Chapter 39
The Taunt
Harper
“They seem nice.” Mom sits at the island covering the last bit of cake with plastic wrap.
I snort-chuckle at anyone thinking the horsemen are nice. “I suppose they can be.”
“They gave you a ring? Like all of them? Together?”
I hold up the ring, admiring the glint of silver against the black. My insides tumble over each other. “It’s a nice ring.”
I wonder if it’s just another way to mark me as theirs. I’m just glad they don’t insist I put it on my left hand. That would be too weird.
“It’s a very expensive looking ring.” Mom shakes her head. “Maybe I don’t understand dating these days.”
“We’re not really dating. They didn’t even know it was my birthday until you told them. So they had to scramble to get a gift.”
“Well, for scrambling they did a really great job.” She shakes her head and then raises her eyebrows. “Do you want to explain what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?” I hedge, glancing down at the ring to avoid her knowing eyes.
“Four guys bought you a ring for your birthday. They’ve made it clear they want to insert themselves into your life. Is this a dating thing? Does everyone date in groups these days? I would expect a more equal ratio of guys to gals, but I’m not even sure what that means anymore.”
I sigh and sink onto the stool next to her at the island. “I don’t know either, Mom. This is all as new to me as it is to you.”
She puts her arms on the island and turns her face to look at me. “Are you dating them?”
I chuckle. I can’t help it. Dating them? They own me, but I can’t tell my mom that. “Dating might be too strong of a word. How about hanging out?”
Smiling, she shakes her head. “So is this a hang-out-one-on-one situation or all together?”
My cheeks heat like they’re on fire. “Mom!”
“What I mean—” Mom cuts herself off, flustered. “Will they be taking you out on actual dates or will you just be ‘hanging out’ in a group?”
She does the air quotes, and I hope she means doing things together and not doing things together.
“The guys are really close, and we’ve mostly just spent time at school. So currently, we all just hang out together.” I’m not sure my face can get any hotter.
She pushes out a breath. “Okay, that’s all the parenting I can handle right now.”
I chuckle. She glances around the kitchen.
“There aren’t many leftovers, so that’s a bonus to hanging out with four football players.” She nudges my shoulder playfully. “They also helped clean up, so there’s nothing left for us to do. Except for me to give you your presents.”
I smile and wait at the island while she heads into the other room. She comes back with an envelope and a small box.
“Okay, before you get excited, it isn’t much, but I’ve been working a lot to get it to where it is.” She hands me the envelope.
“Okay.” I open it and it’s the statement to a college savings plan. While it isn’t enough for all four years, it’s a substantial amount and will make a good dent. “This is amazing, Mom. This will definitely help.”
She smiles. “I know it isn’t enough, but you should get some scholarships and financial aid to make up the difference. If you go in-state, you might get a full ride.”
I haven’t talked to her about college much. While in-state is a good deal, I don’t want to stay close, where the horsemen have so much power. I want to get away from them, but moving away from my mom will be hard.
Tentatively she pushes the box toward me but holds onto it. “Before you open this…” She sighs and looks at the gift. “We don’t talk about your father. I know you don’t remember much about him, but I loved him once upon a time. He gave me you, and I’m grateful to him for that.”
I nod. Dad is a nonfactor in my life. He ducked out on us when I was five. I have a vague memory of the smell of gasoline and oil, leather, and a scratchy beard.
“We weren’t the only thing he left behind. I think it’s appropriate for you to have this now.” She shoves the box in front of me.
I don’t know what she’s talking about. As I unwrap the box and open it, a key falls out. I raise an eyebrow at her. This is all my dad left behind? “A key, wow, I’ll treasure it.”
Shaking her head, she takes my hand and pulls me outside and back to the garden shed. I haven’t been in here since I was a kid. Mom hired a service, so the lawn mower and tools never get used.
“It’s really not much, but I’m sure it could be if you wanted to fix it up.” She pulls open the doors and grabs the edge of the drop cloth covering stuff in one corner. As it falls away, it reveals an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle amongst some boxes and gardening tools.
My mouth drops open. “What?”
It’s gorgeous.
Mom smiles, but it’s a little sad. “This was his pride and joy. I’m not sure why he didn’t take it with him, but I always figured he’d want you to have it.”
“This is amazing.” It’s black with chrome accents. It needs a wash, and I don’t even know if it runs. “Thank you. I love you so much.”
I turn and hug her.
“You’re it for me, Harper. I love you to the moon and back.”
The next morning, I’m still feeling good. Last night, the guys and I did our homework and went to bed. No one asked me to strip, which was nice. I woke up to the guys’ alarms and not two guys in my room. So bonus.
When I come out of my shower, I don’t even bother with the towel. At my dresser, I pull on panties and a bra. Someone clears their throat. I turn to the computer screen to see Jack sitting there with a huge smile on his face.
“Can I help you?” I turn back to my closet and reach for a mini skater skirt.
“You’ll get lines with those panties.” Jack’s voice is loud, and I notice Luke dressing in the background.
“So should I go without or…?” I cock my hip.
“Probably a thong would work, but if you want to go commando, I’ll be hard every time I see you today.” Jack reaches into his boxers and strokes his cock. He chuckles. “Let’s be honest, I’ll be hard either way.”
I think I’m getting too used to seeing Jack’s cock. Maybe that’s part of their strategy. I slip my panties off and reach into the drawer to pull out a white thong. I bend to pull it on.
“Fuck, Harper. You sure you’re grounded, because I’m ready to kiss something besides your mouth.”
My pussy throbs at the implication. Shaking my head, I pull on my skirt and look for the crop top I want. It’s the one that falls off one shoulder. I snatch it off the hanger and put it on.
Since they were nice about the ponytail yesterday, I figure it might be safe to put my hair up today, especially since it’s supposed to be hot outside.
Luke sits at his desk as he puts on his shoes. I grab a pair of sandals and slip them on. Luke’s gaze rakes over me, and I feel the heat through the screen.
His blond hair falls over his icy blue eyes. He’s wearing a black t-shirt and jeans today. Jack’s wearing a navy t-shirt and jeans. His dark hair is brushed back out of his face, and his dark blue eyes focus on me with a smirk.
I lean over the chair so my face fills the screen. “Am I driving myself today?”
“We’ve got you, kitten. Don’t bend over in school.” I glance over my shoulder at Eli staring at my ass and Caden closing in on it.
“Worried someone else will see my panties today?” I don’t bother straightening as Caden grabs my ass. His fingers are warm as they massage my cheeks. Sparks sizzle through me.
“Princess,” Luke says, drawing my attention back to him on the screen, “behave or the only one who will have those panties is me.”
“I’m not sure they’ll fit you.” I give him a wide-eyed look before grinning. He narrows his eyes.
“Get to school.” Luke stands and leaves his room.
I close my laptop and straighten into Caden’s chest. I lean my head back and look up at him. Tingles course through my system as his heat surrounds me. “You just going to hold my ass all day?”
Caden chuckles. His fingers flex and my insides melt. “I might.”
“Let her go, Caden. We need to get to school.” Eli shakes his head as Caden backs off. When I get close to Eli, he leans into me. “If I see your ass again at school, I’ll spank it.”
I give him a fake pout before heading downstairs to the kitchen. At the island, I make two sandwiches. Caden comes up behind me and squeezes my ass again. It feels good, but I might be getting a little desensitized to them grabbing my ass all the time. I didn’t even jump.
Of course, that’s their plan, to push me along to what they ultimately want.
“If I could touch your pussy right now…” He lets that statement hang in the air. Caden’s fingers slide beneath my skirt over my ass, teasing the line of my thong. My breath catches as heat rages through me. They’ve all touched my bare ass after the spanking, but not like this.
He draws my hips back against his hard cock and grinds against me. Shivers race through me and I’m not sure I’m breathing. Definitely not desensitized. Leaning down, he says directly into my ear in his deep voice, “We should just fuck and get it over with.”
That should not feel so good. My brain is on meltdown and I can’t get out the rebuke to his statement.
“Behave, Caden.” Eli grabs an orange from the bowl and peels it. “We have time to wait until Harper is ready.”
“Don’t worry, little nympho. Next time I’ll bring Jack, and he’ll play with us.” Caden kisses the back of my neck, and I can’t stop the shiver that races down my spine. Part of me wants him to play with me now. The other part is terrified to want him.
And I need to remember this is all a game to them. I’m a game to them. That helps cool me down.
“Yeah, that sounds like a bad plan.” I pack up the sandwiches, and Eli hands me a wedge of orange. I smile at him as I take it and pop it into my mouth. The citrus bursts against my tastebuds.
Turning in Caden’s arms, I press my hands against his chest. “Time to go, big guy.”
He smirks down at me and then lifts me up to set me on the counter. He claims my mouth, thrusting his tongue inside in rhythm with his hips against mine. My legs wrap around his waist like they have a mind of their own. The tension winds within me as I take whatever he wants to give me.
He groans. “Let’s just skip to the fucking, little nympho. You’re going to love it.”
Dropping my legs, I dodge his mouth and push on his chest. He steps back even though I couldn’t really move him if I tried. He lifts me down to my feet.
“Let’s get to school.” I take in a deep breath filled with cinnamon and orange.
I enjoy playing with the boys, but on my terms.
I walk around the island and bend down to retrieve my backpack right in front of Eli. He smacks my ass, and I grin at him.
“Dangerous games, kitten.” He yanks me against him. “Very dangerous.”
He captures my lips, drinking me in like a fine wine. I feel drunk on these boys. When he releases me, I’m warm all over. “School now.”