Page 4 of The Claiming

I shrug. “Nothing of interest, but–” I cast my jaded gaze across all we survey and sigh.

“Don’t you want more, guys?”

“As in more pussy?”

Jesse shrugs. “Always, which is why this place works. There’s an endless supply.”

“They are merely holes to fill.”

I don’t miss the look the two guys share before Santi says carefully, “So, what’s your plan?”

I lean back and wrap my lips around the bottle as I consider my reply.

As I set the bottle down, I shrug. “Listen, we’ve been balls deep inside most of the fucking fraternity, and it gets old after a while. I’ve been thinking over the summer that we should resurrect a past tradition.”

Jesse’s eyes widen. “You’re talking about–”

Santi adds, “Not The fucking Claiming, man.”

I shrug. “Why not?”

“I can think of several dozen reasons why not.”

Santi shakes his head. “Why settle for one when there are so many? That is why the tradition ended, after all.”

“As I said, I’m considering resurrecting it.”

“So, let me get this straight.” Jesse leans forward, the muscles corded in his arms as he regards me with a malevolent gleam in his eye.

“You want to tie yourself to one woman for the semester. Why?”

I’m not sure I know the answer to that myself and I consider my response.

“Listen guys, it’s worth a try. This only applies to one semester anyway, and then you can choose to stick or twist.”

“But that tradition goes back several generations. It’s almost archaic because now the girls are less restricted and open to multiple fucks. Why tie yourself down?”

“You don’t have to take part. It’s a choice.” I snap back, not even sure if I want to take part myself.

Leaning back, I reach for another beer. “Put the word out and test interest. If we have an appetite for it, then one week from today, the challenge begins.”

Santi shrugs. “It’s your funeral, man. I’m happy how it is.”

Jesse nods his agreement.

“I wouldn’t mind if I was interested in someone long enough to ask her name. Fuck, this will be an impossible task.”

Their expressions are tortured, causing me to laugh out loud. “It’s just an idea. If nobody signs up, we cancel it. Period.”

Santi nods. “You’re the boss. Leave it with me.”

As he heads inside, Jesse groans. “I’m guessing this has to do with Kennedy getting all possessive. You made it clear you’re not interested, so what’s the problem?”

“I can do without the constant line, Jesse. I can’t move without another pair of tits thrust in my face and an invitation spilling from the eyes of the desperate. It’s getting old and I want a fresh challenge. Where’s the fun in the reward if the chase wasn’t a hard one?”

“I get your point, but man, one woman for an entire semester. I can’t deal.”

He flips the lid off another bottle and groans as he chugs it back with a desperate sigh.

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