Chapter 13 The First Strike
The First Strike
Harper
When Eli told me lunch would be on the bleachers at the football field, I was ecstatic. No cafeteria means no humiliation, right? I almost skip my way to the field until I realize the horsemen and I are the only ones out here.
Sure, there are students closer to the doors, and a teacher wanders around the building now and then, but the bleachers aren’t really an authorized part of the lunch area.
“Come sit with me, kitten.” Eli pats the spot next to him. Again, his eyes seem warm and caring, but fuck, I don’t trust it. I almost trust the coldness in Luke’s eyes more than that warmth in Eli’s. But I do what is asked of me because no punishment is my motto for the day.
I dig my lunch out of my backpack and hand a sandwich to Caden. He smiles like I just handed him a Super Bowl ring. As he grabs it, Eli holds out an apple for me.
I’m still leery of the fruit, but I take it and set it next to my lunch box. While I eat my other sandwich, the guys talk about football and the away game on Friday night. I don’t have a lot to contribute to the conversation. It’s the first game of the season.
Supposedly I’m grounded and won’t be able to go. Not that I would normally go to an away game anyway.
“Tell your mom you’re dating one of us.” Jack sits down on the bleacher above me. “Then she’ll have to let you come.”
“Only one of you?” I raise my eyebrow and Jack smirks. “How would I ever choose?”
“I could be your boyfriend. Take you to fancy dinners and dances.” Jack leans over and snatches one of my chips. “Moms love me.”
“Moms won’t let their daughters out past eight with you. But me”—Eli leans in close to me—“Moms adore me. Who doesn’t want their daughter to date the wide receiver?”
“Please, they want their daughters to catch the quarterback.” Luke leans his elbows back on the bleacher behind him and gives me a look that could only be called a smolder. “Moms know the quarterback is always the winner.”
I laugh and turn to Caden. “What about you?”
Caden shrugs, no expression on his face. “Parents hate me. If you want to stay grounded for the rest of your life, you could say I’m your boyfriend. But since I want you to be free to play, don’t.”
Fuck, who got in this guy’s head and messed it up? I feel the ridiculous urge to hug him, which is stupid on so many levels. But instinctually, he’s one of mine for the year—until I can figure a way out of this arrangement. I don’t like seeing him so down on himself.
“I bet my mom would love you best, Caden.”
He narrows his eyes like I’m poking fun.
“My mom hates a kiss ass. She’d rather a guy be upfront with her and not try to do naughty things to her daughter behind her back while being a nice guy to her face.” I finish my apple and put away the rest of my stuff before realizing there’s still silence.
I lift my eyes, and Caden is smiling at me.
“Speaking of naughty things…” Caden starts.
I tense, waiting for the guillotine to fall. Fuck, what did I do this time? I finally look at the other guys. They watch me with anticipation, but I can’t tell if it’s because I’m about to be punished again or something else I might not like.
“What did I do now?” I ask in resignation because seriously, it’s been a good day so far.
“We figure we need to start off slow with you.” Luke brushes his hands off and walks down the bleachers until he’s on the field. “So we’re going old school for your first lesson.”
Jack holds up his half-full soda bottle from lunch and joins Luke like they planned this whole thing out. “What better way to get your first kiss than with a game of spin the bottle?”
Caden starts down as Eli stands and offers me his hand.
I stare at it for a second. Of all my firsts, giving this one to the horsemen isn’t a hardship.
It would actually be a relief to not still be waiting for my first kiss.
If this had been a normal school, I would have attended a party in middle school where I would have played spin the bottle.
And my first kiss would have been a peck from some random guy who I might have liked.
Now my first kiss will be with one of these guys, and I don’t think they’re the kind to just give me a simple peck. None of my firsts will be simple with them. If I give them everything they want, that is.
Sighing, I slip my hand into Eli’s, and he helps me down to the field.
Eli pulls me down next to him as we all settle into a circle.
“I’ve never played this before.” My palms are actually a little clammy and I rub them against my jeans. Out of these guys, I don’t think I could choose who I want to kiss first. Part of me is excited to kiss all of them. Heat builds in my chest.
Luke talks as Jack puts the bottle in the center. “Obviously when we were younger, the ratios were a little more mixed. For our purposes, you spin the bottle and you kiss whoever it lands on. After that, instead of spinning the bottle, you’ll just go around the circle and kiss all of us.”
My eyes feel like they want to pop out of my head. “You’re going to pass me around instead of the bottle?”
Eli laughs softly. “In a manner of speaking. We all want to be your first, which is why fate gets to decide this time. We all want to taste you.”
A spark lights low in my belly and bursts into flames. Not kiss me. Taste me. I don’t think this is going to be a tame peck on the lips.
“Are there any other rules?” I try to swallow down my nervousness. That buzzing feeling isn’t all nerves though. Anticipation is running right alongside.
“Kisses are timed and hand placement is limited this time.”
Fuck. My brain sputters to a halt. I hadn’t thought of touching. “Hand placement?”
“Just spin the bottle, sweetheart.” Jack nudges it in my direction. It’s on a small wooden box instead of the grass. These guys think of everything. “We’ll show you what to do. Trust us.”
I look at the eager guys, ready to show me how to kiss. Normally, I wouldn’t trust these guys at all, but when my eyes lock with Luke’s, I know he’s done this for me. That he’s controlled all the variables to make me feel comfortable.
“Nothing more than kissing?” I raise my eyebrow.
The corner of Luke’s lips tip up. “Maybe a little grinding but nothing more.”
Grinding? That wild, horny bitch is ready to play with the big boys. Me, I’m not so sure. But I know Luke will pull back anyone who tries to take it too far. In a way, I’m trusting him with this. With my first kiss.
I’m trusting Luke Foster. Death himself.
The world must be ending.
Exhaling, I crawl closer to the bottle, close my eyes, and spin it as hard as I can. When I open my eyes, it’s slowing its spin. I lift my gaze to see the guys all watching the bottle slowly wobbling between them.
It hits me that I’m about to kiss all of them. My insides heat up. This bottle just determines who goes first and who goes last. Each of their lips will press on mine and taste me.
I bite my lip, looking back at the bottle as it slowly stops. On Caden.
My heart pounds as I lift my gaze to his. He smirks.
“Come here, little nympho.”
I swallow and look at the other guys. What if I do it wrong? What if my breath stinks? What if their breath stinks? Why didn’t I think to have a mint? What if something is stuck in my teeth?
Caden’s gaze softens when I take his hand. He’s sitting on the ground, and I move on my knees to him.
“Straddle him,” Luke says.
I don’t look at Luke, but I almost do for confirmation. Fuck, these guys are getting in my head. Caden grabs my hips and pulls me onto his lap. I gasp as my center presses against his very large, very hard erection. At least I’m not the only one turned on by the idea of this.
“Put your hands on my shoulders.” Caden’s voice deepens a little and his tone is almost soft.
I do as he says. He’s solid muscle beneath my hands.
He grips my ass and pulls me in tight against him.
Heat builds in between my legs at the feel of him there.
I remember last night, how he and Jack both got off on seeing me naked.
“Stop biting your lip, kitten.” Eli’s voice is close. They’re all so close. This is so weird. Maybe too weird. I should just run away now and take the punishment.
I release my lip and meet Caden’s eyes. They’re so green. I can see flecks of gold in them. His eyes have always been intriguing, but this close, I could spend an hour just studying them. I take a breath, focusing just on him and not the others watching us.
“Just relax,” Caden says as he leans forward a little, bringing his lips almost to mine. I inhale sharply at him being so close. His cinnamon scent surrounds me. “Relax.”
His lips press against mine. My whole body lights up like Friday night football. He parts his lips. I try to relax and just be in this moment. His hips shift beneath me, and the sensation of his cock rubbing against my pussy makes me gasp.
He takes advantage and deepens his kiss. He’s not gentle. It feels like he’s conquering me. Taking over every part of me until I belong fully to him. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I can’t hold back the moan at the delicious sensations flowing through me.
I can’t help but surrender under his assault.
I don’t want this to end. I want more. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know this is wrong. I shouldn’t be giving in to this. I shouldn’t be loving this, but I can’t help it. Caden’s lips against mine feel fucking fantastic.
“That’s time,” Jack says.
Caden growls against my lips but pulls back. His eyes are darker as they meet mine. “To be continued.”
He squeezes my ass and presses me hard against his erection. He brings his mouth close to my ear and says, “You smell good enough to eat.”
That should not turn me on. This whole scenario should be a hellscape of punishment for me, but his kiss felt too good to be wrong.
“Come on, kitten.”