55. The Morning
The Morning
Harper
By the time Eli sinks his cock inside my pussy for the final time, much, much later, I’m so sensitive I twitch against him.
We’re in Caden’s bed. Nico lies beside Eli, and his fingers trail over my hip.
Soft and teasing but not pushing for more.
Which is good because I’m spent. For the past however long, we moved from one sensual moment to the next.
Any thoughts of a game were ignored as we just came together over and over again. My focus was on one of them at a time while the others kept their hands on me. Until Caden got greedy and then it was a free for all.
Touching, kissing, fucking. The overwhelm was surreal, but the emotions welling in me kept the dark thoughts from surfacing.
Caden made sure I had cum filling me just as he promised. They all did. Now we’re all sprawled on the bed. Still coming down from our last high. For a while, I forgot everything else and just existed in this bubble with them.
My head rests against Eli’s heart. His hand strokes soothingly up and down my spine. It’d be easier to come down without his hard cock buried in my pussy, winding me back up as I clench weakly around him. It’s better than the empty feeling I get when no one is inside me.
I try to close my eyes and drift off, but Homecoming is looming. And now that I’m not coming, my brain has time to process, to think, to fear. We don’t really have a plan going into this.
Zach is going to try to take me. My guys will do everything to make sure he doesn’t succeed, but what if it’s not enough? And what happens when he fails? He won’t just suddenly melt back into the walls.
The guys were right. To take him down has to be intentional and complete or he’ll keep clawing his way back up.
He’ll be a threat as long as he’s able to be. He keeps coming after me, and eventually he’ll get me.
“He’s not going to give up. Is he?” I can’t help the words that spill out of my mouth. I don’t want to think about tomorrow, but it’s hours away now. There’s no more tomorrow. There’s only later today.
Eli’s fingers hesitate on my back before returning to stroking. His chest rises and falls with his deep breath. “You’ll be with us. I don’t see how he’ll get a chance to take you.”
“I wasn’t alone at the game.” Thickness fills my throat and I swallow. Remembering the locker room, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back in that place. A hot tear leaks down my cheek to Eli’s chest.
His hands pause on my back. His fingers spread as if he can hold my shattering pieces together. Fuck, I love him for it.
“We won’t leave you, sweetheart,” Jack says. “You’ll never be out of my sight.”
I open my eyes and meet Jack’s. He leans up on his elbow. “The others might have tasks for the night, but mine is you. I won’t be far away. Ever. I swear.”
Nico slips his hand into mine. “I’m sorry I failed you tonight, sunshine.”
I turn and look at our hands. “You didn’t. They overwhelmed all of us.”
When our eyes meet, he doesn’t look convinced. He doesn’t take failure well, hates not winning. But they’re playing a game we need to catch up to quickly if we’re going to succeed.
“We weren’t expecting them.” Luke stares at the ceiling. “We won’t be caught flatfooted again.”
“Zach and Sidney won’t be at the dance.” Caden’s green eyes lock with mine and there’s such determination in them. “That trick tonight made sure of that.”
“You think Sidney’s mother won’t use every trick in the book to get Sidney into that dance for a crown?
” Luke tsks. His blue eyes flick to mine for a second.
“Don’t underestimate what lengths they’ll go to.
That’s what tonight taught us. They’re willing to risk everything. It doesn’t make sense though.”
“Zach isn’t a good strategist.” Eli’s chest rumbles beneath me as he speaks.
His cock twitches inside me, hard and thick.
It’s weird and comforting at the same time.
“He’s trying things. Striking and then retreating.
He couldn’t have taken Harper tonight, so what the fuck was that about?
What was his goal? To make it so some of us didn’t go to Homecoming after beating him to a pulp? Why risk that?”
“The lights were out everywhere,” Jack says. “He could have slipped out in the chaos. With or without Harper.”
“The girls’ locker room has one entrance and exit.” I breathe in Eli’s outdoor scent mixed with all of ours and the scent of our sex. It’s soothing because thinking about that place only makes me feel trapped all over again.
“That’s not true.” Caden runs a hand through his hair.
“There’s windows in some of the offices.
And it would be illegal to have a room with only one way in and out in a high school.
There’s another exit. It’s just a small hallway, tucked in the back.
The exit sign is broken, and they haven’t fixed it. ”
That’s something I didn’t know. I lift my head and prop my chin on my hand on Eli’s chest. Caden meets my curious gaze. “Where? Because I need to know how to get out of that death trap in case there’s another time.”
“There won’t be another time, little nympho, but I’ll show you every inch of that school if it makes you feel better.” He brushes his knuckles over my bare hip, sending little sparks skittering through my veins.
When my pussy clenches around Eli’s cock, he hisses and shifts below me, pushing deeper, sending another little burst of heat through me. He resumes dragging his hands along their lazy trail up and down my spine.
“Maybe we should go over the gym schematics.” I yawn.
“Tomorrow. Tonight we need to sleep.” Luke turns to meet my gaze. “We won’t be any good to you if we’re all tired.”
“We’re going to make it through this, kitten.” Eli brushes his lips against the top of my head. “Luke is right. We need sleep.”
I don’t know how I’m going to sleep, but we fall silent, and Eli’s touch is soothing. My last thought is about what lengths would Zach go through to get to me? Will he hurt my men? He’s already hurt Nico.
If it came down to one of them or me, what will I do to protect them?
The world shifts, and I’m pressed down into softness. Hands hold my wrists captive on the mattress as a mouth crashes down on mine. I wake up fully as awareness of what’s happening floods me, along with heat and tingles.
Eli.
His cock thrusts in and out of me. His chest rubs against my hardened nipples. Every inch of me is on fire with need. I’m already halfway to an orgasm as I wrap my legs around his hips, crossing my feet behind his ass as he pumps into me over and over again.
I return his kiss, devouring, consuming. Nothing else matters but him right now. He kisses across my cheek to my ear and whispers harshly, “Come for me, kitten.”
My body explodes on his command, like all I needed were his words to release me. He moans in my ear as I arch into him and my pussy clenches around him.
“Do you know how good you feel wrapped around my cock, kitten?” He stills inside me. “Hot, tight, wet. Squeezing me, soaking me.”
I clench my hands into fists above where he holds my wrists. Fuck, I love his words and this feeling of him taking control.
“I’m going to tie you to my bed and keep you there for hours while I use you when I want to.” He pulls out and thrusts in. “Over and over. Until my bed is soaked with your cum.”
He lifts his head and I open my eyes to his face hovering over mine in the dark. It’s barely daylight as my hips rise to meet his punishing thrusts.
“I’d fight anyone for the right to do this to you, kitten.” He squeezes my wrist as he drops to kiss my lips, my cheek, my jaw, working his way down my neck. I arch my neck to give him more access.
Forever stretches out before me in his touch and words. Is this realistic or just a fantasy that we can keep this up beyond the here and now? I want to believe, but does anything last forever?
His mouth claims mine again. My mind goes blank as all I can do is feel him surrounding me. He surges in deep, and his release floods me, triggering another orgasm. I gasp into his mouth as he holds me while I find my way back to my body, our breathing heavy between our open mouths.
“I’d keep you in my bed for the rest of the weekend if it were just us.” He kisses beside my ear as I try to even out my panting. “Lose myself in you.”
“We have things to do.” Luke’s voice makes me turn my head to see him dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, putting on his socks and shoes. He sits on the couch.
“Next time, kitten.” Eli nuzzles my neck before thrusting one final time, sending an aftershock racing through me before he withdraws. When he releases me, I don’t move. Fuck, I’m not sure if I can. My knees don’t feel substantial enough to hold me up.
Eli takes in every inch of me. Heat flares in his brown eyes. When he starts to bend to pick me up, Luke clears his throat. Eli sighs.
“We need to get going.” Luke raises an eyebrow at Eli before running a hand through his hair. “Shower so you don’t smell like sex in case we run into my father.”
I rise up on my elbows. His father? “Why?”
Eli vanishes into the bathroom, and Luke smirks at me.
“I need to grab some clothes from my house. Don’t worry. I’ve been dealing with my father for eighteen years, princess. I’ll be fine.” Luke comes over to stand next to me on the bed. Caden, Jack, and Nico barely move as they’re sprawled all around me on the oversized bed.
I blow out a breath and sit up, flinching at the sudden gush between my legs. They definitely filled me up last night.
Luke tips my chin up so our eyes lock. “He doesn’t get to control me anymore. We’ll get what we need and get out of there.”
I nod and grab his hand to pull him down. He smiles before his lips meet mine. If he’s worried about morning breath, he doesn’t show it. He tastes like mint. He grabs the back of my neck to hold me while he explores me, lighting up my insides.
For a moment, I can forget about what’s waiting at the end of tonight. For a moment. It’s never far from my mind, but they do a good job of pushing it into the background. Overwhelming me with their desire and love.
Luke lifts his mouth from mine but dips back in to brush against my mouth one more time. He groans as he meets my eyes. “Stay with your mom, princess. If you aren’t with us—”
“I’m with her.” I cup his jaw and drag in a breath. The way I feel about these boys is beyond anything I ever imagined.
His gaze dips to my naked body and there’s more than interest in his eyes. He smirks as he draws away. “Sleep. You need it.”
A hand brushes against my hip, and I turn to meet Nico’s eyes.
He holds his arm out for me. I slide down against his side, my head fitting perfectly against his shoulder.
Protected and safe in this little cocoon, I close my eyes and try to forget about anything but going to the dance with the guys I love.
Jack holds my hand as he lets me into his house. I have my own key now, but it still feels weird. I texted my mom last night about going to the quarry today and told her the guys had to be somewhere this morning.
“Jacky!” Lucy smiles from the breakfast table. Her plate is almost empty. She has on a princess costume with plastic high heels and a crown of pretty pink gems. “Are you going to play with me today?”
“Not today.” He smiles softly. “Maybe tomorrow. Okay?”
She nods and looks hopefully at me. I glance at Jack, and he shrugs. Basically leaving it up to me if I want to offer my time to his little sister. It might be the distraction I need to make it through this morning.
“I don’t have anything to do right now.”
Lucy grins. “Do you like Barbie?”
“I do.” I return her grin.
Jack guides me toward the table before he leans in and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Lucy giggles, but then Jack goes over and kisses her cheek.
“Jacky,” she chastises, but her smile doesn’t fade.
I lower myself onto the chair across the table from her. Jack’s father comes into the kitchen.
“Not staying?” he says. His eyes remain on Jack as he steps over to the sink and the pile of dishes waiting for him.
Jack shakes his head and checks his watch. “I have to help with flag football and then practice. Is Jennifer here?”
Robert glances at me before nodding. I still don’t know what to make of Robert. What was he to my father? What he is to my mother? All I know is he’s one of the “good” parents.
“I’ve got to go.” Jack runs his hand through his hair and then hugs his father’s shoulders quickly before he disappears out the door.
Robert stares after him with a sigh. It’s not hard to imagine a younger version of him. He probably looked a lot like Jack. What made him stop doing business with his friends? What made him tell my father about the meeting that night?
Is he responsible in part for my dad’s death?
Robert turns and catches me looking at him. I look away quickly, and Lucy smiles.
“I have the Barbie game or some Barbies to play with.” She looks down at her plate.
“Finish breakfast first, Lucy.” Robert turns on the faucet.
“We’ll definitely play, but first I need to talk to my mom.” I rise from the table.
“Okay.” Lucy lifts her fork as I walk toward my mom’s room.
I knock on the door.
“Come in.” Mom’s voice calms my nerves. The tension tones down.
She’s folding laundry when I open the door. Her eyes lift to mine, and she smiles softly. “Hey, kid. How’d you fare with the blackout?”
It’s too much. Maybe just knowing she’s here, and she doesn’t know what all happened last night yet. Tears flood my eyes, and I choke on a sob.
Her face turns to concern, and the next second I’m in her arms, clinging to her like my life depends on it. I didn’t know I’d been trying to remain strong for the guys until this moment.
She runs her hand over my hair and leads me to the edge of the bed. When we sit down, she hands me a tissue. “What’s happening? Are you okay?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I don’t know.”