Page 9 of Crave You

“I would have been”, I correct him coolly. “Actually, I just wanted to take part in the challenge to see if I could maybe test myself a bit and to meet some new people. So, please tell Zander thanks but no thanks for the generous offer. And no hard feelings.” I smile to take the sting out of my words.

Shawn looks as if I’ve hit him over the head, he is so surprised.

“No thanks?” he echoes.

“That’s right, but as I said, no hard feelings, OK? It was great fun! And maybe I’ll see you all at the party later on”, I call over my shoulder as I walk away.

His mouth is actually hanging open.

* * *

“So, I just can’t believe you outfoxed that fox, Zander Morell,” Erin says in open admiration. “Absolutely everyone is talking about it!”

“I doubt it’s everyone”, I say smiling. Then I grin, and add, “I’m pretty sure Zander won’t be telling the story to a group of admirers at the party tonight.”

Erin laughs out loud at that, but Laurel looks serious. “I don’t think he has a sense of humor,” she says darkly, “so if I was you, I would be hoping he has decided to take it in a sporting manner and to play it off as a loss to a better competitor.”

“A competitor, who is going to have to look a million dollars tonight at the party, after her win,” Erin crows.

“Oh, I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” I say with a nervous giggle.

“Sure you are,” Erin says. “That’s what this year is all about. Parties and hookups, looking great, drinking and having fun.”

I really am sure I’m not ready for all of that, but I don’t want to be written off as boring and so I find myself nodding.

“That’s my girl,” Erin says.

“Don’t worry Leona,” Laurel says with a laugh. “You won’t have to say much. No one will be able to get a word in for Erin.”

Erin curls her nose up at Laurel before picking up a cushion and throwing it at her, but she doesn’t try to deny what Laurel said.

“So, who are these guys, and what’s Valens anyway? Is it a frat or what?” I ask, more to change the subject than out of genuine desire to know more about Valens.

In truth, I can’t say I don’t want to know more about Zander Morrell.

I can’t get the asshole out of my head. Those rippling muscles. That way-too self-satisfied smirk. Fuck him.

Only… I actually want to.

I groan. He has been on my mind since the challenge ended several hours ago. I saw right from the get-go that he was willing to do anything to get that code out of me, and my being a woman was not an excuse. I had used that against him in the end. I wasn’t sure whether he had treated me as an equal or someone totally inconsequential, but frankly I wasn’t fussed either way. I KNEW I sure as hell was his equal and his underestimating me had meant I won.

Still there was something about him. There was a darkness in him that echoed in me, but I suspected his ran much deeper. It should have scared me and set me running as far away as I could get from him. It didn’t. Instead, I felt a magnetic pull towards him. I just wasn’t exactly sure why.

I realize Erin has started answering my question while I was drifting on my reflections…

“Sort of I suppose, but they call it a house not a frat. All our societies are houses, but that’s just semantics, because frats have gotten such bad names over the past few years.” Erin says. “Anyway, there’s a lot more to Valens than just chugging kegs and hooking up.”

“Yeah, you also have to believe your shit don’t stink to be a part of it,” Laurel says, rolling her eyes.

“She’s just pissed off because she failed the initiation,” Erin says and surprisingly Laurel shrugs her agreement.

Laurel adds, “There’s one major difference between Valens and a fraternity — gender is irrelevant. Valens is run by Zander Morrell, although technically it’s led by him and Shawn, Damien and Lucien. I suppose, you could call it a sort of pre-business group. The Valens name is after some Roam emperor who was all courageous and that and who was big in passing on his knowledge, I think. The elite of the elite get to join, and they support each other. I guess it’s a bit like the Illuminati or the Masons but without the dorky handshake,” Erin concludes.

“Or the vampire, I hope,” I add.

Erin laughs and nods.

“Yes, or the vampire,” she says. “Like I said, it’s not all parties and studies; it’s also about the futures of the members. Let’s just say that the people in Valens will do whatever it takes to succeed and, generally speaking, they aren’t bothered who they hurt to get what they want. I suppose if we had a mafia here, they would be the feeder group, and anyone who is in Valens is proud to scream it from the rooftops.”

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