CHAPTER TWO

Louis’s fingers pressed just a little higher, brushing the bare skin of her inner thigh. Nora’s breath caught in her throat, her whole body tightening beneath his touch. She knew she should push him away, scream, do something—but all she could do was tremble.

His eyes never left hers, dark and steady, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips as though he already knew how weak she was against him.

Then the sound of a car horn split the air.

Nora jolted like she’d been doused with ice water. Her pulse spiked with panic as reality came rushing back. She shoved at his chest, stumbling back from the counter with a sharp gasp.

“Shit,” she whispered under her breath, biting her lip hard enough to sting. What the hell was I doing?

Louis didn’t move right away. He stood there, watching her with an unreadable expression, before slowly stepping back. His gaze dropped once—just once—to her trembling thighs, then returned to her face.

That damned smile curved his mouth again, calm, assured, like he’d won something she hadn’t realized was a game.

Without a word, he brushed past her and walked out of the kitchen, his composure intact, leaving her pressed against the counter, heart thundering in her chest.

Nora pressed her palm to her mouth, forcing down the frantic sound threatening to escape her throat. Her body still burned where he’d touched her, the heat refusing to fade no matter how hard she willed it away.

The front door opened.

Her mother’s voice floated through the house, cheerful, familiar, devastating. “Louis? Nora? I’m back!”

Nora scrambled upstairs, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and what had just almost happened. She grabbed the doorknob to her room, slipped inside, and leaned against it, her chest rising and falling in ragged bursts.

Only after a long moment did she force herself to peek out again.

From the top of the staircase, she saw them.

Her mom in Louis’s arms, laughing, her hands resting easily on his chest. Louis bent down and kissed her like it was the most natural thing in the world, his hand resting on her hip exactly where it had been on Nora minutes before.

Nora’s stomach lurched. She slapped her hand over her mouth, turning away quickly before the sound of disgust and—worse—jealousy escaped.

She staggered back into her room and shut the door.

Her thoughts were a mess, guilt tearing at her insides while her body betrayed her completely. Every inch of her still ached, still hummed with the memory of his fingers brushing her skin, his body so close she could hardly breathe.

She cursed under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut, but it did nothing to quiet the need clawing through her. Her nightgown clung to her damp skin, the thin fabric useless against the heat building inside her.

Her hand slid down almost without permission, slipping beneath the fabric. She moaned softly, the sound muffled by her pillow as she touched herself, imagining it was him again—his voice, his hands, his mouth. Her hips moved restlessly, her body straining for release.

The door creaked open.

Nora froze, her hand stilling instantly. Her eyes snapped open in horror.

Louis stood in the doorway, framed by the hallway light. His gaze fixed on her, unwavering, dark with something that made her throat dry.

Her breath stuttered. “L–Louis…” she whispered, her voice cracking, her body trembling. “I—I wasn’t—”

He shut the door behind him, locking them into silence.

In three strides, he was at her bedside. His hand caught her wrist before she could pull away, guiding her trembling fingers back between her thighs.

Nora gasped, her lips parting, shame burning through her even as her body betrayed her with a desperate shiver.

“Don’t stop now,” he murmured, his voice low, almost a growl.

Her eyes fluttered closed as his mouth crashed down on hers, hard and demanding. The kiss swallowed her protest, stole her breath, left her clinging to him like she was drowning.

His other hand slid beneath her nightgown, cupping her breast, his thumb brushing across her hardened nipple until she whimpered.

When his fingers replaced hers, stroking her slowly, deliberately, she cried out softly against his lips, her body arching into his touch despite the voice in her head screaming this is wrong.

And when the wave of pleasure finally tore through her, leaving her shaking in his arms, the guilt hit just as hard.

“This…” she stammered, her chest heaving as she tried to form the words. “Th–this should never have happened.”

Louis only kissed her again, harder this time, swallowing her shame as if it didn’t matter at all.

---

The morning light spilled across Nora’s room, soft and golden. She blinked awake and instantly regretted it, because her body remembered before her mind could lie to her. She remembered his hands on her, his mouth against her skin, and her own shameful sounds filling the air.

She pressed her face into the pillow. Last night should never have happened. If she kept repeating it, maybe she would believe it.

Downstairs, the smell of coffee met her first. Then she saw him.

Louis leaned against the counter, a mug in hand, his shirt half-buttoned, the muscles in his forearms flexing each time he lifted the cup. He looked like the man her mother trusted so easily.

But Nora couldn’t stop seeing the other version of him. She remembered how he had pinned her in the kitchen and touched her until she couldn’t breathe.

Her fingers curled against the stair railing. “About last night…” The words came out unsteady. “It was nothing. It won’t happen again.”

Louis didn’t blink. His gaze held hers until the silence stretched. His mouth curved into something darker, a look that unsettled her. “If you say so.”

Nora turned quickly, pretending to fuss with the juice bottle. Her nightdress slipped from her shoulder as she reached up, baring a line of skin she didn’t mean to reveal. When she spoke again, her voice carried a softness that made him glance at her lips before he could stop himself.

“Toast?” she asked, her eyes still on the counter.

Louis lowered his mug, jaw tightening. He told himself to look away. He told himself to stay seated. But the hem of her dress brushed higher as she bent to pick up a spoon, and the soft laugh she gave at her phone’s screen pushed him closer to the edge.

He gripped the mug harder, his knuckles whitening. She looked so innocent, but the curve of her lips was so damn tempting it made his jaw ache.

“Louis?” she asked, catching his stare.

He forced his voice to stay steady. “Finish your breakfast.”

She frowned slightly, but didn’t press him.

Minutes later, the sound of her mother’s car leaving cut through the silence. Nora hummed to herself as she rinsed her plate at the sink. Her dress swayed with every small movement. Heat crawled under his skin.

He meant to walk out the back door, to put space between them. But her voice stopped him again.

“Louis?”

He turned. She stood by the counter, brushing her hair over one shoulder, her lips parted just slightly. The sight snapped what little control he had left.

In two strides he was in front of her, his arms braced on either side of the counter, caging her in. Her breath hitched.

“Louis—”

A ringtone cut through the tension.

He cursed under his breath, dragging his phone from his pocket. Her mother’s name glowed on the screen.

“Yeah,” he said, voice rough. “She’s fine. Don’t worry.”

The call ended, but the moment had already shifted.

“I never expected that my mom would keep you as a guard over me.” Nora muttered.

“She's only caring for you.” Louis replied.

Nora nodded. “You take care of my mom and also me.” She muttered. She knew the words might sound harmless but Louis understood very well the meaning behind those words.

“I thought you didn't want us to talk about it.” He asked, looking at her.

Nora chuckled. “I'm just curious.” She muttered.

“Anything that happened last night was a mistake like you said and I would very much appreciate it if you didn't bring up the topic again.” He said.

Nora chuckled.

“What if I don't want it to be a mistake now,” Nora asked.

Louis looked at her.

But before he could reply she stood up. “I'll be in my room,”she said.

A few minutes after entering her room. Her phone rang.

She checked out the caller's ID. It was her mom calling.

Why was she calling her? She thought before picking the call.

“Nora, I need you to help me pass a message to Louis. I tried calling him but it wouldn't connect. Tell him to send the document to me.” Angela said.

“Alright.” Nora muttered before hanging up.

She sighed.

Facing Louis was just something she didn't want to do again. Last night hunted her and as much as she claims that it was a mistake her body didn't seem to agree with her. Mere looking at him back at the dining made her wet already.

She stood up and made her way to Louis' room.

Without knocking on the door she slammed it open only to meet the shock of her life.

Louis was stark naked while touching himself on his bed.