Eve stood frozen, her breath shallow as she stared at Nolan. The soft candlelight in his room flickered, casting shadows that danced across his face. His crimson eyes, usually so unreadable, now held something different—something raw, something unguarded.
She clutched the towel around herself a little tighter. She wasn't sure what she had expected when she came here, standing at his door in nothing but a thin layer of fabric and damp hair. Maybe she had expected him to scoff, to tease her for being reckless, for looking vulnerable. But he did none of that.
Instead, he remained silent, his gaze locked onto hers, unblinking.
A moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Then, without looking away, he set the pocket watch down on his desk and rose to his feet.
Eve swallowed hard.
The way he moved—slow, deliberate, controlled—sent shivers down her spine. He approached her, his steps measured, until he was close enough that she could feel his presence, the coolness of his body contrasting against the lingering heat of her bath-warmed skin.
He reached out, fingers brushing against the damp strands of her hair. "You're going to catch a cold."
Eve let out a breathless laugh. "Are you seriously worried about that right now?"
His fingers lingered, gently trailing down to her jawline. "I worry about many things when it comes to you."
She wasn't sure if it was his voice, the way he said it, or the sheer closeness of him, but her pulse quickened. The towel around her shoulders suddenly felt too thin, the space between them too small.
"Nolan..."
She wasn't even sure what she was asking for. She just knew she wanted more—more of this tension, more of him, more of the way his fingers traced over her skin like she was something fragile yet untouchable at the same time.
He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His thumb brushed over her lower lip, and for a moment, he simply looked at her, as if memorizing every detail. "Do you know what you're doing, little witch?"
Eve's cheeks burned. "I know what I want."
His eyes darkened. "And what is that?"
She bit her lip. "You."
For a second, nothing happened. And then, in a blur of movement, Nolan's lips crashed against hers. It wasn't gentle, nor was it hesitant—it was hungry, desperate, as if some invisible restraint inside him had finally snapped.
Eve gasped against his mouth, but he swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss, pulling her flush against him. His hands found her waist, gripping her like he needed to feel every inch of her against him. The coolness of his body sent a sharp contrast against her warmth, but it only made her press closer.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. He growled lowly at the sensation, the sound reverberating through her body, sending heat pooling deep in her stomach.
Somewhere between kisses, the towel around her loosened, slipping from her grasp. She gasped, but Nolan caught it before it could fall away completely. His hands gripped the fabric at her shoulders, his breathing uneven as he pulled back just enough to look at her.
His gaze was unreadable, flickering between restraint and something far darker.
"Eve," he murmured, voice husky. "Tell me to stop."
She met his gaze, heart hammering in her chest. "I won't."
A muscle in his jaw tensed. He exhaled sharply, then, in one swift motion, scooped her up into his arms.
She barely had time to react before she found herself pressed against the silk sheets of his bed. He hovered over her, his weight barely touching her, as if he were afraid of breaking her. But his eyes—they burned with something she had never seen before.
"You're trembling," he whispered, his fingers tracing over her collarbone.
She swallowed. "Not from fear."
Something flickered in his expression. "Then why?"
"Because you make me feel things I've never felt before."
A sharp breath escaped him, and whatever restraint he had been holding onto finally shattered. His lips found hers again, softer this time, but no less intense. His fingers traced down her arms, across her ribs, memorizing every curve and dip of her body.
Eve felt her world narrow to just this—just him. Every touch, every kiss sent fire racing through her veins. She arched into him, desperate for more, for everything.
And Nolan—Nolan gave it to her.
He worshipped her with slow, reverent touches, his lips mapping out a path down her neck, across her shoulders, lower. His cool breath ghosted over her skin, sending shivers rippling through her. He explored her as if she were something precious, something he had waited lifetimes for.
And in a way, maybe he had.
As the night stretched on, their bodies tangled together, breaths mingling, whispers shared between gasps and moans. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, everything she had ever imagined and more.
She didn't know when exhaustion finally took over, only that she woke hours later, tangled in his embrace. His arm was draped possessively around her waist, his face nestled against her hair. He was cool against her warmth, their bodies fitting together as if they had always belonged like this.
Eve shifted slightly, pressing a kiss to his collarbone. "Are you awake?"
A hum of acknowledgment vibrated through him. "Barely."
She smiled, tracing patterns against his chest with her fingertips. "So… are you going to pretend this never happened?"
He pulled her closer, lips pressing against her forehead. "Never."
A warmth spread through her chest at his words. She had expected hesitation, but instead, there was certainty—an unspoken promise that neither of them would run from this.
She sighed contentedly, closing her eyes. "Good. Because I don't regret a single second."
Nolan was silent for a moment before murmuring, "Nor do I."
And as the night faded into the first light of dawn, Eve drifted off to sleep in his arms, knowing that this—this feeling, this connection—was something neither of them could ever undo.
~~~----------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / HPdreamer