The morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Belle stirred, her body nestled against Noah’s. The warmth of his skin against hers was a comforting reminder of the night they’d shared, and her mind lingered on the intense moments they had experienced together. Every touch, every kiss, every inch of him seemed to linger on her body, leaving her with an aching desire to feel it all again.
Noah’s arm was draped lazily across her waist, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. For a moment, Belle lay still, listening to his heartbeat, the soft hum of the city outside. It was peaceful. Almost too peaceful, considering the storm that had raged between them just hours before. She let out a quiet sigh, her body still sensitive, the soreness a reminder of how thoroughly Noah had claimed her.
The morning sunlight grew brighter as the day continued to creep forward, but neither of them moved. The world outside their bedroom felt distant, almost unreal, as if it didn’t exist in this bubble of warmth and intimacy they’d created. Belle felt her mind drifting, thinking about how far she’d come, how far they’d come.She remembered when Noah had first entered her life, a stranger whose gaze alone could send her pulse racing. He was a man who seemed so unattainable, so distant, yet now here they were, wrapped around each other like they’d always been meant to fit this way. A part of her had fought this for so long, afraid of what it meant to open herself up to someone like him. But now, lying in his arms, it felt like the most natural thing in the world."You're thinking too much," Noah said suddenly
The bustling energy of the campus was a sharp contrast to the serene intimacy Belle and Noah had shared just hours before. As Belle made her way across the courtyard, the noise of students laughing, chatting, and hurrying to their classes filled the air, a reminder that life outside of her cocoon with Noah still moved at its relentless pace. She adjusted the strap of her backpack and sighed, momentarily lost in thought. Her relationship with Noah had reached a depth she hadn’t expected, and though she felt more at peace than ever, the demands of her everyday life were creeping back into view.Her psychology class was about to start, and as she pushed open the door to the large lecture hall, she was greeted by a familiar sight of rows of students, heads bent over their laptops, some engaged in quiet conversations, others completely absorbed in their own worlds. Belle found her usual seat
The air between them had felt almost perfect, as if the world outside their intimate moments didn't exist. But that morning, as Belle sat alone in the quiet of their shared apartment, her mind started to wander back to something that had been lingering on the edges of her consciousness. There had always been a distance to Noah, a part of him he kept hidden.She didn’t like secrets, but she also didn’t want to pry. After all, wasn’t everyone entitled to some part of themselves, a small piece they kept to themselves? But lately, Belle couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Noah was hiding was big. Bigger than she had originally thought.The unease grew in her chest as she recalled fleeting moments, Noah’s hesitation when she’d asked about his past, the way his phone would sometimes buzz with a message that left his face tight with tension.Today, that tension was palpable even when he wasn’t in the room. She could feel i
Belle had always known that Noah wasn’t a simple man. From the moment their paths crossed again after years apart, there had been an undercurrent of secrecy that ran beneath his charm—a past he rarely spoke of. In their most intimate moments, he’d open up just enough to let her feel like she knew him, but she always sensed that there were parts of him he kept locked away.Now, as she walked across campus, that feeling of unease settled over her like a heavy fog. The crisp autumn air did little to shake the chill creeping into her bones. It was a stark contrast to the warmth and intimacy they had shared just hours before, when they lay tangled together in her bed, blissfully lost in each other’s embrace. That morning had been a reminder of how far they’d come, a moment of bliss she had never expected to experience with him. Yet, as she navigated through the throngs of students, laughter and chatter echoing all around, her mind was consumed with qu
The air felt electric in the wake of their conversation, a mixture of tension and determination threading between Belle and Noah as they settled into a new reality. With their families’ tangled histories looming over them, every moment spent together felt charged with possibility—and danger.Belle took a deep breath, looking around her apartment as if seeing it for the first time. This space, once a sanctuary, was now a potential battleground, a place where secrets could unravel and truths could surface. Her heart raced at the thought of what was to come.“Okay,” she said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “What’s our first step?”Noah looked thoughtful for a moment, his brows furrowing as he considered their options. “We need to gather information—understand what exactly we’re dealing with. I have some contacts who might be able to help us look into your family’s past, the busin
The following morning brought a strange stillness. The sunlight trickled through the blinds in Belle’s room, casting long golden streaks across the bed where she lay, staring at the ceiling. Her conversation with Noah the night before replayed in her mind on an endless loop.She had sensed something was coming—something more than the little secrets everyone keeps. But she hadn't expected the weight of Noah’s revelations, nor the danger he hinted at. He wasn’t just a man running from a troubled past; he was someone entangled in a web of criminal dealings, deceit, and betrayal—things far darker and more dangerous than she had imagined.And now, it wasn’t just about protecting him. If Noah had enemies, she was at risk, too. The thought sent a chill through her, but at the same time, she couldn’t imagine walking away. No matter how dark Noah’s past was, no matter how deep his secrets ran, she was in this for the long haul.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the apartment. The amber glow of twilight filtered through the blinds, painting the walls with a warm, fleeting light. Belle moved quietly around the kitchen, her mind racing as she set two glasses of wine on the counter. Tonight felt different. Noah had been distant lately, a little too preoccupied with things he hadn’t yet explained, and although he tried to hide it, she could sense the tension building.They lived together, sharing space, sharing moments, and yet there was still a part of him that felt unreachable. Belle had always known Noah had secrets, had a past buried in shadows, but it was growing harder to ignore the weight of what he wasn’t telling her.She poured the wine slowly, trying to focus on something other than the knots in her stomach. She loved him, trusted him, but there were times when she caught him staring off into the distance, as if lost in a memory he couldn’t
Belle’s breath quickened as she found herself in a dimly lit room, the air charged with anticipation. Shadows danced around her, but she didn’t need to see to know who was near, she could feel his presence, his heat, his energy. Noah could feel the way her breathing quickened and how her body reacted to his touches, tracing the curve of her jaw, making her tremble. His touch was everywhere. His fingers glided over her skin, igniting a fire within her that she hadn’t known existed. His hands, warm and strong, traced the curve of her waist, drawing her closer until she was pressed against his chest.Noah was close, so close that she could feel his breath on her neck, hot and heavy, sending a delicious shiver down her spine. A soft moan escaped her lips as he kissed her neck, nipping lightly at her skin and then soothing it gently with his tongue. She arched her back, yielding to the feeling, her fingers digging into his chest as if she needed his embrace to remain conscious. Noah placed