Page 54 of Their Cruel Play
For this yearechoes in my mind, making my smile slip a little before recovering. We have a year to work this out of our systems and figure out what we might become or end this.
Mom nods. “We’ll talk at dinner tonight. Harper, invite your guys.”
My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat. “What?”
“You heard me. I’m sure they’re all available since you’re their one and only.” Mom’s gaze flicks to Eli with an arched brow.
Swallowing, I squeeze Eli’s hand. “I’ll text them.”
“Good.”
CHAPTER 16
The Parental Dilemma
Harper
After Eli leaves me alone with my mom, I blow out a breath. Rubbing my clammy hands on my skirt, I don’t know if she’ll start with me and finish with the guys, or if she’ll wait and get us all at the same time.
Mom shakes her head. “I should have guessed you wouldn’t stay an easy kid. I’m surprised it took this long.”
She sips her coffee as she looks me over. I mean, it could have been worse than a kiss that she walked in on. If she’d come into my bedroom those times the guys or Luke were there, that would have been way more incriminating.
I shift on my feet, waiting for her to say more. To tell me how irresponsible I’m being. To lecture me about guys or give me a talk about STIs that will make me never want to have sex. Instead, she just sips at her coffee, her eyes locked on me.
I suddenly feel eight years old again, but I haven’t done anything wrong. Except sneak around with five guys behind her back, but she knew about the guys. Just not the sneaking or the kissing or the ownership or the fucking. My pulse goes so fast I feel like I’m going to pass out.
The tension builds inside me while she just patiently waits for me to explode.
“I’m still not looking for a long-term relationship.” It finally spills out of me. “They know that. It’s just...”
They own me? I like it when they touch me? I want to give in to them over and over again? I don’t want to choose, and they aren’t asking me to?
How do I say this without making Mom’s parental red flags go up? I mean, everything about our relationship is a red flag.
“You like them.” Mom shrugs, and my pulse slows slightly. “It’s not hard to see they all like you too. You’re young. It’s not unheard of to date guys at the same time. But these guys all seem to be friends, which I would think could be tricky. I don’t want you to get hurt because someone gets jealous.”
I swallow. Jealousy hasn’t been a huge issue. Yet. So far they’ve shared me, but what happens when they all get one-on-one time? Luke is the most possessive. If anyone would get jealous, it would be him. But he seems to be good with sharing right now. My body softens remembering this morning.
Mom sighs.
“I have to get some sleep.” She holds up her mug. “Decaf, thankfully. But I mean it. I want all of them here for dinner tonight, Harper Lynn.”
She doesn’t pull out the middle name often, but she wants me to know she means business.
I nod. “I’ll text them now.”
Mom shakes her head. “I won’t ask where you spent last night.”
My cheeks flame with heat. Which probably tells her everything she needs to know. Yeah, best not to get into that.
“But I need to know you’re being safe and not letting anyone take advantage of you.” She sets her mug down and meets my eyes.
“I am and I’m not.” And I honestly feel that way.
If I didn’t want the attention, I could have shut this down at any point by coming to my mom. I know that. I knew that even when I was rationalizing it away. Mom could have put a stop to them.
But part of me desperately wants their attention. Fuck, I think I thrive on it. Every kiss, every touch burns them a little deeper into me. I crave their punishments. The games. I want them all.
