?

"Stop daydreaming!"

"Ah!" I instantly rubbed my flicked forehead and pitifully looked at Joseph.

"Gimme." He stretched his hand, and I passed him the stake for the 30cm-tall flower bed he was building.

The soil in the courtyard was not suitable for gardening, that is why a box had to be built to plant the flowers with the soil brought from the outside. Joseph had brought sandy and loamy soil and mulch from their patch of land to mix together with the soil we brought.

Although not that optimistic, he hoped the lavender accepted the new soil.

Lucas was sent once again into the mountains to get more of that chalky soil and more lavender stalks for the considerably big flower bed Joseph was building. It was divided in two for easier watering, and encompassed the other half of the frontyard. Opposite the tree.

Joseph had claimed that if I wanted a garden, that he would build the best only for me. That was really sweet of him. Now, if he could stop being rude to his beautiful assistant.

But, I had to admit that he looked extremely dashing as he focused on hammering the stakes on the ground. Him and Ethan shared the same lean yet muscly body that hid strength in it. I really wanted to touch a bit.

"The other one." He demanded, stretching his hand.

"Ah… yes!" Guh, I was distracted by the rippling muscles of his arm once again.

"Ok, we're done with this." He declared after he finished nailing the stake in the ground. For the time being, there was only one flower bed that would hold the lavender stalks. The garden would grow the more flowers we collect in the future. "Now, the soil."

He started pulling closer the vats of soil he had already mixed. In order to free the baskets so Lucas could use them today, the soil and the lavender were put in unused vats. The soil was poured in the flower bed, then it was fertilized and some of the big white stones were removed before the lavender was planted.

"It looks..." I had no words to express the scenery in front of me.

Joseph laughed at my expression. "Bare, yes. There're only a few of 'em, and you chose the flower that isn't in bloom yet."

"Uh… I should have picked a blooming one, then?" Frankly, I did not know much about flowers; only the name of a few.

I just wanted a garden with flowers blooming in different seasons, to have a perennial garden in bloom. How amazing would that be?! Yet seeing the lonely, not-yet blooming lavender cooled my enthusiasm.

"Don't be silly, it ain't a good idea to transplant flowers in bloom." Joseph quickly countered my suggestion.

"Eh? But you said..." I trailed off, noticing the mischievous smirk he sported. "Were you teasing me?!" I cried out in frustration.

His laugh was all the confirmation I needed. I frowned and pouted in anger. Why is he treating me as if I was a stupid ignorant?! Well, I am a stupid ignorant when it came to plants, but he is too mean! I harrumphed, turning around and deciding to ignore him.

However, I could not remain angry for even a minute before I felt the heat from his body hovering on my back.

"Don't get angry. 'twas a bad joke." He purred by my ear. That ear definitely melted with his hot breath. I could also feel his narrowed eyes heatedly staring at me. Heavens above, they were not even trying to hide their desire!

"I, I will go make lunch!" I stiltedly said in a high pitch. It was true we were alone in the house with Ethan in town working, Lucas looking for flowers in the mountain, and Felix watering the patch of land, but that did not mean we could get frisky!

His intense gaze followed me until I entered the kitchen. Only then I could calm down my galloping heart, and fanned my blushing face.

I actually did not really need to make lunch, I only had to reheat the meal I prepared in the morning: sautéed vegetables with meat for Ethan and Lucas' lunch. There was also the broth where I cooked the meat. I had woken up even earlier than usual just to make the food.

I was not sure if I ever cooked before coming to his humble house, but I did have a talent for cooking if I have to say so myself.

… And, I also have the talent to attract horny bees.

"Isabelle, I wanna eat you for lunch instead." Joseph, very much like a hooligan, came and trapped me in his arms with a back hug.

His hands roamed along my side and lingered a bit on my wide hips as if enjoying the curves found there. He seemed to be enjoying my body too much, pinching here and there, his breath becoming very heavy behind me.

It was all well and good to be liked, and to be told these welcomed suggestive words. More so, to be desired this passionately by these brothers, but Joseph… your hands… ah~ yes, touch me more there…

No! No! Wait!…

My body was not protesting, honestly responding to his touch, yet my mind was ordering me to make him stop his hands from roaming too much.

Contrary to his rude and intense personality, he was very careful in handling a woman. His hands knew how to hold a woman's breasts and deliciously fondle them.

Ah! Do not pinch my nipple like that! I take back what I said… He was a bit forceful, but it still felt good. Hm? Where is your hand going? Oh Lord!

I sharply gasped. "Joseph..." I lowly admonished him and grabbed his hand that was being too naughty inside my skirt.

"What? Ya don't like it?" He drawled as he pointedly rubbed a bit more, my hand not able to do anything to stop him. Was I even trying to stop him? "You're wet already." He chuckled.

"This… ah!" Do not say something so obvious! It is good that you feel it, but it is not necessary to say it in my face!

My complaints died in my mouth as he flicked my nipple just like how he flicked my forehead moments ago. This…

Why does this feel so good? I threw my head back on his shoulder as his finger slid in. He took advantage of my action and started kissing and nipping my neck.

He evilly chuckled at my reactions. "You enjoyin' yerself, Isabelle? Want another finger in?" He asked as he slowly went in and out.

How can I think when he was doing something so mind-blowing? Even my knees were becoming weak. I only had the strength to open my legs to feel more of his finger.

"I…"

"Belle!" Felix's shout interrupted not only what I was going to say, but my moment with Joseph, too. I heard Joseph click his tongue displeased and quickly stopped what he was doing.

I had to say I felt a great sense of loss when his heat and his hands disappeared from my body. I reacted when I heard Felix's running steps getting closer to the kitchen, so I quickly arranged my disarrayed clothes and hair.

"Belle!" Felix yelled as he entered the kitchen. "I caught a few fish. Let's cook it… ah, I forgot you already cooked lunch. Well, I'll still go clean them." Just like how fast he came, he left. He really was a bundle of energy.

I glanced at Joseph who was calmly putting some firewood in the stove to lit it as if it had not been him who had been touching me a moment ago. He even had the nerve to look at me, wickedly smile, and lick the finger that had been inside me. I felt my face heating, and my heart beating like crazy.

This hooligan is teasing me again!

But I was not one to take this laying down!

I leaned down, grabbed his hand and also licked the finger he just took out of his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise, and I felt very accomplished. I even impishly pecked him and ran away next.

"Fuck!" He cursed behind my back, making me smile. See if you tease me again!

Lunch was a noisy affair with Joseph nitpicking on Felix, and the latter not knowing how he earned the ire of his brother. I secretly smiled and even stole a few glances at Joseph; more than once he was also looking at me, so we shared a few heated looks.

Feeling full from lunch, I started getting sleepy so I went to lay down.

I had just gotten comfortable on my bed when a hungry beast came to assault me, my lips were desperately devoured. Without even opening my eyes, I knew it was Joseph.

His lips expertly parted mine and a restless tongue introduced itself in my mouth to taste everything it could find inside. My hands were starting to look for something to grab on, yet he quickly reacted by pulling them up and intertwining our fingers to keep them in place.

I was trying my best to keep up with his pace but it was futile, he was too demanding. Just when I felt short of breath, he stopped.

We panted for a while, reveling in the lingering sensation of that kiss and the closeness of our bodies. When we recovered our breaths, he pecked my cheek to then leave with a "Sleep well."

I undoubtedly slept extremely well that afternoon.