Page 59 of Their Cruel Play
But I’ve seen behind that wall, and what might be there has me awed.
“What happened?” Caden joins us.
“He was there when we stopped. He figured out Harper is mine.” Luke says it like it’s normal to claim a person like that. But part of me acknowledges I will always give myself to Luke,even as I want to defy him. “Winter break he wants me to work for him.”
“Fuck,” Caden breathes out like Luke said he was dying.
“That’s not all. Dinner alone with me and Harper.”
Caden’s green eyes capture mine. “At least he doesn’t know you’re sharing with us.”
“Uh, my mom does.” I look up at Luke. “That’s why she wants all of us at dinner tonight.”
“That’s probably easier to deal with than Luke’s dad.” Eli gestures for us to join him and Jack on the couch.
“My mom might seem nice, but she’s pretty much a momma bear when it comes to me.” I lead Luke over to the couch and wait for him to sit before sitting on his lap. He needs me right now. I don’t understand all of what’s happening, but I know that.
“Yeah, Ms. Davidson can be fierce.” Nico leans back on the couch and spreads his arms across the back. “The few times I stayed over when we were young, I swear she watched me like a hawk. I didn’t understand why back then. I was just sleeping over at a friend’s who happened to be a girl.”
“If she knew what you did to her daughter last night, she might think twice about not kicking you out of her house back then.” Jack grins.
“Yeah, we’re not talking about sex around my mom.” I shudder. “She works in labor and delivery. She has a lot to say about sex and how healthy it is, but that doesn’t mean she really wants to know I’m having it. And definitely not with five guys.”
My cheeks heat like they’re on fire. Yeah, I definitely don’t want to go there with my mom.
“Kissing.” Eli smirks. “We’re all just kissing.”
The warm chuckles make my heart feel funny. It feels like Luke cracked me open to be more open to all of them, which is weird. But those little moments are adding up and softeningmy heart toward Luke. And if he’s the hardest to love, I have no chance when it comes to the others.
“Mom will ask what we are? What our plans are? If everyone is happy with this arrangement?” I curl into Luke, seeking his warmth. His hand strokes over my hip, sending tingles through me.
“Are we claiming to be your boyfriends?” Jack asks. He tosses a ball into the air and catches it. “I’m down with that. It’s about time. My mom will be thrilled.”
“It would make it easier for everyone if they know you’re our girlfriend, little nympho.” Caden runs his hand over my knee. “No more coming after any of us.”
“You’ve claimed me. You’ve owned me. Now you want to be my boyfriends?” I arch an eyebrow at all of them. This is ridiculous. “You do know that means I’m voluntarily in this relationship if I agree to that?”
“It’s all the same thing, kitten. It’s just a label everyone understands.” Eli grabs a drink from the coffee table. “If we say it’s so, no one would question it.”
“I’ll have five boyfriends? That’s not normal.”
Luke tips my chin his way. “You’re ours. You belong to us. People are starting to ask questions. Let’s give them the answer. You aren’t planning on fucking anyone else. Neither are we. We’re yours, Harper. I’m yours.”
Oof, that makes my heart beat a little quicker, and pleasure spirals through me. I’m not sure why I’m arguing this. If they’d asked me three weeks ago instead of claiming me, I would have laughed in their faces.
But this isn’t what it started out as anymore.
“Fine.” I narrow my eyes on Luke. “But I want dates and dances and all the normal high school crap you guys denied me for years.”
“For fuck’s sake, are you going to throw that in our faces all year?” Caden laughs.
He smiles with that soft look that makes me want so much more. Shit, I almost put my hand against my heart to keep it from softening towards these boys.
“Yes.” I put my chin down like a stubborn bull and meet Death’s eyes. “Do we have a deal?”
“Yes, princess.”
“Okay, no sex talk at dinner tonight. She’s going to ask about our arrangement and might even make some rules. Agree to whatever she says so she doesn’t get mad. My mom loves me and wants what’s best for me.”
