Page 54 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

“I get it, man. I’d betray my friends to lick those tits, too. No shame.”

“I’m not licking anything,” I snap. “It’s an audition.”

The lie comes to me in an instant, and I cling to it. J.C. frowns.

“For the Spring Fling,” I continued. “For The Sacrifice. It’s an audition. An application.”

J.C.’s eyes go wide with possibilities—several of which I’m sure would give me no choice but to knock him out if I could read his mind. He moans. “Oh, yes. Genius. God, yes. This will be the best year ever.”

My throat goes dry.

Penny isn’tmine. Not in that way, at least. I don’t want to be protective over her the way Caleb is over Haley.

I don’t want to be beholden to her the way Finn is to Lily.

I don’t want that.

But I do want her.

In the most carnal way possible, I want to claim her.

Now.

“This Spring Fling would go down in the history books. If history books kept records of dope high school parties. I mean, look at this pictures.” J.C. pauses, waiting for me. When I don’t move, he nudges my shoulder. “Let me see them again. As the organizer of the event, it’s my right to—”

“Keep it in your goddamned pants. Could you please act like you’ve seen tits before?”

J.C. holds up his hands in surrender and rolls his eyes, but I can’t sit here anymore.

Not when Penny is out there without her top on.

Not when J.C. still has the image of her chest in his head.

It’s not a competition, but I’m going to get the real thing. Right now.

I text her again:Stay there.

19

Noah

Mrs. Frye says my name as I storm out of the room, but I don’t respond. I don’t slow down or ask for a bathroom pass or make an excuse.

I leave and march towards the girls’ bathroom.

Penny has history in the afternoon, so I know which bathroom is closest.

She’d better be where I told her to be.

No one is in the hallway to wonder why Noah Boone is flinging the girl’s bathroom door open and storming inside.

I close the door and slide the bolt into place.

We won’t be disturbed.

I hear Penny gasp when the door slams open.

Good girl. Very good girl.

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