Luke pulls open a door and tugs me into a dark space. I pull my head out of my ass and look up as the others crowd into the small closet and the door closes behind them, taking all the light except for a slice spilling through the bottom of the door.
Oh, fuck.
CHAPTER 49
Guerilla Warfare
Harper
There’s no light for my eyes to adjust to. It’s just inky darkness and the heat of them, the horsemen.
They surround me, crowding me in the darkness. My heart stops as I realize I’ve let them draw me into a trap because I wasn’t paying attention.
I’m not sure if asking what the fuck is happening is a wise thing to do at this point. They aren’t talking. The only sounds are some lockers closing in the hall beyond the door and our breathing.
Luke still holds my hand, but otherwise they’re barely touching me. And yet, they’re so close I can feel the heat off their skin. My heart kicks up a notch. This isn’t good. I dropped my fucking guard and now I’m alone in a situation where they control me once again.
I swallow the lump forming because Luke threatened me with punishment. What fresh hell is this?
“Shouldn’t we get to class?” I ask, ashamed at the catch in my voice. I want to be strong, but I don’t know what to expect. That little burn of anger still boils in my stomach, but being this closeto all of them has my senses heightened and awareness washes over me.
“Nah, little nympho, we’ve got time for a round of seven minutes in heaven.”
My heart lodges in my throat. “What? We’re at school.”
I back into a body. I’m not sure whose. Someone lifts my backpack off my shoulders and it disappears into the darkness. My vulnerability doesn’t escape me. The only thing they want me togiveis my virginity. All those boundaries we crossed last night don’t leave much left.
“You need a reminder of what we can give you,” Luke says.
My heart clatters in my chest.
Strong hands come up to grab my arms, and I’m held against a large chest. Caden?
Their heat surrounds me as they close in, making the sparks inside me riot. That part of me that begs for their touch warms up.
“Am I not supposed to have a say in what happens to me?” My voice is high as panic surges within me.
“You have to be quiet, princess.” Luke presses in on me from the front. “We wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”
He doesn’t saytheywould get in trouble. And why would they? A hand passes over my bare midriff. A shiver ripples through me as my stomach trembles beneath the touch. I feel the others close in against my shoulders.
“Did you ever wish you could join the parties in middle school?” Luke’s voice weaves around me in the dark, luring me into submission. “That we would have chosen you?”
I try for reason.
“Luke, we need to go to class. We don’t have time for whatever this is.” My voice trembles out of me.
Whatever they have planned, I’m powerless to stop it. I enjoyed last night, but I was safe, alone, touching myself. I evenfelt a little safe at Caden’s house. I had Eli’s word he would take me out of there if I needed him to, but I never put him to the test.
Because part of me knew Eli’s word was an illusion, and I didn’t want to know they had me trapped. They could have done anything to me, but they didn’t.
But now? If I cry out, someone might find us, and then those safeguards they left in place last night might be taken away. I’m curious what they have in mind, but also terrified they might push me too far. That I’ll give in too much.
“In eighth grade, we could have taken you into a closet and shown you how to kiss. How to touch. How to make us feel good, and made you feel good in return.” Luke could lull me into compliance with just his voice.
Then I remember Eli this morning, and Jack and Caden. The possessiveness and the arrogance of what they can get from me.
I’m not sure what will happen in this closet, but I can’t let them think they’ve won already. A hand sweeps up my side under my crop top. My skin tingles beneath the rough palm. My heart beats like a frightened rabbit’s with starving wolves bearing down on it.
