Page 82 of The Claiming

Frankie nods. “You guess right. He obviously waited for her to enter the tunnel before he set the trap that she fell into. He either drugged her immediately or dragged her behind him. I’m guessing he drugged her first, which is why we never heard her screams.”

“After the initial one.” I think back on that night. “She must have screamed as she fell and then nothing. He would have closed the trap door and dragged her to the boathouse where–”

I exhale sharply. “Anyway, we still don’t know how he took her to Willow Tree house. Surely somebody would have seen them. There were a lot of students in the woods that night, so how did he get her there?”

Frankie appears thoughtful and shines his flashlight around the passageway. “I’m guessing there is more to this place than we know. There could be countless tunnels under the academy that we don’t know about.”

Jack shakes his head. “So what now?”

“We set about finding them.”

Frankie reaches for my hand and as his settles on mine, it’s as if I’m anchored to Satan himself. His dark eyes flash in the gloomy interior of the creepiest place I have ever been, and he says in a deep authoritarian voice, “We will split. Jack and Siri can head back the boathouse way and see if anything else catches their attention. Possibly retrace the Centurion’s steps and work out how he transported Abigail.”

I hold my breath as he turns to me and says with a wicked grin. “Cassie will help me explore this place a little more. Then we’ll find the others and debrief back at the house.”

Jack turns to me and says with concern. “Is that okay with you, Cass?”

“Of course.”

I can’t stop staring at Jack’s hand entwined in Siri’s and hate how it bothers me. It shouldn’t. I suppose it’s because I’ve never seen him with another girl before and my reaction is a curious one. Then Frankie squeezes my hand and reminds me who I’m with, as Jack nods.

“We’ll see you back at the house. Call it one hour and if you’re not back by then, we’ll send out a search party.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Frankie appears more at home here than the house, which doesn’t surprise me. As Siri said, this is right up his alley and for some reason I would rather be here with him exploring this place than the safety of the wood and the fresh air.

As the others walk away, I take a deep breath and smile.

“So, the mystery deepens.”

“This is only the beginning.”

“What are you thinking?”

He smiles, taking me by surprise as he spins me so that my back is pressed against the wall.

“That this is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often.”

“What do you mean?” My voice scratches in the air as I struggle to breathe, because it’s pretty obvious what Frankie is thinking right now as he lowers his lips to mine.

FORTY-ONE

FRANKIE

This place turns me on and so does the woman trembling against the stone wall. Fuck, this is a fantasy coming to life before my eyes and my reason for sending the others away had nothing to do with the mystery andeverythingto do with my sick fantasies.

Cassie is trembling against me and I whisper huskily, “Close your eyes and put your trust in me.”

“Why do I think that’s a bad idea?”

She shakes her head but does as I say, and I drop to my knees and pull down her jeans.

“Oh my god.” She groans as I bury my face between her thighs and lick her like a lollipop, her legs trembling as I rub her clit with my thumb. I push two fingers inside her as I press down on her clit, all the time running my tongue around her pussy, delighting in her arousal.

“Frankie–” Her tortured moan spurs me on and I pump faster and apply more pressure, loving how she doesn’t fight me.

She is so wet, turned on and ready and as I stand, I lower my pants and without protection, plunge deep inside her, nailing her to the wall.

“Frankie?” She reacts at the knowledge I’m bare and I slap my hand over her mouth and push in harder, whispering darkly, “I dare you to resist me, baby girl. We both agree this is everything, so why fight it?”

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