Chapter 0307

Hannah

I woke first to the glow of the sun hitting my face, and then to the warm sensation of an arm around me… and a hand cupping my breast. “Mm…”

Smiling, I snuggled back into the familiar body pressed against me. In my sleepy state, it felt natural, comforting, even happy. A warmth spread through me, pooling low in my belly.

Instinctively, I ground back against him, hearing a soft, sleepy groan in response. The hand on my breast tightened, calloused fingers brushing over my nipple and then pinching it ever so slightly. I let out a quiet gasp, arching my back into the solid body.

“Noah…” But as consciousness slowly seeped in, the reality of what was happening hit me like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head. Noah. This wasn’t some pleasant dream—it was the man I was supposed to hate. We were cuddling, and I had been grinding against his very obvious morning wood. Anger and surprise flared up inside me, hot and sudden. Acting on instinct, I growled and sank my teeth into the arm wrapped around me.

“Ow!” Noah yelped, jerking away and nearly falling off the bed. “What the hell, Hannah?”

I sat up, glaring at him as I clutched the sheets to my chest. My nightgown had slipped off my shoulder, revealing one bare breast. “I told you not to touch me!” I snarled, covering myself.

Noah rubbed his arm, looking too bewildered to even notice my nudity. “I was asleep!” he bit out. “I didn’t mean to touch you.”

“Oh, so you just happened to grab my breast and pinch my nipple in your sleep?” I snapped, my cheeks flushed from a combination of begrudging arousal and embarrassment.

“I wouldn’t do that on purpose,” Noah insisted. “You told me not to touch you, so I wouldn’t…”

I felt my shoulders slump slightly at his words. “You wouldn’t,” I repeated, my voice softer now.

Noah’s eyebrows knit together as he pushed his mop of dark hair out of his stormy face. “No, I wouldn’t.”

I couldn’t decide if his words meant he simply didn’t want to touch me, or if he was just being respectful of my wishes. Either way, it left an oddly hollow feeling in my chest. I felt like my heart was betraying me. I didn’t want him to touch me, and yet…

And yet, I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed that it hadn’t gone further.

“Whatever,” I muttered, throwing the covers back and climbing out of bed. “I’m going to get ready.”

We showered and dressed in awkward silence, carefully avoiding eye contact. As I brushed my hair, I caught Noah’s reflection in the mirror. He was buttoning his shirt, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I allowed my eyes to flick over the sliver of bare chest peeking out from beneath his shirt.

I hated him, and yet it had felt so good, so right to wake up in his arms, the warmth of his body against mine, that considerable member pressed up against my behind. If it had gone further, perhaps we would still be in the throes of it now, my back arched and my name on his lips… No. I shook my head, banishing the traitorous thoughts. Perhaps I was physically attracted to him, but that was it. Emotionally, he was my warden, and I hated him, and I couldn’t let myself soften towards him. Not now. Not when I had plans to run from him once we reached Silvermoon.

“Ready for breakfast?” Noah asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. We made our way downstairs to the hotel bistro, the tension between us almost palpable even as we found a table on the bright patio and warmed ourselves beneath the morning sun.