The tiny earpiece rested between Noah's fingers, its black surface glinting ominously under the dim lighting.
Elena's breath hitched.
Her pulse pounded so violently, she could hear it in her ears.
For a moment, the room stood still.
So still, she could almost hear the faint ticking of the expensive Rolex wrapped around Noah's wrist.
His hand tightened around the small device, his knuckles turning white.
But his eyes…
They were far more dangerous.
Sharp. Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Caught you," he whispered, his voice deceptively soft.
A chill slithered down Elena's spine.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Her throat was dry.
Her mind blank.
She knew she should say something—anything—but the deadly glimmer in Noah's eyes warned her that no lie would save her now.
She was already trapped.
---
Noah's POV
He stared at the earpiece clutched in his palm, his jaw clenching so tightly it ached.
Betrayal.
It roared through his veins like a slow-burning poison, sharp and merciless.
He had known.
From the beginning, he had seen through her lies.
But he had let her in anyway.
Had let her crawl beneath his skin, taste his mouth, and cloud his mind.
And now, standing there with her, her eyes wide with the fear she was trying to hide, he felt a dangerous calm settle over him.
He dropped the earpiece onto the sleek marble countertop.
The faint clink echoed through the penthouse like a death knell.
He lifted his gaze to hers.
"You were never going to tell me," he murmured, his voice low. Almost dangerous.
"Were you?"
Her lips parted slightly, her breath uneven.
"Noah, I—"
"Don't," he cut her off sharply, his eyes turning ice-cold.
"Don't you dare say my name like that."
His tone was quiet.
But lethal.
She flinched, and that only made his blood burn hotter.
He took a slow step toward her.
Deliberate. Measured.
"Was it all a lie, Elena?" he asked softly, his voice laced with mocking amusement.
"The stolen glances… the trembling hands… the way you moaned my name last night?"
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She was frozen.
The dangerous gleam in his eyes darkened.
He reached out slowly, trailing his fingers along her jawline, then down her throat.
She shivered at his touch.
Not from pleasure.
But from the dark promise in his eyes.
Noah leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear.
"You're not trembling because you want me right now," he whispered darkly.
"You're trembling because you're afraid of what I'll do to you."
His breath was hot against her skin, and for a brief moment, she thought he might kiss her again.
But he didn't.
Instead, he grabbed her wrist and shoved her against the wall.
The impact knocked the breath from her lungs.
Her heart slammed against her chest as she stared up at him, her pulse racing with terror and something far more dangerous—longing.
But there was nothing gentle in his eyes now.
Only cold fury.
"Tell me," he rasped, his grip tightening slightly around her wrist.
"How much of it was real?"
Her throat tightened.
She shook her head, blinking back the tears stinging her eyes.
"I didn't—"
"Tell me the truth!" he roared suddenly, his voice breaking through the fragile calm.
Her chest heaved, her breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps.
She stared into his eyes, searching for the man who had kissed her so fiercely just hours ago.
But he was gone.
All that remained was the predator.
---
Elena's POV
Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall.
Not in front of him.
Not when he was looking at her like she was nothing.
She glared at him, her voice hoarse but defiant.
"I didn't lie about everything."
Noah's eyes narrowed.
A slow, humorless smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, really?" he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Which part was real, Elena? When you spread your legs for me, or when you ran back to Vincent like a good little spy?"
Her cheeks flushed with both shame and fury, but she held his gaze.
"I didn't run back to Vincent."
He stilled.
The sudden stillness was far more terrifying than his rage.
His fingers trailed down the side of her neck, barely touching her skin.
But his eyes…
They pinned her in place like iron shackles.
"Don't lie to me," he warned softly.
"Not now."
Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage.
Her lips trembled slightly, but she met his gaze head-on.
"I swear," she whispered hoarsely.
"I never went back."
For a fleeting moment, something flickered in his eyes.
Something raw.
Something human.
But it was gone just as quickly.
He yanked her away from the wall and spun her around, slamming her back against his chest.
His breath was hot against her ear as he grabbed her chin and tilted her head back.
"You think I'm stupid?" he growled lowly, his voice laced with venom.
"You think I don't know you've been feeding Vincent information about me for weeks?"
Her breath caught.
He knew.
Her knees almost buckled, but he held her firmly against him.
Unyielding.
"You made me look like a fool," he hissed, his grip tightening slightly.
"You played me. And you thought I wouldn't find out?"
Her hands clawed at his wrist, but he didn't let her go.
Instead, he leaned closer, his lips brushing against her jawline.
"You should have run when you had the chance," he whispered darkly.
And then he released her.
Suddenly. Brutally.
She staggered back slightly, her breath ragged.
But before she could move, his hand shot out and gripped her wrist again.
Firm. Unrelenting.
She gasped softly, staring up at him.
But this time, she didn't fight.
Because she knew.
It was useless.
She was already his prisoner.
Noah's eyes locked onto hers, his fingers tightening around her wrist.
And this time, there was no mercy in his gaze.
"You're not walking away from me," he warned darkly.
"Not now. Not ever."
And she knew he meant it.
Because Noah Kingston didn't let go of what was his.
And whether she liked it or not…
She was his.
---
As Noah's grip on her wrist tightened, Elena's phone suddenly buzzed on the marble counter.
The sound was deafening in the heavy silence.
Noah's eyes flicked toward it.
Her breath hitched.
For a split second, she prayed it was nothing.
A wrong number. A spam call.
But when Noah's gaze darkened, she knew.
He reached for the phone.
Held it up.
And his eyes narrowed dangerously at the name flashing across the screen.
Vincent Alvarez.
Elena's blood turned to ice.
She met Noah's gaze, her heart pounding violently against her ribs.
And the last thing she saw before the room spun...
Was the deadly promise in his eyes
See you in next chapter....