Chapter 10 The Sentence #2
I sigh and roll to my side. I haven’t replied to Luke yet. Maybe Kenz is right. Maybe I should just take care of the problem. I shove the empty bags onto the floor and lift my phone over my face.
What would they do if I took away the prize? That old joke of if I can’t have your virginity, can I have the box it came in comes to mind. I don’t think it’s really my hymen they’re after. If so, they wouldn’t want me for a whole year. My virginity is just part of the package deal.
I drop my phone on the bed and close my bedroom door before heading into my bathroom. After I shower, I stare at my reflection in the mist-covered mirror. This is something I can handle. It’s not great, but I just have to get through each week. I’m almost halfway through this week.
Wrapping my towel tighter around me, I head into my bedroom and cover my mouth to stop my scream. Luke Foster lies reclined on my bed, with his ankles crossed and his hands behind his head like he has every right to be there.
“Don’t mind me. I just wanted to enjoy the live version of the show.”
His gaze trails to my laptop. On it are webcams focused on the other horsemen. Each in their bedroom. Caden sits on an enormous bed. Jack is in his desk chair. Eli must have his laptop on his lap in bed.
“You can’t be in here,” I whisper indignantly. I edge back toward the bathroom to put a door between me and Luke. I’m way more naked than in the bathroom stall yesterday, and I know Luke doesn’t believe in boundaries. “My mom is downstairs.”
I glance at my phone on the bed. I can’t make a dive for it without him grabbing me. Maybe if I lock myself in the bathroom, he’ll go away. Maybe not, but at least I have dirty clothes in there I could put on.
“Yes, your mom is downstairs, sleeping with a very loud show on, littered with death and mayhem. I’m sure one more scream won’t make any difference.” Right, screaming would probably turn Luke on anyway.
I slide my foot back an inch. “You’re going to get me in even more trouble. I won’t be able to leave the house for at least a month.”
Luke rubs his jaw and creeps forward slightly on the bed. My heartbeat ratchets up like he’s toying with me while he hunts me.
“Yes, you’re grounded, which is why we’ve come to you.”
I glance at the laptop screen again. I’m not sure if they can see me from this angle. My hair dangles in wet strands around my bare shoulders. Droplets roll down my skin to the towel, and the only thing between me and this asshole is the wet towel clinging to my body.
“I thought about punishing you in front of everyone again.” Luke moves off the bed like he has all night. I don’t know if I’ll make it to the bathroom before he pounces.
I edge back again. The cold tile touches my heel. Almost there.
“But then I thought why share when what we really want is to see you crawl just for us.” Luke moves so quickly I don’t even realize his intention until he grabs my arm and drags me in front of my laptop. I clutch at my towel.
He tightens his arm around my waist and holds my back flush against him.
The thin towel does nothing to hide the feel of him, the overwhelming heat of him against me.
I’m just glad the towel didn’t slip off in the humiliatingly brief struggle.
I suck in a breath at his hard body pressing into my softness.
My whole body buzzes with the realization that I’m practically naked and he’s here alone with me.
He’s too strong for me to fight off. He could do anything he wants to me. Fear collides with a trickle of curiosity. The curiosity shocks me so much I don’t struggle in Luke’s arms.
“Now, now, be a good little pet and look at your owners.” He wraps his hand around my throat and tips my chin up, keeping his hand curled around my neck but not squeezing. “What do you guys think?”
His fingers burn into my skin, flowing heat down to the heart of me. My skin burns like I’ve been lit on fire, but I can’t separate the embarrassment from the desire.
“Lose the towel,” Caden’s voice rings out.
“What?” My voice is high-pitched. Panic shuts down the building desire. Them in my private space is enough of an invasion. I’m nearly naked as it is. This is all getting completely out of hand.
“No.” I grab for my towel where it’s knotted. My breath comes out faster, but I can’t focus enough to think. I don’t know how to get out of this situation any more than the others I’ve found myself in with these guys.
The guys all calmly watch me. Luke is a solid wall of force behind me.
If I scream, would my mom even hear me? If she does, what would happen? What would happen if she doesn’t hear me?
Luke tsks in my ear. “You heard your owner.”
The back of his other hand trails down my arm, sending off sparks in the flames already engulfing me.
“Please don’t,” I whisper, feeling as if my insides are caving into each other.
It’s one thing to have him spank my panty-covered ass.
It’s another to be naked in front of all of them.
To bare myself in front of Luke. How do I trust he won’t do anything I don’t want him to do?
How can I stand up against these guys? Maybe I can appeal to the kernel of goodness they must have inside.
He puts his arm tightly around my waist.
“Please, Luke.” I meet his eyes in the video that shows me held by him.
Cold, that’s all I get from Luke. How can you negotiate with a psychopath?
Shivers pass through me. This won’t be like this morning or the spanking.
I’m naked under this towel. No panties to hide behind.
No bra to cover me. They will see every flawed inch of me.
“Kitten.” Eli’s voice is soft and soothing. I know it’s a lie, but I can’t help but turn to him for comfort and possibly help. My gaze swings to his video. “Luke isn’t going to touch you. This is your punishment. You don’t own your body anymore. It’s ours.”
I want to rail at them that it is my body. That they don’t own me. That I choose what happens to me. No one else. Not the horsemen and not Luke Foster. But I can’t provoke them more.
At least we aren’t at school in front of everyone.
I take a deep breath and feel Luke’s t-shirt dampened beneath my hair. It’s only day two and they’ve already taken more than I want to give. I have to keep fighting. But again, choose my battles so I don’t get punished more.
These battles are only the initial shots across my bow. I can take a few hits as long as I can escape the things that will cause the most damage.
Right now, they want to see my body. They won’t touch it. They aren’t even in the same room, except for Luke. I can’t trust Luke, but maybe with the others watching, they can hold him in check.
I clear my throat and erase the emotion from my face.
“What am I being punished for?” I ask in a semi-steady voice.
Jack leans forward on his desk. “You tried to give away what’s ours.”
“You agreed—”
“It doesn’t mean we liked it, sweetheart.” Jack leans back in his chair. “You can fight us and get punished, or we can move this along. Get past the uncomfortable stuff.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re fully clothed.” I sneer at the guys.
Jack stands. “Do you want me to get naked too? Would that make it easier for you?”
Caden scoffs. “I don’t need to see your dick tonight,” he complains.
I don’t say anything, but Jack takes his shirt off and moves the desk chair out of the way. He’s built lean, with muscles for days. A six-pack and an Adonis belt flowing into his low-slung jeans. A teenage girl’s wet dream brought to life.
No wonder girls are stupid about him.
Luke’s fingers tighten slightly on my neck as he drops his voice. “See, Jack is willing to play along. He’s right, you know.” He trails a finger along my jaw, sending pleasant sparks in the wake of my uneasiness. “This would be easier if you take your punishment. Follow what we want you to do.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t just do what they want.
I’m already vulnerable to them. Is this something I can’t stand to lose?
Or is it like taking a shower in gym class with all the girls around?
Sure, the girls probably won’t be looking at me like free porn, but it’s not much different.
The girls notice things and the guys will definitely notice things.
Luke tightens his fingers a little more. I gasp and open my eyes.
“Look.” His soft voice lures me.
Jack undoes his jeans and takes both his boxers and jeans down in one swoop. His dick is large and erect. I gulp.
“Like what you see?” Luke continues to whisper softly. “Can you see how much he wants you?”
I raise my eyes to Jack’s. His blue eyes have darkened as they look at me. They grab at my insides and spin them like the tumbling of a dryer. It would be so much easier to resist if I wasn’t attracted to them.
“Your turn, sweetheart.” Jack winks.
The games these boys play are way beyond me, but I’ll catch up. I have to. Maybe this will even give me a little power.
Luke releases my waist but keeps my head up with his hand on my neck. I know I’m supposed to look at the guys, but I can’t. Looking at the wall over the camera, I untuck the towel and let it drop.
I hear a sharp intake of breath, but I don’t dare look to see who did it.
They might not like what they see. They might regret entering into a deal with me for the entire year.
I have a decent body, but I’m not built like some girls I know they use repeatedly.
I can feel the heat rushing up my chest to my neck.
“Look at us.” Luke’s voice in my ear makes my gaze flick down to all the horsemen. “You are wanted, unicorn.”
Caden’s blasé look is gone as he takes in my form, wanting. Eli steeples his fingers to his lips, captivated. Jack strokes his cock while his heated eyes stare at me with desire.
When I find Luke’s eyes reflected in the camera, I instinctively back away, directly into him. His eyes aren’t as cold as usual. His erection against my ass leaves little doubt of what he feels for me. Whether it’s the control over me or my body or both, he wants me.
I should be terrified in this moment. I’m naked and vulnerable to this man in my bedroom, but I feel power surge through me as I meet each of their hungry gazes. The horsemen want me.
Scrap that. They don’t know me to want me. They want my body.
I can feel their fervent gazes like caresses over my flesh. Even the cool air from the room on my still-damp skin can’t diminish the heat that flows through me. My breath catches in my throat. Luke’s hand wraps around my hip. His fingers burn into my naked flesh, and I want to sink into his warmth.
“Good girl,” he breathes against my ear, and I feel a pulse between my legs in response. “You smell beautiful when you’re aroused, Harper.”
Heat claims my cheeks, but right now, I don’t care. They want me and they’ll have me if they keep this up. Because as much as I hate them, I want them too.