Chapter 3 The Punishment #2
Eli walks across the cafeteria and grabs a chair. Luke’s cologne is one of those soft, seductive scents, warm and inviting. It’s so different from his coldness.
“She needs to know her actions have consequences,” Luke says.
I look back at him, and he grins down at me. His pale blue eyes are just as cold as ever, but with a light of amusement in them that frankly doesn’t reassure me.
“If you squirm or fight back, I’ll make it worse.” His words are soft and for my ears only.
My cheeks flush, but I refuse to acknowledge these psychopaths.
My best bet is to ignore them as best I can.
Of course, I can’t exactly ignore them right now.
The chair lands behind Luke on their makeshift stage.
Eli’s evil grin sparks fear in my heart.
The reminder that, in here, they can do anything to me pulls at my fear.
My heart sputters as I search for one friendly face or teacher among the throngs of students eager to watch whatever the horsemen have in mind.
My mantra for today goes through my head: I’m fucked.
Luke sits in the chair and spreads his legs. Some guys make catcalls in the crowd. Eli takes ahold of my shoulders from the back and steers me toward the side of Luke’s legs. The weight of Eli’s hands on me sends a shiver down my spine.
“Lie down, Harper.” Luke’s voice is authoritative and his eyes dare me to resist.
Oh, fuck no. I draw back into Eli, the heat of his chest a far lesser evil than whatever Luke has planned. Eli smells like the outdoors on a warm day. Deceptive but alluring. Eli dips his head down next to mine.
“Play along and this will be over before you know it, kitten.”
His breath against my ear sends a tingling sensation through me. That’s not reassuring at all though.
I don’t want to play along. When I look around, everyone looks eager to see what the horsemen have in mind. Not a friendly face among them. Of course they’re eager when it’s not them on the stage.
“Now!” Luke barks out, causing the guys to make an exaggerated oh sound like I’m in for it.
They have no idea. Fuck, I have no idea.
But this isn’t going away. I can’t escape this, but I can endure it.
Yes, this is humiliating, but none of these students really know me.
I just need to focus on the assholes doing this.
“How?” I lock eyes with Luke. His face shows no mercy.
“Stomach across my legs. Ass up.” He pats his thigh, and his smile is so cold a shiver ripples through me.
“What are you going to do to me?” I ask quietly.
“Come here and find out.” Luke pats again. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
I check that Eli is still behind me. Somehow, him getting a view of my panties is better than the entire student body ogling my backside. My heart is beating faster than the wings of a hummingbird, but I lower myself awkwardly onto Luke’s lap.
He adjusts me until I’m exactly where he wants me. My whole body feels hot and flushed as I hang over his lap. He flips my skirt up.
What the fuck! I try to come up. His hand presses into my back to hold me there.
“If you don’t stop squirming, I’ll pull your panties down and spank your bare ass in front of everyone. Is that what you want, Harper?” His voice is low and just for me.
“You’re going to spank me?” I can’t wrap my head around any of this. It’s the first day of school and I’m being publicly spanked by the four horsemen because I didn’t answer their text.
Fan-fucking-tastic. Great start to the new year. Way to go me. FML.
“We need everyone to count along.” Jack’s voice comes from the back of the cafeteria. Of course they do.
“Our pet is getting ten,” Caden chimes in helpfully. Fabulous.
At least I didn’t wear a thong today. I bite my lip to keep from telling them what assholes they are, but then Luke’s hand comes down on my ass cheek. A cry bursts out of me.
“One.” The crowd doesn’t need to sound so excited about it.
I wrap my arm around Luke’s leg and brace for the next one, but his hand doesn’t come down hard again. Instead, he rubs where he hit, smoothing over the satin, pressing against the sting, and something shifts under the pain. What the fuck is happening?
He lifts his hand and stings my other cheek.
“Two.”
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to handle all ten of these. A flash catches my attention.
You know, if any of these fuckers are recording this, I’m going to personally track down every one of them and kick them in the nuts.
And have Kenz record it. I lift my head as Luke rubs my ass again.
I see the flash of someone’s camera and turn in time to see Jack snatching the guy’s phone and deleting the pic.
Luke brings his hand down on the first cheek again. I bite my lip to stop from crying out.
“Three.”
No break and he claps the second one.
“Four.”
I mean, they could have done a lot worse than spanking in the cafeteria, right? It stings, but it doesn’t feel all bad, which is a little alarming. Especially when he rubs his large hand over the satin of my underwear. Edging closer to my center.
My breath catches. Oh, shit, liquid heat pools low in my belly.
I duck my head as a fresh wave of embarrassment slides through me. That small, little horny bitch rears her head. Fuck, I think I like the feel of his hand on me. Maybe I just like any touch after being deprived my whole life.
“Five. Six.”
I bite my lip to keep in the moan that tries to edge out as he rubs the pain away. I feel like a fucking hypocrite.
“Seven. Eight.”
I’m panting from all of this. I’m not sure if it’s the lack of air as my breasts are pressed against Luke’s thigh or the warmth between my legs.
I can blame the blood rushing to my head for the redness in my face, since I’m practically hanging upside down.
And not from being turned on from being spanked in front of most of my classmates. Add that to my mortification.
I grip his firm leg so tight and I can’t help but wiggle a little to relieve some of the ache. My lip will bleed if I keep biting back the charged moans trying to escape.
“Ready for the last two?” Luke slips his finger along the edge of my panties. A gasp escapes me at the heat that flows through me from his touch. This isn’t fair. It shouldn’t feel that good. “Are you going to obey, Harper?”
I try to nod.
“I can’t hear you.” The slight laugh in his voice makes my stomach drop.
“Yes,” I push out between my lips.
“Nine. Ten.” The crowd shouts loud enough to cover the moan that leaks out of me.
My skirt covers my sore backside, and then Eli is behind me, lifting me to standing.
He wraps an arm around my middle, and suddenly I’m grateful for the touch of a horseman.
I’m not sure my legs will hold me upright.
I try not to curl into his warmth and the shelter he offers.
Somewhere to hide from all the eyes. Even though he’s one of the reasons I’m humiliated.
I keep my eyes down, not willing to meet anyone’s gaze. The bell rings and everyone filters out.
Luke stands and steps in front of me. He puts a finger under my chin to tilt my face up to his and studies my red cheeks before leaning down next to my ear. My back presses to Eli, but I can’t get away from Luke.
“I could smell your arousal, unicorn. Tangy and sweet.” His lips touch my ear as he speaks. “I wanted to taste it. Dip my tongue in and devour you. Then sink my cock into your quivering cunt until you come all over me while screaming my name. But it will have to wait.”
My breath catches in my throat and the heat between my thighs is almost too much, but I try to maintain a straight face.
I can’t give them a reaction. That’s what they want.
They want me to break down and cry. Or throw myself at their feet for mercy.
Or beg them to take me and make me theirs. All of theirs.
I inhale and hold his gaze. Daring him to do his worst.
Because guess what, bitches? It’s going to take more than a few swats to make me fold.