Page 91 of Their Cruel Play
Could I imagine a future with all of us in it? Still sharing Harper? Still together as friends? Without a doubt. But can I also see this falling apart like a house of cards?
In so many ways.
Fuck. I rub the back of my neck. We’re all possessive of her, but not with each other. But there are other things that might push Harper away. Luke’s jealousy. Eli’s emotionalunavailability. Nico’s loyalty. Jack’s flirtatious nature. My fear of abandonment.
I ease onto the bed beside Harper and draw her flush against me. She sighs and clings to me. There’s no reason for Harper to love us. We forced her into this.
We made her want us. Yes, she craves it and all of us, but there’s a part of her that still fights against it. Maybe she won’t fight so hard now. Maybe we’ll settle into something semi-normal.
Even if we might not be capable of love, maybe she could learn to love us.
Harper
I jolt awake out of a nightmare. Trapped in a box with someone trying to get in. My heart pounds in my chest, and I peel myself away from Caden and slide down to the end of the bed. I stagger across the floor to the bathroom and shut myself inside.
The light helps shake off the remainders of the nightmare. When I finish using the bathroom, I wash my hands and take in a deep breath, letting the nightmare go. I’m safe now. Here with them.
This whole day has been strange. Everyone knows about us. We’re out as whatever the hell this is to my mother. Luke’s dad knows we’re together. The whole school already knew the horsemen claimed me. I’m the one who told the Cheermonsters they fucked me.
This year was never going to be normal. But I didn’t think I’d be dealing with people out to get me to get to them. You’d thinkeveryone would feel sympathy for me being tied to them all year long.
I’ve never done anything to anyone, but these guys loved kicking hornet nests. Now I’m the one who gets stung because I’m the easiest target. I might as well still be stuck in that closet with no way out. There’s nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
As long as I’m with the horsemen, I’m both safe and not safe.
I shut off the bathroom light and open the door. The sound of their breathing reaches me, and my insides soften.
I’m fucked. Truly.
Because I want to be here. I want to make them date me like a normal girl and not a conquest.
But I still want to be owned and used and fucked. I don’t know how it is for other girls. I know sex isn’t always this good. I’ve had them individually and all together and every second is amazing. I’m stuck.
My eyes catch on the couch where Luke sleeps. His arm is thrown over his eyes, and his body is tense. The bruise on his side mars his beautiful skin.
My breath catches in my throat. How could I not know? How could it go on this long without anyone finding out?
I walk over to him and kneel on the floor beside him. His father is powerful in this town.
Carefully, I place my hand near his forehead, hovering just above to see if he has a fever. He grabs my wrist. I suck in a breath at the sudden tight grip.
“Luke,” I whisper.
His grip relaxes on my hand. His head turns toward me and his eyes open. “Harper?”
“Do you need anything? More pain meds?” I start to rise, but he holds me there.
“No pain meds. Why are you up?” His voice is sleep-roughened, and it stirs my desire.
“Nightmare. Had to go to the bathroom.” I blow out a breath. Things are definitely too tender down there to do anything about that desire. And Luke is injured.
“Come here.” He scoots back and draws me toward him.
My gaze drops to his side. I shake my head, staying where I am. “No, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” His eyes narrow. “Just fucking get on the couch, princess.”
Damn it. I climb into the spot he made for me as careful as I can. I don’t want to hurt him any more than he already is. When I keep some space between us, he draws me in tight to his body and lifts my leg over his. My head rests against his pecs.
