The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

Ben tore her shorts down and spread her legs wide. He cupped her pussy, and she bucked, trying to get away. They all laughed.

“She’s got a lot of fire inside her. I can’t wait to fuck it right out of her.”

Just as he was about to pull her panties down, Ben was suddenly gone, and she heard him slamming against the locker.

She was released, and she lay on the floor and watched as one by one her guys beat the shit out of Ben and the ones that were there.

They were not a match for Draven, Axel, Buck, or Jett.

Her hands shook as she grabbed her shorts, pulling them back up.

Time seemed to pass, and the sound of grunting, cursing, and pain filled the air. She watched them, not really sure what to do. When Ben was out cold, and the others were on the floor, Draven turned.

She got to her feet, and he rushed toward her, holding her close.

Before she even realized what was happening, she collapsed against him sobbing, needing his strength, his everything, to surround her.

One by one, Buck, Jett, and Axel placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt their protection. She was safe.

She didn’t want to stay in that room, so Draven lifted her up.

Without even looking, she knew one of the others would grab her bag for her. They were the only ones in her life she could rely on.

Draven put her in his car, and she didn’t ask where they were going. Staring out of the window, she closed her eyes, and all she saw were Ben’s hands as they grabbed at her, trying to tear her clothes off.

“That could have gone really bad today,” she said.

“It didn’t, so don’t think.”

“I can’t stop thinking, Draven. It’s like I can feel him.” She rubbed at her thighs.

He took her hand, placing hers on his thigh as he gripped hers. “I’m right here. We didn’t let anything happen to you. We wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

“They were disgusting.”

“I know. They won’t touch you again.”

“Will you get in trouble?” she asked.

“No. He attacked you. Tried to rape you. They’ll want to keep this under wraps. Not with you being able to testify against him.”

“Draven, in case you haven’t noticed, my reputation is shit.”

“Don’t.”

“Everyone in town thinks I’m fucking all four of you. Ben called me a whore. Nearly everyone thinks I am. Even Ian thinks I am.”

“We don’t care what people think. We know the truth right now.”

“Not for much longer. When you initiate me, we all know what’s going to happen.” She noticed he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white from the sheer force of it.

“Either way, Ben deserved it, and I’ll deal with whatever the consequences are.”

He pulled up at the abandoned parking lot that led into the woods. She didn’t wait for him to open her door or urge her out. Harper needed the fresh air. Rounding the car, she took Draven’s hand without any complaint. They were already heading into the woods when she heard Axel’s car pull up.

Draven wouldn’t let her go, and when he came to a spot near a tree, he removed his jacket, placing it on the ground and pulling her down to sit between his thighs.

His hands were on her body, his warmth seeping through her clothes, and she leaned back, sighing a little as she relished his touch, craving it.

“I can get used to this,” she said.

She let out a little squeal as Axel dropped a bunch of wood.

“There is something about being out in the open, right? Any bears could attack us,” Axel said, letting out a growl.

“Dude, there’s no bears around. I’m sure Harper can see right through your shit, right?”

She nodded at Buck. Jett came back, and she sat in silence as they built a fire.

“You know we should totally tell ghost stories,” Buck said. “Get some marshmallows, have a blast.”

“You’d be asking me every ten minutes to come with you to take a piss. Everyone knows you hate the dark, Buck,” Axel said.

“I do not.”

“You do.”

“Do not.”

“Do.”

“Fuck you, Axel.”

“Look at me, I’m afraid of the dark,” Axel said, mocking him.

“I hate the dark,” Harper said. “I’ve always been afraid of it.”

Draven’s arms tightened around her. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess since I was a kid. I always had a wild imagination, and I could turn a shadow into something scary. Something that wasn’t actually there but I’d think it was. I used to drive my mom crazy with it. She’d put me to bed, and I’d make her check under my bed and in all the scary corners.”

“Bad things lurk in the dark,” Draven said. “Everyone knows that.”

“See, Axel, it’s cool to be afraid of the dark,” Buck said, taking a seat as Jett got the fire lit.

They all gathered around the heat. Harper knew they should probably head home, but right now she didn’t want to face Ian.