Chapter 12 The Tactical Gear
The Tactical Gear
Harper
Our school doesn’t have quite as rigid of a dress code policy as some schools.
My new outfits would be a no-go at most places.
I slip on a black hanky halter that leaves my midriff bare.
My jeans come up to below my belly button and flare out at the legs.
I slip on my red Converse high tops and pull my hair into two top knots on either side of my head, leaving two tendrils to curl on either side of my face. Long, dangly earrings flash in my ears.
It would have been dangerous to wear anything like this last year, but I already have the beasts’ attention. I might as well live it up. I swipe on some bright red matte lip stain and add some eyeliner to my eyes with a touch of mascara.
I glance at my closed laptop. I don’t want to give them a sneak peek. It was odd to wake up and roll over to see the guys sleeping. For a minute, I watched them. They didn’t seem quite as fierce asleep, but I knew it was just an illusion as I closed the laptop.
Taking a quick selfie, I send it to Kenz, who sends me back the fire emoji.
The horsemen have all seen me naked. My cheeks flame at the memory. I’m definitely not showing as much as I showed them last night. My new clothes shouldn’t matter to them. Yesterday, they changed me from concealing into something more revealing. So they should be thrilled with my new style.
I’m done hiding. I’m not changing. That’s for damn sure.
I grab my backpack and head downstairs. This time I pack two sandwiches just in case Caden gets grabby again. After all, I do like to eat. I hear a light rap at the back door and sigh.
For a second, I hoped he would let me drive myself. I stare at the door like it could hold him back and straighten my shoulders. Time to face the day.
Slinging my backpack on, I walk to the door. When I open it, Luke stands there absolutely perfect in a black t-shirt that hugs his body, showing off his ripped arms, and jeans that should be illegal with how they form themselves to his body. Fuck, he’s hot.
After a thorough appraisal, I lift my gaze to meet the ice king’s melted blue eyes. His lips press together, and I wonder if he wants to tell me to change. He takes me in from my toes all the way up to my lips and stops there.
I press my thighs together against the feeling shimmering inside of me.
“Ready?” I ask, my voice a little breathless, and lift my eyebrow at him.
His eyes narrow on my hair. I don’t think he likes it. Nothing to grab onto. But tough, it’s cute and he can’t pull me around by it. That’s a win-win in my book.
He backs away and gestures for me to precede him.
Inhaling, I stiffen my resolve and walk past him toward his car.
He’s letting me wear what I want. I can ride to school in his car and let him figure out how to get me home.
Mom wants me to drive, but she also said to be more social.
What’s more social than riding to school with the most popular guys in school?
I settle into the front seat and put my backpack at my feet.
As soon as he sits next to me and closes the door, he wraps a hand around the back of my neck and holds me still. Instinctively, I try to get away for a moment, but then I relax in his hold, inhale, and hold my breath.
I’m not sure what I’ve already done to offend him, but he hasn’t hurt me so far. He raises his other hand and rubs a thumb against my lower lip, something he seems obsessed with doing. I exhale a shaky breath against it.
He lifts his gaze to mine. When he removes his thumb, he glances at it. “Good.”
He releases me, and I fall back against the seat. What the fuck was that about?
“Don’t wear lipstick that smears.” It’s an order.
“I don’t plan to.” The sharp words slip out before I can stop them. So much for trying to be docile. Maybe dressing like a hellcat turns me into one.
Luke grins, but it’s not a happy-type grin.
He definitely likes my defiance. Probably because it will afford him more punishments.
He turns on the car. In the short drive to school, he listens to some EDM, which seems way too perky this early in the morning, but I’m not about to reach over and play with his radio.
He parks near the other guys’ cars and gets out. I follow because that’s what a good pet does. I’m hoping to get through at least one day where I don’t get punished. Since punishments usually include pushing a boundary.
I follow behind Luke as we make our way to where the other guys hang by the entrance. A group of girls turns and sees us coming. Throwing a few evil looks my way, they wander off. I just smile at them like all is right in the world.
Any of them would probably love to service all four horsemen. Idiots.
Luke stops and I almost run into his back. I freeze before making contact.
“Are you going to hide behind Luke all day, kitten?” Eli’s voice is soft and easy, like always, but with that hint of command behind it that draws a shiver down my back.
I take a deep breath and step around Luke.
“Fuck me,” Caden says. He greedily takes in my body.
“Sweet,” Jack adds with a huge grin.
Eli comes over to me and flicks my dangling earrings. “Did you find her like this or dress her like this?”
Luke’s cough almost sounds like a laugh. I whip my head to look at him, but he’s just as straight-faced as ever. “Found her.”
“Where have you been hiding, kitten?” Eli grabs my hips, and I prepare for the bite of pain that never comes. His thumbs brush the bare skin above my jeans and the shivers multiply.
“How the hell did you hide, little nympho?” Caden closes in behind me. Really? Little nympho? I’m not sure it’s better than untouched.
“I don’t like her hair,” Luke points out helpfully.
I’m tempted to hiss at him, but I don’t. Caden and Eli pressing in on me has me on high alert. An awareness of them washes over me.
Caden reaches up, grabs one of my curled tendrils, and tugs it gently. “You can’t grab it to hold onto, but it gets it out of the way for other things.”
He trails a finger down the nape of my neck, and I noticeably tremble beneath his touch. Eli smiles wickedly down at me. Somehow, being pressed between two guys is starting to feel normal to me. I don’t hate the feeling.
“I like her hair. She looks like Sporty Spice.” Jack comes up beside me and tugs me from between the other guys to drag me into his arms. Eli’s fingers brush across my stomach, leaving sparks in their wake.
Jack pulls me in tight against his solid chest. “Which happens to be my favorite Spice Girl.”
“Why do you even have a favorite Spice Girl? They’ve got to be like fifty years old now.” Caden’s tone is dismissive.
“More Posh Spice to me.” Eli leans against the brick wall along the sidewalk to the entrance. He gives me a wink that makes my insides flutter.
“At least bring it into this decade. I believe Miley Cyrus has done a similar hairstyle,” Luke says.
Everyone turns to look at him. Jack releases me from his embrace and holds me at arm’s length to look me over. He shrugs and winks at me. “I’m okay with both.”
“Stop manhandling Harper.” Luke flicks his gaze over me. “At least she upgraded from what she tried to wear yesterday.”
“Shouldn’t we go inside?” I ask finally. Not that I don’t appreciate being part of the delinquent gang hanging outside until the last possible minute. I’m just used to being in class as soon as possible.
The parking lot and hallways are practically filled with potential landmines. Of course, the biggest landmines now own me, but I also want to stay on their good side and not end up punished. The less interaction, the better.
“Eager to show off, kitten?” Eli rakes his gaze over me again.
Unfortunately, that captures Luke’s attention. He grabs my chin and tips my face up toward him. “Who are you showing off for?”
I try so hard not to roll my eyes, but these guys are so frustrating. “Other girls. I’ve spent the past three years living in a fashion debt to stay away from your attention. Now I can dress however I like because I already have your attention.”
They all give me various looks.
“If you’re into girls, tell us now,” Caden says.
I laugh. Bet they didn’t think of that before now. They all look a touch worried. I could play it off and maybe that would get them to back off, but somehow lying feels like cheating. At least, lying about that.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m not into girls. How could you know nothing of girl world? There’s a hierarchy. From the top to the lowest. And in girl world, looks matter a lot. Not just if you have the right face, but if you take care of yourself and look good for you.”
“I like your assets.” Jack smiles and starts forward with his hands outstretched.
I back away until I run into Luke. He glances down at me like I’m an irritating fly, but he doesn’t move away. Well, I’m not going to act like he’s on fire and I need to get away as quickly as possible. Even if that’s the way he makes me feel.
His eyebrow rises when I don’t move, so I mimic him.
“Come on, hot stuff. Stop flirting with Death.” Caden wraps his hand around my hip and drags me toward the building. “I’ll walk you to your locker.”
“I don’t use my locker.” I turn to watch the other horsemen fall in behind us.
“Nonsense. Everyone uses their locker.” Caden turns down the hall where the seniors’ lockers are. “Which one?”
“I honestly don’t remember.” I glance along the rows of similar lockers. “All I remember from freshman year is it was way too close to all your lockers, so I figured it was a lost cause.” I shrug. “I just keep everything on me.”
Caden stops and pushes me back against the lockers. His green eyes bear down on me. “You don’t use your locker because of us? That’s ridiculous.”
I roll my eyes.
“Let’s see, since you ‘noticed’ me, I’ve been publicly spanked and publicly humiliated asking for a boyfriend to save me, so yeah, I wonder why I haven’t used my locker in three years.” I press my finger against my lips like I’m thinking it over.
Caden laughs. It’s a sharp but free sound that startles me into a grin. “Come on. You can use my locker if you need to. Just don’t keep girly shit like tampons in there.”
He grabs my hand and tugs me along after him. Frankly I’m in shock. He laughed and offered to share his locker with me. Do I even know these guys at all?
In the history of things the horsemen do, being nice isn’t exactly on top of the list. If it even makes the list. I honestly don’t know what to do with this information. Of course, they haven’t all four publicly claimed a girl before either. Or really dated any one girl that I know of.
Caden tells me his combination and takes half my books out of my backpack to put in his locker for after lunch. I’m so stunned by his actions that I can’t do anything but stand there.
Luke comes over and takes me off Caden’s hands.
Caden winks and says, “See you next period.”
My backpack is significantly lighter. Luke holds my hand and leads me to our class.
When I settle into my desk, I realize this morning they’ve all touched me in some way or another and I didn’t flinch once. I let them pull me around and trade me between one another after only two days of being in their presence.
I’m fucked.
“Looking good, Davidson,” some guy, who apparently has a death wish, calls out from across the class. Where was this guy yesterday when I needed a fucking hero?
“Shut it, Brewster.” Luke almost growls the words.
I don’t know what to do so I just keep my gaze toward the front.
“Make a note.” Luke’s warm breath brushes the small strands of hair on the nape of my neck, sending sparks across my skin. “Tomorrow, wear your hair like you did Monday.”
I don’t turn to face him, but ask, “So you can pull me around?”
His fingers tease the back of my neck, and a shudder rushes through me. “Either that or I’m sure Eli would love to get his kitten a collar.”
I exhale as he moves back. I feel branded by his words and his touch. Luke’s idea of not touching me is to touch me. He wants something on me he can grab so he can direct me where he wants me. He doesn’t want a woman, he wants a dog, but I don’t dare tell him that.
The feminist inside me bristles, but I keep my cool.
Not today.
Today will be punishment free. I’m confident.
Harper’s phone
Kenz:
Girl!
Me:
Thanks for helping me shop
Kenz:
Should have done this years ago
Me:
I don’t think younger me could handle this kind of attention
Kenz:
You would have had attention from guys who aren’t the horsemen
Me:
Maybe
Kenz:
Trust me
Someone would have snatched you up