Page 102 of I Don't Need Your Love

“You’re the first guy I kissed,” I admit, cheeks red. “But I’m not an innocent girl falling for the first guy who kisses her. We have a deep, strong connection, something we don’t even understand. But I want to explore it with you, Ryder. We can take things slow and see what happens.”

He smiles, dipping his head. “Slow. I really like the sound of that.” He lowers his head so our lips are inches apart. He scans my eyes, as if not sure if he should proceed.

I return the smile, wrapping my arms around his neck and yanking him to me.

We kiss slowly, then it picks up speed. My fingers tangle in his hair while his are on my waist. At the back of my head, I know Addie can come in any minute, but I don’t care.

We kiss for what feels like forever. I reluctantly pull away and rest my forehead on his. “I wish you could stay forever, but if someone catches you here, you’ll probably be expelled and then we won’t see each other anymore.”

He pouts. “But I don’t want to leave.” He sweeps his lips across my cheek.

“I know, but I don’t want you to get expelled.”

He nods with a sigh. “Okay. I’ll climb out the window.”

“Heck no. We’re sneaking you out.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

I shoot him a look. He sinks down in his seat, scowling. “Okay.”

He follows me out of my room, down the stairs, and to the door. “I’ll distract the guard while you escape.”

He nods. “Got it.”

I stand before the guard, giving him a bright smile before asking him random questions. From the corner of my eye, I see Ryder slipping out and making a mad dash to the boys’ dorm.

When I’m back in my room, I plop down and stare at the ceiling. And I can’t help but smile. Then I grab a pillow and squeal into it.

After a while, the door opens and Addie walks in.

“Where have you been?” I ask as I glance at the clock on the wall. “It’s way past curfew.”

“I heard a guy’s voice behind the door and realized it was Ryder.” She joins me on my bed with a huge grin. “Did you guys kiss and make up?”

Returning her grin, I say, “Let’s sneak into Raven and Sophie’s room. There’s a lot I need to tell you guys.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ryder

I wait outside the girls’ dorm on Tuesday morning. The guard keeps giving me looks like he doesn’t trust me. Good thing I made it back to my dorm safely last night without any problems. The last thing I need or want is to get expelled.

Smiling, I wave at him. He can’t do anything to me because I’m far from the entrance and because it’s early in the day. Guys are allowed to be in the girls’ dorm. But of course he can always come up with some excuse to get my butt booted, which is why I’m making sure to keep some distance.

A few minutes pass before a group of girls emerges from the door. Carly and her friends. Carly notices me right away and a smile breaks out on her lips. It’s so sweet and beautiful that I want to rush to her side, gather her in my arms, and kiss her until the sun sets.

She and the others head to me. I take her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Hey, morning,” I greet everyone.

They return the greeting, Carly with an even wider smile on her face. “What are you doing here?” she asks.

“Want to go to breakfast together?”

Her friends say, “Aw!”

“Of course,” she says, her cheeks a little red. If not for that guard, I’d bend forward and kiss those cheeks.

We set off toward the dining hall. Caleb leaves the boys’ dorm and joins us, wrapping an arm around Addie’s shoulder and pulling her close.