Chapter 40
The Knight Errant
Eli
Harper’s eyes are wide, but they soften when she recognizes me. I don’t remove my hand from her mouth. Everything those guys said is pent up inside me. A session would help calm me.
But that’s not an option.
Harper searches my face and I see the moment she submits. She raises her hands and grabs her headboard. She waits for me in silence.
I lean down and whisper in her ear, “You remember your safe word and how to stop this?”
She nods.
“Not a word, kitten,” I say. When she stays still, I remove my hand. I take my shirt off with one hand and drop it beside her bed. Standing, I take my athletic pants and boxers off.
I draw her blankets off her, revealing her body inch by inch. Her arms are stretched above her.
Every inch of her is mine tonight. Her nipples poke at the thin fabric of her top. A swath of skin shows between her top and shorts. Her long legs stretch out to the end of the bed.
If I had something to bind her, I would. But having her hold herself taut for me will also satisfy my needs.
“Don’t move your hands unless I move them.” I sit beside her hip on the bed and trace the skin of her abdomen. She curls in on herself a little, but stays in place, her dark eyes on mine.
I lift her shirt up until it’s up on her arms and stop before it comes off her eyes. Effectively blindfolding her. There’s very little light in her room, but enough to see shapes and shadows.
Dragging my hands down her, I frame her breasts but don’t touch them. Her lips part in anticipation. With Harper, I’ve always wanted to be less aggressive. While I love my bruises on her body, I don’t punish her like I have other girls.
The need isn’t there. But I do long to mark her. To show everyone that she’s mine.
I slide my hands down to her shorts and panties and drag them off her legs. Lifting her leg, I kiss her instep. A little shiver rolls over her. She’s naked, stretched out for me, offering herself over to me, giving me everything she has.
That’s the thing that’s always baffled me about Harper. She could have drawn back, given us limits, but she doesn’t. She pushes forward, giving us everything. Unwilling to hold back even when it’s clearly hurting her, like the belt.
I want to worship her and hurt her, just enough that she feels that edge of pleasure in the pain. Moving onto the bed, I grab her ankles and push her knees up and spread her wide for me. It’s too dark to see much, but her breath catches. If I touch her, she’ll be soaking wet for me.
“Hold your legs here.” I release her ankles and they don’t fall. By the time I’m finished with her, they’ll be trembling and aching. “Quiet, kitten.”
I slide my hands beneath her ass and lift her sweet pussy to my mouth. She whimpers softly as I blow out my breath over her. She clings tighter to the headboard and parts her legs a little more for me.
So fucking responsive. I slide my tongue from her cunt to her clit. When I lick up her stomach, pausing on her belly button, her muscles tense beneath my tongue. Her breath comes out in pants.
I slide up farther and paint a trail around her nipples. She makes a small whine in the back of her throat when I don’t take them in my mouth. I chuckle against her breast before sliding my tongue up her throat.
She arches toward my heat the best she can, but I hover above her. My tongue skates across her lips and she opens them for me. When I slip between them, hers meets mine. For a second, our tongues tangle.
My body presses against hers. I capture her sigh in my mouth as we fall into the kiss. This was never my thing before Harper. I didn’t kiss a lot of the girls I fucked. But with her, it’s like I can’t get enough.
My cock slides against her clit and she moans into my mouth. When I bite her lip, she sucks in a breath as a little shiver rolls over her. I kiss down to her jaw and bite softly there, just sharp enough to feel a sting, but not enough to leave a mark.
As I work my way down her neck, I leave small bites and then a suck in my wake. She gasps, but holds herself in the position. My cock throbs with the need to bury myself inside her, but I want the pain too. The ache from waiting too long to take what’s mine.
My bite is harder on her collarbones, knowing they’ll be easier to conceal.
I’m following the same path my tongue took on the way up, but goosebumps rise on her flesh now.
I suck and then bite her breasts all the way around each one, ending with her nipple.
I spend time biting, licking, sucking, tugging on her nipples until they’re red.
Her arms shake and her breasts heave with every inhale.
“Good girl.” I press her thighs out to her sides as I bite my way down her trembling stomach. Her breathing is chaotic, and she squirms beneath my mouth, but she’s being so fucking quiet.
I move lower to reward her, kissing and biting her hip before moving to her thigh. When I sink my teeth in a little harder, she gasps. I wait a second, expecting her to say her word, but nothing. My hot breath bathes her pussy before I sink my teeth into her other thigh.
“Eli,” she whimpers.
Her arousal fills my senses, making my cock weep. But I’m not done yet. I slide my hands under her ass and lift her. I suck on her pussy lip for a second before sinking my teeth gently into her.
She sucks in a sharp breath. I release her and do the same to the other side. She shakes her head and keeps her mouth tightly closed.
“Good, kitten?” I lick up her pussy and circle her clit with my tongue, waiting for her answer. She squirms in my hold but tries so hard to keep herself still.
“Yes, sir.”
I smirk against her and then suck her clit into my mouth. A low moan works out of her throat. My teeth graze her clit before I sink them in. Her body tenses, and her pussy gushes her release. Her hips buck against me.
I lift over her and take her mouth with mine, letting her taste herself as I thrust my cock deep inside her. She gasps into my mouth.
I kiss my way to her ear as I thrust hard in and out of her wet pussy. “You like the pain, kitten?”
She kisses my shoulder before she bites down hard.
“Fuck,” I whisper as pleasure and pain slice through me. I fuck her hard, pushing her legs up and out so I can sink in so fucking deep. She stays latched onto me, holding herself stretched for me as her breasts rub against my chest.
She moans against my shoulder as she comes all over my cock.
“Good girl, kitten.” I turn and bite her neck. My cock jerks as I come inside her, flooding her with my cum.
She gasps and releases my shoulder as an aftershock pulses around me.
I lick the bite mark I left. “Wear your hair down tomorrow, kitten.”
“Can I let go, sir?” Her voice is low and breathless.
“Yes.”
Her arms and legs wrap around me. She rubs my back. “Feel better?”
“Always, kitten.” I rest on my arms above her and smooth her hair from her face. “You? Was that okay? Too much?”
She touches my face. “It wasn’t too much. I liked it.”
I lean down and brush my lips against hers. My cock is still hard inside her. I could fuck her again, keep taking her all night, but Luke is right, we need our sleep.
Pulling out, I lie beside her, pulling her back into my arms. “I’d prefer to keep you out of dangerous situations, kitten. Tonight could have ended a lot worse.”
She curls into me. “I know.”
Her words are soft. I don’t know what would have happened if they’d discovered us. If they’d dared to lay a finger on her, I don’t know what I would have done or how far I would have gone to protect her. And that shit scares me.
But the thought of them hurting her brings out a darkness I’m not looking to face anytime soon.
Harper
Waking up alone sucks. Waking up early to go to school early with your mother sucks more.
I have no idea what Mr. Wick might want to discuss. The guys have made sure I kept up with my schoolwork so I can get into any college we want, so I haven’t fallen behind.
We walk into the school and no one else is in the hallways. It’s always a little creepy being here before or after everyone has left for the day. Normally the hallways are packed with people and if you get caught up in the flow, it’s hard to break free.
Our shoes are soft and don’t make much sound. Mom hasn’t said much this morning. I’m not sure if she’s just tired or if she’s aware of my nightly visitors. My cheeks flush thinking about what she may have overheard last night.
My insides burn just thinking of Eli. Yeah, I shouldn’t think of that right before going in to talk to my teacher. Or the marks he left all over me, tender and aching. Pride burst through me as I touched each one this morning. I lead Mom to my first class and knock on the door.
Mr. Wick opens it with a bright smile. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile like that.
“Jenn Stewart. It’s been years.” He takes my mom’s hand in his two and shakes it.
“It’s Davidson now, David.” Mom’s cheeks blush.
“Of course. I was sorry to hear about Sean.”
Mom nods, but Mr. Wick doesn’t release her hand.
My eyes widen. Yeah, that’s definitely longer than teacher-parent hand shaking should last. I take a second glance at Mr. Wick. He’s Mom’s age obviously, but he’s stayed fit and lean. His blue eyes are bright behind his wire-rimmed glasses. His dark hair is still thick.
As if realizing they’re still holding hands, Mr. Wick steps back and gestures for us. “Come in.”
Mom smooths her hands over her skirt, and I check to make sure my hair hides the bite mark Eli left on me. The one he left to show everyone else that I’m his. When I saw it in the mirror this morning, everything inside me went soft and needy.
We sit on the chairs beside Mr. Wick’s desk as he sits behind it. He hasn’t taken his eyes off my mom.
His cheeks grow a little pink and he glances down at his paper. “I’m sorry. I just—”
His gaze lifts to my mom’s. “I knew Harper looked familiar and remembered you married Sean Davidson, but for some reason, I didn’t expect you.”
Mom smiles. “Should I be offended or flattered?”
“Flattered, definitely. You haven’t aged a day.” He adjusts his glasses. “You’ve been alone for a while now?”
Is he fishing?
“Over a decade.” Mom crosses her legs and leans back in her chair.
“Huh.” He glances at his paper, and then he seems to remember I’m there and gives me a small smile before clearing his throat. “This is a little awkward and not usually something I’d bring up to a parent, but Harper is one of my favorite students.”
What the hell is this? I smile because it’s nice to be his favorite, but I have no idea what he’d want to talk about.
“It can’t be so bad if she’s one of your favorites.” Mom smiles.
He takes his glasses off and rubs the bridge of his nose. He glances my way and sighs. “I’ve noticed some of the guys this year seem to have noticed Harper. It seems very one-sided at times.”
Mom’s lips tighten and she glances at me. I shrug like I have no idea what he means. Though if it were earlier in the year, I would have been much happier for the guys to be called out.
“Who are the guys?” Mom shifts her gaze back to Mr. Wick.
“Luke Foster, Caden Ross, Jack Hill, Eli Jacobs, and Nico Lee.” Mr. Wick cleans his glasses with a tissue and puts them back on.
“Like I said, this is awkward and maybe me talking out of turn, but I’ve known Harper for three years.
She’s a good student and keeps her head down and her nose out of trouble. ”
He clears his throat and his gaze holds my mom’s. “Those boys are smart, cunning, and popular. Them noticing and paying extra attention to someone like Harper—well, she’s not who they usually hang out with.”
My cheeks have to be red and my eyebrow is arched because seriously? Someone like me? I mean, I get it, but damn, man. Be cool.
Mom clears her throat and recrosses her legs. “Mr. Wick—”
Oh, now he’s in trouble. I try to hold back my smile.
“Harper is free to spend time with whoever she feels is worthy.” Mom straightens. “I do appreciate the heads-up, but my daughter and those boys seem to be working things out just fine.”
Mr. Wick clears his throat and touches his collar. “I don’t think you know these boys, Jenn. The administration lets them do anything they want. Their fathers pay to make sure they don’t get in trouble. They aren’t known for being fine, upstanding young gentlemen.”
Mom glances at me, but all I see is the fires of justice burning in her eyes. All she knows is I’ve chosen them and they care for me. She doesn’t know how this all started.
Fuck, Mr. Wick was there. He saw Luke manhandle me on so many occasions. Who knows how much he’s seen? After all, it’s not like we look for teachers before they all kiss me before class.
“I may not know these boys as well as I’d like to, but I do know and trust Harper’s decisions. She wouldn’t let guys steamroll over her. So, if they aren’t gentlemen to everyone else, they must be to her.”
My stomach rolls, because yeah, not so much. But guess what, Mom? I’m into that, probably isn’t going to cut it.
“I honestly didn’t mean to offend you.” Mr. Wick straightens. “I just wanted you to be aware of the situation before it blew up into something more.”
Where was he at the beginning of the school year? Why did he grow a pair now? I’m good. The guys are good. I don’t need someone to derail our relationship now.
“If I wasn’t already aware,” Mom’s tone softens, “I would have appreciated you letting me know. It hasn’t been easy raising Harper on my own. With my work shifts all over the place, I could have easily lost track of what she’s doing.”
“I just know if she was my kid, I’d want someone to tell me what’s going on.” Mr. Wick grabs his pen and fiddles with it. “Would you mind stepping out for a moment, Harper?”
I swallow, but my mom nods like it’s okay. “Okay.”
I pick up my bag and step out into the hallway, letting the door close behind me. They continue to talk. Each leaning in to listen to what the other has to say. Is he blowing me up in there?
My heart catches. Mom may not realize how close I’ve gotten with all the guys. Or maybe she does and this won’t affect anything.
“Hey.”
I turn at Luke’s voice. His eyes narrow on me.
“Everything okay?” He takes a step closer.
I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head against his heart. He holds me awkwardly with my backpack on, but he holds me and that’s what I need right now.
I’m not sure what’s happening in there, but I know it won’t be good for me. Even if the adults think it is.