Their Twisted Rules (Untouched #2)

Chapter 1

The Petition

Nico

Of all the things I thought I’d return to, a standoff between my friends and cheerleaders wasn’t one of them. The guys I’ve seen at football camps over the years, but the girls I only remember from when I was in sixth grade.

“Nico will join the football team,” Luke says. “He’s one of us.”

Sidney’s calculated gaze turns to me. “You don’t let just any football player hang out with you.”

“Nico isn’t just some football player.” Eli steps forward. “He’s a horseman.”

Sidney’s mouth drops open and she hesitates. Everyone knows you don’t fuck with the horsemen on the football field. We’ve used the name every year at football camp, the only time I get to see the guys. It was one of my parents’ concessions when we moved away.

The five of us have been connected almost since birth, but the horsemen is ours. It’s who we are. They told me they used the name at school too. But I had no idea how far they’ve taken it.

When the opportunity to come back for my senior year presented itself, I seized it. To get to be part of the horsemen again. To finally return to the place that feels like home. To return to the girl that feels like home.

Harper. I was also hoping to rekindle my friendship and more with her. Especially after seeing her at the football game. She’s always been pretty, but now she’s gorgeous.

I’m not surprised they’ve claimed her.

I don’t turn around to look at her with Caden. Watching Luke paw her was enough to make me burn inside. I knew coming back was a gamble, but I hoped Harper would still be free. That we could find something new together. Best friends with something more.

So many times before this year, I thought about reaching out, but what would be the point? I was in New York and she was here. Part of me didn’t want to hear about how she was getting by without me. Who she was dating. I could have reached out before we moved back, but by then it had been so long…

Tonight, she didn’t mention a boyfriend. Even though Luke has kept her on his lap, the way Caden holds her I can’t tell which one of the guys she’s with.

“There are only four horsemen,” Emma Garcia says with her hand on her hip and a welcoming look in her eyes for me. These girls didn’t look twice at me when I was a scrawny sixth grader.

Sure, they’re hot and they know it. The scraps of fabric they call clothing flaunt their assets. If I give them even a hint I’m interested, I could be balls deep in any of them before tonight is over.

I never really had to work hard for female attention at my old school. But there’s only one girl who I’ve thought about for years and couldn’t have, until now. These bitches don’t hold a candle to her.

But I don’t know where I stand with Harper. If it’s too late.

“Nico is Apocalypse.” Luke steps closer to the group of girls. He’s a cold bastard. Death always suited him. “He’s one of us.”

“Does that mean he gets to play with your pet? Or is he eligible?” Hannah raises her eyebrow. She twists her finger into her curly black hair and gives me a wink.

A stone sinks in my gut. Pet? Fuck, is that what Harper is? Their goddamned pet? What the fuck happened while I was gone?

I can’t help but glance back at Harper. Caden’s hand is dark tan against the pale skin of her midriff. She’s relaxed in his arms like this is a normal thing. I noticed her tension when Luke held her, but right now, she appears content to let Caden touch her.

That spark of jealousy rips through me again. How can she be with them? Is she with all of them? What the fuck happened to the girl I knew, and who is this gorgeous creature before me?

And why doesn’t their claim make me want her any less?

Luke glances at me with a smirk. “Apocalypse just moved back. For all we know, he’s already taken.”

“Are you?” Hannah asks. She wets her red lips.

Fuck. Way to put me on the spot. If I say no, these chicks will assume I’m fair game. But I came back with one girl in mind, and that might not be possible if she’s their pet. Fuck.

Luke’s eyes narrow on me, but he turns to the girls with no expression on his face. “We’ll get back to you on that. Now state your business.”

Sidney smiles as she tosses her blond hair over her shoulder. Her green eyes are shrewd. “We figured you could use more company. After all, there doesn’t appear to be enough Harper to go around.”

Eli steps up to her. “Why do you always make assumptions, Sidney? You keep acting like you know what we need.” His gaze rakes her up and down before he gives her a dismissive look.

“Why don’t you go find the rest of the football team?

I’m sure you could get someone to stick their dicks in you for the night. ”

Sidney’s lips press together. “Maybe we want to play with the new horseman. Break him in. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind four on one since your pet has the four of you.”

The tips of my ears burn. Fuck. Would I lose my man card if I say no? Because while it sounds fascinating to have four women at once, I’m not sure I’d be able to keep up. And the women in question, while attractive, aren’t the woman I want.

Luke gives me a look that asks if I want to. I’m sure he’d allow it to happen, but I give him a slight shake of my head to indicate I’m not interested.

Luke must have noticed my earlier interest in Harper. I don’t know what he wants to do with that information, but I’m not backing down until I know Harper doesn’t want me.

“For now, our friend will pass.” Luke holds his hand back toward Harper and Caden.

Harper comes forward and takes it without hesitation, but her gaze flicks to me as he pulls her into his arms. Caden joins us.

“If you’ll excuse us, ladies, we have a previous obligation to take care of.” Luke nods to them and his gaze falls to me. “Are you joining us?”

I look at Harper, and I see a spark of hope in them.

Whatever they’re planning, she seems to want me there.

I wish I could read minds, to tell if she wants me to join in or stop whatever this is from happening, but it’s been too long and we can’t read each other the way we used to.

But if there’s even a chance I can be her hero…

“I’m in.” I lift my gaze to Luke’s, and he nods.

Harper

Luke leads us away from the Cheermonsters, and their hate-filled gazes dig into my back. Like any of this is my decision. Like I knew being the last virgin would paint a target on my back.

I don’t dare look at Nico, but I’m glad he’s coming with us. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t take the girls up on their offer. Most men would be happy just with a threesome with two women, but they were offering all four of them. I can attest four is a lot.

The only reason I have the horsemen’s attention is because of an intact hymen. Yay. That’s how to get a man. Or four. Or is it five now?

Nico is a horseman after all. Though I still don’t understand how that works. In fifth grade he was still my best friend. I didn’t even know he was friends with these guys. Of course, the guys didn’t really claim their titles until sometime in sixth grade and didn’t make waves until high school.

Caden pushes open a door, and we all go through it. The noise from the party ceases as he closes it behind us. Suddenly I’m on high alert.

Dammit, I’m alone with them, but they won’t do anything with Nico here, right? I mean, I belong to the four of them. Not five.

My insides soften as I wonder how it could work with five of them. The four of them overwhelmed me this morning. Their hands everywhere. I couldn’t lock on a single sensation, dissolving into a mass of liquid desire at their touch.

I’m so not ready for this.

As we walk through the darkened, quiet household, no one speaks. I kind of expect Nico to ask some questions, but it seems like everyone is waiting. I’m not sure what for.

We climb stairs and turn down another long hallway. When Caden opens a door, we walk into his bedroom that I’ve only seen online. My heart jumps at the familiar room and enormous bed. Awareness floods me even as I swallow down the burst of nervous energy.

The room is huge with a couch and chairs. An open door leads into a bathroom.

When I freeze, Luke tightens his hold on my waist. Once again, I’m a hare trapped with hungry wolves, and now there’s a fifth one, and I don’t know how hungry he is. Will he help them tear me apart?

“We need to talk.” Luke leads me to the chair and lets me sit in it by myself. I release my breath. The guys claim the couch and the other chairs. I slip off my shoes and pull my feet up, trying to make myself as small as possible.

This time I’m not the center of attention.

“I think I’m missing some details.” Nico’s gaze meets mine, and I almost feel sorry for him.

If he’d gotten here before school started, I would have begged him to claim me, even if he didn’t feel that way about me.

I could have started the school year with a boyfriend and protection from the horsemen.

Except part of me doesn’t want that. Part of me really enjoys owning four guys. They’re mine and mine alone. I enjoy their touch and attention. But maybe if I had Nico, it would have been enough. I’ll never know.

“We have an arrangement,” Luke begins. He rubs his finger over his lower lip. My traitorous body softens, knowing what those lips can do.

Arrangement? More like ownership. Scoffing, I fold my arms over my chest.

Luke lifts an eyebrow. “You have something to say, princess?”

“It’s not like I had a choice in this arrangement.” I feel a little braver with Nico here. Of course, that won’t stop Luke from punishing me. But I can’t say I haven’t liked some of his punishments.

“You had a choice, kitten.” Eli leans back on the couch, but his dark eyes track me.

A sharp laugh bursts out of me, and I feel the glares of the horsemen. Not Nico though—he seems confused.

“The horsemen made it a mission to leave no virgin behind, with a few exceptions.” I settle back into my chair and look only at Nico. “Other than when we were freshmen, they leave the freshmen alone. They also don’t go after girls with boyfriends. And of course, there is a class of unfuckables.”

Nico’s gaze narrows on me as I continue, but fuck it, he needs to know the whole truth of who these guys—who apparently are his friends—really are.

“However, they’ve worked on our class, and it’s a point of pride to have cleared the senior class of their virginity, except for one.

” Heat licks my cheeks. “So first day of school, as the lone senior virgin remaining, the horsemen claimed me. Of course, I’ve always hidden from them and avoided them since early freshman year, because they’re bullies, and everyone knows to get in their way is to have hell rain down on you. ”

Someone scoffs but they don’t deny it. They are who they are.

“So when I decided I didn’t want to be claimed, I hid from them. Of course, when they found me, they spanked me in front of the entire cafeteria.”

Nico’s eyes widen, but there’s also a flash of heat in his dark eyes. Interesting.

“Keep telling your story, princess. Understand you’ll be punished for it.” Luke draws my gaze as he rubs his hands together.

My panties dampen in response. Fucker.

I turn back to Nico. “The next morning, Caden and Jack showed up to take me to school and forced me to change my shirt in front of them. At lunch, in the cafeteria again—which I hate—they told me they own me, and I demanded a choice. Not my finest hour, but at least I tried.”

“What choice?” Nico leans forward with his forearms on his knees.

“I asked them to let me find a boyfriend for the year and if I couldn’t, I’d submit to their ownership.

” I swallow and look down. “Of course, Luke only gave me five minutes to find anyone in the cafeteria to be my boyfriend. So I got up on the table and humiliated myself a second time to ask anyone to step forward and be my boyfriend.”

Nico nods thoughtfully. “And no one did.”

I smile warily. “Nope. It didn’t help my case that the horsemen were mean mugging everyone in the cafeteria.

” I take a deep breath. “So no boyfriend, and now I’m owned by the horsemen for the entire year.

They aren’t allowed to touch or fuck any other girl, but I have to give them my virginity, so it’s my choice when I give it up. ”

“Come on, little nympho. We all know you’ll give it up to us.

” Caden smiles, but it’s not a friendly smile.

It sends a jolt through me. “Harper hadn’t even kissed a guy before last Wednesday, and we had her naked in a closet with our hands all over that fantastic body this morning.

She came so hard I’m surprised she didn’t pass out. ”

Nico’s lips tighten, and my whole face burns. Yeah, I wasn’t going to give him that information. This is pretty fucked up as it is.