Chapter 342

When I returned, Noah was half-asleep, his breathing slow and deep. “Here,” I said softly, placing the milk and cookie on the coffee table. “This might help.”

Noah opened his eyes and blinked, surprise evident in his tired features. “Oh. Thank you.”

I hesitated as he ate the cookie, then moved behind the couch. Slowly, I began to rub his shoulders, feeling the tension beneath my fingers. His muscles were like steel cables, wound tight with stress and worry.

He groaned softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “I should be doing this for you,” he murmured. “Not the other way around.”

“Shh,” I hushed him, my fingers working deeper into the knots. “Just relax.”

As I worked, I realized how much I had softened toward Noah. The thought startled me. If it weren’t for the situation with Silvermoon, I might even consider… No. I couldn’t let myself think that way.

Later that night, as we prepared for bed, Noah turned to me. The soft lamplight warmed his face. “Do you want to fulfill our contract tonight?” he asked, his voice gruff with exhaustion.

I hesitated, biting my lip. The thought of sleeping with him in that way… wasn’t appealing. Not for lack of attraction, but…

I shook my head. “Not tonight. I just want you to… hold me. If that’s okay.” The words surprised us both.

Noah blinked, surprise flickering across his face. “You don’t want to have sex? Even though we didn’t last night?”

“No,” I said softly, feeling vulnerable. “I just want you to hold me.”

For a moment, he stared, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded. “Okay,” he said gently.

We climbed into bed. Noah switched off the lights.

In the quiet night, I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me close. His chest was solid against my back, his breath warm on my neck. The faint scent of his cologne enveloped me.

As we lay there, I felt something shift inside. This felt more intimate, more emotional than any of our recent sexual encounters. I could feel his heartbeat against my back, a comforting rhythm in the stillness.

Chapter 342 + 25 Bonus

I woke expecting Noah to be gone, but the bed was still indented beside me, his arms holding me close. At some point, I had turned to face him.

I opened my eyes, my breath catching as I saw him asleep, his expression softened. Sunlight filtered through the curtains.

In the gentle light, I studied his face. He looked younger, the lines of worry smoothed away.

Without thinking, I brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. My fingers grazed his warm skin. As I watched him sleep, memories of the past months flashed through my mind—the tender moments, the shared laughter, the quiet understanding. None of the pain or fighting or anguish.

Suddenly, a realization hit me. My heart stuttered, and a warmth spread through me.

Dammit. I had fallen for him.