Page 63 of The Claiming

“I’m guessing that’s the end to The Claiming.” Jesse sighs.

“Why?” I shrug. “It’s more important than ever to flush this creep out, and I’m using the next challenge to trap him.”

“How do you know he’ll do it again?” Jesse is concerned. “The place is crawling with cops and the governor is liable to tear this place to the ground to find the fucking weirdo.”

“Because he’ll be celebrating the fact nobody knows his identity and will enjoy remaining undetected.”

Jesse nods, a thoughtful gleam in his eye. “Well, whoever he is, we’ll hunt him down and he’ll wish he’d never been born.”

“Agreed.”

Jesse glances at his phone. “I have three hours before I must scoot.”

“Miss Sloane?” I arch my brow and he grins, the shit-eating one of the damned.

“She’s insatiable, and I’m not passing this opportunity by because this student is a willing one and is currently at the top of his class.”

“You’re sick, Jesse.” I chuckle softly as he reaches for a beer.

“You’re just jealous.”

The first guests are drifting in and as the music thumps its welcome, I settle back and run through what happened last night in my mind. Whoever it was has one over us and when I catch him, he will soon discover the real purpose of the dungeon and the monks from the past will watch on in awe when a true professional punishes the damned.

* * *

Cassie and Siriarrive an hour later and as soon as I see them heading nervously down the stairs, my party begins.

Cassie meets my eyes almost immediately and, without breaking contact, heads toward me with none of the games of her predecessors. Girls believe that by pretending not to be interested makes mine grow, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It turns me off because I chase nobody, unless it’s through a dark, dusty tunnel and they are running to get away from me.

She reaches me and I pat the seat by my side, noting the curious gazes of a group of girls nearby who have been trying to catch my attention for the past thirty minutes.

As she sits, I slide my hand around her waist and pull her onto my lap with a sharp move, and before she can react, I crush my lips to hers in a blatant show of possession.

She kisses me back, matching my hunger and doesn’t appear to care what anyone else thinks and as I delve deep into her soul, I block out the rest of the room and set about claiming my girl in a far more delicious way.

Kissing Cassie is like discovering a star that has fallen from the sky. Rare, beautiful and unique, with a special brightness that transcends anything around it.

That is how I view my girl and I expect no less because there is not a girl at Rockwell who even comes close to the brilliance of this one.

It’s some time before we break apart and she whispers against my lips, “You like to make a statement.”

“You weren’t complaining.”

To my surprise, she runs her fingers through my hair and stares into my eyes, hers burning brightly as they drag me into her seductive web.

I have never met a woman like Cassandra King. She is strong, powerful and takes no shit, and I know she is trying to figure me out. I am her match and she is intrigued by that and she says huskily, “I wasn’t going to do this tonight.”

“Do what?” I smirk against her lips.

“Come here and fawn over you like a lovesick fool.”

“You love me now?”

She grins. “In your dreams.”

I chuckle as I witness an amusing scene over her shoulder and she turns to see Amos attempting to assert some kind of authority over Kennedy as she chats with Autumn and River, who is holding Autumn’s hand tightly and glaring at any guy who even so much as glances in her direction.

Kennedy shoves Amos and storms off to the bar and he doesn’t waste any time in following her, much to her disgust.

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