Reverse perspective the.., p.1
Reverse Perspective (The Rapture Duet Book 1), page 1
Reverse Perspective
Emily Klepp
Copyright © 2024 by Emily Klepp
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact emilyklepp@edknovels.com.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Book Cover by 'Covers By Sophie'
Edited by: Jade Katzchen and Brittany Slater
1st edition 2024
Your Mental Health Matters
Your mental health matters
Please don’t ignore my warning!
Reader discretion is HIGHLY advised…
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988
Help IS available.
Content Warning
Reverse Perspective
For more than two decades it's been me and the guys - Dean, Lance, and Mason. We have grown up together, graduated high school and college together, own a thriving tech company, and we still find the time to meet with our friends for a weekly game of football. I've always been one of the guys.
After a friend offers a different perspective on our relationship, it opens my eyes to the reality that I am not just the girl they grew up with. There is nothing that can stop us from being together. Not even a viral scandal.
Just when we think things have finally settled down, my past trauma resurfaces. The monster I met in the cabin so long ago is older and more sophisticated in the way that he tries to break me down. Will I ever be truly free of him and his depraved fantasies or will he convince everyone that he's saving me from myself?
This is a DARK reverse harem romance novel with heavy triggers such as sexual assault with forced orgasms, kidnapping, religious trauma, and more. Reader discretion is highly advised. You can find a list of triggers and tropes at edknovels.com.
Triggers: Graphic sexual assault with forced orgasms, Revenge porn (sex tape being leaked), Kidnapping, mention of childhood trauma/ assault, death threats, body shaming, sexism, religious trauma, Heavy family expectations and pressure, Relationship coercion, non-consensual somnophillia, sexual torture, drug use (not MCs), Manipulation, semi-detailed account of childhood sexual assault (nothing too explicit outside of knowing that the events being referred to happen by her abuser when she was a minor), Self-harm, Murder
For the Little Demon in all of us.
Contents
1. Sadie
2. Lance
3. Sadie
4. Sadie
5. Sadie
6. Sadie
7. Sadie
8. Sadie
9. Sadie
10. Sadie
11. Sadie
12. Lance
13. Sadie
14. Sadie
15. Sadie
About the author
How to contact the author
Books by this author
Chapter one
Sadie
I don’t know if it makes me sad or angry to hear that bitch getting railed for the third time in twelve hours. I share a wall with Lance so it’s even more annoying when he brings his weekly whore home. At least I’m nice enough to keep my sexual endeavors where no one else can hear it. By sexual endeavors, I mean I just don't have sex.
My roommates are my best friends and business partners. I have been friends with Lance, Mason, and Dean since kindergarten. We were all neighbors growing up and graduated together. We ended up in the same college, going to school for the same thing, so it was only natural that we went into business together. The guys went on a football scholarship, and I received an academic scholarship. We all graduated at the top of our class with a master's degree in computer engineering.
Our company features an in-home virtual assistant that can help control everything from your lights to your electronics to your schedule. The biggest difference that allows us to stand out from the rest is that our virtual assistant interacts like a personal assistant, and she learns your patterns to help better predict what you need. With that, we do have products that complement the virtual assistant to turn your home into a smart home. We are inexpensive compared to our competitors, so it allows us to have a jump on basically everyone because anyone can get set up.
They let me name the company, which was a terrible idea because I’m a smart ass. I decided on QuadTech since there are four of us. Our virtual assistant is named Quill, which stands for QuadTech Universal Interactive Logistics Lab. So, Quill assistant for short.
QuadTech is rapidly expanding so we can afford to live on our own, but we have been attached at the hip for so long that we’ve never really considered separating. I don’t even know if I could live by myself at this point. They annoy me, but I’m used to them and their weird habits.
I know one of these days I’m going to have to separate from them and go my own way. I’m so painfully attracted to them that it’s agonizing when they bring women over. I’m so tired of hearing them fuck these women half to death. It’s worse with Lance because his room is close enough to mine that I can hear the sounds he makes in bed. His groans are fucking delicious, but I will never be on the receiving end of his lust. I will always be just like a sister to them, so I’m only hurting myself and basically any guy I try to have a relationship with.
I compare everyone I date to my best friends and it’s not fair to anyone. I always seem to find a way to scare them off anyway. I don’t have anyone to talk to but the guys, so I just internalize all of the feelings that I have for them. This leads to a lot of lonely nights filled with self-pleasure fueled by fantasies of them.
I really should stop being a creep and find something else to think about when I get myself off.
Today is Saturday which means we have our weekly football game with friends. I am the only girl who is willing to get out there but it’s always been that way. I have been playing with them every week for my entire life.
I am five foot one and the guys are over a foot taller than me so I’m not tackling anyone, but I run the fastest. As long as no one catches me, I’m golden. When they can catch me, they have no problems taking me down. However, everyone is mindful of the fact that I’m tiny compared to the rest of them. I’ve never gotten hurt but I’m sure it’s bound to happen one day. I won’t lie, something about being tackled by a six-foot-three man is hot as fuck.
I get dressed in my usual spandex shorts and T-shirt. It’s long enough to not show my ass, but I wear a tank top under it so that if I get overheated, I can take the T-shirt off. Once I have my shoes on I walk out of my room and slam the door behind me, knowing that Lance, and everyone else in his house, will hear it.
“Morning, Little Demon,” Mason says with a smirk as I walk into the kitchen.
“Shut up,” I grumble. Mason chuckles and grabs a coffee cup from the cabinet.
“Something wrong, Sadie?” Dean asks when he walks in behind me.
“Both of you can bite me,” I say. Mason smiles and pours coffee into the mug before turning and handing it to me. “Thanks.”
“Why do you get so mad about him bringing her over?” Mason asks.
“Do you know how many times they have fucked in the last twelve hours?” I ask. “They are both obnoxiously loud and the walls are thin.”
“Put headphones in,” Dean shrugs. “That’s what I do.”
“Yeah. You put my headphones in. You took them from me again,” I frown.
“Oh, right,” he laughs.
I roll my eyes and take a sip of my coffee when I hear Lance’s bedroom door open. “Be nice,” Mason says just before Lance and Angela walk into the kitchen.
She is wearing his shirt and likely nothing else. What makes it worse is it’s a shirt that I bought him. Lance goes to reach for the pot of coffee and I snatch it before he can grab it. “Morning,” I say with a sweet smile as I dump the remaining coffee into the sink. “Sorry. Fresh out.”
“That wasn’t very nice,” Mason laughs.
“Why do you always have to be such a bitch to him,” Angela frowns.
“I don’t think I was talking to you, Angie.”
“My name is Angela, or are you too dumb to remember?”
“Ah, shit,” Lance sighs.
“Excuse me?” I say. I chuckle, but there is not a drop of humor in my tone.
“I think you heard me. You’re a bitch to him. I don’t know why they put up with your bullshit,” she says, propping her hands on her hips. “I think you are just after his money but you haven’t caught onto the fact that he doesn’t want you.”
“I own a fourth of the company, you ignorant bitch. I have my own money,” I snap. When she laughs, I slam my cup down but Mason grabs me before I can get to her.
“You’re too pretty for jail,” Mason laughs as he lifts me up and sits me on the counter.
“Get her out of my fucking house,” I say, seething.
“You can’t just tell them what to do,” she complains.
“What?” she sighs.
“You need to go,” he says.
“You got to be fucking kidding me, Lance. You are taking her side?” Angela whines.
“There are no sides. You knew from the beginning that she was a priority in my life. You don’t get to come into our home and try to push her out.” he says calmly.
“No fucking wonder you can’t keep a girlfriend,” she laughs. “All three of you are pussy whipped by someone who doesn’t even put out.”
“Unlike you, I don’t have to put out for people to want to be around me,” I smile. Angela scoffs and stomps back to the bedroom.
“Sadie,” Lance says with a hint of amusement in his tone.
“Fuck you!” I snap. “You know that I don’t like that bitch but you still brought her into this fucking house.”
Angela walks back in with her stuff and opens her mouth to say something to me. “Just go, Angela,” Lance says.
“Bye Angie,” I say with a smile as I wave. She frowns before turning and leaving out of the back door that leads to the side driveway.
I push Mason away from me and hop off the counter, only to be trapped between Mason and Lance. “I’m sorry, Sadie.”
“If you want to bring people into this house, fine. I don’t care,” I lie. “Just be quiet. I shouldn’t have to be forced to listen to you repeatedly fuck some dumb blonde with the IQ of a potato chip while I’m trying to sleep.”
I try to slip past him but he pulls me back. “Sadie,” he says.
“What, Lance? What?” I sigh.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I had a conversation with her about being quiet. I didn’t expect her to intentionally get under your skin.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it? That’s all I get?” he asks.
“You’re going to be late for your game,” I say before turning and slipping past Mason.
“Aht. No,” Dean says as he grabs me.
“Will you people stop touching me,” I say when he pulls me over to stand in front of him.
“You don’t get to ditch the game. That’s not how this works.” Dean says.
“Last time I checked, this works however I want it to because I’m an adult,” I say.
“Then act like it and use your big girl words, Sadie,” he says with a smirk.
“Oh, fuck you, Dean,” I say as I shove him back and walk to my room. I shut the door and lay across the end of my bed on my belly.
I have my head in my arms desperately trying to not cry. It’s stupid that I can’t get over this. The worst part about all of this is seeing her in his shirt. They may prioritize me as their best friend, but that’s the only priority that I get. I will never know what it’s like to wake up with them and know that I am theirs. For some stupid reason, I can’t get it out of my head. It’s all I fucking want.
Going into business with them was the dumbest fucking thing I could’ve done because now I’m stuck watching them with everyone else but me. I’ve been considering selling my portion and stepping down. If one of them were to get into a serious relationship, I don’t know how I would handle it. It’s not fair to whoever they fall in love with for me to act like a raging bitch every time they’re around because I’m heartbroken. I have a meeting with a lawyer on Monday to talk about my contract with the guys to see if I’m actually able to sell my portion. Chances are I’m gonna have to just get them to buy me out.
My bedroom door slowly opens. I already know it’s Lance. He won’t leave it alone until I forgive him. That’s the worst part. I’m not even mad at him. I’m sad.
“Sadie,” he says softly.
“Go away,” I say with a dramatic groan as I stay where I’m at.
“You can’t stay mad at me forever,” he says as he lies on the bed beside me.
“Watch me. I lost sleep again because of you,” I say. I keep my head in my arms because I have tears in my eyes. I’ll never get him to go away if he knows I’m crying. Mason and Dean will end up coming in here and then they will gang up on me until I admit what’s wrong.
“Look at me, Sadie,” he says softly. He puts his hand on my back to try and comfort me. He knows that I’m upset, but his touch has the exact opposite effect. It is just another reminder that I’m hung up on men who will never see me the same way.
I hear Mason and Dean in the room, and I am suddenly overwhelmed. As I lay here, my chest tightens with an invisible weight, and a lump forms in my throat. I squeeze my eyes closed tighter, hoping to contain the storm brewing within. Yet, despite my efforts, a nearly silent sob racks from my body. I bury my face deeper in my arms when my body trembles from the cries slipping out, hoping the others won't notice the cracks forming in the wall I built to hide my feelings from them.
“Sadie, please look at me,” Lance says, still rubbing my back. He doesn’t know that touching me is just making it worse but I don’t want him to stop. That’s the fucked up part.
“Come on, Demon. Talk to us,” Dean says.
“Just go away. Please,” I whimper. I’m trying to keep my voice even, but it still cracks.
“Nope. I’m not doing this,” Mason says as he flips me so that he can look at me. I sit up and move away from them only for Mason to grab me and sit me on my dresser. He puts his hands on either side of me and is too close for me to get down. I give up but drop my gaze to my hands on my lap as I pick at my nails. I still have tears streaking my cheeks when Lance and Dean stand on either side of Mason. “Talk to us.”
“I’m fine,” I say.
“Liar,” Mason says as he tilts my chin to make me look at him.
“Fine. Hormones,” I say, giving him a deadpan expression.
“That’s a load of bullshit also because you haven’t had a period in five years from birth control. Try again,” he says.
“That’s creepy that you know that,” I frown.
“Little Demon, we’ve known each other since kindergarten. We know everything about each other. So why don’t you fill in the gaps for us and tell us why you’re crying?” he asks.
“I told you, I got mad. I just overwhelmed myself is all,” I lie.
“I don’t believe you,” Lance says.
“I don’t care what you believe,” I snap. Lance raises an eyebrow at me and I sigh. “I’m sorry. Can we just go? I don’t wanna talk about this.”
“Fine. We can talk tonight,” Lance says. “Okay?”
“Not tonight. I have a date,” I say. It’s not entirely a lie. Alex asked last night if I wanted to hang out.
Alex is a guy who I’ve been talking to for a few weeks now. We hang out when we have time. I’m not sure if I like him because I actually like him or because he gets my mind off of the guys. We haven’t had sex yet but after this morning, I think I want to try to give it a shot. I need to make myself get the fuck over my best friends. I need to find someone else to feel this way about.
“A date? With who?” Mason asks.
“It’s not that douchebag, Alex, is it?” Dean asks.
“He’s not a douche,” I say. “And yes.”
“You’re bringing him here, aren’t you?” Lance asks.
“I sure am,” I confirm. “He’ll be here at seven.”
“Spectacular,” he says, rolling his eyes
“Can we go, please?” I ask.
“Yeah,” Mason says as he steps back. When I hop down, he grabs my face and makes me look at him.
“We are talking about this when he leaves,” Mason declares.
“We can talk after breakfast tomorrow,” I say. “That’s fine.”
“He is not spending the night here,” Lance laughs with no humor in his voice.
“Why? Angela did,” I say. “For all you know, he’s spent the night here before.”
“We would know if he had spent the night here before,” Lance replies with a smirk.
“You know nothing,” I respond dismissively. I turn to leave the room but Lance grabs my waist and stops me.
“You’re not exactly quiet when you make yourself come, Little Demon,” Lance says in a tone I’ve never heard from him before. It sends a shiver up my spine and for a moment, I am frozen. “Unless he’s just not doing a very good job.”
