“Let it all out,” he says, rubbing my back in circles. “Get it out so you can come back a little fiercer for the next round.”
I want to laugh. How can I be stronger if I’m falling to pieces? I don’t know how to deal with four… now five horsemen. My body isn’t built for this. It isn’t ready for what they want to do or what they’re already doing to it. I want to go home and hide under my covers for the rest of the year. But I also don’t want to lose this attention. The feelings they stir beneath my skin. The pleasure they coax from my being.
“Come on, little nympho.” As he moves to stand, I wrap my legs around his waist to continue to cling to him. “Let’s get you ready for the day.”
CHAPTER 9
The Jealousy
Luke
After showering and jerking off with the taste of Harper still in my mouth, I return to Caden’s room. I find Nico, Eli, and Jack sitting on the couch, the TV playing low while they watch a highlights reel from a college football game.
Everyone wears the clothes they wore to the party.
I’m surprised Caden isn’t here. The shower is on in the bathroom, but there’s no other noise coming from there.
“Where’s Harper and Caden?”
Eli jerks his head to the bathroom door. “As far as we know.”
Clenching my fists, I want to barge in and find out what’s happening. But I have no right to be jealous. He has as much right to be with her as I do. But she riles me up, and I don’t understand it. I’m possessive of her, but also enjoy watching my brothers get her off.
That doesn’t stop the licks of jealousy that burn across my chest. I want more of her. I can’t explain it.
She and Caden seem to connect on a different level. Maybe she likes him more. She’s brought him sandwiches every day since he stole hers. At lunch she sits on his lap. She even admitted her mom would like him best.
Over me.
Caden’s one of my best friends, and I still can’t help to askwhy him.
I sit in the chair and try to calm myself. Try to tell myself it doesn’t matter. This whole thing is about us owning Harper. That means we all share her. And eventually that will include spending time alone with her.
“So why Harper?” Nico’s question draws me out of my obsession.
“She’s the last.” I note the flinch in Nico’s eyes. It was a strategic move to bring him in. To let Harper believe she has a friend on the inside. To make sure Nico doesn’t undermine our progress. He wants her as much as the rest of us do. It’s plain to see and I can’t blame him.
Nico narrows his eyes and his words are a little bitter as he tosses them out. “It could have been any girl then?”
“Harper is unique. She’s never kissed anyone before us. Never had anyone else touch her. She is completely ours, unlike every other girl in our high school.” I temple my fingers before my lips as I watch him react to my statements. I haven’t forgotten he said he returned for her.
“She’s not a sex toy.” No emotion tinges his words this time. His tone is casual. Nico crosses his ankle over his knee. He’s trying a new tack.
“We never claimed she was.” I lower my hands and raise an eyebrow. “We own her for the year. The entire school year. She will only belong to us and fuck us during that time.”
“And after?” Nico’s voice is a little tight. He wants Harper to himself, but he never kept in touch with her. If he had, would she have claimed a long-distance boyfriend? Would he have found a way to see her? To claim her as his own?
My insides boil at the thought of him taking what’s mine.
“I’m curious. If you still want Harper after all these years, why didn’t you keep in touch with her?” I lean back in my chair, letting the fire ease from me. She’s mine now. That’s all that matters.
“When I left, I was twelve years old and didn’t really think about keeping in touch. I didn’t think we’d ever come back.” Nico’s gaze takes on a far-off look. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to find Harper free. But I also didn’t think you guys wouldownher.” His eyes refocus on me. “What the hell happened after I left?”
“We took our rightful place as leaders of the pack.” I straighten myshoulders and sit a little taller. “We were the most popular, the most desirable, and the most unattainable.”
“We threw the best parties and fucked the most girls,” Eli adds. “We dominated in sports. It didn’t take much for us to become legends.”
“The virgin stuff happened by accident.” Jack rests his elbows on his knees and grins. “Caden’s closet saw more action than we ever did. Kylie Elias thought she could lose her virginity to all of us, separately and we wouldn’t figure her lies out. Too many girls took that shit too seriously. But then it became a thing, losing your virginity to a horseman.”
