Chapter 22
The Apology
Harper
Even with the video cams on, it took me forever to fall asleep last night.
So, I’m not in the best mood as I step into my shower.
I finish rinsing my hair when the bathroom door opens and closes.
It’s not worth the effort to wipe my eyes and open them.
It’s not hard to guess who would be in my bathroom this early in the morning.
The shower door opens, letting in the cool air before it closes and a warm body slides against mine. It’s really not fair. I want to be mad, but having them touch me makes me melt.
“Good morning, princess.” Luke slips his hand down my hips to draw me even closer to him.
I put my hands on his chest and blink up at him. “You’re an asshole.”
He shrugs and smirks. “Never said I wasn’t.”
“You wanted to do things you did to other girls while you told me about them? That’s not something you do to someone you like.” My thumb rubs over his heart. If he even has one.
“Okay.” He drops his head as if to kiss me, but I turn my head to the side, so he kisses my cheek.
“Just okay? Not ‘I’m sorry for being an ass, Harper. I would never think of other women when you suck my dick, Harper. You’re the only girl I want to think about when I fuck you, Harper.’” Okay, maybe it doesn’t make sense, but dammit.
He cups my jaw and turns my face to his. His eyes search mine. “I’m sorry for not taking your feelings into consideration before offering to fuck you.”
Is that even an apology? Not something I can ask my mom about unfortunately.
“I missed you last night.” He backs me against the wall of the shower.
“You missed fucking me,” I say dismissively. He’s always made it clear that I’m his to do with what he wants.
He tucks my hair behind my ear, sliding his hand around the back of my neck. Sighing, he presses his forehead against mine and takes in a deep breath.
“No, I missed you, Harper. I missed holding you in my arms. I missed feeling your heartbeat next to mine. Your warm skin against mine. Our breaths falling into sync. I can’t let you go.”
My heart feels like it’s going to explode. I think that’s the closest Luke will ever get to admitting he has feelings for me. It might not be love, but it’s something strong.
I wet my lips as he just holds me against him, breathing, before I admit softly, “I missed you too.”
It’s easier than the other feeling bursting through me, wanting to escape.
When his eyes open, he closes the distance between us and I meet him halfway. Our lips collide. This kiss has a weight the others haven’t. It’s like I’m sealing my fate with his. I should have known the minute his eyes locked with mine the first day of school this was inevitable.
He would need me as much as I need him. Locked, intertwined. Not just a high school fling. It’s why I fought so hard, but also couldn’t resist. They’re a piece of me. He’s a part of me.
He groans and lifts me against the shower wall. I wrap my legs around him as he guides his cock to my entrance. We never release each other from the kiss, even when he surges in deep.
He captures my moan with his mouth. It’s not frantic, but it’s not slow. Luke fucks me like his life depends on it and I cling to him as if mine does too. I’m wound so fucking tight. He reaches between us and circles my clit until I explode, drawing him into his release.
Pressing his forehead to mine, he looks down at where we’re still joined. “Harper, I...”
He tenses against me like it’s too much.
I take his lips and his words that he can’t or won’t say. It doesn’t matter. Someday I’ll say them for us both, but not today. He’s not ready to hear them.
School almost feels anticlimactic. When we show up, I get a few sneers from girls before their friends tug them aside and whisper in their ear. After that, they avoid looking at me all together.
Even the guys give my guys an acknowledging nod, but look through me.
It’s almost like a weight I hadn’t realized I’d been feeling gets lifted from me. It’s nice. I’m used to being invisible. I used to be invisible alone, but now I have my guys who definitely see me.
Luke holds my hand as we walk to first period. During our shower and after, we didn’t talk more. We don’t need to. We’re on the same page. United.
The first couple classes of the day were normal.
Ava apparently is at home with her parents today. At the end of second period, Caden draws me into his arms and kisses me before sending me off to Art class. This used to be my favorite class and now, I’ve been dreading it.
When I walk in with Nico, he kisses my temple before we split to go to our desks. As I sit at my table and wait for Tanner to show up, Kenz drops beside my chair.
“You’re such a badass,” she whispers and holds her fist out for me to bump. The classroom is still buzzing with talk. Ms. Sullivan hasn’t come in yet. Neither has Tanner. That string winds tighter around my stomach.
Does he already know Ava is back? What will happen with Caden now that Ava will be in school with Tanner?
“Why am I a badass?” I honestly never know at this school. I tap her fist with mine though.
“The party? Ethan Parker? Frankly, I’m impressed.” Kenz’s blue eyes sparkle. “I knew you had it in you.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “I didn’t do much.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re a fucking legend. The girl who tamed the horsemen.” Kenz stands and holds her books against her chest. “I’m really proud of you, H.”
“Thanks, Kenz.” I grin back.
She heads to her desk with Natalie as Tanner drops into the seat beside me.
His cheek is bruised. That can’t be from Ava’s friend smacking him on Friday, right? She would have had to hit him really hard for it to bruise like that, especially along his jaw.
When he turns, I gasp at his bloodshot eye. There’s some bruising around the eye too. That’s definitely not from Ava’s friend.
“What happened?” It comes out before I can stop it. I really don’t want to know, but I have my suspicions. None of the guys mentioned anything to me this morning. What did I miss because I was caught in the afterglow of being intimate with Luke? Not just sex, but... I don’t know what to call it.
Tanner’s laugh is bitter as he sneers. “Like you don’t know. Not keeping track of your men very well, are you?”
I don’t know what to say to that, but then the teacher comes in. The first half of the class is actual class, so I don’t have to work alone with Tanner. When Caden walks in, I straighten in my seat and look him over.
He doesn’t look like he got in a fight. Unless the other guy didn’t get in a hit to his face. He sits in the seat next to me and hooks his foot around the leg of my chair to drag me closer to him.
“I don’t want your bitch,” Tanner hisses.
My eyes widen. What the fuck. I mean, the guy’s been sweet or sour depending on the day and what he wants, but he’s rarely been violent.
Caden lowers his head and narrows his eyes at Tanner. When he sets his hands on the desk, I gasp. How did I miss it last period? There are cuts on his right knuckles. My fingers graze over them.
“What did you do?” I ask. Not because I don’t know what happened. I can figure it out. Tanner’s face got in the way of Caden’s fist. But what I can’t figure out is why.
Caden doesn’t drop his gaze from Tanner. “What needed to be done.”
I glance between the two guys who obviously hate each other. Before there was animosity, but not outright hatred. Tanner was cocky and Caden, well, Caden was pretty angry.
I put my hand on Caden’s jaw and guide his face so our eyes meet. “Are you okay?”
“Just making sure that asshole doesn’t text my sister anymore.”
My mouth drops open. Fuck. I’m missing a whole chunk of the story here. And I probably won’t get the story during lunchtime. That leaves one option. It’s a long shot, but fuck it.
I flinch. “Sorry, War.”
He gives me a questioning look. With my fingernail, I scrape away one of the scabs on his knuckle, making it bleed. He arches an eyebrow, but I raise my hand.
“Ms. Sullivan?”
She turns and comes over. “Yes, Harper?”
“May I take Caden to the nurse?”
She looks at his knuckle and makes an oh sound.
Caden raises an eyebrow at me like I’m insane. What teacher would send two students to the nurse’s office for a little cut on his knuckle? Except we’re both her favorites and I’m banking on that.
“Yes, take your things with you just in case there’s a line or something.” Ms. Sullivan pats Caden on the shoulder like he’s a little kid crying over his booboo. I almost roll my eyes, instead I smile and pack up my stuff, handing him a tissue.
As we walk out the door, Ms. Sullivan hands me a pass.
“Thanks.”
When we’re in the hallway, I look up and down it to see if anyone else is around. Caden takes my hand and drags me to a door. He opens it and pushes me into the small closet before closing the door behind us.
There’s very little light in here. He’s a shadow before me.
“What did you do, Caden?”
His hands settle on my hips. When he tries to draw me closer, I put my hands on his chest.
“I want answers. I thought you guys weren’t going to go off on your own?”
“The prick has been texting my sister this whole time. Telling her how sorry he is. How he wants to make it up to her. Fucker.” Caden pushes me back against the wall.
Even in the darkness, I can tell how much he wants me and it makes me burn.
Awareness and arousal try to shatter my concentration, but I need to find out what happened.
“Why didn’t Ava block him?” I slide my hand up his neck and tug on his hair.
A low growl fills the space and makes me tremble in anticipation.
“She wanted to fuck with him the way he fucked with her.” Caden lowers his head beside mine. His breath is hot against my neck.
“When did you confront him?” My mind is slowly losing control as my body overheats with his closeness. I missed him and Luke last night. Their heat surrounding me as I fell asleep. Waking to their mouths and hands on me. Luke took care of my need this morning.
But I want more. I crave more.
“After I talked to my parents and Ava. She showed me his texts to try to get me to understand she’s over him.
” Caden’s words are low. He massages my hips, making me melt against him.
“The only thing they proved is what an asshole that guy is. I can’t have her coming here and have him trying to get with her. I’ll kill him first.”
“Maybe she knows what she’s doing?” My head falls back against the wall. His lips caress my neck. Fuck, I missed him. I’ve gotten greedy with their time. Used to having them with me every night.
He draws my skirt up. “He won’t touch either of you.”
I turn my head toward his and our lips collide. Kissing, tasting, drowning in him. I can’t see him in the darkness, but I can feel every inch of him pressed against me. He lifts me against him and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Caden,” I whisper when he kisses down my throat. Somewhere my sanity knocks, trying to remind me we’re at school and the bell could ring at any moment.
“Shh, little nympho. I’m dying to feel you against me.
To have you shatter in my arms.” When he slides my panties to the side and strokes my clit softly, I let out a little whimper.
“I couldn’t sleep last night because I didn’t have the smell of vanilla filling my nose.
And your hot little body covering mine.”
He inhales against my neck. My fingers clench into his hair, holding him tight against me.
“So fucking sweet.” He circles my entrance before slipping his finger inside.
I gasp, needing so much more. “Please, Caden.”
“Please what, little nympho?” He trails the tip of his nose up my neck to my ear before whispering, “What do you need?”
I whimper, part of me still aware of being at school. But all of me just wants him to do what he does best: make me soar. He thrusts his finger in and out of me.
“I need you,” I whisper, holding tight to his hair as he fucks me with his finger. His thumb strokes my clit, pushing me higher and higher.
“You made me bleed.” His words rumble his chest against mine. “It’s only right I make you come.”
It’s barreling down on me, spinning me higher and higher, until all at once I explode. His mouth captures my cry as he wrings out every last ounce of my release. I cling to him, boneless, weightless.
He lifts his head from mine and takes his fingers out of me, straightening my panties. “If we had more time, I’d fuck you hard, little nympho.”
My pussy wants that. I’m about to beg for it when the bell rings.
“Oh, fuck.” I lower my legs down. When my feet touch the floor, I work on straightening myself out as best as I can in the dark.
“What do we do?” I grab his arm and tug on it.
“It’s lunchtime. We wait until the noise dies down and sneak out.” He presses a kiss to my temple.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“I mean, we have a few minutes. I don’t know how satisfying it will be...”
When I hit Caden’s arm, he chuckles.
“I’m only joking.” He pauses and wraps his hand around my waist. “Unless you want to.”
“While we have a minute, we can talk about last night.” I draw in a breath filled with his cinnamon scent. Oof, this would be easier without the afterglow.
“I told you about Tan—”
“Not him.” I tug on the sleeve of Caden’s shirt. “I need you to understand that you hurt me last night by agreeing with Luke’s stupid idea and then flirting instead of owning up to your mistake.”
“Fuck, little nympho.” He crowds me against the wall again. “I can’t promise I won’t ever hurt you, but it’s never my intention. Well, unless you want me to hurt you.”
I roll my eyes. “See? This is exactly what I mean. You’re serious one second and then bound and determined to get in my panties the next.”
“I already got in your panties, and if we stay here much longer, I’ll be using our time wisely.” He lifts my skirt, but I put my hand over his.
“I enjoy the banter and the sex, but that’s not all we have, is it, Caden?” My heart pounds, because if he says that’s all we have, what do I do? Love a guy who doesn’t even want my love?
“No, Harper, that’s not all we have.” He blows out a breath. “It’s how I deal with stress. Fuck, I don’t even think before I say some of the shit that leaves my mouth. I’m sorry if it hurts you. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
I wish I could see his eyes. There’s something about the sincerity in them that always comforts me.
“I like sex with you, little nympho, but I’m keeping you for a lot more than that.”
“As your breeding cow?” I cock an eyebrow.
He chuckles. “No, but that will be fun down the road. You’re intelligent, kind, artistic, gorgeous, adventurous, eager, and a million other things that make you perfect for us.
Give us some time—give me some time to finish growing up.
Keep telling me what I do wrong. I love that, but also realize even if I hurt you, I’m never letting you go.
So, I’m especially grateful for your forgiving heart. ”
Fuck, I’m never going to last long if these boys keep proving I’m not an idiot for loving them. I sigh.
“Okay,” I breathe out.
He chuckles. “Should we go to lunch?”