Inhaling, I stiffen my resolve and walk past him toward his car. He’s letting me wear what I want. I can ride to school in his car and let him figure out how to get me home. Mom wants me to drive, but she also said to be more social. What’s more social than riding to school with the most popular guys in school?
I settle into the front seat and put my backpack at my feet.
As soon as he sits next to me and closes the door, he wraps a hand around the back of my neck and holds me still. Instinctively, I try to get away for a moment, but then I relax in his hold, inhale, and hold my breath.
I’m not sure what I’ve already done to offend him, but he hasn’t hurt me so far. He raises his other hand and rubs a thumb against my lower lip, something he seems obsessed with doing. I exhale a shaky breath against it.
He lifts his gaze to mine. When he removes his thumb, he glances at it. “Good.”
He releases me, and I fall back against the seat. What the fuck was that about?
“Don’t wear lipstick that smears.” It’s an order.
“I don’t plan to.” The sharp words slip out before I can stop them. So much for trying to be docile. Maybe dressing like a hellcat turns me into one.
Luke grins, but it’s not a happy-type grin. He definitely likes my defiance. Probably because it will afford him more punishments. He turns on the car. In the short drive to school, he listens to some EDM, which seems way too perky this early in the morning, but I’m not about to reach over and play with his radio.
He parks near the other guys’ cars and gets out. I follow because that’s what a good pet does. I’m hoping to get through at least one day where I don’t get punished. Since punishments usually include pushing a boundary.
I follow behind Luke as we make our way to where the other guys hang by the entrance. A group of girls turns and sees us coming. Throwing a few evil looks my way, they wander off. I just smile at them like all is right in the world.
Any of them would probably love to service all four horsemen. Idiots.
Luke stops and I almost run into his back. I freeze before making contact.
“Are you going to hide behind Luke all day, kitten?” Eli’s voice is soft and easy, like always, but with that hint of command behind it that draws a shiver down my back.
I take a deep breath and step around Luke.
“Fuck me,” Caden says. He greedily takes in my body.
“Sweet,” Jack adds with a huge grin.
Eli comes over to me and flicks my dangling earrings. “Did you find her like this or dress her like this?”
Luke’s cough almost sounds like a laugh. I whip my head to look at him, but he’s just as straight-faced as ever. “Found her.”
“Where have you been hiding, kitten?” Eli grabs my hips, and I prepare for the bite of pain that never comes. His thumbs brush the bare skin above my jeans and the shivers multiply.
“How the hell did you hide, little nympho?” Caden closes in behind me. Really? Little nympho? I’m not sure it’s better thanuntouched.
“I don’t like her hair,” Luke points out helpfully.
I’m tempted to hiss at him, but I don’t. Caden and Eli pressing in on me has me on high alert. An awareness of them washes over me.
Caden reaches up, grabs one of my curled tendrils, and tugs it gently. “You can’t grab it to hold onto, but it gets it out of the way for other things.”
He trails a finger down the nape of my neck, and I noticeably tremble beneath his touch. Eli smiles wickedly down at me. Somehow, being pressed between two guys is starting to feel normal to me. I don’t hate the feeling.
“I like her hair. She looks like Sporty Spice.” Jack comes up beside me and tugs me from between the other guys to drag me into his arms. Eli’s fingers brush across my stomach, leavingsparks in their wake. Jack pulls me in tight against his solid chest. “Which happens to be my favorite Spice Girl.”
“Why do you even have a favorite Spice Girl? They’ve got to be like fifty years old now.” Caden’s tone is dismissive.
“More Posh Spice to me.” Eli leans against the brick wall along the sidewalk to the entrance. He gives me a wink that makes my insides flutter.
“At least bring it into this decade. I believe Miley Cyrus has done a similar hairstyle,” Luke says.
Everyone turns to look at him. Jack releases me from his embrace and holds me at arm’s length to look me over. He shrugs and winks at me. “I’m okay with both.”
