Chapter 0278
It was so strange to see him like this. Comforting, too. And maybe a little frightening—because the way I had softened toward him during the feast, and the way his earlier words about an “outlet” had warmed my groin, was dangerous. He had acted like a perfect gentleman the entire feast. For once, it had felt like I had a… husband.
“What did you mean earlier about needing an outlet?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Noah blinked, as though trying to remember, and I felt my heart sink; maybe he had just said it in the moment and forgotten. But then, realization dawned on him. “You want the truth?” he slurred. I nodded, and Noah sighed. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since we slept together,” he admitted, his eyes meeting mine. “It’s driving me crazy.”
My heart rate picked up, but I forced myself to remain calm. “Noah, that was a one-time thing. We talked about this. We can’t complicate things, especially with the divorce coming up.”
“Why not?” he challenged, leaning closer so I could smell the wine on his breath.
I swallowed, my voice faltering for a moment with him so close. Finally, I muttered, “Because our relationship… isn’t deep enough anymore to warrant a lifelong marriage. We’ve grown apart, Noah. We’re different people now.”
Noah stared at me, confused. To prove my point, I decided to test him. “Do you remember that time we snuck out to the lake at midnight when we met for the second time? It was a full moon, and we…”
I trailed off, watching his face for any sign of recognition, waiting for him to finish the story. But Noah just looked confused, shaking his head slightly.
“See?” I said, trying to hide how much his lack of memory hurt. “You don’t even remember our past, and this isn’t the first time this has happened. We’re just… not in love anymore, Noah.”
The words stung as they came out, but I knew they were true. And it seemed, to my surprise, that Noah knew it as well.
“You’re right,” he growled, looking away. “We’re not in love. But what’s the harm in some physical intimacy?”
I stared at him, shocked. “What? Noah, you’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
With that, I stood up, intending to leave. But Noah was faster. He blocked the doorway, his body close to mine. Before I could react, he had my wrists pinned above my head against the wall.
My breath caught in my throat, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through me. I hated to admit it, but a part of me, the same part that had tasted the doe’s blood, was turned on by this forceful side of Noah. I fidgeted beneath his touch as one hand slid down the front of my body.
“Noah—”
Whatever words I was about to say died in my throat as he grabbed the hem of my dress, hiked it up roughly, and thrust his fingers between my legs. Instead of words, only a tiny whimper escaped my lips as he swirled his fingers there for a moment, feeling the wetness, then pulled away to show me his shiny, damp fingertips, proving his point.
“I know you need physical release too, Hannah,” he murmured, his face inches from mine. “Maybe even more than I do. We could come to an agreement—sleep together without the emotional ties for the remainder of our marriage. A release, for both of us.”
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat building in my core. “Noah, let me go,” I whispered, but my voice lacked conviction.
“Tell me you don’t want this,” he challenged, his grip on my wrists tightening slightly. “Tell me you haven’t been thinking about me too. And then I’ll let you go, and I won’t bring it up again.”
I closed my eyes, hating that I couldn’t deny it. I did need physical contact, and the thought of getting it from anyone else before our divorce was finalized made me feel sick.
My silence was all the answer he needed. With a soft growl, Noah released me, and my arms fell back to my sides like two leaden weights.
“I’ll… I’ll consider it,” I said, my voice trembling. “But right now, you need to sleep this off.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and left the room. I could feel his eyes burning into me the entire way.