2. Edge of Temptation

Most of the guests had gone away and only a few were seen here and there. Belle felt like her heart might burst with anxiety. Noah was still there and every second felt like an eternity with him so close. She tried to maintain her cool demeanor, knowing there was underlying tension between them. She had to use all her strength to stay calm, which was hard when he was around. 

“How about some coffee before we all go to bed?” Lara suggested with a gentle smile. No one could say no to that.

”Brilliant!” Mikhail agreed and followed Lara to the kitchen to help.

Belle felt her cheeks flush as she tried to avoid Noah's gaze. He chuckled softly at something Luke said, his deep voice sending shivers down her spine.

In the lawn, they gathered around the coffee table, with Noah taking the chair across from Belle, his eyes already fixed on her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. She immediately averted her eyes, her heart beating faster.

“So, Noah…” Mikhail folded his arms comfortably and tilted the couch back. “How have things been with you? We haven’t met for a long time, in fact, for several years now.”

Noah's gaze never left Belle. “Busy, mostly. I took over the position of trustee at Havenbrook University after Dad’s demise. Recently, I joined as a professor there.”

Belle held her breath again and wondered. She hadn't known that. His words momentarily froze her; her eyes shifted to Noah in apparent surprise.

Lara quickly added, “That’s great!” She exclaimed happily about the way the conversation was going. “Belle’s been considering Havenbrook too. It’s good to know you’ll be there.”

Noah’s smile sharpened. “Is that so? That’s… interesting.” He smirked and his tone turned cold. “I can keep an eye on things, make sure she’s… taken care of.”

“We almost decided on Havenbrook, but now that we know you’ll be there, we’re relieved." Mikhail said.

Luke laughed, nudging Belle. “Looks like you’ve got a guardian already! Just don’t give him too much trouble.”

Despite the embarrassment that she felt inside, Belle tried to wear a fake smile on her face. “I’ll try.”

Luke noticed her unease. “Hey Belle, are you alright? You’ve looked a bit zoned out today.”

“I’m fine.” She replied quickly, earning a suspicious glance from her brother. She could feel Noah’s gaze fixed on her, the intensity almost unbearable.

Noah’s gaze burned into her. “Maybe she just remembered something she forgot." He murmured, his tone a mix of amusement and something darker.

Lara sensed the shift in the atmosphere and stood up. “Well, it’s getting late. We should call it a night.”

After bidding goodnight, Belle slipped into her room, a swirl of anxiety and anticipation gripping her, her mind replaying every word, every look Noah had given her. She changed into her nightwear that felt both comfortable and strangely exposing. 

Minutes felt like hours and just when she thought she might go mad with anticipation, she heard the soft click of her door opening. She looked up, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Noah slip into the room, his movements quiet and deliberate. He closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the silent room. He moved towards her, his expression unreadable but his eyes filled with a promise of things to come.

“Waiting for me?” Though the words were sufficiently flirtatious, there was also something else behind them, some challenge that made her heart race.

Belle’s heart raced. She swallowed hard, unable to find her words. “What are you doing here?”

Noah moved a little closer to her, his movements purposely restrained, giving her the opportunity to tell him to leave. But Belle said nothing as he slowly moved towards her. “Why do you think I’m here?”

She trembled. “You shouldn’t be here, Noah, especially not like this.”

“Maybe." He replied harshly. “But I need to know… Did you forget about me, Belle? Completely?” The bitterness in his voice was hidden, but the underlying anger was evident.

“Forget? No, I didn’t forget. I… I just…” The question caught her off guard and she stammered, unsure of how to answer. “I... I don’t know... I mean, I thought you were nice...”

“Nice?” Noah repeated, emphasizing every single word and raising both his eyebrows, but his lips quivered into a small smile and the glint in his eyes betrayed his humor. “That’s all? Just nice? Nothing else?” Suddenly his expression hardened. “You just moved on, didn’t you? While I was left with nothing but memories.” His voice was filled with quiet anger.

She flinched, his words like a slap. “Yeah, no it wasn’t like that… I…”

Noah interrupted her, his features becoming intense. “Don’t." He said, his tone rough, nearly a whisper. “Do not evade the fact that you had forgotten me, Belle, do not try to feed me with lies.”

Belle felt the pounding of her heart in her chest. She took a deep breath to compose herself as her heart skipped a beat. “I didn’t forget you, Noah. I was just a kid, trying to deal with everything… and then you were gone. ”

His eyes flickered with something intense, something unreadable. “You were all I had, Belle." He said in a hoarse voice. “Everything. I spent years hoping, waiting… but you never looked back.”

Tears pricked Belle’s eyes. “You and my brother were the best of friends. I always… I always believed that you never felt that way.”

“Oh, I felt something, alright." He said then suddenly turning into aggressiveness, “I felt every damn day without you like a wound that won’t heal. ”

Noah’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Oh, I felt something, alright. I felt every damn day without you like a wound that wouldn’t heal.” His voice softened, but his eyes remained hard.

Belle almost choked on her own saliva when she heard that. “I did care." She whispered, her voice trembling. “I cared so much that I wanted to let it go… Forget it… I didn’t know what to do with my emotions. ”

Noah moved in closer, their proximity having an electric energy to it. “And now?” He asked, his voice deep, dark and laced with malice. “How do you feel now?”

She shuddered, all sense of calmness that had once surrounded her had evaporated. “I don’t know." She said and tears started streaming down her cheeks. “I’m scared, Noah. Scared of what this means, of what we might lose.”

His hand cupped her cheek, wiping away the tear that fell from the corner of her eyes. “I have already lost you once." He spoke softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t do it again, Belle. Not without a fight.”

Her breath caught in her throat at the passion in his eyes, which drew her in like a magnet. “You still want me?” She asked softly, being afraid of the answer.

Noah’s eyes darkened, he grabbed the back of her head and brought her closer to him. “You have been my desire ever since, Belle.” His warm breaths fell on her skin. “But do you want me?”

“Yes!”

Noah’s lips curled into a small, genuine smile. “Good." He said softly, pushing a lock of hair behind her ears. “What did you think of me exactly, Belle? I want to know it all. Did you ever touch yourself thinking of me?”

The question was so blunt, so unexpected that it left Belle speechless. Her cheeks heated up with embarrassment and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. 

Noah made her look at him. “Tell me… What did you think exactly when you touched yourself?” 

“I thought about you… about you… fucking me…” She finally blurted out, her voice trembled with embarrassment.

A dark, satisfied smile crossed Noah’s lips and he leaned closer to her and his warm breath fanned on her skin. “I’m glad to hear that, kitten.” He murmured, his voice sending a shiver down her spine, so as the new nickname she got.

Before she could react or process anything, he gently pulled her down on the bed, positioning them in such a way that they were lying side by side, their bodies close but not quite touching. There was an intense intimacy in the air.

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be with me instead of your boyfriend?” The tone of his voice was rough yet assertively seductive.

Belle gasped and hurriedly shook her head, her breath hitching in her throat. “I never had a boyfriend. You know that.”

“Why? Didn’t you like anyone?” He raised his eyebrows, his voice filled with curiosity. “I’m sure they like you. After all, you’re so tempting and alluring.”

“I just... I just never had time for all this, also I never wanted them.” She stammered.

“So, you never kissed anyone?”

Belle shook her head. 

“Would you like to try?”

Belle could barely breathe, her heart racing and her mind filled with both terror and lust. She wanted to kiss him, but the fear of someone walking in on them, catching them in the act, held her back. Her parents were just a room away who might hear them even though they were barely whispering.

“Don’t worry about anything, kitten.” He whispered in her ear, showing a rare sign of warmth. “Everyone’s asleep. So, would you like to try?”

She pressed her lips together slightly and glanced away, trying to calm herself and gather her thoughts. “I don’t know if we should…” Her voice was filled with uncertainty.

“It’s up to you.” Noah shrugged his shoulders, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity. “You’re an adult now. You can make your own decisions. Do you think we should or do you think we shouldn’t?”

She paused, trying to calm her mind to process his words as whatever was happening was too much for her already. She wanted to kiss him more than anything, but the fear of what it might mean, of what it might lead to, held her back.

“I… I would like to try…” Belle finally agreed, inhaling a sharp breath, but her voice was barely more than a whisper.

The smile on Noah’s face was lecherous, his eyes radiant with lust. “You should always try new things, kitten.” His voice sent a chill of excitement through her. “If you want to try, then you have to come to me, so that I know you really want it.” He muttered softly.

Belle’s heart sped up in her chest. She wanted to kiss him, to feel his lips on her lips, but the feeling of fear and nervousness overwhelmed her. She was anxious, her body pulled by lust and her mind by fear.

“If you don’t want it, don’t do it, Belle.” Noah said gently, caressing her cheek with his thumb. 

“I guess I do want to try.” Her voice trembled with uncertainty.

“Then you need to come forward.” He murmured in a low and seductive tone.

She was reluctant at first, lying just inches away from Noah. Every nerve in her body was alive with agitation, every thought in her mind was filled with doubt and desire. But as she looked into his eyes, the world around her faded away, leaving just the two of them in that moment. Slowly, she moved near him and her lips brushed his cheek gently. Noah’s eyes grew equally dark as he watched her approach, not backing down or looking away when she was just an inch away. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension almost unbearable. And then, finally, their lips met.