Later that night, I found myself in Noah's stud, a place that had somehow become my sanctuary as much as his.
He worked quietly at his desk, head tilted as he reviewed papers with that usually perfect posture and air of effortless control. It used to slightly intimidate me.
Now, it was comfortable because he was near, and I knew his gaze would change the second he looked at me.
I sat curled up on a sofa, staring at him from across the room. These days I've completely given in to my feelings; I don't hide them at all. What's the point? Noah will be mine in the future. Who knew I would have such thoughts even a little over a week ago?
To think I was "pretending" as if because of my past life there's no way I would fall for him. While… it's true I feel nothing for any other man. But, for some reason, Noah, with his feminine features, just does something to me.
Don't get me wrong. He can also look lean, but not to the same degree as other muscle-bound men. His aura when he's pissed off completely shatters the morale of anyone who wishes to challenge him.
As I continued watching Noah do his work, I couldn't help but curl my lips at a playful thought. I stood up slowly, walked over, and without any word, I sat straight on his lap.
He looked startled at first but then gave a smile. He didn't ask any questions, just held onto me as I looked over his documents.
Then I leaned back into him, resting my head against his shoulder.
"Do you ever regret getting involved with me?" I asked curiously because his life has only become more hectic with me around. It wasn't even really fair to ask that when he's been so devoted to me recently. I think I just wanted to hear it from him so I would feel better.
A confirmation that this feeling growing between us was real and not just out of pity, but to my joy, he didn't even hesitate to answer.
"It's never even once crossed my mind." He said with a resolute tone.
My heart fluttered at his words. I rewarded him with a kiss to the cheek and then giggled.
"You know," I murmured, "when we first met… I honestly thought you wouldn't care about me at all."
I watched as he raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, at the time I was a bit delusional." I grinned. "Thinking you were some heroine here to save the day?"
He chuckled at that.
"At first, I admit, I never wanted to fall for you."
His eyes searched mine with a calm ease that was a little annoying. You'd think he would show more reaction.
"But… after all your care… these past few weeks, I can honestly say I'm looking forward to the future."
Before he could respond, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a deep kiss. This was actually only our second kiss up to this point; it's like Noah was afraid to make the first move unless I did. He would take over the second I made the leap.
He never panicked or flinched, just took everything in stride as if he'd been hoping I would do something so he could act on his own personal urges.
Once I got him activated, he seemed to lose himself in his own mission to take everything he could from me.
When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against his chest while playing with his shirt buttons.
"I think I'm in love with you," I whispered. "Well… I'm not all the way there, but… My heart is open to it, to you."
Noah smiled gently. "I know the feeling," He kissed the top of my head, "Because I'm the same." Then his voice dropped an octave. "But it's also created something dangerous inside me, a sort of… obsession."
I blink up at him. Isn't he just so cute?
My lips couldn't help but lift up on both sides. "That's kind of hot."
He raised an eyebrow in obvious amusement.
"I mean, who wouldn't want a dangerously obsessed, overpowered man clinging to their side, especially one who looks like you?" I teased, pecking his lips again.
His eyes always get this hot gleam in them every time I flirt a little too much. That must be the obsession he was talking about, trying to come out and say hi.
After another make-out session, Noah actually broke it off first for a change. "Would you like to sleep in the same bed tonight?" After what he said and my astonished face, he hurriedly said, "Just to hold each other, nothing more."
I couldn't help but grin, and my heart even tightened at the thought. My body didn't exactly object to the idea, but…
"It's not that I don't want to," I said carefully, resting my hands against his chest. "But I don't think it's time yet."
You could tell the air in his body just deflated, but he tried to hide it. "I'm afraid of what it might turn into," I admitted, glancing away. "I mean… If I'm seriously going to lose my v-card to you, I'd rather wait until the wedding day."
My voice dropped even lower to just a whisper. "It just feels like the right moment."
Noah gave a quiet hum. "You're probably right." He agreed honestly. "If you climbed into bed with me right now, I… might have trouble keeping it to just cuddling."
I blushed and smacked his chest playfully. Then I leaned forward, kissing him one last time, soft, slow, and full of unspoken promises.
"But," I whispered as I pulled back. "Since you brought it up earlier…"
I smirked, already removing myself from his lap. "I wouldn't mind a foot massage sometime; you did offer it the other day." I pressed my lips to my hand and blew a kiss towards him with dramatic flair as I sauntered towards the door. Noah let out a deep laugh, the kind that made my stomach twist in the best way.
As I walked back to my room, I was a little stunned by my own boldness. How can I be such a good flirt? I was becoming Seraphina more and more every single day. Honestly, I don't even see myself as a male anymore. Who wants to even remember that loser I was in the past?
Seraphina Velmoure, the Archduchess, had a good ring to it, which will be me soon enough.
To think after reading so many novels I would actually become a main character in my own real-life love story. If only there would be no trouble in the future, but I know that's impossible.
But… what's there to even be afraid of? Noah will just handle it.
I slipped into my room, closing the door behind me, and leaned back against it with a long sigh at my powerful resistance to Noah's pull. It would have been trouble if I went to his bed. Not yet, Seraphina.
I've already made up my mind; once our wedding day comes, I will offer myself to him completely to do what he wishes.
Honestly, that sounded really hot!
In my past life I was definitely more of a top, but now I want to experience the bottom from a man who's obsessed with me. I can only imagine how that would feel, hehe.
Thankfully I was able to bury my last life's emotions against the idea of being with a man because it would have made this life so much harder.
It was too late to change how I've turned out. In the future I will belong to Noah, especially when he does whatever I want in the future.
That was my role now, his woman. The benefits I would gain would be immeasurable.
The next morning, the estate buzzed with unexpected energy.
I didn't know why at first, until Livia nervously knocked on my door and informed me that one of the most famous dress designers in the capital had arrived.
Apparently, Noah had summoned her to create "the most beautiful wedding dress ever conceived," his exact words, according to Livia, who heard all the commotion earlier.
I stood in the sitting room in my night robe. Completely stunned as the designer, two assistants, and what looked like three carriages' worth of fabric samples were brought in.
The wedding was only a month away… and I hadn't planned a single thing.
Noah eventually joined us, completely at ease, while I sat frozen in a velvet chair, watching silk swatches get sorted into little piles like I knew what I was doing.
He sat beside me, resting an arm on the chair's edge.
"I thought we could at least begin with the dress," he said casually. "The rest, I'll handle."
I looked at him. "You really want to plan the whole wedding?"
Noah just shrugged, "Only if you're comfortable with that."
"You've already asked that before. I honestly don't care about my wedding at all, to be honest. I'm not one of those girls who lived only for that day all her life." Even in my past life, if I ever did get married, I would never want anything big because I hated being the center of attention.
The concept of being seen by so many people is something that will have to grow on me in the future. Being an archduchess won't allow me to hide on the back wall.
A small frown tugged at the corner of his lips. "You really don't care about your wedding?" He was obviously surprised.
I sighed. "It's not that I'm against it, Noah… It's just, I've never been the type of girl who dreamed of her wedding day, you know?"
He nodded slowly, still watching me.
"I'm much more interested in what comes after. You've known me for what… a little over a month now? Do you think I'm someone who likes to show off in front of people with beautiful dresses?
Noah just laughed out loud at my words. "Please never change, Sera." I felt his hand brush my hair. "I'll never force you to be someone you're not. If you want a small wedding, we can do that."
I smiled and then asked him a question of my own.
"Do you want a small wedding?"
He sat there for a while thinking about it. "NO," he said, with honesty. "Not really.
Then he continued, "I want to parade you in front of everyone, show them how beautiful my bride is. Make every man and woman jealous that you're mine."
My first reaction was to laugh, and at the same time I couldn't disagree with his sentiment.
"Well," I grinned, "when you put it like that, it doesn't sound so bad."
Noah kissed my forehead, and I could see that hint of mischief in his smile.
So here I was… Standing under a golden light in one of the estate's drawing rooms, surrounded by silks, lace, gemstones, and a woman who looked like she'd been summoned from a royal palace to hand-craft divinity.
The dress designer eyes me like an artist studying her canvas.
I gave a nervous laugh as she looked at me.
"Don't worry, my lady." She said with a bow. "I know exactly what kind of dress a woman like you needs."
That sentence hit something deep inside me.
A woman like me… I couldn't help but ponder for a while just who I was.
As the seamstress began her next round of measurements, I stood there deep in thought.
I'm not an obsessed bride with her wedding, a noble woman who only cares about titles, or a villainess. I was just… me. That thought brought the faintest smile to my lips.
Until I felt something cold, sharp, and wrong coming from my body. A stabbing pain so deep and sudden it nearly tore the air from my lungs.
My entire body jolted. I looked down and froze. A knife was a few inches deep into the left side of my stomach. I couldn't even scream or breathe, as if the whole damn world froze around me.
There was a hand on the blade, gripping it tightly, but in reverse of my body.
It had stopped it from going all the way in.
Blood was dripping down from that hand, trembling fingers, gashes carved across the knuckles. I looked up and met Noah's eyes. He was terrified and completely beyond reason.
His jaw was clenched, his face pale with a mix of rage and panic. He held the assassin's wrist in an iron grip, stopping the blade from moving any closer.
He didn't care that he was bleeding or hurt, just about the desire to protect me at the expense of his body. Noah gently forced the dagger out of my stomach.
The would-be assassin, a member of the dress designer's entourage, reeled back in shock, clearly stunned that he hadn't succeeded.
Noah didn't give him any time to regret it.
With a flash of movement too fast to see, the same dagger that had pierced me was plunged into his chest over and over again. Noah showed no mercy for someone who actually dared to try and kill me.
The attacker crumpled with a sickening thud.
Noah didn't even watch him fall because I was already collapsing. My hand touched my side, warm and slick with blood.
I looked down at my fingers in disbelief.
"Noah…" I whispered. Then everything tilted sideways and the lights dimmed.
When I came to, everything was warm.
Someone was cradling my head, arms strong and trembling.
I blinked multiple times as I looked at the face above me. Noah actually had a tear-streaked and ghostly pale face.
The way he was holding me, you would think I might disappear if he let go for even a second.
"Noah?" My voice came out much lower than I thought, possibly something to do with that damn assassin.
His eyes widened instantly.
"Sera," he breathed, and pulled me even closer against him. His voice cracked, "You're awake… Thank God!"
I reached up weakly, touching the edge of his sleeve.
"Why… are you crying?" I asked weakly.
"I thought I had lost you… For a moment, I really thought…" His voice broke, and that's when I started crying. Not from any pain, but seeing how much I meant to him that he would be this miserable at the thought of losing me.
"Noah…" I said while I sobbed into his chest. I felt his grip around me become even tighter.