Nicolas’s POV
When the idea first hit me, I told myself it wasn’t manipulation. That was the first lie.
The second was that Ryder had anything to do with why I wanted Imani at my place. It had f**k all to do with him, but I knew she wouldn’t show up if it we were going to be alone.
I stared at my phone for a full minute before texting her, thumb hovering like the truth might crawl out if I waited too long. My apartment felt unusually quiet around me, like it knew what I was about to do and disapproved.
I hadn’t crossed any boundaries lately. I’d been careful. I’ve played by every one of her rules and kept a respectful distance during our tutoring sessions. I hadn’t even brought up the fact that she told me to teach her how to kiss. It was something I still obsessed over.
But being car
