I bit my lip, my cheeks flushing an even deeper shade, as I heard the groans from my friends and caught the envious stares of the girls around us the moment Ryder pressed his lips to my cheek.
I swear my jaw nearly hit the ground. Oh God. Ryder Knight—the Ryder Knight, the most eligible bachelor—was kissing me in front of the entire college.
Fuck. My brain short-circuited as I realized what this meant. Now, I’d undoubtedly land on the envy list of every girl on campus.
This had never happened before. Ryder never displayed PDA, not even with his girlfriends.
“How was your day, kiddo?” he asked, pulling back slightly but keeping one arm draped casually over my shoulder.
Kiddo?! Seriously?!
“I’m eighteen now, Ryder. Not a kid anymore,” I replied, rolling my eyes in annoyance.
“Who knows it better than me, baby girl?” he said, his teasing tone laced with mischief. He flicked my nose with his finger, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mischievous spark.
I felt my cheeks flush as I understood the hidden meaning behind his remark.
Jerk.
"What are you doing here?" I murmured, trying to push him away and put some distance between us.
"I'm here to pick you up for the weekend," he said, a furrow forming between his brows as if I'd asked the most absurd question. To be honest, it was a weird question—of course, he was acting normal, but I certainly wasn’t. Mentally, I slapped myself for behaving so awkwardly around him.
"I... I could have come myself," I whispered, my voice faltering as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
The small, sweet gesture sent my heart fluttering with excitement. If he kept doing things like this, it would be impossible not to look at him like some starstruck fangirl.
Ryder and his effortless charm were enough to make any girl swoon.
"Why would you come by yourself when I always pick you up on Fridays, and we go to my family home together?" he countered, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable challenge. His eyes seemed to silently demand an explanation, but I chose silence instead.
I turned to say goodbye to my friends, who were still gawking at Ryder like he was a god descended to earth. Their dreamy expressions were borderline embarrassing, and when he flashed them one of his signature charming smiles and casually said, "Bye, ladies," they all sighed in unison, as if they’d just witnessed a miracle.
I rolled my eyes so hard it felt like they might get stuck. God, why did he have to be so irresistibly hot? It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t just exist looking like that and expect the world to function normally around him.
He led me to his car and opened the door for me. As I slid inside, he leaned in, grabbing the seatbelt and securing it around me. His face was so close—too close—and his piercing eyes locked onto mine while he buckled me in. My heart thumped wildly, betraying my effort to stay composed.
Oh God. This man was too hot and too dangerous to be around, and I was a mess.
"Why did you kiss my cheek in front of my friends?" I whispered, hoping to distract myself from the electrifying tension between us. "Everyone was watching us with... weird gazes."
My voice wavered slightly, and I prayed he didn't notice. His enchanting proximity was making it impossible to breathe normally.
His eyes dropped to my lips, and before I could react, he brushed his thumb lightly against my bottom lip, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.
"I wanted to kiss these putty lips," he said in a husky voice, his tone laced with something dangerous and intimate. "But I thought not to scare you by doing it in front of your whole college."
His declaration made my eyes widen in shock, my heart racing as if it were trying to escape my chest.
"You... you can't be serious, can you?" I gasped, my voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze darkened, swirling with a raw hunger that left no room for doubt. His eyes locked onto mine, and the intensity made my breath hitch.
"I’m very serious, baby girl," he murmured, his voice a low growl that sent a wave of nervous energy coursing through me.
I instinctively licked my lips, an unconscious gesture of anxiety, and his eyes followed the movement.
"Ah, don’t do that, baby girl," he warned, his voice dropping an octave, so low and menacing it made my stomach knot with apprehension. "Unless you want me to kiss you right now. So hard. And take you to my car’s back seat to fuck you in front of your whole college."
The dangerous edge in his tone sent a chill down my spine, and my lips parted involuntarily in utter shock.
Now, I was truly scared of Ryder Knight.
Ryder's POV.The club was alive with energy as the weekend reached its peak. The neon lights danced across the crowded dance floor, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the revelers. The pulsating music thumped in my chest, creating an electric atmosphere that fueled the excitement in the air. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat, mingling with the overpowering aroma of perfume and cologne.Sitting at a reserved booth in a dimly lit corner, I was joined by my close friend, Alex. He exuded impatience, his foot tapping restlessly against the floor as he scanned the entrance of the club. We were regulars at this place, but tonight, our excitement was tinged with a hint of unease. We were waiting for Logan, our once dependable comrade, who seemed to have changed since his marriage to Mia."Ryder, when is Logan coming?" Alex asked, his voice edged with irritation.I understood his frustration; Logan used to be the first one to arrive, always ready to embrace the nightlife.
Logan's POV.As I slowly opened my eyes, the harsh, sterile lights of the hospital room greeted me. Disoriented and weak, I blinked several times until the blurry figures around me came into focus. There was Mia, her eyes filled with worry and relief, and my family standing by her side, their faces etched with concern."Mia..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.Her eyes lit up with tears of joy as she took my hand in hers. "Thank goodness you're awake," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.My family wore expressions of both happiness and concern. My mother's eyes were red from crying, while my father's stern facade tried to hide his fear. It was then that I knew I had to be honest with them about how I felt."I can't go through with the marriage," I admitted, my voice stronger now. "I love Mia, and I can't marry someone else."My father's face turned stern, and he scolded me, "You're being impractical! You have responsibilities, and this is no time for childish whims!"Befo
Logan's POV.Amidst the busy preparations for my upcoming wedding, I couldn't shake off the lingering unease in my heart. Mia's sudden resignation from my company had left me bewildered and bruised my ego. I had made it clear to her that our relationship would remain strictly professional, yet she chose to leave."Why does it bother me so much?" I wondered aloud as I paced in my luxurious penthouse.Alex, who had been helping me with the wedding arrangements, noticed my distress."Hey, man, what's bothering you? You should be on cloud nine with your marriage just around the corner," Alex said, concern evident in his voice."I don't know, Alex. It's just that Mia's resignation hit me harder than I expected," I admitted with a sigh. "Even though I told myself I didn't care about her rejecting me, there's this nagging feeling inside me.""Why do you bother? It is not like you feel something for her, do you?" Alex inquired. "Remember, you have a stunning fiancée, a glamorous wedding ahead
Alex's POV.We all gathered at Ryder's wedding, witnessing the heartfelt exchange of vows between Ryder and Bella. Their hurried marriage brought back memories of my own wedding day, where I had first laid eyes on Sarah. But after she left, things took a painful turn. I tried countless times to meet her, to explain myself, but she refused to hear me out. Her parents, adamant in their disapproval, forbade me from entering their home. It was absurd - I was her husband, not some boyfriend they could simply cast aside. I pleaded with them, insisting that I had changed, that I wanted to be with her, but they turned a deaf ear.Unbeknownst to me, Ryder had invited Sarah to the wedding as well. My heart filled with both hope and trepidation, praying that she would show up so I could finally talk to her. And then, there she was, entering the venue in a stunning peach-colored gown. Something about her appearance was different, and it left me bewildered. Her face was radiant, and I couldn't hel
I gave myself a gentle slap on the head to snap back to reality as Ryder approached. My father released my hand as Ryder stepped forward, and he kindly helped me up onto the small platform where he stood. He leaned in to plant a sweet kiss on my cheek."You look absolutely stunning," he whispered in my ear, his eyes traversing down my form before locking onto mine once more, filled with adoration.The wedding officiant, a tall and amiable man, commenced the ceremony. As he gracefully greeted everyone and eloquently explained the significance of this union, I couldn't help but steal glances at Ryder, wanting to savor every detail of his appearance.He stood there, a picture of confidence and poise. His eyes gleamed with joy and adoration, reflecting the love that bound us together. Clad in an impeccably tailored black suit that hugged his form exquisitely, he looked every bit the dashing groom. His short, dark hair was slicked back to perfection, accentuating his handsome features. He
Bella's POV.The sound of my phone jolted me awake from my slumber, disturbing the peaceful moment I had been sharing with Ryder. Gently, I disentangled myself from his embrace, aware that I was still unclothed, and hurriedly pulled the sheet to cover myself before answering the call."Mum!" I greeted cheerfully, my heart still elated from Ryder's heartfelt confession of love."Bella, what is going on?" Her voice carried a tone of anger.Confused by her question, I asked, "What do you mean, mum?""You and Ryder are all over the news, and your father is furious," she complained.My mind raced, trying to comprehend the situation. "What? I don't understand, mum. What's happening?""Where are you right now, Bella?" Her concern was evident."I am... I am..." I hesitated, unable to come up with a lie."Are you with Ryder?" She guessed, and I fell silent, confirming her suspicion."Why did you do this, Bella?" Her disappointment in me was palpable.Suddenly, the phone was snatched from my ha