Chapter 5
FIVE
CASSIE
Holy mother of God. What the hell was that? Who was that?
I carry on swimming, but my mind is awash with images of his toned body emerging from the pool like Poseidon himself.
My mouth dried when I saw his muscles rippling and the tight swim shorts clinging to his muscled ass. I am used to impressive physiques but his was astonishing.
He never looked at me once, let alone twice, and I kind of liked that. As I passed him in the pool, it didn’t feel awkward. If anything, it was comforting having him nearby.
I float on my back for a while, considering the day’s events.
Once we settled in, Siri accompanied me to the hall where we learned how it works around here.
I signed up for a few clubs, swim club being one of them, and as we acquainted ourselves with the layout of the place, I spied the pool as a giant attraction.
I love swimming. I always have and I expect it’s the challenge it provides. I’m a strong swimmer because I was taught as a baby and practice every day in the huge pool we have at the compound.
Jack and Imogen are also strong swimmers and, especially Jack, competitive. I engineered endless competitions between us and the rest of the Reaper’s kids and always proved the strongest—Jack included.
As I think of my best friend, I smile. We are so alike. Too much so. Competition is fierce between us and he is my right arm and I am his left one. We are compatible in every way and are like brother and sister – scrub that, identical twins. Knowing he will be here soon offers me security because when Jack isn’t around me, it’s as if a piece of me is missing.
As I float in the ice bath, my thoughts turn to the stranger. I wonder if I’ll see him again. Do I want to? Probably, because coming to Rockwell wasn’t just about my education. It’s the freedom it allows me to take a few risks outside of the safety of my everyday world.
Here, I can make mistakes, rise to new challenges and I’m wondering if the guy who just left could be the most delightful mistake. Do I want him to be? I am curious for sure. I’ve never dated anyone, never had that luxury and aside from that one time with Jack, I have never—well, been with a guy.
My face heats and my pulse races when I think back to that time. As soon as it happened, we knew it was wrong. I always viewed Jack as my brother, and I am mortified how easily we lost control.
My heart races and my cheeks burn when I remember that night. The one we never spoke of again. The one that drove a wedge through our souls.
That will never be repeated, which is why I’m lusting after a great body dripping with water from a freaking polar ice cap.
As soon as my skin hit the temperature, I resisted the urge to squeal. Something stopped me. Pride, perhaps, or was it because of him?
I admit I put on quite the show because I liked it. I wanted him to see me and I still don’t know why. I came here for a reason and that is to discover who Cassandra King is outside of the safe world her family provides as she steps into one where none of the answers are guaranteed.
* * *
Siri’s head turns as I enter our room and she scoffs, “Rather you than me. I heard the pool has icebergs floating around like soft play.”
“You would be right.”
I shiver at the memory. “Although the changing room showers are hot. I feel invigorated.”
She nods, her attention diverted to her phone, and she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth and sighs.
“Problem?” I ask, as I pull on my sweater and jeans and she sighs.
“It’s my cousin, Frankie. He’s asked to meet up for a coffee, probably to lay down the ground rules for being here.”
“That sucks.”
From the expression on her face, she is fearing the worst and I will probably mirror that look when Jack arrives next week.
Freedom isn’t something we take for granted and it sucks having someone watching every move you make, especially when all you want is to be free.
“Come with me, Cass.” She says with a groan. “If you’re there, he won’t be so, well, Frankie.”
“Why not?”
I pull on my sneakers and she shrugs. “All the men in my extended family are overbearing assholes, and it appears that Frankie’s aim in life is to be the biggest one.”
I chuckle at the tortured expression on her face as she taps something back and huffs, “Come on. You’ll be doing me a great service and anytime you ask, I will return the favor.”
I’m curious to meet the famous Frankie, so I nod. “Sure, I could use a coffee, anyway.”
* * *
As we head outside, I’m surprised when she links her arm in mine. I don’t usually do this shit, but somehow it’s as natural as breathing with Siri. She has an open friendliness that is contagious, and I shrug down my need to pull away. This is a new beginning and I must embrace change while I work out if I like it or not.
As we walk, she primes me on what to expect.
“Frankie Majerio is an enigma, Cass. He is the eldest of four siblings and had a hard beginning.”
“In what way?” I’m curious, especially when she appears to think better of it and changes the subject.
“Oh, nothing of interest. It explains why he’s so introverted, I guess. It’s as if an old wise soul inhabits his body and he possesses an air of mystery that sets him aside from most others.”
“He sounds interesting.”
“That’s not a word I would use to describe him.”
She laughs softly. “You know, he is my cousin in a non family kind of way, but I don’t know that much about him. Not really.”
“Perhaps he likes it that way.”
“I guess. It’s probably a good thing because when you’re a guy in our family, being the strong, silent type is the best option.”
Before I can ask what she means, we reach the main building where the coffee shop is situated and as we push through the students who have already decided that this is their spiritual home, she raises her hand to wave to a guy sitting at a table by the window.
“There he is.”
As my eyes connect with the guy watching our approach, my heart rate spikes because with the air of the devil himself beckoning us into hell, is the one from the pool.
* * *
We reach the table and my mouth dries when he casts that hooded gaze the length of me, recognition flashing in his dark turbulent eyes, causing a hot flush to spread through my body.
I don’t react. I’m good at that and merely throw my own bored gaze in his direction with a perfunctory nod.
“Frankie.” Siri sighs with resignation.
He smiles briefly. “Siri and–”
He flicks his gaze toward me and Siri adds, “My roomie, Cassie. I brought her as a witness to the crap you’re about to dish out.”
His eyes flash with amusement as she drops into the seat opposite, pulling me down beside her, anchoring me to her side.
I’m surprised to find two coffees in Styrofoam cups waiting for us, and Siri raises her eyes. “Two?”
He shrugs. “I figured you wouldn’t come alone.”
I’m shocked and nod my respect because that has impressed me more than anything.
“Sheesh, he knows me so well.”
Siri groans as she raises the cup to her lips and sighs as she takes a sip.
“Mocha latte, my favorite. What did he get you, Cass?”
I do the same, his dark gaze fixed on my lips as I take a sip, nodding my appreciation at the cinnamon latte that is also my favorite. I raise my eyes to stare into two orbs of destruction and whisper, “Thank you. Coincidentally, this is my favorite, too.”
I turn to Siri. “Cinnamon latte.”
She raises her eyes in disbelief.
“Wow, Frankie. That internship with Lucifer is really paying off.”
He shrugs. “Lucky guess.”
To be honest, I’m glad of the distraction the coffee brings because up close, Frankie Majerio is astonishing. I can’t breathe. It’s as if he is withholding the air from my lungs for a cheap thrill and casting his wicked gaze in my direction as a test.
I summon every ounce of disinterest I have and settle back in my seat and regard him with a cool gaze of my own and hate the sudden smirk that falls on his lips.
Siri sighs beside me and taps her manicured nails on the table.
“Let’s get this over with, then. Say your piece and then I’ll do my best to avoid you for the rest of the year.”
He nods and appears happy with that and I wonder about their relationship. Family she says. I wonder.