His Innocent Temptation

Chapter 1: The Boy Everyone Warned Me About The first thing I learned about Westbridge University wasn't where the library was or how to find my lecture hall. It was one simple rule. Stay away from Ryder Knight. "You'll know him when you see him," my roommate, Mia, said as we hurried across the crowded campus. "Black leather jacket, tattoos, motorcycle, bad attitude... and enough girls following him to start a fan club." I laughed. "He can't be that bad." Mia stopped walking and looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "Oh, he's worse." I rolled my eyes. "People exaggerate." "No." She shook her head. "People survive by exaggerating." Before I could ask what she meant, a loud roar echoed through the campus. Every conversation stopped. Heads turned. A black motorcycle shot through the university gates before slowing to a stop in the parking lot. The rider removed his helmet. Dark hair. Piercing gray eyes. A sleeve of tattoos disappearing beneath his leather jacket. Girls whispered. Some smiled. Others shamelessly stared. He didn't spare any of them a glance. Instead, he walked through the crowd like he owned the entire campus. "That's Ryder Knight," Mia whispered. "So dramatic," I muttered. She grabbed my arm. "I'm serious, Lily. Don't look at him." Naturally... I looked. For one brief second, our eyes met. His expression didn't change. Neither did mine. Then I looked away and continued walking as if he didn't exist. Behind me, I heard someone laugh. "I think she just ignored Ryder." "No girl ignores him." "Well... she did." I smiled to myself. Good. Maybe now everyone would stop talking about him. I had classes to attend, books to read, and dreams that didn't involve some arrogant biker with an oversized ego. Unfortunately... Fate had other plans. As I turned the corner toward my lecture hall, I collided with someone so hard that my books scattered across the ground. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sor—" The apology died on my lips. Black boots. Leather jacket. Tattooed hands. Slowly, I looked up. Those cold gray eyes were staring straight at me. Around us, the hallway fell silent. Ryder Knight. And judging by the amused smirk spreading across his face... He knew exactly who I was.