Chapter 31
The Counterattack
Luke
I let Harper have her little tantrum. It won’t stop us from wanting her. We already know what lies beneath the surface. An animal waiting to get out. She has to learn to accept what she can’t control.
And she can’t control me.
As we head back to class after lunch, I shove her against the lockers like I’ve done countless times. She sinks back against it and stares vacantly over my shoulder.
“Caden was wrong, you know.” I put my hand up around her throat to hold her head still as I lean in. I don’t need a teacher overhearing me. Not that they could do anything about it, but my princess doesn’t need some knight to charge in to save her.
She prefers dragons over knights. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.
“If he wanted to slap your pussy, then he could have done that. But we haven’t crossed into the realm of playing with your pussy.” I kiss her neck behind her ear. “Yet.”
No shiver. No struggle. No defiant look. Just calm acceptance.
Fuck it. I press into her and take her mouth with mine. No response. It’s like kissing a corpse, and I’m definitely not into that.
“Though maybe Caden had the right idea.” I stare into her brown eyes. “Maybe we need to push a little harder. Escalate to keep you on your toes.”
Her eyes focus on me, and I can see the hate in them. But when she speaks, it’s with that same bored tone. “We’re going to be late for class.”
I take hold of her arm to pull her into the classroom. At her seat, I release her and continue to my own.
She had to know we’d punish her this morning. She ignored every text on Sunday. There are consequences to her actions. She knows that.
The class flies by as I consider what to do next. I could let her continue this game of hers or I could escalate to get a reaction. But if I do that, things will be more tense with the others if it fails.
When class ends, Harper heads out without me. Without even a glance in my direction. I wanted to keep our punishment private, but if she keeps this up, maybe it’s time to actually do what we threaten.
I text the guys.
Me:
Situation not resolving. Thoughts?
Eli:
Let her have her wallow. She’ll come back around
Jack:
This fucking sucks
Caden:
Apply pressure. She’s mad under all that
Of course she is. But she can be mad. This act is frustrating as hell. The problem is we don’t know how long she can keep this up.
Me:
I’ve thought of two things. Escalate punishment or escalate interaction
Jack:
You want to break her permanently?
I’m not down with that
Eli:
Jack, you want to cave to her little tantrum?
Me:
We have to decide
Caden:
Let her be today. We’ll talk tonight after practice. My house
Easy for him to say. He made her respond to his kiss. The rest of the day passes and instead of worrying about Harper, I focus on my classes.
Jack took her home after school and got no interaction.
After practice, we head to Caden’s basement.
“Text her to put her camera on at nine tonight.” I gesture toward Eli. He sends the message to the group chat with a note to respond.
She replies with a thumbs-up emoji.
“What do we do?” Jack runs his fingers through his hair. “I mean, this is all an act, right?”
Caden lounges in the corner of the couch. “Of course it’s an act. Below that is the spitfire she always is. She’s just punishing us.”
And there’s the rub. She’s punishing us, and it’s working.
“How long do you think she can keep this up?” I knead the back of my neck. She’s already got us spinning, and it’s only been a day.
“No idea. She hid from us for years before this.” Eli shrugs. “It’s possible she can bury herself under layers again.”
“I don’t think she’s hiding.” Caden grabs the remote and turns on the TV. “But we’ll know for sure by what she wears tomorrow to school.”
“I think she’s trying to make us not interested in her.” Jack picks up a football, tosses it in the air, and catches it. “It’s actually pretty effective. I still want Harper, but I don’t want her like this.”
I lean forward with my hands clasped between my knees. “Give her tonight. No punishment. No interaction. Let her think she’s winning. Maybe she’ll drop her guard.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” Jack says.
I smile. “Then maybe she needs to remember what it’s like when we aren’t in her life.”
Harper
At nine o’clock, I turn on my webcam and then go in and take a shower. They didn’t say I had to stay on the webcam, and I didn’t give them a chance to tell me anything. I take my time in the bathroom and then head out into my room, already dressed for bed.
I chose a shapeless nightgown with I heart coffee on it that falls to my knees. Sitting at my desk, I work on my homework without even glancing at the guys’ webcams.
No one says anything. I almost forget they’re even there. I stretch up after a little while and finally glance at the screen.
Huh?
They’re working on homework or off-screen. I’m surprised because usually they interact with me a little. Oh, well, less work for me.
There’s still that small part of me that revels in the horsemen’s attention. What if they start ignoring me again? Fuck, but that’s what I want. I want them to leave me alone. Right?
Shaking my head, I go downstairs to refill my bottle of water.
“Hey, how are things going?” Mom looks up from the book she’s reading at the island.
“Same old, same old.” I stop and lean against the counter. “What’re you reading?”
She holds up the book, flashing the cover of a man’s chest draped in plaid. “The good stuff. How’s the boy trouble going?”
I take a breath. “Well, I’m trying a new tactic. Ignoring them.”
“How’s that working for you?” Mom raises her eyebrows.
“So far, so good. I think if I continue to ignore them, they might decide I’m not worth the effort.” I give her a smile. At least I hope it looks like a convincing smile. My stomach feels funny—not sick, just off.
She nods thoughtfully. “And that’s what you want?”
“Of course,” I say automatically. “You saw them. They’re good-looking guys, but those kinds of guys are only after one thing, and while they may be genetically attractive, I need more than a pretty face to tempt me.”
“I could see that.” Mom turns her book back over. “But don’t just judge them by their pretty faces. They’re still people, and they have to be somewhat smart if they’re interested in you.”
“They just want me because I’m…unavailable.” I gesture as I stumble over the last word.
“Maybe, but guys rarely stick around if they don’t receive some sort of encouragement.” Mom arches her eyebrows at me over her cover.
I shake my head. “Not these guys. No encouragement required. I think they just like the chase.”
“Ah, but once they catch you, they’ll find out you’re a keeper.”
I burst out laughing. “These guys aren’t the kind to keep anyone. Not one of them has had a girlfriend.”
“You’ve never had a boyfriend,” Mom points out.
“Yes, but I don’t go out with boys and don’t have a boyfriend. They go out with girls. They just don’t ask them to be their girlfriend.”
“Are you interested in any of them? Seriously.” Mom sets her book down. “I mean, not that you couldn’t date multiple guys, but I would think that would get confusing and end with some hurt feelings. Is there one of them you like more than the others?”
Not that I have a choice to only like one of them, but Mom doesn’t know that. I try to think if there is anything I actually like about the guys besides the attraction between us.
Eli, who is legendary for being rough with girls, is delicate with me.
The way Caden looked at me the first time I brought him a sandwich, like no one has cared for him before hit me right in my feels.
Jack needs to make me happy and he’s always quick with a smile.
Luke holding me through the night to help me feel safe.
I refocus on Mom. “I thought I might, but they have expectations that are way too high.”
“Maybe you already exceed all those expectations.” Mom blows out a breath. “Don’t sell yourself short, Harper. You’re a good package and if any of those guys don’t see that, they don’t deserve you.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ve got a little more homework to do. Night.”
One of them would be easier to deal with than all of them. But that’s not an option, and I’m not sure I would want to have to pick only one of them. As embarrassing as it is, I like all their attention focused on me. I like that these four guys shared my first kiss.
“Night.” Mom waves me off and opens her book again.
I keep circling back to the thought of only one of the guys as I walk back to my room. Would it be any easier if I had to pick one of them to be my first? I mean, dick-wise, I’m pretty sure Jack would be the easiest to take, though he’s not all that much smaller than the others.
If the real question is all or none, would I be stupid to pick none?
Setting my bottle on my desk, I sit in my chair. When I glance at the screen, they’re all focused on homework or whatever they’re working on. I study them while they aren’t watching me.
They’re all assholes, but I’ve had my moments with all of them. Physically, I’m attracted to them, but they don’t really know me. Luke’s seen me afraid and a little desperate for someone to stay with me. When I told them about the prank, Caden was ready to sit outside all night to watch over me.
But overall, my moments with them have all been sexually driven.
Then again, what more do I want for my first time? Someone to love me? Do I need love to have sex? Apparently that answer is no.
I breathe out a sigh and work on finishing my homework. No one speaks as I finish up and get ready for bed. As I lift my laptop to bring it to the bed, the other webcams all shut off.
What? Oh, fuck.
My heart ratchets up a beat. I check my network connection but it’s still live. I guess they don’t want to keep them on tonight. My chest feels hollow as I set my laptop on my desk and leave it open, just in case it’s a trap to punish me more.
I’m just about asleep when a text comes in.
DEATH (Luke):
On your own tomorrow morning to get to school, we have a meeting early
Me:
*thumbs-up emoji*
I roll over and stare at the screen. Weird. Maybe they don’t want a submissive doll. Maybe my plan is working, or maybe they really have a meeting, but I’ll take the freedom. Even if the victory feels a little hollow.
Harper’s Phone
Me:
Mission Ice Out seems to be going too well
Kenz:
Yeah?
Me:
Guess they don’t want a passive doll
Kenz:
I can’t wait to hear more
Me:
Get better. I need my ride or die
Kenz:
Wouldn’t miss it