Page 14 of The Claiming

“Yeah, it’s the name of their unofficial frat. Access by invitation only and if you make it, you’ve won at life—Rockwell life, that is. Outside of the Jocks, the girls only want a bad boy. Why is that do you suppose?”

“I have no clue.”

She waves her hand as she pushes through the door.

“See you around, Cassie. Sorry if I came across as a bitch. I’m not and you can always rely on me for information.”

She heads inside and as I make my way back to the room, irritation gnaws at my reasoning. Is this really what I signed up for? Girls whose one ambition is to snag the top dog and do whatever it takes. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and makes up my mind for me. Fuck The Claiming and fuck Frankie Majerio. They can have him.

EIGHT

FRANKIE

Jesse is wrecked.

“Man, I went in hard last night. It was too easy.”

The fact his last conquest only left an hour ago tells me he overindulged last night.

“Was it worth it?” I ask, handing him some coffee from the jug.

“Of course. Summer was as dry as the desert in my hometown. I had to make excuses to head out of town just to get laid.”

Ali chuckles from the breakfast bar as he smears jelly on his toast.

“You should have come home with me. I came here for a rest.”

Jesse flips him off. “Rub it in, why don’t you? We don’t all have a fucking harem attached to our houses.”

Ali’s family is a little unconventional and enjoys incredible wealth. Somehow, his father manages to keep his wives and his toys—as he calls them—separate and allows his son into the playroom when he’s home for the holidays. Ali keeps us entertained with many stories of wild parties and orgies conducted on his father’s yacht and Jesse is aching for an invitation to one of them.

Me? Not so much.

Santi wanders in, bleary-eyed.

“Fuck, I need coffee. What a night.”

He fixes his gaze on me. “Where were you? You missed out on a great homecoming.”

“Sleeping.” I lie as I pretend I wasn’t at the gym for most of the night.

“Well, you’re a fool because this place was heaving with willing chicks last night and they were upset you were MIA.”

“They’ll get over it.”

Santi gulps his coffee and says with satisfaction. “Interest is high for the challenge. I’ve set the date for two weeks from now to allow everyone time to settle in and make their choices.”

“Choices?” I raise my eyes.

“Choice, as in do they want to commit to one person for an entire semester. It’s not for everyone.”

“It’s not for me.” Jesse says with determination. “I mean, I’m happy to officiate, but it would be like caging my dick. Freedom is Rockwell and home is my prison. I don’t need another one.”

I nod, accepting that this won’t be for everyone, and I understand Jesse’s reasons. He lives in a strict religious town where sex before marriage is frowned upon and punishable by stoning. It’s archaic and desperately wicked and it’s my intention that by the end of our time at Rockwell, Jesse will come and work for me. He doesn’t need that shit in his life, but for now he plays the dutiful son and heads home every holiday to work on their farm.

The only reason he’s here is on his grandfather’s instruction. It’s a test if you like, or some may call it a hall pass of his own. He will be required to leave Rockwell when he graduates and marry a local girl before setting up his own farm and working for the good of the community.

Like hell he will.

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