Page 48 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

Despite the terrible day and my eyes swollen with tears, I laugh. “Yes, I am.”

Noah’s arms come back around me, his hands clasping together behind my back. “Then keep trying. My resistance is crumbling.”

“You’re good to me, Noah,” I whisper, leaning close to press my nose to his. “You make me feel special, and I want this moment to be special. Forever.”

Rather than trying to find the words, Noah tips his head up and brings his lips to mine.

We’ve had a lot of practice with the kissing, but the undressing is new.

We fumble and giggle and then grow serious as more skin is exposed.

We muddle through it, but when it’s over, and I’m lying next to him, nothing has ever felt more perfect.

“You know I’ll always be here for you, right?” Noah asks, his hand on the bare skin of my lower back.

I lay against his chest and breathe in the spicy smell of him. “I’ll be here for you, too.”

* * *

Present Day

A knock at the front door pulls me out of my reverie.

I set aside the college applications I’d been working on and pad across the tile entryway.

I don’t know what time it is, but I assume it’s Momma and Stepdad Steve home early. They didn’t take any keys with them since they planned to drink and take a rideshare home.

Except, when I open the front door, there’s no one there.

I frown and look around, stepping out onto the porch to look down the sidewalk.

There’s no one around. No cars. Nothing on the porch.

Confused and a little freaked, I pull the door shut and bolt it.

My phone is sitting on the ottoman in front of the couch. Maybe I should text someone and tell them about what happened.

That way, if I end up dead, at least the police will have a lead.

I chastise myself for immediately jumping to murder as a possibility.

Though, when I walk into the living room, I realize it may not have been such a crazy thought, after all.

Standing at the base of the stairs is Tank, The Hell Prince.

He’s got a wide, cocky grin on his face. “Surprised to see me?”

I open my mouth, considering screaming or running, but I can’t.

Delanie.

If I scream, she’ll wake up and make the entire situation worse and more stressful.

If I run, she’ll be left behind with a Hell Prince.

I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.

My eyes dart to where my phone had been sitting on the ottoman, but it’s no longer there.

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