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IMOGEN

I’m late for class and that angers me more than anything. My alarm failed and now I’m playing catch up.

As I race from Willow Tree House into the bright sunshine, I bemoan the fact I only had time to pull on yoga pants and yesterday’s t-shirt.

My hair is a mess, and make-up wasn’t even a consideration. My teeth are clean, but my hair could use some work, but I’ll worry about that later. For now, the most important thing in my life is to get to history before the bell goes.

I’m guessing I slept in late because Jesse insisted on demanding my time and I wasn’t against that. I like him. He reminds me a lot of The Reapers back home. Cheeky, full of wit and banter and the way he stares deep into my eyes with a soft smile, has my heart fluttering like a bird in a cage.

We kiss, we touch, we make out, but we don’t progress any further.

I’m guessing we are alone in that because when the others head to their respective rooms, they are not alone.

Jesse wants to but there is something holding me back from taking it further.

I’m guessing it’s because of the niggling doubt in the back of my mind that he is keeping something from me.

It’s the rather bright smile blinding me to the angst in his eyes that tells me Jesse is hiding a secret that is cutting him up inside.

He is respectful but the passion in his eyes is a darker kind.

Not the soft lustful passion of a man toward the women he cares about.

He opens up but not entirely and it’s probably only because this is so new and I shouldn’t expect any different.

But I want the whole of him before I give him the whole of me, and I am so wrapped up in my deliberations I don’t even see the wall in front of me before I hit it and fall to the ground with a resounding thud.

“Fuck!” My books scatter and my head hurts as I meet the ground in a daze, wondering what just happened.

I must have concussion because the wall suddenly speaks to me and drops down before me, reaching out a steadying hand, a deep husky voice whispering, “Hey, are you okay?”

I attempt to focus and as my eyes drag toward the source of the concern, I blink against the image in front of me.

Did I die because this must be what heaven looks like? A guy is staring at me with concern, his bright blue eyes disturbingly like mine and his dark hair short but sexy as fuck as it flops over one side of a worried expression.

His mouth is set in concern, and his eyes sparkle with apologies and as my eyes drift lower, I swallow hard because his body is struggling against the confines of a dark blue shirt, the muscles rippling in his forearms as he reaches out to steady me.

“I’m sorry.” I apologize because this must have been my fault for not looking where I was going and he raises a concerned eye.

“I’ll help you to the medical room.”

His words release my defenses and I shake my head, replying quickly, “No. It’s, um, fine. I wasn’t looking where I was going and well, I’m sorry.”

Relief reflects in his devastating smile as he whispers, “Let me help you up.”

I stand, my blood hot as I stare at the perfection in front of me and as he hands me the books that fell with me, he says with concern, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes.” I roll my eyes, and a nervous laugh escapes me. “I’m such a klutz and known for it I may add.”

His soft smile causes my heart to race and as I regard the empty hall, I say quickly. “I should, um, go. I’m late and well, you know.”

He nods and his gaze is thoughtful as I smile quickly and turn, heading toward history, which is now merely a distraction from what just happened. Who the fuck was that guy?

As I slip into the classroom, I head to my desk, Cassie chuckling as I slide in beside her.

“What happened to you, Imogen? Don’t tell me Jesse caught up with you before class.”

“Jesse?”

“Your boyfriend.” She rolls her eyes. “Honestly, Imogen, what’s got into you today, or was it as I first thought, Jesse?”

“As if.” I cut her smile dead with a toss of my eyes, and she smiles sympathetically.

“Still not any further forward with that?”

“No.” I attempt to regain control of my breathing and say with a shrug. “I don’t know what to make of him – or the situation if I’m honest.”

“Why not?”

Cassie is concerned, it’s obvious in her anxious gaze and I shake my head.

“There’s something he’s not telling me and it’s seriously concerning.

The trouble is–” I sigh heavily, staring at the books piled on my desk.

“We are a couple under the rules of The Claiming and so I’ll have to figure it out because I have no choice.

He will want more and to be honest Cassie–”

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.