Chapter 38 The Strategy
The Strategy
Harper
We park next to the wing place we went to before. This time I’m not getting naked wings. Fuckers.
Jack tugs me out of the backseat and leads me into the restaurant. We walk up to the counter and I order mild wings with a side of ranch and some fries. Before I can get any cash out of my purse, Caden eases me to the side.
“Go sit, little nympho.” He cups my ass and gives me a gentle shove toward the tables. My face heats as the guy behind the counter chuckles. Fucking Caden.
“Come on.” Jack leads me over to a booth and scoots in first, drawing me down next to him. The others arrive and place their orders at the counter before heading our way.
Eli sits next to me before anyone else can claim the seat. His hand slides over my knee as he presses a kiss to my cheek. Tingles buzz through me from his touch. We aren’t the only people in the restaurant by a long shot.
There are even a few other students. No one I know, but Caden stops by to speak with them for a second on his way to our table.
“How’s your day been, kitten?” Eli squeezes my thigh, making a little wave of heat rush through me.
“The usual. A few whores, one slut, and Tanner running his mouth off in art, but I told Ms. Sullivan on him. He got sent to the office.” I grab a napkin and put it on my lap.
Nico asked what happened on the way to the car, but I didn’t give him a complete rundown because I knew I’d just have to say it all again now.
“What did he say?” Caden leans his elbows on the table and his eyes narrow.
I swallow that protective instinct in me. If they’re going to trust me, I’m going to have to trust them. “Something about dicks always being on my mind and sucking them.”
“What a fucking tool.” Nico sits across from me. “It’s almost like he wanted to get kicked out today.”
“It was our first project workday. I’m not sure why he’d want to miss that. It means we’re behind on our project.” I tear up a napkin in front of me. What could his motive be? Except to get me alone. I freeze at that thought.
“Which means you might have to take advantage of her after school art studio.” Nico points out. “When we’re all at football practice.”
Fuck, he’s right. Caden’s mouth forms a tight line, but the guy at the counter calls our order number. Eli and Caden slide out and go to pick it up.
“Should I tell this stuff to Caden?” My gaze follows him. If I don’t, he’ll punish me. But I don’t want him to end up in jail because of something I said.
“It’s better he hears it from you than someone else.” Jack sweeps my napkin pieces into a pile off to the side.
He’s right, but I still worry about Caden going off on Tanner. It wouldn’t just be about me, which is why I worry. I don’t know how he’ll ever get over the way Tanner treated Caden’s sister. They return with our orders.
“Fuck, little nympho, I thought you liked yours naked.” Caden’s eyes are back to his normal playfulness.
“No, I like them a little hot.” I breathe out in relief.
Caden arches an eyebrow. “Naked and hot. My favorite.”
“Any other bumps today?” Luke looks around the table, not just asking me.
“Saw Zach in third. He didn’t say anything. Sidney sat with him, hanging all over him.” Eli steals one of my fries. I open my mouth to complain but then shrug internally. It’s too much food for me, anyway.
“Any luck with Ashley?” Luke takes a drink. He’s focused on Eli.
“I’ve got a guy trying to get in good with her. Might take a little while.” Eli sits back and rubs his hand up and down my thigh. “The girls were open to trying to play little turncoats.”
My eyes widen. “Turncoats?”
“Your clingers are going to pretend they want to take you down to get in good with Sidney and her group. Feed their egos and get information. It’s a sound plan.”
“That’s brilliant but scary. Shouldn’t you have looped me in on it?” I take a bite of my chicken. Guess the girls will still act like my friend around me, so I wouldn’t notice anything different.
“I’m doing that now, kitten.” He brushes my hair behind my ear. “You need to behave like they’re still your besties though. Which hopefully they are and aren’t playing us.”
Fuck, this is getting complicated. “Okay, so what else happened this morning?”
“The girls aren’t backing down just because we told them we’re your boyfriends. I got a few numbers.” Jack’s thigh bumps against mine. “That I tore up. Just so you know.”
I nod. I really didn’t think coming out as something more would work, but it was worth a try. “So we have catty girls and toxic boys to look out for. So the same. Fun.”
“We’ll only be on the webcam a little tonight, since it’s your night with Caden.” Luke’s eyes meet mine.
“Did your dad leave town?” My words are soft, knowing this is a touchy subject.
“This morning.” He doesn’t drop his gaze.
“You can still spend the night. Mom said you could anytime.” I notice the little reactions from the others at that news. But not Nico.
“Her mom caught me sneaking in last night.” Luke leans back and wipes his hands on a napkin. “She checked my bruises and sent me up to sleep with her daughter.”
I arch an eyebrow and shake my head. “She probably realized you weren’t exactly in studhorse condition.”
His eyes light with that cold fire that makes me burn for him. I shift in my seat, knowing I’m not ready for what he’s going to say.
“It looks worse than it is. I performed fine in the shower this morning, princess.”
Heat floods me as my body reacts to his words. Yeah, that was amazing.
“As long as he stays in the guest bedroom and doesn’t try to fuck Harper, I’m cool with it.” Caden glances from him to me and then throws me a kissy face.
“I mean, you’ll both probably spend Tuesday night at my house.” I shrug like it isn’t that big of a deal, but I’m still thinking about how it felt with Luke’s cock in my ass and Caden in my pussy the other night.
It was a tight fit, but fuck did it feel good.
“Or maybe you want to add some additional players to your lineup.” Eli’s hand shifts upward and cups my pussy, pressing my jean seam against my clit.
I gasp at how wound up I am. I kind of don’t want him to stop. His eyes meet mine with a knowing look. I swallow down the low moan that wants to leak out.
They did this. They made me this fucking needy.
“How much time before we need to be back at school?” Eli arches an eyebrow at the others.
“Enough.” Caden gathers our trash as Eli slides out and draws me out with him.
“Where are we going?” I can’t help but wonder. I mean, there’s that closet at school, but it was a tight fit with the four of them and me. Add Nico and we’ll just be pressed all together, which isn’t a bad thought.
“School.” Eli pulls me to Luke’s car, and Nico and he get in the back with me. Jack and Caden get in Caden’s car.
“Someone want to ride up front with me?” Luke’s eyes narrow on us in the backseat.
“You got her to yourself this morning. If you want to participate, drive.” Eli pulls me against him. His hand slips underneath my shirt to cup my breast.
Fuck, if I wasn’t already on fire, that would have been the spark I needed. Nico’s hands work on my button and zipper before his hand slides into the front of my jeans, brushing along my hot, tight clit.
“Oh, fuck.” I lean my head back against the seat, and I catch Luke’s eyes in the rearview mirror. I slide my hands over their hard cocks.
“Don’t get us in an accident, asshole.” Eli pinches my nipple as Nico slides a finger inside me.
As need courses through my veins, I arch in the seat. They could get me off before we even reach the school, but as we approach the lot. Eli clears his throat and they remove their hands from me.
“Why?” I groan as Eli does up my pants.
“Don’t worry, kitten, we’ll take care of you. We just have other issues to deal with.” He nods toward the school.
When I turn my head, crowds of students hang outside in groups far away from the building. I straighten, suddenly alert. “What’s happening?”
“Fire drill?” Nico asks.
Eli picks up his phone. “Yeah, someone pulled the fire alarm, so everyone is outside.”
“Guess this means we’re not finding a closet.” I pout a little because I’m all worked up. And playtime is officially over.
I take in a deep breath to try to chill out as we get out of our vehicles. Caden draws me into his arms as we head toward a group that includes Sidney. She gives me an arched look before turning away.
Jack, Eli, Nico, and Luke break away to go figure out what’s happening.
“Still feeling needy, little nympho.” Caden leans against a tree and wraps his arms around my waist.
“I’ll be fine.” The other option is to attack one of them in broad daylight, which even I’m not bold enough to do.
“Tonight, I’ll ease that ache all night long.” His words send shivers through me.
“Not helping, War.” I tip my head up to look at him.
“Anticipation makes it that much sweeter.” He kisses my head and looks out around us.
“They haven’t found who pulled the alarm yet.” Jack comes over and joins us. “But everyone’s sure it’s a prank and not an actual fire.”
Caden grunts. Luke, Eli, and Nico return with the same information. No one knows who did it, but now it’s creeping into the next period.
“Oh my god, did you just fart or something?” Ashley backs away from Sidney like she has the plague.
“What? No. Don’t be such a child.” Sidney shakes her head.
“Oh, wow, Sidney, did you forget to take a shower after gym?” Emma says and leans in close but says it loud enough that everyone in our cluster hears her, “You want some deodorant? I have some in my bag.”
“I do not stink.” Sidney stomps her foot as Hannah backs away. Everyone is giving her a wide berth now. But whatever the smell is, it reaches us. I cover my mouth and turn my face into Caden’s shirt.
“We should move away,” Caden says. “I think Sidney’s gym clothes smell better.”
Luke locks eyes with Sidney and smiles. “Try some perfume. Unless you used all yours up.”