Page 2 of The Prom

My smile is faint as I whisper, “I’m just not ready for that.”

She reaches for my arm and squeezes it reassuringly and whispers, “Then wait. Just because you’re a couple as determined by The Claiming, it doesn’t involve sex unless both parties agree. Make him work harder, honey. You deserve the whole of him and not just the part he wants you to have, which is probably just his cock. I mean, let’s face fact, it’s the only part that matters to a guy anyway.”

I laugh out loud, loving how Cassie always has the ability to cheer me up and shake me out of my moods and as the classroom door opens, I gaze up with a smile still on my face as somebody familiar heads through it, causing my heart to jerk like he’s pulling it on a string as my mysterious stranger enters the room and heads to the desk at the front of it.

The room falls silent as he stares around the room with a firm smile and as his gaze settles on my shocked face, he says loudly, “My name is Drake Bellingham, but you can call me sir.”

His gaze leaves me as he smiles at the rest of the class. “I’m your replacement history teacher. Mrs. Fields had a family emergency, and I was brought in to replace her. So, any questions catch me after class but now open your books at page thirty-five and we’ll begin.”

Cassie nudges me as I stare at him in confusion.

“Wow, thank God for family emergencies. That’s all I’m saying.”

I shake myself and shrug. “If you say so. I hope Mrs. Fields is okay.”

Cassie laughs. “That’s why I love you so much, Imogen. You are always thinking of others first. You have such a genuine soul.”

She turns her attention to the lesson but the words on the page swim against my vision as two gorgeous soul-filled eyes stare back at me.

Drake Bellingham.

Be still my beating heart because something is telling me that he will be extremely bad for me and just like that, my life has gotten a whole lot more complicated.

ONE

IMOGEN

I can’t concentrate. My mind is racing as I attempt to get through the morning and all because of one man. One extremely forbidden man who spiked my pulse rate faster than anything in my life so far.

I’m deep in thought as I head to the cafeteria to meet up with the others and jump out of my skin when an arm lands around my shoulder and a familiar voice whispers, “Hey, baby, I missed you today.”

“It’s only lunchtime. The day is hardly over yet.”

I roll my eyes as Jesse squeezes me affectionally. “I can miss you a minute after I left you if I want to. You are so far inside my head rational thinking is impossible.”

“Idiot.”

I force a bright smile on my face. “So, what’s going on?”

“As in–”

“Now. Are you coming for coffee, or do you have another engagement?”

I detect the weariness in his smile that he attempts to disguise by dropping a light kiss on my cheek and whispering, “I’m all yours.”

We walk in silence, both of us not really buying his last statement. If Jesse was all mine, he wouldn’t be missing in action most of the time and it makes me uneasy. I’m aware he has a few problems, mainly one concerning an ex teacher here and despite the fact she was fired for inappropriate behavior with the students, I’m sensing their involvement may not be over yet.

We reach the cafeteria, and I’m not even sure why I don’t ask him outright.

You’re afraid of the answer.

My inner voice reminds me of what a coward I am and I wonder if I’m more in love with the idea of having Jesse as a boyfriend than the reality.

I want it to work. We hang in the same friendship group, and they are mostly coupled up. It would be so easy. I also like him. He is gorgeous to look at, just my type in fact, and when he’s not stroking his secrets, he’s a fun-loving, easygoing guy. He makes me laugh and my heart flutter and I consider I’m a fool for thinking this isn’t a match made in heaven.

He holds open the door like a gentleman and, as I enter the cafeteria, I spy Cassie and Frankie huddled together in our usual spot.

Jesse nods toward the counter. “I’ll fetch the coffee. Do you want anything to eat with it?”

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