Chapter 9 The Loophole
The Loophole
Harper
I text my mom to say I have something after school today and then sit obediently in the library while the guys have football practice.
My mind churns, trying to find a way out of this situation.
I pull out my sketchbook and press the edge of my pencil against it.
I like art, but I’m not really an artist. It helps me clear my mind.
I’m not even planning on doing fine arts in college.
But the way a drawing comes together, piece by piece—from nothing to a likeness of life—that shit makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.
I sketch an oval and mark a cross where the eyes and nose should line up.
Today I need to focus. I can’t do anything about tonight.
Luke is driving me to Caden’s. I’ll be all alone.
With the four of them. The problem is those fucking semantics I was too ready to ignore earlier because I was so sure that someone, anyone, would want to claim me when no one has tried in the past three years. Yeah, that really wasn’t smart of me.
But these guys push my buttons and make me reckless, which fucking frightens me. Because I don’t know how reckless they’ll make me.
While the guys skirted consent, Luke flat out refused to include it in our agreement. And because of my awesome addition of monogamy, which seemed brilliant at the time, I’m going to have four horny horsemen circling me.
If they were getting some, they might go slower with me. Ease me into sex. Okay, even to me, that sounds laughable. When those guys want something, they go after it with unwavering determination. That shouldn’t make warmth flood my chest.
If I were a little more sexually aware, I could use that as an advantage. But if anything, our new arrangement will make them press harder and faster and more often at my boundaries. I have no doubts these guys have sex a lot.
And I just agreed to be their one and only source. I might as well just say goodbye to my virginity.
Fuck my life.
The librarian stands and walks out the doors, probably to use the bathroom. I know Jack charmed her into watching over me. Not even teachers can control them.
Who’s more powerful than a horseman? Obviously not any other student. The other guys wouldn’t even stand up to them for free sex with a virgin. Fuckers.
Adults? Teachers, maybe some of them. Definitely not the librarian. She wouldn’t be an ally, but some teachers like Mr. Wick seem to care.
Parents, possibly. I don’t know about their parents. It seems like the horsemen do whatever they want to do. My mom would drag them around by the ear. She wouldn’t put up with their shit. I’d love to watch her put them in time-out.
That image makes me smile.
Wait.
My mom.
Holy shit, she’s like an ace in the hole. I can’t let her know what’s going on without getting the horsemen angry at me, but her words still have power. I pull out my phone and scroll to the horsemen’s group chat. She’s my trump card.
Me:
My mom just texted wondering where I am
She says I have to come home or I’ll be grounded
I told her I don’t have a car here
I actually smile at that. None of them will answer me because they’re in practice. So once they’re done, I’ll already be safe at home. I spend the next ten minutes doing homework and then I pack my bag.
I text my mom to ask for a ride home. When she says she’ll be here in five, I switch to the horsemen group chat.
Me:
My mom is coming to get me. I’m grounded for the next two weeks.
Sorry, not sorry.
Two weeks. Not too long but long enough.
I don’t think they’d buy I got grounded for the year because I didn’t come home directly after school one day.
But two weeks should give me plenty of time to actually figure out how to handle them and get used to the sparks that wind me up when they’re near.
Especially since I’ll only see them in school.
Personally, I’ve never done anything to get grounded. I’m not sure my mom even knows the word, but those guys don’t know that. My mom is about to become a really strict parent. My face stretches into a grin.
Check, fuckers.
I pick up my backpack and almost feel like there’s a skip in my step. For now, I’ve won the battle. I just need to figure out how to win the war.
Jack
I don’t know about the other guys, but I’m exhausted after practice. If they have plans for our new toy though, I’ll rally. I’m not missing out on a hot piece of Harper.
Sure, I’m one of the dumbasses who didn’t notice her before. But if what she originally wore this morning is any indication of what she normally wears, it’s no wonder I missed her.
“Fuck.” Luke glares at his phone like it personally did him wrong. He doesn’t throw it, but I know he wants to. He can’t afford to break another one right now.
I check my phone and see Harper’s texts.
I would have laughed, but I’m not stupid.
Luke is pissed and would probably deck me.
Grounded? Not that it will stop us. But that girl isn’t stupid either.
I doubt she even fought against the grounding.
Her mom must be strict, which would account for Harper’s current status.
Luke has plans. He wants a taste of our new pet project, and she just cut him off cold. From the redness of his neck, the guy is beyond pissed. He really doesn’t like it when things don’t go his way.
I almost feel sorry for Harper come tomorrow. Pretty sure she’s in for another treat of public humiliation. Wonder if Luke will up the ante on public spankings or do something new?
Dude’s creative with his punishments.
The underwear thing today was cold, but that dick thought he could get away with taunting our girl and talking back to us. He deserved to walk about with his streaky tighty-whities in his mouth. That ought to teach him when to keep it closed.
“We’ll see her tomorrow.” Caden shrugs as he packs things into his bag.
As always, the big guy is hard to read. I’m not sure if he likes our girl or wishes we would drop her.
He definitely isn’t happy about only fucking one girl, especially one that isn’t a sure thing.
But I’ve also seen how he looks at her like she’s a Heisman Trophy.
“Jack.” Luke draws my attention. “Were you able to get on her computer this morning?”
I grin. “Of course.”
While Caden had our girl pressed up against the wall staring at her tits, I got on her laptop and installed what I needed to get in. Camfecting isn’t hard. I probably could have hacked her webcam remotely because her laptop is not at all secure.
Good for us, bad for her. Though I created an access point so I could make it more secure later tonight. Don’t need some other dick getting off watching our girl. That tight body is all ours.
“Good.” Some of the redness leaves Luke’s neck. “Finish getting ready.”
Eli comes back with a towel draped around his neck and another around his waist. He pauses and takes in Luke’s tight lips. “What’d she do now?”
I grin. For a girl who spent years hiding from us, she sure knows how to make an impression. Two days. We’ve been on her for two days. I almost hope she keeps this shit up. Sure keeps it from getting boring.
“Grounded.” Luke puffs out a breath. “Fuck parents.”
“You believe her?” Eli opens his locker and pulls out his clothes.
That makes me pause. She hasn’t been openly defiant much, but she definitely doesn’t want to go anywhere with us alone. We don’t know her mom. She might be super strict. After all, the girl is still untouched.
But then again, what parent is strict with someone who doesn’t do anything for fun? Harper has never even been to a party, and I highly doubt she’s broken curfew or snuck out.
I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. Smart girl.
Luke’s color starts to amp up again as he ponders it, obviously reaching the same conclusion. Of course, he looks less impressed and more pissed off.
“Who gets grounded for two weeks for being home late from high school senior year?” I can’t help but voice what we’re all thinking. “Especially a goody two-shoes like Harper?”
Luke’s grin makes my skin crawl, but I’m excited to see what he’s thinking. Dude has evil down to a science.
“Let her think she’s won this round.” Luke pulls his shirt on over his wet hair. “We can toy with her for a bit.”
“Webcam party?” I arch my eyebrow as I gear up for what I’ll have to do to make it happen.
Computers excite me. Not like sex excites me, but there’s something about sliding into someone’s property without them realizing it.
Not to do anything nefarious per se, but just to poke around.
Look at the shit they don’t want anyone else to see.
Even Caden grins when Luke confirms, “Webcam party.”
Harper
Me:
Did I miss anything in history?
Kenz:
You mean when you were in the bathroom
At the same time as Luke?
Me:
No boundaries
Kenz:
I don’t think they know that word
Me:
He also talked over the teacher
Kenz:
The nerve
Me:
It’s not funny
Kenz:
I know, but it is a little
Not the whole ownership thing
Me:
Yeah, not exactly thrilled with how that went
Kenz:
I’ll bring M&Ms to school tomorrow
And I’ll take extra good notes in our shared classes
Me:
You’re the best