When arms wrap around me from behind and liftme off my feet, I shriek as if pirates are attacking and taking me captive. My hand drops Nico’s, clutching at the arms around me. The smell of cinnamon and vanilla hits my nose, and I stop struggling.
Fucking Caden. His low chuckle stirs my insides.
Jack’s laughter fills the silence as he wraps his arm around Nico’s shoulders and draws him toward the table where Luke and Eli sit, talking quietly. They don’t even watch the others’ antics.
“You could set me down,” I say over my shoulder to Caden.
His dark chuckle sends tingles through me. “Nah, little nympho. You’re mine for lunch.”
My cheeks heat even more. Caden circles the table to sit next to Luke and helps me sit on his lap. I cross my legs to the side of his and smooth down my skirt. When I lift my gaze to Caden’s green eyes, he grins like we have a secret.
Thinking about last night, heat pours through me and my pussy clenches. We have a few secrets. At least from the student population.
“You guys have a problem.” Nico sits across from Luke and glances around the cafeteria. I hope Nico isn’t talking about Tanner.
Trusting Nico’s problem is a different issue, I open my lunch and hand a sandwich to Caden before biting into mine. Eli holds out an apple. His smile makes me warm as I take it from him.
“What kind of problem?” Luke leans forward.
“Some guy is taking bets on when and how you all will fuck Harper.” Nico’s gaze flicks to mine with a slight flinch.
Huh.
Should I be shocked students in this school are betting on something, anything, the horsemen do? Including me?
I’m not. I’ve been here long enough to realize this is how the game is played. Taking a bite of my sandwich, I chew.
How much am I worth? It would be sad if my virginity was only worth twenty bucks. After everything I did to keep it and hide from these guys for years. Of course, I gave it up fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things, but I can’t regret it.
Not yet at least.
“Who?” Luke is in his element, in control of the whole school. He doesn't even glance my way.
“Some guy named Grant Perkins.” Nico looks over his shoulder. My heart quickens. “The pot is over a thousand dollars.”
Shit, that’s a lot more than twenty bucks. My gaze darts between all of them. Grant was the underwear guy. Is this his revenge? How does this get back at the horseman? Maybe it isn’t revenge? Maybe he gets a cut?
“How did you find out?” Luke’s gaze roams the room as he leans back like nothing bothers him, but there’s this ticking muscle in his jaw. The same tick he gets when I defy him.
I don’t like it when someone else causes it. My fingers itch to rub against it to smooth it out.
“My art partner, Angela something?—”
“Harris.” I draw Luke’s gaze. I catch my breath at the warmth in his icy blue eyes. He looks at me like he likes me. More than just the pet some people claim I am.
When he holds out his hand to me, I don’t hesitate. Drawn to this pull between us, I stand and walk over to him, taking his hand. He draws me down onto his lap, and his hand possessively grips my hip.
I rest my head against his shoulder as I look out over the cafeteria with him. Grant isn’t at his usual table. I don’t think he’s in the cafeteria today.
Caden stands, drawing my attention. He gives me a wink before circling the perimeter of the cafeteria.
“Did Angela hit on you?” Eli asks with a knowing grin.
My brow furrows.
Nico smirks. “She said the only other horseman she hasn’t been with is Luke.”
Luke’s grip tightens on my hip. I turn to face him, to watch his expression, to learn.
