Novels by J.V.Noel

Lillium RooseveltThe car eased to a stop in front of the supermarket, the soft purr of the engine cutting off as James stepped out first to open my door. I gave him a quick nod before stepping out into the mild breeze. The city wasn’t loud here—just the low murmur of life, the screech of a shopping cart across pavement, and the casual bustle of strangers going about their day.We stood there for a moment just outside the doors. The flickering neon sign above hummed softly, almost like it was watching me.“Hey, James,” I said, pulling back before he could stride ahead in his pressed slacks and black jacket. “Can I ask you for something?”He turned his head, eyebrow slightly raised. “Of course.”“Could you maybe… not look like you're about to secure a private bank vault?” I said, gesturing vaguely at his immaculate suit. “I mean, I don’t want people staring or thinking we’re here to buy the whole store.”James tilted his head thou

Adam LewistonThe cursor blinked at the center of the screen.I sat motionless in my office, one elbow resting on the arm of my chair, fingers lightly pressed against my lips—still remembering the way Lu's lips had felt against mine. Soft, warm, real. A fleeting moment stolen in his apartment.The silence around me was absolute, but inside my head, it was anything but. A cacophony of objections from my logical, calculating self, drowned out by a persistent, almost desperate yearning. My eyes remained fixed on the page in front of me. Le Cordon Bleu – New York Campus. One of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. No—the most prestigious. And one of the most expensive, of course.It wasn’t the tuition fees that had me hesitating. It was the look I imagined on Lu’s face if he ever saw this. That wide-eyed mix of disbelief and joy. The same look he'd worn when I'd surprised him with a new, industrial-grade blender for the truck, replaci

Lillium Roosevelt The warmth from the shower still clung to my skin, trailing steam with me as I stepped quietly back into the living room, towel draped around my shoulders and hair damp against my forehead. The apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed in, amplifying the frantic beat of my own heart. And there he was—Dominus—curled awkwardly on the couch like he hadn’t slept in years. His head rested against a throw pillow, one arm cradling his side where the fresh bandages held firm. His breathing was even, deep. The tension he always carried in his face, the perpetual scowl that seemed etched into his very being, had vanished, replaced by something boyish and unguarded. It didn’t suit him. This vulnerable slump of humanity was foreign, unsettling. But somehow, it made sense. Beneath the carefully constructed facade of the ruthless collector, was a man. A man who, like everyone else, needed sleep, needed comfort

Lillium Roosevelt "Dominus," I began. He hummed in acknowledgment, low and rough, a sound that vibrated more than it resonated. I hesitated before asking, "If it wasn't you who hit Tommy with the car… then who was it?" He turned his head now, looking at me for real. His eyes, usually veiled with amusement or a casual indifference, were now sharp, calculating. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing like he wasn’t sure how much to say. It was a dangerous expression on a dangerous man. "Because," I went on, my voice trembling despite my best efforts, "I need to know. I need to know who did it. Who left him in that hospital bed. And don’t tell me it doesn’t matter because—” "I didn’t say it didn’t matter," he interrupted, his voice low but sharp, a steel blade sheathed in velvet. I stopped. Let him speak. Dominus looked away again, his jaw tight, a muscle ticking visibly. The daylight danced on the harsh angles of his face, painting him as both beautiful and terrifying. He looked like

Lillium RooseveltI turned away from him before I could explode again. My hands were shaking, and my throat felt like it was closing. Every word, every accusation, every defensive barb had tasted like ash, coating my tongue with the bitterness of our shattered past.I moved toward the kitchen, slow and stiff, as if my body didn’t quite belong to me. The silence behind me was heavier than the words we’d thrown at each other. A charged, suffocating silence that pressed against my eardrums. But right now, I needed air. I needed something cold, something real to keep me from unraveling.My fingers gripped the edge of the counter as I reached for the nearest glass and filled it from the tap. The sound of water was the only thing breaking the stillness. I stared at it as it poured, eyes unfocused, like the rushing noise might drown out the memories clawing up from the corners of my mind.Rooftops. The city lights blurred around us, painting his face in

Dominus VanePain was the first thing I felt. Not the dull kind that crawls under your skin. This one was sharp—tight around my ribs, lancing through my side every time I breathed too deep. But then came the second thing. Light. Warm and low, the kind that filled the edges of a modest apartment. And then him. Lu.Kneeling beside the couch, brow furrowed, cleaning the floor with a rag stained in my blood. Not frantic. Not afraid. Methodical. Focused.I blinked slowly, trying to ground myself in the moment. My head was pounding, my limbs heavy. My jacket and shirt were on the floor nearby, tossed carelessly like discarded armor. My skin felt cold, save for the tightness of fresh bandages wrapped around my torso. He’d done that. He could’ve called the cops. He could’ve let me bleed out. But he hadn’t.A slow, dry chuckle escaped my lips. My voice was rough, wrecked from exhaustion. Still, I couldn’t help the smirk that twisted up as I looked at him.

Present Day Twenty-third of December, New York City TYLER Just as the snow kept falling on the ground, Miles and I decided to take a walk around the park. Even in the cold weather, we couldn't resist the beauty of the winter wonderland surrounding us. The trees were dusted in snow, their branches hanging low under the weight of the sparkling flakes. The lakes were frozen over, a sheet of ice reflecting the sunlight as it peeked through the clouds. And in the distance, we could see people skating on the frozen water, their laughter echoing through the frosty air. "It's been a while, Miles," I said, trying to break the silence as we walked side by side, our footsteps leaving imprints in the freshly fallen snow. Miles looked at me and smiled, his teeth slightly visible under his scarf. "Yeah, it has," he replied, his voice warm and familiar. I couldn't help but be taken aback by his mesmerizing smile, his hazel eyes still holding the same sparkle that I remembered. We had been tog

MILES Prom night had been one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. I had spent months preparing for it, getting the perfect suit, finding the perfect date, and convincing my parents to let me go. But what made that night truly unforgettable was not the glitz and glamour of the prom, but the decision that Tyler and I made afterwards. Tyler and I talked about our plans. We wanted to go on a trip together, just the two of us, and create unforgettable memories. At first, we had planned to go somewhere foreign, someplace exotic and romantic. But we began to realize that he would soon be heading off to college and may not have the chance to travel together again. So, we decided to change our plans and go somewhere meaningful instead. At my Grandfather's hometown. Tyler loved the idea and we began planning our trip immediately. As we shared our plans with our families, they were overjoyed and my parents suggested that we make it a family trip. At first, I was hesitant, thinking i

MILES As I stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. It was prom night, and I had been looking forward to this moment for weeks. My black suit and red bowtie were perfectly tailored, and my black hair was styled to perfection. I couldn't help but smile at my reflection, feeling confident and beautiful. But as I gazed into the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder if my boyfriend would be just as impressed. We had been together for a month now, and I had always made an effort to look my best for him. But tonight was different, tonight was special. I wanted to make sure he knew just how much he meant to me. I took a deep breath and straightened my tie, adjusting the bowtie so that it sat perfectly in place. I smoothed out my hair and took one last look at myself before turning away from the mirror. It was time to meet my date and start our night. As I stood there in my room, surrounded by the familiar walls and

EMILY As we all sat down at the dinner table, I couldn't help but notice how grumpy Dad's expression was. His brows met, and there was anger and frustration in his eyes. He must be having a bad day today. "How was your day?" my mom asked as she handed the mashed potatoes to Dad. Dad took a deep breath before answering, his voice low and gruff. "It was a long day," he said, his jaw clenched. "I had to deal with a lot of stuff at work, and then I lost 3-star players off my team." I could feel my eyes rolling in my head before he even finished the sentence. Meredith caught my reaction and let out a chuckle. She must have gotten my humor because she knew exactly what was coming. As we began eating our dinner, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust listening to Dad's empathetic way of sharing about his day. He was talking about how difficult it was to lose his three best players, how it was going to affect our chances in the tournament, and how he was struggling to find new playe

JESSICA The morning light crept into my room, casting a pale glow over the familiar scene of my bedside table, cluttered with books and papers, and my rumpled bedcovers. But nothing could dispel the darkness that had settled in my heart. My mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and hurt as I read the latest news on my phone. My father's affair with my best friend, Sophie, was no secret anymore. It was all over the school's website, splashed across the screens of every device within reach. And it wasn't just the embarrassment and shame that cut deep; it was the knowledge that my flesh and blood had betrayed me, that he had chosen his desires over our family's well-being. But that wasn't even the worst part. As if the stab to my heart wasn't enough, the article also revealed that my mother's struggles with insanity had become so severe that she could no longer keep up the pretense of normalcy. I felt like I was drowning in a tidal wave of pain and anger, unable to escape the crushing

JESSICA As the night descended, the shadows grew long and dark, casting an eerie glow over everything as the streets were adorned with streetlamps, save for the distant hum of crickets and the occasional barking of dogs. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I drove my car towards my aunt's Wedding Anniversary Party, while the memory of my mother's recent conversation with that psychiatrist still lingered in my mind. I sighed to calm myself, the air around me seemed to shift and ripple like a heat mirage on a summer day. The tension in my shoulders eased ever so slightly as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting the cool night air wash over me. When I opened my eyes again, everything looked different - the neon lights of the city seemed brighter, the sounds of traffic more distant, and the stars above twinkled like diamonds scattered across the velvet blackness of the sky. It was then that I knew something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.