"Your friend left." I broke the silence.
Her body stiffened, but she didn't turn around.
"You won't even let me see female friends?" Her voice was calm, but she deliberately emphasized "female."
My lips curved slightly.
"This isn't about gender, Noelle." I leaned down. "Male or female, your heart shouldn't belong to anyone else."
"Then where should it belong?" She finally turned, those eyes looking straight at me. "With you?"
Her question caught me off guard.
"Of course." I quickly recovered, my fingers lightly stroking her nape.
Her skin was warm and smooth. The moment I touched her, she trembled as if shocked. This pleased me—at least her body still remembered my touch, remembered who was in control.
"You're shaking."
"Your hands are cold." She turned away.
"Liar. Are you afraid of me, or... anticipating me?"
"You're overthinking it."
"Am I?" My fingers traced down her neckline, stopping at her collarbone. "Then why is your heart racing?"
She didn't answer, just stood up abruptly, putting distance between us.
"If there's nothing else, I'd like to rest."
"There is something." I straightened, adjusting my cuffs. "Come with me."
"Where?" she asked warily.
"My study." I walked toward the door. "Now."
Noelle stood in the study doorway, not entering, her body tense as a drawn bow.
"Come in. Close the door." I walked to my desk and opened a drawer.
She hesitated for a few seconds, then complied.
I took out a velvet jewelry box and placed it on the desk.
"Come here."
She approached slowly, her gaze falling on the box.
I opened it. A platinum necklace—twisted thorn vines encrusted with diamonds, with a holly berry carved from ruby hanging at the center, blazing brilliantly in the firelight.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I lifted the necklace, diamonds flowing between my fingers.
"Yes, it's beautiful." Her voice was soft. "But I don't need it."
"I'm not asking for your opinion." I met her eyes. "Put it on."
"I don't want to."
