THIRTEEN

IMOGEN

Oh my God, I kissed my teacher. I kissed a freaking teacher, and it was the most passionate kiss of my entire life. It was nothing like kissing the usual boys. He was all man and what a difference that makes. His lips still burn on mine and my panties are drenched with the effects of it.

As soon as the principal called out, it was as if fate brought me to my senses and I wasted no time in getting the hell out of there, creeping around to the front of the house and slipping my rucksack through the slats on the balustrade.

My cap is firmly in place as I jog through the trees, my heart pounding as much as my sneakers because, for fuck’s sake, I kissed my teacher.

Really kissed him. More than that, it wasn’t enough.

I wanted to go further. I still do, and it certainly brings my relationship with Jesse into perspective.

It is not even close to how I felt when Drake kissed me.

I reach The Elusive House and calm my breathing as I trip up the steps, noting Ali and Santi lounging on the veranda as they chug down more beer than is good for them.

“Hey, Imogen.” Santi calls out. “It appears you could use a beer.”

“Thanks.”

I wander over and sink down into the comfy chair, seizing the beer with a grateful smile.

“Good run?” Ali asks, a gleam in his eye that unnerves me a little.

“Great, thanks.”

I chug down the beer and love how the cool liquid calms the furnace inside me, and Santi grins. “Jesse was out here looking for you.”

“Was he?” I shrug. “We didn’t have plans. I thought he was out.”

“He was.” Ali frowns. “Did he say where he was going?”

“No. Then again, he never does.”

Santi nods. “He’s a closed book, for sure.”

We are interrupted as the man himself heads our way and his eyes light up when he sees me.

“Hey, babe, where have you been?”

“Jogging.” I remove my cap and run my fingers through my hair and his eyes light with sudden interest.

“I’ll help you with the sweat if you like.”

The others chuckle and I roll my eyes. “I’m good, thanks. I’m old enough to wash myself, but thanks for the offer.”

“I wasn’t talking about washing the sweat off, baby, more along the lines of creating some more.”

I dismiss his words with a toss of my eyes. “Down boy. I’m heading inside—alone. I’ll catch you later.”

As I leave, my face burns because what the fuck? Even the mere idea of Jesse’s hands on me set my teeth on edge, which is a new reaction that caught me off guard.

As I head to my room, I meet Siri coming in the opposite direction and she smiles broadly. “Hey, there you are. Cassie wondered if you fancied grabbing a girl’s night. We’re all out tomorrow and wanted some time without the guys for once.”

“Sure. I’m up for that.” I smile, the relief hitting me hard.

She laughs softly. “I doubt Jesse will be happy. He’s been looking for you and, by the looks of it, he has other plans.”

“He’ll live. He’s always taking off and not explaining where, so he can suck it up and put in the work before he reaps the reward.”

“Good for you, girl.” Siri high fives me and then lowers her voice. “Seriously though, something’s off with him. Jack hoped The Claiming would focus his mind a little. I mean, you’re one hot chick, and why would he go anywhere else?”

“But he does.” I remind her and sigh. “The thing is, Siri, all the time Jesse’s mind is elsewhere I’m not interested and under the rules of The Claiming, we are meant to be together.

I’m not ready for that level of commitment if he’s not on the same page as me, so I don’t know where I stand with that. ”

Siri’s worried frown doesn’t help and she sighs. “I see your problem. The Twist ceremony is months away, and that’s a long time to be with the wrong guy. Maybe have a word with Frankie and tell him of your concerns. He may grant you an exemption.”

“It’s worth a try, I guess.”

I shrug. “I really should shower. Where are we meeting?”

“The basement. Cassie told the guys it’s out-of-bounds tonight and they must entertain themselves.”

“Great. I’ll see you there in–” I raise my eyes and she glances at her phone.

“Thirty minutes. We’ve ordered pizza. It will be delivered round about then.”

As she leaves, I shake my head. Fuck. More pizza. I’m going to look like one at this rate.

When I head into my room, I’m careful to lock the door behind me because I wouldn’t put it past Jesse to try his luck, despite my obvious knock back.

For the first time since meeting Drake, I am alone with my thoughts and as I wander across to the window, I glance out at the tree line and a small smile lights my lips as I remember exactly what happened back there.

I kissed my freaking teacher, and I liked it and, more importantly, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I meet the others in the basement bang on thirty minutes and Cassie’s smile is bright when I walk into the room.

“Hey, where did you go?”

“For a run.” I avoid her eyes because Cassie knows me better than anyone and would instantly see there is something different in my smile.

“Pizzas arrived.”

Summer heads down the stairs, balancing boxes in her hands, and Siri races to help her.

Cassie pours us each a glass of wine and as we settle down, loud music plays out from the hidden speakers.

It gives me a moment to collect my thoughts and as I eat my third slice of pizza this evening, I cast my mind back to the last one I ate. Fuck Principal Constable. I wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted. Would things have moved on? I like to think so.

“So, the prom.” Cassie is excited. “Does anyone know what the theme is yet?”

“The Roman empire.” I add, and Siri gasps with excitement.

“Who told you that?”

I shift in my seat and shrug dismissively. “My history teacher asked for my help and I suggested it. As he’s in charge of coming up with the theme, I guess you can thank me for that.”

Several pairs of stunned eyes are trained on me and Cassie is the first to voice her thoughts.

“Fuck, Imogen, when did this happen?”

“Today.”

I act as if it’s nothing. “He asked me to meet him after class to run through the prom. Apparently, all the teachers have a part to play and must draft in a student to help them.”

“That’s true.” Summer adds. “Kennedy has been asked to help with the music.”

“Why Kennedy?” Cassie laughs. “She isn’t into music, or so I believe.”

“Think about it.” Summer grins. “Kennedy James is the queen of Rockwell. It’s not what she knows, but who.

If she’s on the prom committee, they are guaranteed interest because she will demand it.

Kennedy will make certain it’s the best prom Rockwell has ever seen and Mrs. Hunt was a genius in drafting her in. ”

“I guess.” Siri laughs. “I’m jealous of Imogen though. Mr. Bellingham is way too hot for his own good. Lucky you for spending alone time with him.”

“It’s not like that.” I dismiss her words as if they are nothing and as Cassie stares at me thoughtfully, I set my expression to indifferent.

“So, I look great in a toga.” Siri adds, and the conversation turns to what we will wear.

After a while, we change the subject and once again I’m under the spotlight as Summer asks, “What’s happening with Jesse?”

“Why do you ask?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I suppose I hoped you would be all over one another after The Claiming, but it appears to be business as usual for Jesse as he slopes off to God only knows where.”

Cassie nods, a firm set to her lips. “Something is off and–” She glances around before lowering her voice.

“Frankie wants to follow him. He’s certain that Jenna Sloane is still pulling his strings, despite being fired from her job here.”

“I just don’t get it.” Siri smiles at me with sympathy. “Why would he want a freak like that when he has Imogen? It’s wrong on every level.”

“He doesn’t have me.”

The room falls silent apart from the music and as they gaze at me expectantly, I sigh heavily.

“We almost got there the other night, but the sprinklers rained on our parade.”

“Fuck.” Summer groans. “But that was last week. Why not move it on since then, if that was the way it was heading?”

I squirm a little and Cassie’s sharp gaze pierces the truth from me.

“I’m not sure I want to—move it on, that is.”

The girls wait for an explanation and I groan, “Think about it. Jesse is running around in the shadows hiding something and we all believe it’s another woman. Why would I be interested in starting anything with a guy who is cheating on me before we have even begun?”

“It makes sense.” Siri hisses, “Jesse is a fool. He should be dragged back to that chamber and made to confess everything. There are repercussions for going against The Claiming and if he’s being unfaithful, he must face the consequences of that.”

Cassie nods. “I’ll ask Frankie. It’s his game after all, but he makes up the rules as he goes along and Jesse is his best friend.”

Summer frowns. “Luca also considers he’s up to something. Fuck, Jesse is on the road to hell if he pisses Luca and my brother off. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes if they turn on him.”

They stare at me with interest.

“What are you going to do?” Summer voices what everyone is thinking.

“Back off.” I shrug, acting as if Jesse’s commitment is the issue here.

I still haven’t forgotten what almost happened the night of the sprinkler malfunction and the way he was going to take something from me I wasn’t ready to give him.

It’s played on repeat on my mind ever since because despite his easygoing nature, if Jesse wants something, he doesn’t ask if it’s okay and he would have taken it despite my obvious reluctance.