Noah’s lips moved down Belle’s neck, his hands exploring her body with an urgency that sent fire through her veins. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, desperate to deepen the moment. She felt his heartbeat against hers, fast and wild like hers.
Suddenly a loud knock on the door made them both startled, their bodies still tangled in the passionate embrace. Belle’s heart hammered in her chest as Noah pulled away from her, his face dark with irritation.
“Belle?” Mikhail’s voice rang through the door. “Are you awake?”
Belle pushed Noah away. Noah's intense expression was replaced by a calm one as if the intimate moment had never happened. A wicked grin flashed on the corner of his lips before he silently moved tow
Noah woke to the quiet hum of the morning, drenched in sweat, his dreams still haunting him. He had dreamed of his father’s voice, the sound of it echoing in the dark void, calling him a traitor. A betrayer of blood.The soft rays of sunlight filtering through the blinds did nothing to soothe the storm raging within him. Last night had been a blur of desire and restraint, his body aching from the battle between his need for Belle and his thirst for revenge.He sat up in bed, the heavy weight of guilt pressing down on his chest, running a hand through his disheveled hair. How could he have fallen for her, of all people? His fingers dug into the mattress as he wrestled with the agony of his emotions. He had a plan and it was simple. But nothing had been simple since Belle came back into his life. His feelings for her had woven in
Mikhail stood by the large window in his dimly lit study, nursing a glass of whiskey as the moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains. Papers lay scattered across the desk, their contents detailing the recent developments regarding Noah Alabaster and the hidden truths surrounding his father's death.The cool liquid slid down his throat, burning just enough to remind him that he was still in control. His thoughts were a tangled web of concern for the undercurrents that ran beneath his family’s seemingly perfect life. Mikhail's mind raced with the calculated moves he had made to protect his family and, more importantly, Belle.He had always considered himself a careful strategist, someone who played the long game. The tension between Noah and Belle was palpable and Mikhail couldn’t shake the feeling that their rel
The next morning Belle woke up with her body still humming with the sensation from last night. The warmth of Noah’s presence lingered like a shadow over her skin. She rolled over in bed, her hands absentmindedly tracing her own body, the same paths Noah’s hands had traveled hours ago. It felt different, more intense, more alive, like her senses had been amplified in some way.His cryptic words from last night echoed in her head again. “Things are going to change.” What did that mean? Was this more than just the physical connection they shared? Belle’s heart fluttered nervously as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Despite the excitement of being with Noah, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was stepping into something far more complicated.&nb
The dim light filtering through the curtains cast long shadows across Noah’s apartment, the room thick with the tension that had been building for days. Belle stood in front of Noah, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she felt the heat of his gaze burning through her. His hands, firm and possessive, gripped her waist, pulling her closer, as if he could no longer restrain the need he had so carefully hidden.This was the moment she’d been craving since their arrival in Chicago, but now that it was here, her pulse raced in anticipation of what was to come. Her body trembled with anticipation, the promise of what was about to happen making her pulse quicken.Without breaking eye contact, Noah leaned in, his lips brushed against her neck. Belle shuddered at the soft contact, her body responding instantly to his tou
The early morning light spilled through the thin curtains of Noah’s apartment, casting a soft glow on the disheveled bed where Belle lay nestled in Noah’s arms. She woke up to the feeling of Noah's hands on her body, his fingers tracing the curve of her breast, his thumb brushing against her hard nipple. She moaned softly, her body arching against his as she felt the heat building inside her, her body aching with need. For a brief moment, Belle savored the sensation, her body still tingling from the night before.Noah stirred, his lips brushing against the bare skin of her shoulder. “Good morning, kitten." His hand moved from her waist to her breast, fingers curling gently around her, teasing the sensitive skin.Bella turned to face him, her eyes meeting his dark, intense gaze. "Morning." She whispered back.
The evening was calm, but Belle’s heart wasn’t. The evening sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across Noah’s study. Belle hadn’t meant to snoop, but something about the drawer in the corner desk had drawn her attention. It had been slightly ajar, like it was inviting her to look closer.As she pulled it open, her fingers brushed against a pile of old papers and she found a worn envelope, marked with her father’s name. Curiosity got the better of her and she carefully unfolded the contents, her heart pounding in her chest.It wasn’t a letter exactly, but a contract, a business deal between her father’s company and Noah’s late father. The deal mentioned dates, amounts of money and something vague about Noah’s family estate, but the most disturbing part was her f
Belle woke up with a sense of unease clinging to her like a second skin. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows across the room. Noah was still asleep beside her, his arm draped casually over her waist, his breathing deep and steady. It should have been comforting, but instead, her heart raced in her chest, the weight of last night’s revelations pressing down on her like a suffocating fog.She carefully slid out from under his arm, not wanting to wake him just yet. Padding across the room, she grabbed her robe and pulled it tightly around her body. The letter, the contract flashed in her mind again. Her father’s signature, Noah’s late father’s name, the vague, unsettling clause that had made her stomach twist. The connection between their families, hidden for years, felt like a bomb waiting to go off. And she was standing at ground zero.
Belle sat quietly in the passenger seat, her eyes trained on the road ahead as Noah drove them back to his apartment. The city lights blurred past them, casting fleeting streaks of color across her face. She felt Noah's gaze flicker toward her every now and then, as if he could sense the storm brewing inside her.It had been a long day, longer than she had expected. The outing had started well enough. They spent hours exploring the city, laughing and sharing moments that reminded her of why she'd fallen for him in the first place. But the weight of the contract, the implications of its existence, hung over her like a dark cloud, tainting every beautiful moment with an undercurrent of dread.Now, as they neared Noah's place, Belle felt the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in her chest