Chapter 96: In love
The soft morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. Noelle stirred, feeling the gentle heat on his skin, the familiar softness of the luxurious bed beneath him. His body ached in a way that reminded him of the night before—a lingering soreness that held no complaint, only a deep satisfaction. The traces of their passion clung to him, like a delicate memory etched into his muscles. But the thought nagged at the back of his mind. Honestly, was it safe to sleep with each other as much as they did?
A looming shadow disturbed his half-awake state. Noelle cracked open an eye, casting a bleary but pointed glare at Thorne, who stood beside the bed with a smug grin, having dared to interrupt his morning slumber.
"Good morning, my star," Thorne greeted softly, his voice a soothing balm to Noelle’s mildly irritated expression.
"Good morning," Noelle mumbled, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite himself. He sat up slowly, running a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep.
Thorne leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Noelle’s forehead. The gesture, simple yet full of warmth, made Noelle’s heart flutter. "Get dressed, my beloved star. I have a surprise for you."
Noelle’s curiosity flickered awake. Thorne wasn’t often one for surprises, but when he did go through the effort, it was usually worth it. He glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "A surprise?"
Thorne’s eyes glinted with amusement as he nodded. "Yes, we’re leaving the capital for the day. I’ve arranged something special."
Leaving the capital? On a whim? That wasn’t like Thorne at all, and it only piqued Noelle’s interest further. "Where are we going?"
"You’ll see," Thorne replied, his tone intentionally mysterious, a small smirk tugging at his lips.