Elena POV
Ryder whisked me away from Zach and Celia like a gust of wind, moving through the trees with incredible speed. The forest blurred around us until we were far enough away.
“Ryder, stop!” I gasped, feeling dizzy and embarrassed.
He finally stopped and set me down. My face felt like it was on fire, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, the image of Zach and Celia still fresh in my mind.
“Elena, you look ridiculous, blushing like a schoolgirl,” Elise taunted. “I bet Ryder’s loving every second of this.”
“Oh, fantastic. Just what I needed,” I snapped. “And for the record, I AM a schoolgirl!”
Ryder seemed to pick up on my inner turmoil, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. He suddenly stepped closer, closing the distance until I was backed up against a large pine tree.
He lo
