Page 102 of Their Cruel Play
I don’t know what my problem is. Maybe things will be different when Harper and I hang out on our own. Just me andher. When I have time to explain myself, to make her see our connection is still strong.
Her gaze collides with mine.
I give her a soft smile because this is the girl I’ve been dreaming about for years. The reality is so much better than the dreams. I figured I’d have to coax her and convince her. Instead, she became mine because of them.
When she looks away, it’s like being deprived of the sun.
“I need to get some studying done today.” Harper sighs as she lifts her head to look up at Luke.
“We could go to the café.” He takes hold of her chin. His brow furrows and he turns her head my way, brushing her hair over her shoulder and pulling the neck of her shirt over. “Fuck, Eli.”
I lean over to see Luke’s thumb running over the ridges left by Eli’s teeth and the beginnings of a bruise. Anger rises inside me at the pain that must have caused. Or maybe the anger burns because he’s claimed her almost primally.
Eli smirks and shrugs. “What can I say? Our girl is tasty.”
“It’s okay,” she says softly. She lifts her gaze to Luke’s. “I liked it.”
Luke’s eyebrow raises. “Yeah?”
Her cheeks flush, and she shrugs. When Luke kisses her softly, she melts into him.
I focus on the game and not the way they are together.
When we were kids, he noticed her. When he noticed Harper, something about the way he watched her made me balk. At the time, I was afraid he’d want to take my friend away from me.
Now when I see the two of them together, I can’t help but consider it might have been something more even back then. Was our connection back then not strong enough? Harper and I were best friends. But whatever is growing between these two is so electric it buzzes around all of us. I’m not the only one who feels it.
Caden watches them with hooded eyes, but he doesn’t mind sharing her.
She pulls back from Luke’s kiss. “Study time.”
“Café?” He rubs his finger over her lip.
She shakes her head. “Not really looking to be put on parade there.”
“We could study here.” Eli blows out a breath. “The dining room is plenty big enough. But my parents might come home.”
Harper shrugs and checks with Caden and Jack, who both nod, before her questioning eyes meet mine. My heart kicks up a notch.
I had her to myself once, in my car. It was good but quick. I want to spend time with her. I want to talk with her and find out who she is now. What dreams have changed? How has life shaped her?
I also want to fuck her, just me and her, with all the time in the world to explore every inch of her body.
She cocks her head and shifts off Luke’s lap. When she stands, I don’t see the little girl I played with, but this beautiful woman who’s mine. Yes, I have to share her, but at least I get part of her.
She sits down beside me. “Studying here?”
The question is soft. She’s not really asking me if it’s okay to stay here, but if I’m okay to stay here.
“Wherever you are, sunshine.” I catch a strand of her hair and tuck it behind her ear. My fingers linger to smooth my thumb over her ear, to touch her skin longer.
Her eyes flare with heat. Passion, that’s not our problem. The attraction is steady and strong.
But I fucked up. I didn’t have her back. I’m working on balancing the guys with her, but fuck is it hard. My loyalty is to the guys and her, but when push came to shove, I had to choose. I would do it again, because it was about her safety.
What would she have done for me if I’d chosen her?
“I need to go home and get my books.” She glances over her shoulder at the others.
