“You want to be alone, princess?” Luke holds me pinned there while he looks me over.
My heart stops. No, I don’t. That day they were all cold to me. I don’t want that. Not after this weekend. Not after giving in. Fuck, they could drop me and go back to their lives. Go back to other girls. They got what they wanted. They got what they claimed me for.
My legs shake, and I collapse into the chair. I can’t help poking at Luke, but I poke too hard. He’s going to end it all. I’ll go back to being invisible, and they’ll go back to the other girls.
Everyone will be happy. And I’ll be alone. Again.
“Enough.”
CHAPTER 46
Conceding
Luke
“You want to be alone, princess?” Rage courses through me.
She wants Caden. She can fucking have him.
I wait for her answer. Her face goes pale, and she sinks into her chair. Her eyes never leave me, but there’s a distant look in them, like she’s already retreating into herself.
Fuck. That dull look comes over her like she’s already gone, and something inside me cracks.
“Enough.” Eli leans forward. “You two need a few hours alone in a closet together. You’ll either fuck it out or yell at each other to spite yourselves.”
I keep my eyes trained on her as I lean back in my chair and fold my hands in front of my lips. He’s not wrong. She drives me insane. I’m not built like the others. I normally don’t share. Never was good at it. Not toys. Not women.
Everything in me wants to claim Harper as mine. Only mine.
We agreed to share her, but fuck it’s hard. I can share her, but on my terms.
“This works if Harper belongs to us all equally.” Eli taps his pen on his desk. “We all have healthy sexual appetites. We have one woman to share for the duration of the year.”
I’m going to be a problem. But we might all be a powder keg waiting to explode. This is the deal we agreed to. What we agreed to put Harper through. She just gave us her virginity and she’s had sex eight times today.
Most women wouldn’t put up with that.
“No more punishing her by ostracizing her.” Caden draws her onto his lap and holds her against him, rubbing her arms like she’s cold. “We banished her from living her life for years. It’s cruel.”
“She decides.” Jack leans forward. “Yes, we all get her, but she gets to decide when she needs a break.”
Her dark eyes meet mine. She usually seems so strong, but on Caden’s lap she seems small. Do I do that to her? Do I make her feel small? Why the fuck does my chest ache?
“Your mom works nights all week?” Nico asks.
“Yes.” Even her voice is small.
I swallow my fucking pride.
“Caden and I have the most flexibility to stay with her.” As long as I stick to facts, I should be fine. But I know I have to be more open with them. More open with her. Because I’m not giving her up. Not without a fight, even if I have to fight her. “What about you guys?”
Jack shakes his head. “Lucy would riot if I’m not home for bedtime kisses. And Dad doesn’t want me out on school nights.”
“Lucy?” Curiosity heightens Harper’s voice.
“My eight-year-old sister.” Jack grins. As far as big brothers go, Lucy hit the lottery with Jack. “You should meet her. She’s a character.”
She smiles a little. “I’d like that.”
