Chapter 1 #2
Luke Foster. Quarterback extraordinaire.
The dick who rules the horsemen and the whole damn school.
If he weren’t one of the hounds of hell, he could be an angel.
Blond hair, cold blue eyes, and the body of Adonis.
From the whispers in the girls’ locker room, he isn’t shy about his body and knows how to use it.
Normally I don’t look when they walk in, keeping my eyes on my desk, but today, the reason the hairs rose on the back of my neck is because those blue eyes are locked on me with a determination that sets my poor heart pounding.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I can’t seem to look away as his gorgeous full lips tip into a cocky half smile and he changes direction from the back of class to cut through the desks.
Fuck my life.
My knee bounces uncontrollably. I got this far. So close to the finish line. I should have gone to band camp and fucked someone like Margaret Carter did. I should have been in band. Now I’m completely fucked.
Luke slips into the seat behind me, and heat engulfs my back. Kenz presses her lips together and faces the front.
That isn’t where he’s supposed to sit. He sits in the back. His desk presses against the back of my chair. His long, denim-clad leg sprawls into the aisle next to me, blocking my escape route. A sharp tug on my ponytail makes me feel like we’re in middle school.
“Harper Davidson.” His voice is like a soft caress against the back of my neck. It’s deep and rich and melts panties like the fires of hell he probably holds in his hands.
I have no choice. Ignoring a horseman would set me up worse than being a virgin. I twist in my chair to meet Luke’s cold eyes. His smirk is almost evil as he leans back in the chair like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“I heard a rumor you’re the last virgin in the senior class.” His voice is not quiet. The entire room is practically leaning forward with bated breath to listen to our conversation. He glances over at Kenz meaningfully.
She blushes and faces front. Her boyfriend is on the football team. Apparently boys do talk as much as girls do.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” I have to play this right or I’ll become a target, if I’m not already. Maybe if they focus on someone else, I’ll find a way to blend back in. Off their radar, out of their sights.
He sits up in his chair and leans forward on his desk, bringing him so close I can smell the mint on his breath and the fresh scent of his cologne. “Are you saying you aren’t a virgin?”
His finger trails up my bare arm to tug on the sleeve of my t-shirt. Shivers trickle down my spine. I am so fucked. If I say I’m not, the target might not go away. Once they get someone in their sights, it’s almost impossible to ward them off. He might want me to prove it.
“I’m saying I can’t possibly be the last.” I try to sound confident.
Maybe I can take this year virtually. Surely Mom would understand the need to preserve my state of mind.
I just have to get through today and then I can have a frank discussion with my parental figure over the virtues of staying at home for my senior year.
He lifts his eyebrows and scans my face. “How did you slip by us?”
“What?” My eyes widen.
“You’re definitely fuckable. I’m sure those didn’t just develop over the summer.” He drops his gaze to my breasts. “I’ve seen bigger, but they definitely aren’t small.”
“Jesus,” I breathe out. I feel the need to cover my breasts but don’t. Again, antagonizing him would be a mistake.
“I know you’ve been here since grade school.” He captures my ponytail and twists it around his hand. “But you escaped us until now.”
I barely manage to keep from tugging my hair out of his hand. I can’t afford to make him mad. I also can’t give him what he wants from me. It’s not that I’m afraid of sex, but sex with a horseman…yeah, not for me. I don’t want to be party to their games.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say.” Honesty might work best.
He leans in and pulls my hair to keep me from retreating. Tight enough to cause pain. He stares at my lips, so close to his.
My heart pounds a frantic rhythm. The truth is I spent so much time avoiding them, I didn’t do what normal girls at regular high schools do.
I haven’t even had my first kiss. But normal girls don’t have to deal with the four horsemen.
At the time, it was worth it to lie low, but right now, that seems like the worst thing I could have done.
“I don’t like to do anything half-assed,” he whispers, and the words are soft against my lips. “Consider yourself marked by the horsemen. No one else will touch you until we’re through with you.”
My heart sinks and I shut my eyes at his words. My lucky streak has run its course. My only recourse is homeschooling. I would miss a lot in my senior year, but it would be better than being stalked by four guys determined to get under my skirt.
The door opens to the classroom and the sound of the teacher arriving filters through my brain. I open my eyes to Luke’s icy blue ones.
“If you run, it’ll just make it more exciting for us, unicorn.”
“Unicorn?” I can’t help asking.
“You’re the last of your kind, Harper Davidson.” His grin makes me flinch.
“Mr. Foster, could you please take your hands off Ms. Davidson so we can get started?”
Luke gives me a wicked smile before drawing his hand out of my hair and lounging back in his chair. “Of course, Mr. Wick. Do your thing.”
“Thank you for your permission.” Mr. Wick shakes his head and gives me a look to ask if I’m okay.
Fuck no, I’m not okay. The year just started and the horsemen have decided I’m their newest toy.
I’m screwed unless I want to screw one of them and I most definitely do not.
It may not be a huge deal, but I’d like to be with someone who actually likes me for my first time.
Not being chosen just because I have an intact hymen.
I should be able to choose who and when, not be forced to make a decision because they have a reputation to maintain.
I give Mr. Wick a small smile and face front. Turning my back on a horseman makes butterflies spin drunkenly in my stomach. I know I’m not worth their time, but how can I make them see it that way?
While Mr. Wick outlines our English course for this year, I notice Kenz texting on her phone and feel the responding buzz of my own. I peek at my screen.
Kenz:
Holy shit, H! What are you going to do?
Me:
*shrugging emoji*
I lean to slip my phone back into my backpack, but a hand snags it from me. Luke.
Heat gathers in my cheeks as I start to ask for it back when Mr. Wick turns from the board. His eyes on the classroom.
My phone is unlocked. I didn’t have a chance to hit the off button. So Luke could do anything he wants on it. Look over my dismal text messages. Check out my minuscule contact list. Verify my lack of a life with my level on Candy Crush. Scroll through photos of my cat.
What can I possibly do to a horseman? They run the school and if they want me, they can get me. No one will stand in their way. A shiver courses down my spine again.
The end of class draws closer and Luke still has my phone. I’m going to have to ask him for it back. What will he ask me to give up in return?
The bell rings. Fuck, I really don’t want to do this. But I need my phone. Those butterflies start divebombing.
When I grab my bag and stand, Luke blocks my path. My breath catches.
“You’re a small thing.” He smirks down at me. My eyes land at the center of his chest. I’m not technically small. More average, but the horsemen are tall and built.
“May I have my phone back?” I clench my teeth even as my stomach twists into a knot. I add, “Please?”
“Mmm. I like it when you beg, unicorn.” He presses something on the screen and his back pocket buzzes. “We have your number now. If you ignore us, you’ll be punished.”
I lift my gaze to meet his. My heart beats like a drum and my palms grow clammy. “Punished?”
His hand snakes out and his fingers feather down my arm to my hand. A trail of sparks follows in his wake. That’s alarming. He lifts my hand and places my phone in my palm. “You’re ours now until we decide you aren’t.”
He squeezes my hand around my phone. Hard enough to make me wince a little.
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll give it up fast and we’ll be bored in a week.” He catches my ponytail and yanks me into him.
I gasp as his hard body presses into my softness. Sparks ignite everywhere.
He dips his head beside my ear and his lips move against my skin as he says, “I hope you aren’t boring, unicorn. I think I’d like to play with you for a long time.”
He releases me, and I almost fall back into my seat. He strides away, and all I can do is stare at my phone like it betrayed me.
I’m fucked.