Page 129 of The Rule Breaker
She crosses her arms. “I’ve been rooting for you two since the welcome week party. But if you hurt her… Iwillmake sure you never reproduce.”
Ryan blinks, thrown by her threat. “Uh?—”
“And I mean that literally,” she says, completely serious. “Screw with my best friend, and you’ll find out.”
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask, my lips curving into an amused smile.
She shrugs. “Just making sure we’re clear.”
Ryan recovers quickly, chuckling under his breath. “Duly noted.”
Aurora stares him down for another second before stepping aside. “Alright. You may proceed.”
Ryan shoots me a grin like none of that just happened. “Ready?”
“Please,” I mutter, brushing past her before she starts listing methods of castration.
Ryan’s hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining as he leans down to press a kiss to my cheek. “I like her.”
“She’s a menace,” I say with a dry look.
“She just loves you,” he says, his grin softening as he glances at me.
When we reach his car, he opens the passenger door, and I stop, raising an eyebrow.
“What?” he asks, looking confused.
“You’re being all… polite. It’s suspicious.”
He shuts the door with a grin, and when he slides into the driver’s seat, a chuckle leaves his lips.
“It physically pains me that you think it’s suspicious I’m doing something nice for you,” he says, reaching across the console to cup my face. His thumb brushes the corner of my mouth. “I’ll only ever make you feel like a princess, baby. Nothing suspicious about that.”
My heart stutters in my chest.
He leans in, kisses me, then pulls back and shifts the car into drive.
“So,” I say, turning toward him, “where are we going?”
Ryan glances over, a grin spreading across his lips “It’s a surprise. Sit back, relax, and let your boyfriend handle it.”
I raise a brow. “Boyfriend, huh?”
His smirk deepens. “Hell yeah. The best boyfriend you’ve ever had.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile.
The drive is quiet, with the radio playing music on low, one hand on the wheel, the other occasionally resting on my thigh. And by the time we pull up outside a small studio, I’m too curious to be nervous anymore.
I squint out the window. “Wait… this is my pottery studio.”
Ryan lifts a brow. “Look at you. Knew you were smart.”
I narrow my eyes at him as he kills the engine and unbuckles. “Why are we here?”
He jogs around the car and opens my door, holding a hand out. “Figured I’d impress you with my total lack of artistic talent.”
I laugh, sliding my hand into his and letting him tug me out. His hands settle on my hips automatically.
