Page 146 of Their Cruel Play
“Do you trust me to keep you safe, Harper?” I return my gaze to hers.
“Yes, but?—”
“No. I’m not going to let you take on the burden of me.”
She lets out an exasperated breath. “Caden, you aren’t a burden. Not to me. I want to take care of you the way you take care of me. I want to protect you the way you protect me. You can’t run over me every time I try to block you from getting hurt.”
“Harper—”
“Let me care for you.” She laughs and it’s heavy. “Fuck, what am I saying? I’m asking War to let me care for him, like that’s even possible.”
“He needs you.” The voice comes from the computer in the room.
She turns to look at Luke. Jack, Eli, and Nico are all in their rooms, watching us.
“We all need you, princess.”
Her mouth opens in shock or surprise. I turn her back so I can see her eyes. “We need you, Harper. It’s why we want to keep you with us. Without you, we’re just broken boys playing at a game. With you, we’re complete. You make us whole.”
A tear slips down her cheek. “Caden.”
She claims my mouth. I draw her closer to me. This kiss is different. It’s soft and full of promises I’m not sure I can keep, but I’ll try my damnedest for her.
She pulls away and rubs my lower lip with her thumb. “We’re in this together now. Trust me and I’ll trust you.”
When she lifts her eyes to mine, I want to promise her everything. I don’t want to let this girl down, but I don’t have that great of a track record.
“I trust you.” I press my lips against hers and sigh. “But we need to get back to these essays. Are we good?”
I search her eyes and see the warmth in them that lures me in.
“Playtime later, little nympho.” I kiss her again before moving her off me.
She crosses to her desk and sits down to work. When I watch her, something feels right in my chest.
Harper
“No more.” I push my laptop back. My eyes blur on the words. “I’m done. I have a few months before most of these are due.”
“We’ll keep working on them, kitten.” Eli runs a hand through his hair and gives me a wink. “Have a good night.”
It’s weird to be closing my laptop and shutting off the others, but Caden won a night with me fair and square. Or at least, as fair as a sex game can be.
My gaze seeks out Luke’s. He avoided answering before. I won’t rest easy until I know he’s here.
When our eyes lock, he nods slightly. I hope that means he’ll be here.
“Good night, sunshine.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
“Good night, guys.”
Caden’s footsteps come up behind me, and he reaches over me to close the laptop. I sigh.
“It’s weird that I’ve gotten used to having you all on the computer.” When I look up at him, his eyes sparkle back.
“Conditioning, little nympho.”
