Page 65 of The Claiming

As much as I am attracted to Frankie, I can’t take the spotlight that follows him wherever he goes. It’s as if we are creatures in a cage with everyone gawping at us, and it’s a lot. Then there’s Jack and Siri. Oblivious to everyone else, getting on well and are free to explore their relationship outside of the spotlight.

I’m not sure why I hate the idea of it so much and am dealing with emotions I have no right to entertain.

Jack is my friend. Siri is my friend and I should be happy for them. But I’m not.

I need air and fast, so I don’t wait for Frankie to agree before I’m heading for the exit and as the cool fresh air hits me, I take in a huge drag and the relief is enormous.

Frankie follows me out and we sit on the step as before, his arm sliding across my shoulders, pulling me close.

“What’s up?” He asks, and I don’t bother to hide it.

“I don’t like being viewed as your property.”

He says nothing and I add, “You probably don’t see it, but you can’t breathe without someone watching. I don’t want to be the subject of gossip and just another tick on your score sheet. I am my own person and not any man’s property.”

“I never said you were.” His voice is soft, amused even, and as I turn to face him, I hate that I fall deeper into those velvet eyes and want him as much as I do. I shouldn’t want a man like him. He is dark, mysterious and aloof. He is hiding a dark soul dressed in secrets and I’m guessing that’s the attraction.

I’m used to honesty, nobility and honor and I’m not sure if Frankie has any of those traits, which is why he fascinates me so much.

His compelling eyes draw me in and as he leans toward me, he whispers, “You are afraid of your interest in me. You want to hate me, to push me away and prove you are nothing like the other girls.”

His thumb drags against my lips and he whispers huskily, “You hate how you desire me, how you want me to show you another way — a darker way — and force you into situations you are uncomfortable with.”

I can’t tear my gaze away and he rests his lips on mine and says huskily, “You want what I can offer you despite yourself, and we both know this is the perfect time to experience something you thought you detested. You are like me, Cassie, more than you care to admit, and you are afraid that one taste will be all it takes to corrupt your soul.”

“I don’t–” His lips claim my words and as his hand fists my hair and holds me firmly, I’m surprised that I don’t fight back. Why would I when he is all I can think of? He stars in my dreams that are on the verge of nightmares, sending me spiraling into madness because he is not wrong. I do want Frankie Majerio with every beat of my twisted heart because he is the opposite of everything I tell myself I need in my life. A challenge, a dark soul and an obsession, and he’s right. Now is the perfect time to indulge in fantasies because I will probably never get an opportunity like this again.

* * *

His kiss sparksdesire and I groan softly into his mouth as his tongue twists in mine and my blood runs hot through my veins. I am delirious with desire that has only been building since I first clashed eyes with him on the first day. He bleeds corruption, and I never realized how desirable that was until I methim.

He holds my face in one hand and my hair in the other and as he commands our kiss, I match him with every stroke of his tongue. He is an itch that needs scratching and a tick on my to do list and my mind is so scrambled I don’t want to wait.

He pulls away and his dark eyes gleam in the shadows as he whispers, “Stay with me tonight.”

“I–” My voice trips over my reluctance to give in because how can I agree to it? Everyone will think I’m just like the rest, but I want to more than I need to breathe right now.

The door opens behind us and Siri’s voice spills into the darkness. “I thought I saw you head out here. Man, it’s hot in there.”

We pull away from one another as Jack and Siri join us on the step and I don’t miss the scowl on Jack’s face as he catches my eye. It’s gone before anyone else notices it, but from the thoughtful gleam in Frankie’s eye, I doubt anything passes him by.

Siri links her arm in mine.

“I still can’t shake poor Abigail from my mind. Kennedy said she’s spending a week with her folks. She may not even make it back to Rockwell.”

“Did she say anything more about the man who–” I falter and Siri nods, an angry scowl on her pretty face.

“Apparently, she was crawling through the tunnel and reached a dead end. Somebody was in there with her and she called out. It was dark and she couldn’t see and as he grabbed her ankle, she screamed as he tugged her toward him. Then she felt a stabbing pain in her arm and she woke up in the boathouse.”

Siri shivers. “She told Kennedy it was one of the centurions. He wore the golden mask covering his face and the black robe covering his head. She did notice one thing, though.”

“What?” Frankie leans forward and Siri says in a low voice, “He reached for her arm and as she tried to fight back, she noticed a tattoo of a serpent on his wrist. That is all she can remember because she blacked out again and woke up in her bed, as we know.”

“A serpent?” Frankie is thoughtful. “That’s a good clue. Did she tell the cops?”

“I’m not sure.” Siri shrugs. “You’d have to ask Kennedy because she was with her when she made her statement.”

Frankie nods, his attention now firmly on what happened to Abigail, and Siri sighs. “I guess this changes everything. There is some creep out there who is a threat to all the girls here. If he strikes again, it could be any of us.”

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