Chapter 346: Chapter 362

Chapter 0362 I blinked, shocked. “I had no idea.”

+25 BONUS His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “It made me realize that she might not have our best interests at heart, even though she claims to be our friend. I’ve been distancing myself from her since then.”

He paused, then added, “I’m glad that Drake was there that night. If it had just been Zoe who was ‘helping‘ me look for you, I fear... I fear I wouldn’t have found you at all. Drake was relentless in trying to find you, even putting his own life in danger. It made me see him in a whole new light. And it made her behavior all the more stark.”

I leaned against Noah’s shoulder, warmed by his confession–and his understanding. “So, what are you going to do about Zoe?” I found myself asking.

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow,” he said firmly. “I’ll tell her that if she doesn’t clean up her behavior, she can’t be part of our inner circle anymore. No more parties, no more dinners, no more visits. She can be a part of Nightcrest, but not a part of... us.”

Relief washed over me, thick and heavy. I must have let out a loud breath, because Noah straightened, cocking his head. I shook my head and murmured gratefully, “You’ve changed. In a good way.”

Softening, he placed his hand on my belly, right over my own fingers. “I had to change,” he murmured. “For both of you.”

Then, Noah stood, offering me his hand. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

He led me into the nearby woods, along a familiar trail. My mind flashed back to the night I had told him I, didn’t want to have his baby, right here in this very spot. But now, as we walked hand in hand, those memories felt like they belonged to someone else.

Worlds away.

We emerged into a small clearing that I hadn’t visited in some time. It had a large oak tree right in the center, its branches thick and full with summer leaves. Fireflies danced through the air, lazily resting on the grass between shafts of pale blue moonlight.

The grass appeared freshly mown, dipping in some spots where deer had rested overnight.

“I was out for a walk the other day and stumbled upon this place,” he said as we stepped into the clearing. “I haven’t been out here for so long, I’d almost forgotten about it.”

I turned slowly, taking it in. “I haven’t been here in a while, either,” I said. Although I did remember walking here with him when we first moved in. He seemed to remember, too–apparently, only our shared past leading up to our marriage went forgotten in his mind.

Noah smiled, shrugging off his jacket and laying it on the ground. He sat down, patting the space beside him. I lowered myself carefully, nestling against his side as we both looked up at the night sky.

“I was thinking we could build a little treehouse in that oak tree someday,” he mused, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my arm.

“Once our kid is old enough.”

I grinned at the thought. “That sounds... perfect.”

Noah turned on his side, his eyes sparking with those tiny fires. He grabbed my chin and gently pulled me closer, our lips meeting in a tender kiss.

1/2 +25 BONUS Chapter 0362 Tender at first, at least. But soon it grew more fervent, more yearning. Before I knew it, I was sitting up and straddling him on the ground, hiking my gauzy dress up around my hips. His eyes widened.

“Hannah, what are you-

“I want you,” I murmured, leaning down to brush warm kisses against his cheeks, his jaw, his neck. “I need you.”

Noah let out a soft growl. I felt warm fingers slip beneath my skirts, brushing against the fabric of my lacy panties. He stroked me there in slow, gentle circles until my legs were trembling, the lace soaked.

Just before I reached my peak on top of him, he unfastened his pants and slipped into me, swift and lethal.

I sat up, back arching, a shuddering howl slipping free from my throat as he filled me, Gasping, I clamped my hand over my mouth, eyes widening as I realized what I had done in my moment of ecstasy.

But Noah just continued to thrust himself deeper and deeper, inch by glorious inch, into me.

“Howl all you want, baby,” he huffed as he pushed himself all the way to the hilt, until I thought I might split in half from the size of him. “I want everyone to know what we do when they’re not watching.”