Chapter 26
The Interrogation
Luke
Harper’s cheeks are flushed when Eli brings her into my house. We agreed to meet in the basement and walk up together for dinner. With her hair down and a nice floral dress on, Harper looks beautiful and innocent.
But that wildness in her lurks just beneath the surface and it’s all ours.
I walk up to her before anyone else can claim her and tilt her chin up to look over her makeup. She waits patiently for me to settle my gaze on her. Her lips are a little swollen and the pulse in her neck races against my thumb.
“Excited, princess?” I brush my thumb against her lower lip, and her lips part. Her eyes darken with the lust I incite in her. My cock twitches.
“Eli and I had a conversation in the car.” Her gaze drops to my lips.
I don’t look away from her. When she returns her gaze to mine, I lower my lips to kiss her, soft and subtle. She leans into me and opens beneath my kiss. I meant to keep it simple, but when she offers me more, I take it.
Kissing Harper is unlike any other girl I’ve kissed before. Nothing is fake or artificial about her. She wants to kiss me. She’s not shy about it. When she wants me to deepen the kiss, she opens for me.
When my tongue strokes hers, she shivers in my arms and clutches at the sleeves of my shirt. My insides burn for her.
I need to fuck her. I cup her ass in my hands as I devour her mouth. She whimpers a needy little sound that makes me even harder. What I wouldn’t give to back her against the wall and drive my cock into her dripping wet pussy.
I’d find release in her mouth, but I’m not about to have her on her knees before meeting my father. So I break off the kiss before my mind gives in to my body’s desire. Her eyes are even darker, her lips swollen and parted.
“Later, princess.” I press a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth before stepping away.
The room comes back into focus, and it isn’t just Harper and me. I meet each of their eyes. Eli, Jack, and Caden know the drill, but Nico and Harper don’t.
“My father is a hard man. Stay alert and answer what you can. Only answer what he asks.”
Harper slides her hand into mine and squeezes. When she smiles at me, suddenly I want to hide her away from my father. I regret asking to include her. It was selfish of me. I want her close, but I’m putting her in the line of fire.
I’m showing him my weakness, my obsession. The object of my desire.
She’s too soft to handle my father, but as long as he doesn’t suspect there’s more between me and her, he should behave. If he figures out how much I want her, he’ll use my desire and her against me.
“As far as my father is concerned, you’re our friend.” Sweeping my thumb along her jaw, I cup Harper’s cheek as her brow furrows. I wish it were different. “Trust me. It’s better this way.”
“Okay.” She nods and steps away from me. I let her and her warmth slip away.
Fuck. “Let’s go.”
I lead them up the stairs and into the dining room. The table is set, but my father isn’t here yet. Of course, it’s five minutes before seven. He would never be early.
When Harper goes to sit next to Nico on the end, I capture her hand and lead her to sit next to me. Again, it’s selfish, but I want her close to me. I want to feel her heat warming my insides as I stare into my father’s cold eyes.
She squeezes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile. So fucking innocent. I should let her out of our deal, but I can’t. I won’t.
Releasing her hand, I take a minute to return the shield I raise when dealing with my father. No one says anything as we sit and wait. After a minute, my father walks in.
“Gentlemen,” he says boisterously. His focus falls on Harper. “And lady.”
His speculative gaze lingers on Harper as he sits at the head of the table. I should have let her sit next to Nico, instead of between me and Jack. Have I shown my cards already to my father?
“How are you all this evening?” Dad takes his napkin and lays it in his lap. That’s the signal for the staff he hired for tonight to start service. The first course is a salad with a vinaigrette dressing.
“Very good, sir,” Caden replies. He’s accustomed to my father and knows what he expects. Knows what my father wants to hear. He’s played this game almost as much as I have. Our fathers are very similar.
“How’s your father’s business?” Dad arches an eyebrow at Caden.
“As well as can be expected.” Caden’s non-answer gives my father pause.
But Dad nods and lifts his fork, indicating everyone can eat. “How’s football this year? You planning on playing, Nico?”
The guys fill the space with football talk while we eat salad. As each of us finishes, the staff comes and removes our plate. Once my father is done, dinner is served. Plates filled with coq au vin are set in front of us.
Dad lifts his fork, but then his gaze settles on Harper. I tense, wanting to hide her from him. I’m careful to not show any emotion or regard for her.
“Luke tells me your mother works at the hospital?”
Harper nods. “Yes, sir, she works in the labor and delivery ward.”
“And what does your father do?” Dad takes a bite, intent on his food instead of Harper.
“I wouldn’t know. He left us when I was five.” Harper takes a small bite of food.
“You don’t hear from him at all?” My father is an asshole. He glances up at her and watches her carefully.
I want to interject, but I can’t let him know I want to protect her. She has to stand on her own.
“No, sir. My mother is enough for me.” She takes a sip of her drink and her eyes dart to me for a brief second.
“Of course she is.” Dad takes another bite. “How are your grades?”
Harper blushes. “It’s only been two weeks since school started, but I’m ranked in the top five percent of our class.”
“Given that the boys at this table make up the top five overall, I’m not surprised.” Dad glances around like he might shift to one of the others, but then his focus returns to Harper. “You’re what? Eighteen?”
“My birthday was this past week.” She takes another small bite. I’m proud of her acting like this isn’t painful. For keeping her answers succinct.
“Plans for college?”
The others shift uncomfortably, wanting to step in, but they can’t any more than I could. It would make her appear weak to my father. She either holds her own or she fails in his eyes.
“Of course. I’ve applied to a variety of schools, including some Ivy League. I’m still working on my essays for some scholarships, but even if I don’t get in everywhere I apply, I will get my degree.”
“How did you fall in with this group?” Dad leans back in his chair, abandoning the pretense of eating, and steeples his fingers against his lips as he waits for her answer.
No longer trying to pretend like this isn’t the interrogation it is.
His dark gaze sweeps over her, making my fist clench under the table.
She swallows and sets down her fork. “Nico and I were best friends in grade school before he left. I’ve known the guys all my life, but we only became friends this year.”
She doesn’t hesitate on the word friends. Relief slices through me.
“Planning to lock down one of these young men for the future?” Dad asks with an arched brow.
She glances around the table at us. “No. I’ll go to the school that’s best for me. If they happen to be there, I’m sure we’ll be friendly, but I’m not looking to lock down a guy in high school. I have my whole life to find someone to spend it with. If that’s what I decide to do.”
My dad makes a thoughtful noise. He studies her in a way I’ve never seen before. I hold my breath. Bringing her was a misstep on my part. I feel it in my soul.
Harper takes another small bite of food, probably waiting for the next bomb to fall.
His gaze narrows on her for another second before he shifts to Nico. “Your family is back in town. I’m surprised you transferred here for your senior year.”
I release my breath. She did well, and I almost smile with pride, but that would make my father even more interested in her.
“The football team here is better.” Nico explains about his academics and the friendships he wanted to rekindle.
I reach my hand under the table to Harper’s and brush her knuckles with mine. She doesn’t glance at me, but her lips tip into a small smile as she looks down at her plate. I hadn’t been lying at the pool. I’m willing to wait, but I don’t want to.
If we only have a year with Harper, I don’t want to waste one minute of it.
Harper
Next to his father, Luke is warm and loving. Even though Mr. Foster’s eyes are a warm hazel, they’re cold and calculating. Every question seems to have a purpose. His interest in me makes me feel like I’ve done something unforgivable.
When he changes topic to Nico and football, I relax and eat as much as my churning stomach can handle. Luke is stiff next to me. He’s been that way the whole dinner. The urge to slide my hand into his and just hold it to support him almost overwhelms me.
These boys mess with my brain. It’s one of the reasons I want to take tonight off. Get a little space to actually figure out what all this means. But I also know the minute we’re alone, I won’t be strong enough to walk away.
Because I want to be around them.
I like when they make me feel good. It’s too easy to forget the way things began. Especially when they pluck the cords of my desire like strings on an instrument only they know how to play.
A cell phone vibrates. Mr. Foster gets his phone out and looks at the screen.
“Sorry, boys. And girl. I need to take this.” He stands with his finger hovering over the Accept Call. “Enjoy dessert without me.”
His eyes go from Luke to me with a knowing smile before he leaves the room.
No one says a word as the wait staff take away the dinner plates and bring out plates of chocolate cake with raspberries on it.
“Dude—” Caden starts in a voice that says he’s about to complain. Maybe about Luke’s father?
“Not here.” Luke’s tone is curt as he glances around the room. “Enjoy your dessert and then we can leave.”
Jack’s hand finds mine under the table and squeezes it. I release my breath and pick up my fork. When I lift my eyes, Nico’s meet mine. His smile is gentle, and he gives me a wink before shoveling a bite of chocolate cake into his mouth.
The chocolate is decadent, but I’m not hungry enough to eat it all. I just want to relax in a guy’s arms while we chill and watch movies. Seriously, I love all the sex stuff, but there’s something magical about being held.
“Come on, sweetheart. I’ve got dibs on taking you home,” Jack says.
Everyone stands, and so do I. A little confused. “I’m going home?”
My gaze finds Eli’s. Mostly because he promised more later, but if they’re taking me home…
Luke steps close. Not close enough to touch, but close enough to speak quietly so only I can hear him. “We’re coming to your house, princess. Eli, Jack, and Nico have to go home later because their parents actually care sometimes. But Caden and I are staying with you tonight.”
My mouth opens but nothing comes out.
Jack tugs me into his arms. “Come on. If we beat them there, I get a little alone time with you.”