Kris X Noelle Novels & Stories

He cupped her face suddenly, roughly, forcing her to look up at him. “Say it again,” he demanded, his voice rough silk. Her lips parted, trembling. The words stuck in her throat, burned by the fire in his gaze. “I hate—” But the rest dissolved into silence, her chest heaving, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. His thumb brushed along her cheekbone, softer than she expected. “No. You don’t.” The air between them throbbed with unspoken tension. Her hands lifted instinctively, pressing against his chest — not to push him away, but to steady herself. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath the layers of fabric, matching the frantic rhythm of her own.