Chapter 1464
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his fingers, braced on either side of her, tightened convulsively.
Serena was just about to pull back.
But Nicholas leaned in, chasing her lips.
He pressed against her, deepening the contact.
It wasn’t a fleeting touch like before.
It carried a heavy dose of repression, mixed with the agonizing reluctance of a man pushed to the absolute edge of his restraint.
Serena’s eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers still loosely hooked around his tie.
She made no move to push him away.
However, Nicholas didn’t push any further.
He knew perfectly well that if he took it any further, he truly wouldn’t be leaving this room tonight.
He released her, closing his eyes as he forcibly smothered the storm raging in his gaze. He rested his forehead against hers. “Serena, you are exquisite torture p>
Deliberately not pulling away.
Not stopping him.
Letting him deepen the kiss.
All while knowing exactly p>
That he couldn’t actually cross the line.
It was agonizing… he was losing his mind.
Serena chuckled softly. “You are so hard to please. You don’t want this, you don’t want that. You should just leave p>
The man’s burning eyes remained fixed on her.
It took him several long moments before he finally took a deep breath.
He lowered his head and pressed one last, incredibly light kiss to the corner of her mouth.
“Serena p>
His voice was thick with strain. “Don’t lie to me p>
He kept his forehead gently pressed against hers.
Those beautiful eyes were saturated with an impenetrable layer of fear. “Don’t lie to me, and don’t leave me behind p>
Serena’s fingers paused imperceptibly.
Nicholas watched her.
It was as if he wanted to memorize every microscopic shift in her expression.
A few seconds later, Serena smiled. “Nicholas, you’re being extremely clingy p>
Nicholas didn’t deny it. “Yes. Because I’m terrified p>
Terrified that the person he had just won back would leave him behind again.
Terrified she would walk into a death trap alone.
Terrified that despite her promises to share the burden, she would turn around and shake everyone off the moment their backs were turned.
Serena studied him for a few
seconds before reaching up to push his shoulder Co If you stay any longer, my brother is actually going to break in to catch us in the act p>
Nicholas let out a low hum of agreement.
Yet he lingered for a few more seconds before finally pulling away.
He tucked the blanket securely around her, leaned down to press a soft kiss to her
forehead, and whispered, “Goodnight p>
Serena lazily closed her eyes. “Goodnight p>
Nicholas took one final look at her before slipping out the window.
Judging by his fluidity, it clearly wasn’t his first time pulling a stunt like this.
As the sound of the window clicking shut echoed through the room, silence reclaimed the space.
Serena lay in bed with her eyes closed for a moment, looking every bit the picture of pure exhaustion.
It wasn’t until the incredibly faint presence outside her window completely vanished that she slowly opened her eyes.
The lazy, sleepy facade she had worn moments ago was completely gone.
All that remained was icy, calculated focus.
She sat up and threw off the covers.
Her bare feet hit the plush carpet without making a single sound.
She booted up her laptop.
The eerie blue glow of the screen illuminated her face, making her eyes look even more detached and frigid.
Serena pulled up The Obsidian-Gold E-Invite The Raven had sent.
The black raven emblem sat ominously in the center of the screen.
Its wings spread wide.
Like a massive, invisible net waiting to snap shut.
Staring at the digital invitation, Serena’s lips curled into a freezing smirk.
She grabbed her phone and tapped the screen a few times.
Moments later, the phone buzzed.
It was an encrypted line.
Serena answered.
A woman’s lazy, slightly irritated voice drifted through the speaker “Demon, you really don’t believe in letting a girl get her beauty sleep do you p>
Serena leaned back in her chair, her demeanor casual. “Did you find it p>
“I found it. The sound of rapid
keyboard typing echoed from Black
Jack’s end, followed by a sharp
scoff This bastard Raven really
knows how to play games.