Page 121 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to have a life without him.

“That’s what I’m saying,” I say. “Or, that’s what I want, at least. Is that what you—”

Before I can get the question out, Noah crushes me against him in a kiss. Underneath the alcohol, he still tastes like cinnamon.

He runs his hands under my sweater and up my waist, squeezing like he’s afraid I might slip away.

I curl my arms around his neck, fingering the curly waves at the back of his head, and pressing every part of me against him, trying to get rid of any blank space between us.

“I’m sorry,” he gasps between kisses, “about the picture. I’ll make J.C. delete it.”

“There were copies. I’m sure someone else has one by now, too.”

“I’ll make them delete it, too,” he growls. “And after that, I’ll delete it from their minds. With my fists.”

Surprisingly, I laugh.

It feels too soon to think anything relating to this day is funny, but I can’t help it. It is.

“Honestly, I don’t even know if I’m that mad about the picture.”

Noah stops kissing my neck to look down at me like I’ve gone mad. “Excuse me?”

“I mean, I don’t want anyone to have it, except for you, but my mom will hate that it got out. I kinda like that idea.”

“Are you going to start rebelling against your mom by doing things she’ll hate?” he asks. “Because I think that is destructive behavior, but depending on what you have in mind, I’d be more than happy to participate.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Definitely,” he says, cupping my ass in his hands and pulling me against him. “For instance, sex in the woods? I’d be down to help you with that. Also, a sex tape. It would be for my own private consumption, of course, but we could make sure your mom knew it existed.”

I laugh and lightly slap his chest. “You’re gross.”

“And you’re incredible,” he whispers, growing suddenly serious. “I mean it, Penny. Whatever you want from me, you got it.”

The crunch of footsteps behind me makes me jump.

I spin around, my back against Noah’s chest.

But when I see the leather-clad group moving through the trees, my heart stops.

Tank steps into the small clearing and grins at me. “I told you to lure him into the woods, not make him fall in love with you. But A+ for going the extra mile.”

My heart sinks as I realize what I’ve done. What I forgot to do.

I stayed away from Noah for a week because I couldn’t look him in the eyes knowing what I was going to do. Tank kept texting me, warning me to stay quiet and go through the plan or else Delanie would be hurt, and I was torn.

Until this morning. I woke up with the realization that I couldn’t do this. I’d call the police and tell them about the Hell Prince’s threats, I’d tell Noah the truth, and I’d get myself out of this whole mess.

That’s what I was trying to tell Noah when J.C. announce me as the pick for The Sacrifice. Then, everything just…happened.

When I ran out of the house and into the trees, I wasn’t thinking.

I had nothing in my mind except getting away

I didn’t know Noah would follow me. I figured he’d stay back at the cabin and rejoice in his victory over me.

But he didn’t.

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