Page 34 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

A second later, she presses onto her toes and kisses me back.

My hands slide down the length of her spine to her waist and around to her hips. I let myself touch her in all the ways I’ve been imagining all night.

She feels even better than I thought she would. My hands seem to have been made for this very purpose.

Penny curls her fingers in the curls at the base of my neck and drags her fingers down my neck. She rolls her body against me, driving me absolutely wild, and swipes her tongue across my lower lip.

I have no idea if other couples are still going at it out in the other room or if the party is over or if the world is ending.

I can’t think about anything beyond Penny in my arms, her breath in my mouth, her taste on my tongue.

Slowly, I work my hands higher and higher on body, sliding from her hips to her waist, then up to her ribs, until finally, I’m holding her breasts in my hands.

I can feel the lacy fabric of her bra through the material of her shirt—I’ve also been able to see the outline of it all night—and as I circle my thumb over the supple flesh, I feel her nipple begin to rise.

Feeling the evidence of her arousal makes my own all the more painful. I’ve never wanted to satisfy my own desires more in my entire life.

Which is why I’m more confused than anyone when Penny slides her hand down my stomach to the front of my jeans, and I stop her.

She pulls back, her lips red and swollen from kisses. “Don’t you want to?”

“Fuck yes,” I breathe, chuckling a bit at how much I desperatelywant to. I tip my head in the direction of the Santa Claus nightlight. “But maybe, not like this.”

“I don’t mind.” Penny draws closer to me, the front of her jeans brushing across the bulge in mine.

I groan and take a deep breath. “I don’t want our first time to be me taking you standing up against a rickety shelf of Christmas decorations.”

She licks her lips, her breathing coming in ragged bursts. “If that’s not what you want, then please stop making it sound so appealing.”

I smile, then I find her lips again and slide my tongue into her mouth, massaging hers with my own. It feels as natural as breathing. Like we were designed to fit together this way. How much more perfect will it feel when we are perfectly fit together?

“I want to be able to lay you down and taste every part of you,” I whisper. “I want to have the time and the space and the lighting to enjoy every single second. To make it count.”

Penny hands her head in disappointment for a second and then sighs, bringing her hand to rest on my chest. “Fine, I’ll admit, that sounds pretty magical.”

She leans back against the shelving, her hips thrust slightly forward, and her curves on full display.

My eyes trace the smooth lines of her waist up to the curve of her breasts, and my breath catches.

“We better get out of this closet before I change my mind.”

She laughs and takes my hand as I lead her back into the party.

* * *

Present Day

Penny is flanked by her Dreadfuls. But when I catch her eye and tip my head towards the exit a few minutes before the assembly is over, she whispers something to each of them and then follows me out.

Good girl.

The student body is cheering along and shouting insults as the dance squad and marching band put on a performance at the far end of the auditorium.

No one pays much attention as I slip through the double doors of the auditorium and into the hallway.

I walk to the end of the hall and wait. Penny comes through the doors a second later, looks around, and then sees me.

As soon as she does, I take a left and head down a deserted hallway lined with windows.

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