Page 104 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

Whether I like it or not.

“No,” I tell him. “I don’t.”

“That’s what I thought,” Noah answers. “So be quiet.”

He closes his eyes again and rests his head against the tree trunk, a smirk on his face—not quite a smile, I still haven’t seen one of those—and it’s so close to the old Noah, to the playful Noah I used to know that it takes my breath away.

Then, I slap him.

Just in the arm and not that hard.

But he still lunges from his resting position right into me, knocking me back in the dirt. His eyes are dancing with starlight and darkness.

“What the hell was that for?”

“For telling me to be quiet.” I squirm, but his hold on my arms is iron, and I can’t break free. “Get off of me.”

He raises a brow and pins my legs down with his knees. “Apologize first.”

“Ha! Make me.”

Noah looks down at me, and I realize how close we are. Chest to chest, his legs over mine, our breath fogging up ever so slightly between us.

The night is chilly, but I feel heat moving over my skin, claiming me inch by inch.

Then he’s kissing me.

It’s happening before I can stop him or even realize what’s going on.

When I do realize what’s going on, I curl my hand around the back of his head and hold him closer.

His body is heavy over mine, but it feels like a warm blanket, like a favorite sweater that is well worn and broken in. It feels natural. Comfortable.

It’s not lost on me that we are reliving our past, clawing at each other on the ground beneath trees that have seen every inch of us over the years.

It feels like old times.

Like, for a few minutes, we can forget about everything that has happened with our families and just be “us” again.

That’s what I thought last time, though, and Noah had other ideas.

But I don’t want this to end.

Noah moans against my mouth, his hand slipping under my shirt, his fingers sliding over my ribs.

I want him to touch every part of me. Now.

The memory of Tank’s voice rings in my ear.Women can’t help but fall a little bit in love with whoever they fuck.

What if I’m already in love with Noah?

Does that make this more or less responsible?

Does it change anything?

I know this probably means nothing to Noah. Somewhere down the line, sleeping with him now is going to bite me later. He’s going to make me regret it. Still, that doesn’t stop me from wanting it.

And it doesn’t have to change my plans.

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