Forbidden Pages

Chapter 9: Hidden Moments

The morning after her kiss with Ryland, Emma felt like she was walking on air. Every moment replayed vividly in her mind—the way his touch lingered on her skin, the quiet intensity of his voice, the thrill of finally crossing the line they'd both danced around for so long. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement, of newfound closeness she hadn't experienced with anyone else. But as she got ready for her classes, she also felt the weight of their decision settle over her like a shadow.

They hadn't discussed what came next, how they'd handle things moving forward. She knew it was too risky to be open about their relationship; there was too much at stake for both of them. Yet, she couldn't deny how much she longed to see him, to talk with him, to let the rest of the world melt away. But how could they balance a relationship in secret?

When she walked into his class that afternoon, her heart skipped a beat as her eyes met his. Ryland's expression was unreadable, his gaze flickering over her briefly before he turned back to the class, discussing the day's reading as though nothing had changed. Emma tried to focus, but it was nearly impossible. Every stolen glance, every subtle look, felt charged with the memory of their kiss, the shared understanding that lingered between them like an unspoken promise.

After class ended, Emma gathered her things slowly, waiting for the other students to filter out of the room. She lingered near her desk, hoping he'd give her some kind of signal, a glance or a nod that would reassure her they were still on the same page. But Ryland was busy talking to a student, his expression focused, and she felt a pang of disappointment as she realized he wouldn't be able to speak with her here.

She slipped out of the classroom, her heart heavy, feeling the strange disconnect between the closeness they'd shared the night before and the distance that now felt necessary. Part of her wondered if they'd made a mistake, if the excitement of the moment had overshadowed the reality of what they were doing. But as she walked down the hall, her phone buzzed with a text, and her heart leaped as she saw his name.

Meet me in the library. Back corner, third floor. Ten minutes.

Emma's pulse quickened, a thrill running through her as she read the message. She knew she should be cautious, that the risks hadn't changed, but the thought of seeing him—even for a few minutes—was too tempting to resist.

Later That Afternoon

The third floor of the library was quiet, the usual afternoon rush winding down as students left for their next classes or study groups. Emma made her way to the back corner, the faint scent of old books filling the air, her footsteps soft on the carpeted floor. She spotted him near the stacks, standing with his back to her as he scanned the shelves, and for a moment, she simply watched him, taking in the familiarity of his posture, the way he seemed so at ease.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryland turned, a smile flickering across his face as he saw her. "Emma," he murmured, his voice warm, carrying that same undercurrent of emotion she'd felt the night before.

She stepped closer, feeling a rush of relief and excitement as he reached for her hand, his fingers wrapping gently around hers. They were both quiet for a moment, simply enjoying the closeness, the quiet privacy of the library.

"It's good to see you," she whispered, her voice full of the emotion she hadn't been able to express in class.

Ryland nodded, his thumb tracing small circles over her knuckles. "I know. It was harder than I thought... keeping my distance. But we can't risk anything. Not here."

Emma sighed, understanding his caution but wishing things could be different. "I know it's complicated," she said softly, "but I don't want to pretend this doesn't exist."