Chapter 173: Yours
Thorne closed the double doors to the bedroom with deliberate care, the sound a soft but definite click that echoed in the quiet room. His movements were slow, purposeful, like a predator stalking its prey. As he walked further inside, he began to strip out of his clothing, piece by piece. His shirt fell first, followed by his belt, then his pants, each article discarded carelessly onto the floor as he made his way toward the adjoining bathroom.
The faint sound of water lapping against the tub greeted him as he stepped inside. Noelle was reclining in the warm bath, his head tilted back, eyes closed, the steam curling around his relaxed form. His hair was damp and clung to his shoulders, and his expression was one of rare peace—a sight that made something stir deep within Thorne.
Thorne’s lips curved into a smirk as he approached, his voice low and teasing. "Room for one more, my beloved star?"
Noelle’s eyes fluttered open at the sound, and he looked up at Thorne, his gaze immediately raking over Thorne’s naked body. The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable, a fiery intensity that made Thorne’s smirk deepen. Without a word, Noelle shifted slightly in the tub, making room, and Thorne climbed in.
The water sloshed over the edges of the tub as Thorne settled behind Noelle, the small space forcing them close together. Noelle leaned back against Thorne’s chest, his body fitting against him perfectly, and a content sigh escaped his lips.
" Mimi?" Noelle asked, his voice soft but curious.
"Don’t worry," Thorne murmured, resting his chin lightly on Noelle’s damp hair. "Mona’s on babysitting duty. Though that greedy little girl charged me for it."
Noelle chuckled at that, a low, warm sound that made Thorne’s chest tighten in a way he wouldn’t dare admit aloud.
They sat like that for a while, the silence between them companionable, broken only by the faint splashes of water and the occasional creak of the tub. The warmth of the water and the closeness of their bodies created an almost dreamlike atmosphere, as if nothing outside this moment mattered.