“This is insane. I’ll drive myself.” I cross my arms over my chest.
Jack comes back until he has me sandwiched between him and Caden. The heat of them together seeps under my skin, making me jittery. “There are so many ways to punish you, sweetheart. You don’t want to use them all up in your first week, do you?”
My cheeks flame, remembering Luke spanking me in the cafeteria. I waited all afternoon for someone to say something or snicker at me, but no one did. Still, I don’t want to do that again.
I draw in a breath and almost go weak in the knees. Apples and cinnamon go together really well. I tip my head back against Caden’s shoulder to look up at Jack. I should be mortified to be caught between these two. I should be, but it kind of feels good.
“Come on. We’re going to be late.” Caden wraps his arm around my waist and lifts me again.
Jack gives me his maniacal smile and turns to open the door.
“I can walk.” It’s feeble, but the attempt needs to be made.
“I enjoy toting you around, untouched.” Caden leans his chin on my shoulder, his body solid against my back. “Maybe I’ll carry you around like this all day.”
I shut my mouth. He’d do it too. At least the cafeteria only had maybe half the student population, since the whole campus is open during lunch. Word will have spread. By now people are probably saying all the horsemen fucked me in the cafeteria in front of everyone. Because rumors suck and are rarely accurate.
I don’t need to throw gasoline on the fire with Caden carrying me like a delivery everywhere. I seriously need a plan to deal with these guys. Ignoring them won’t be an option.
When I settleinto my art desk for third period, I breathe a sigh of relief. One whole hour without the guys. Yesterday afternoon had been a hellscape of different combinations of horsemen in each of my classes.
This morning, all the guys dropped their gazes to my cleavage every time they saw me like they’d never seen boobs before. The sweatshirt definitely would have been the betteroption, but it isn’t like I have a choice anymore. Before I left AP Statistics this morning, Eli bent down to inform me where to meet them for lunch. I managed to forgo giving him a double bird salute when I left the room.
Kenz drops into the seat next to me. “How are you holding up?”
“Seriously considering whether giving them my virginity would be worth it if it means they’ll move on from me.” I put my head down on the desk. It’s an option. Not a great one. But can I take an entire year of being dressed, stalked in the bathroom, picked up, or surrounded by four hot guys versus one terrible night of losing my hymen?
Kenz puts her hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think it will be that easy, H.”
“Why?” I lift my head. Her pinched face makes me straighten, suddenly alert. “Did you hear something?”
Her lips flatten and she nods.
Oh shit, this isn’t good. “Just tell me.”
“They plan on keeping you to themselves all year. The guys have spread it around that no one is to mess with you or it would be like messing with them.”
My heart jerks in my chest. All year? I have to do this dance all year!
Kenz glances behind us to make sure no one is listening. “They don’t just want to take your virginity. They want to own you.”
“So I’m basically fucked either way.” Hysterical laughter bubbles out of my lips. “Like literally.”
“Maybe it won’t be so bad, Harper.” She flinches. Yeah, she knows it’s bad.
This isn’t just one guy with a goal in mind, but four of them with one singular focus: me. I hadn’t given it much thought, but there are four of them. Do they expect me to fuck all of them?They’re all attractive, but only one of them can take my virginity. Right?
Then again, they did double-team Parker Ford. Unbidden, I remember being caught between Jack and Caden this morning. Was that how it was for her? My insides buzz.
“I’m still in control of my own body.” I say it out loud because I need to hear it. They can humiliate me daily, but they can’t take my body unless I give them permission. “I just won’t give them permission.”
Kenz nods and smiles sadly. “Maybe.” She grabs my hand and squeezes. “I wish I could help you.”
I shake my head. No one can help me without a target being placed on them. This is my battle. Maybe that’s why I avoided them for as long as I could. Maybe I’ve always known it would come down to me against them.
It feels like I’m in a battle for my soul.
“It might not be all bad.” Kenz takes out her sketch pad and glances toward the door, but Ms. Sullivan hasn’t come in yet. “The rumors all say they make it worthwhile. And there are plenty of needy bitches who go back for more, so that has to mean something.”
