Chapter 5. Kiss on the cheek?

Ivy

I nearly frolicked on my way to college. I feel like a woman in love, except I'm not.

Gosh, I can't wait to see my fake boyfriend!

My heart is beating faster with excitement. I can't believe I'm actually doing this.

I finally spot Ryder in his usual spot, surrounded by his friends. He looks up as I approach and gives me a cold stare that sends shivers down my spine.

"Hey," I say and wave enthusiastically.

Ryder grunts in response.

I try not to let his icy demeanor affect me and take a deep breath. "Can I talk to you in private?" I ask, hoping to get a positive response. I can feel his friends' eyes on me, so I look at them and smile.

One particular girl gives me a nasty stare. What, did she call dibs on him or something? He didn't mention having a girlfriend at the party!

Ryder looks at me for a moment before finally nodding his head. "Fine," he says, standing up and motioning for me to follow him.

I feel a sense of relief wash over me as we walk away from his friends and find a secluded spot.

"What do you want?" Ryder asks, folding his arms over his chest.

"I just wanted to talk to you about our arrangement," I reply, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"I didn't agree to it yet," Ryder barks.

"Well, I don't have a whole lot of time, so either you make your decision now, or I release the video," I threaten him.

"Fucking A-" Ryder mumbles under his breath. "Alright. I'll do it. Now what did you want to talk about?"

"I was thinking we should start acting more like a couple, you know, to make it seem more convincing," I suggest, hoping to get him on board.

Ryder looks at me skeptically. "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"

"Well, we could hold hands, hug, maybe even kiss on the cheek or something," I suggest, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Ryder raises an eyebrow. "Kiss on the cheek? That's it?"

I nod my head, feeling relieved that he's not completely opposed to the idea. "Yeah, just something small to make it seem like we're really into each other."

Ryder seems to be considering my proposal before finally nodding his head. "Fine, but we're doing this on our own terms. And no funny business, got it?"

I nod my head eagerly. "Got it, I just need to convince Alpha Maurice that we're together."

Ryder gives me a curt nod. "Alright, but don't expect me to go overboard with the whole thing. I'll do what I can to make it look real, but I'm not going to start taking you out on a date or anything like that."

I laugh, feeling relieved that Ryder is willing to go along with the plan. "Don't worry, I don't want to make it too obvious either. We just need to make it seem like we're comfortable around each other."

Ryder nods, and we make our way back to his friends. As we approach, I can feel their eyes on us, and I can sense the speculation in their gazes. But Ryder doesn't seem to care. He just gives them a curt nod before turning his attention back to me.

"So, when do we start this little charade?" he asks, his tone serious.

"As soon as possible," I reply, my heart racing with excitement. "But we can't go to Alpha Maurice just yet. I need to do more research first."

Ryder raises his eyebrows. "What kind of research?"

"You know...how mates should act, what they should know about each other. Stuff like that."

Ryder scoffs. "You are going to do research on that? Such a nerd."

"Oh, like you are an expert on mate bonding?" I sneer.

"No, but I know how that works," Ryder smirks.

"Do enlighten me then," I say sarcastically.

Ryder suddenly moves closer to me. His eyes lock onto mine, and I feel my heart race. "Well, first of all, mates are supposed to be connected on a deep, emotional level. They know each other's thoughts and feelings without having to say a word. And physical touch is important too, not just holding hands and kissing on the cheek. They need to be intimate with each other."

I feel my cheeks flush at his words. "Intimate? What do you mean?"

Ryder leans in, his breath hot against my ear. "I mean, they need to be able to trust each other completely. To let their guards down and be vulnerable. They need to be able to touch each other without holding back. To explore each other's bodies."

I feel my breath hitch in my throat as he speaks. His words are sending shivers down my spine, and I can't deny that I'm intrigued. But I also feel a sense of anxiety. "Uh...ha..."

"When mates touch each other, they feel a certain electricity that bonds them together. It's like their energies are connecting," Ryder continues, his voice low and husky.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure. "Interesting," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ryder's gaze flickers to my lips, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me. But then he takes a step back, breaking the tension between us.

"Anyway, these are the things I heard. I don't know if it's true or not," he says, turning on his heel and walking away.

I stand there, watching him go, feeling a mixture of confusion and desire.

What was that? Was he just messing with me, or did he really feel something between us? And why did I feel a sudden urge to reach out and touch him? Shaking my head, I try to push these thoughts aside and focus on my plan. I need to find out everything I can about mate bonding and fast. Then I can act more convincingly in front of Alpha Maurice.

Startled, I turn around to see who touched me. It turns out to be that girl who was glaring at me earlier.

"Hi?" I ask, looking her up and down.

The girl is tall and slender with long, straight black hair that falls to her waist. She has sharp features with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips. Her eyes are a piercing blue, and she's wearing a fitted leather jacket with skinny jeans and boots. She looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

"Who are you supposed to be?" she barks.

"I'm just a friend of Ryder's," I reply, trying to sound nonchalant. "Why, do I need to be someone in particular to talk to you?"

The girl narrows her eyes at me. "I just don't like people who try to get close to Ryder without earning it. You know he's not one to trust easily."

"I'm not trying to get close to him, we're just acquaintances," I say, trying to diffuse the tension.

The girl gives me a hard stare before finally nodding her head. "Okay. I'm Cassandra, by the way. And you are...?"

"I'm Ivy," I reply, smiling at her. "Nice to meet you, Cassandra."

Cassandra doesn't return my smile.

"Well, Ivy," Cassandra says, still looking at me suspiciously. "Just remember that Ryder's not one to be toyed with," she says, then walks away from me.

Oh, great. Now I feel like I'm starring in a cheesy teen drama.