Noah, Please Stay a Little Longer
Noah ran his tongue over his lips, his voice low and heavy. His words clashed with his actions, but Adeline’s brain had frozen solid, leaving her utterly disoriented.
She wondered if he had simply pulled her closer, wanting nothing more than to share breath with her.
No. Something felt off…… The sensation wasn’t from the air, but from something far more intimate……
It was as if he wanted to claim the saliva gathering at the root of her tongue.
Yet watching Noah draw in a labored breath and release it, Adeline told herself she was overthinking again.
He really hadn’t been able to breathe, after all.
“Sorry. Was I too much?”
“……”
“The air felt like it was choking me. I didn’t mean to……”
Noah sat up, lowering his lashes. He mumbled in a dark tone, glancing around as if bracing for punishment.
The turbulent emotions slowly began to ebb.
Yes. Noah was the patient.
Someone who had been unable to breathe had finally drawn air thanks to her. He might simply be craving that breath even more.
Like a drowning man clutching at the person beside him for dear life.
“Thanks to you, I can breathe a little easier. Adel.”
The sudden use of that nickname sent waves crashing through Adeline’s chest. Adel. Adel. Adel…… Noah’s voice rang in her ear like a bell.
“No, you didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Yeah. I’m the patient. If I made you uncomfortable, it’s my fault.”
“No! That was just…… I’m fine.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. Well, it was just emergency treatment.”
Adeline repeated the words in her mind to steady herself. They had been nothing more than emergency treatment.
Noah’s lips stretched into a long smile.
“Wow.”
His short exclamation made her cheeks burn. He brushed his lips against hers, as if wiping away the glistening saliva. It felt strangely embarrassing.
It was almost like he had truly kissed her.
Adeline clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms because of the frantic pounding of her heart. She had lived by her principles, yet being kissed by him had somehow not been unpleasant at all.
Actually…… it felt good. No. Not good.
Adeline shook her head.
They locked eyes. Noah’s gaze was calm, his eyes curving into a gentle smile. Cool moonlight spilled across the mole beneath his eye.
Adeline suddenly thought Noah looked happy.
“You’re really kind, Adel.”
“Probably because I’m the patient……”
Adeline’s voice faltered and she muttered.
Even so, Adeline was a woman who had feelings for Noah. Furthermore, this had all been an accident. First kiss. First time their lips touched. And first time tongues mingled.
She had spoken of it so casually, but she couldn’t meet Noah’s eyes.
The heat rising in her cheeks clung to his gaze. Adeline made her decision—she had to leave.
“I’m going to go back now.”
Before she could turn, a firm arm stretched out behind her. Her body froze as she tried to move forward.
His arms encircled her waist like a noose. She felt Noah’s cheek press against her back.
“Can’t you stay?”
Noah had pulled her into an embrace from behind.
“I’m afraid you’ll have another attack…… What if I can’t breathe when you’re not here, Adel.”
Thud. Thud.
Adeline’s heart slammed against her ribs as if trying to burst free.
She might accidentally reveal how fast it was beating.
Her abnormally pounding heart made her fear Noah would sense it. She pried his arms off and immediately spun to face him again, trying to prevent him from pulling her back in.
“You can’t leave just because you asked? It’s obviously not allowed.”
“……Even if I ask like this?”
Noah drooped his shoulders and tilted his head. Adeline saw what looked like puppy ears hanging limply from his head. She rubbed her eyes.
“Huh?”
His tail was visible now too. Noah caught her hand, his tail wagging happily.
Adeline bit her lower lip.
Did Noah always have this much charm? It was so different from the Noah she had known before. Even after they reunited, he had been ill, yet he hadn’t been kind to her. Now he was using his appearance to sway her.
If he’s begging like this, is there any reason I should leave the room?
Adeline’s mind had gone hazy from Noah’s antics. She clung to a shred of reason and shook her head side to side.
“It’s already too late. If someone else finds out I’m here, they’ll misunderstand.”
“But I’m just nursing you. What’s there to misunderstand?”
“Still……”
“I had an attack and you took care of me. No one will think it’s strange.”
Really? The only person who found the situation strange was Adeline herself.
Earlier, Noah had been terrified of having another attack and was begging her for help. Now she would simply stay until he fell asleep, then return to her room.
Adeline, strangely convinced by Noah, finally nodded.
Yes. It would be fine for a little while.
***
“Adeline.”
In Noah’s room, Adeline lying on the sofa lifted her eyelids at the sound of her name. She had deliberately chosen the sofa far from the bed, intending to wait for Noah to sleep. Yet he hadn’t fallen asleep at all. The rustling sounds of him tossing and turning had been impossible to ignore, so she finally answered with a throat-clearing noise.
“Mhm.”
“Sleeping?”
“No. Not yet……”
Adeline couldn’t sleep either. How could she? The moment their lips had touched kept replaying in her mind, making her heart race and sleep slip away. She worried he might have another attack and never sleep at all.
Even the sound of her name calling had made her throat dry. At least he seemed fine for now……
Being in the same room together is oddly awkward.
“I want to apologize.”
Adeline blinked at the sudden words. Apologize? What for? Had he come to say sorry for the sweat-soiled clothes he had once told her were a nuisance and ordered her to wash?
“I kissed you on my own.”
“……”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. You would have been shocked, Adel.”
Adeline was a little surprised by the apology that didn’t match her expectations.
“That was an accident.”
The way Noah called it a “kiss” made her ears burn. She pulled at her earlobe and bit her lip, thinking it was fortunate it had been at night.
“Even if it was an accident, I should be the one apologizing. I want you to know I didn’t look at you lightly.”
Noah had been troubled by that incident. He apologized seriously. Adeline felt her tense shoulders relax.
Most of all, it was clear Noah was thinking of her feelings. He hadn’t seen her as easy or light, he respected her.
I wish Noah wouldn’t see me as lightly.
I’m used to the way I’ve lived and the environment. Kissing between two people who haven’t even married or loved…… isn’t acceptable. I hope Noah understands that too.
His words proved he hadn’t dismissed them lightly. Noah’s careful apology had butterflies fluttering in her chest. Her heartbeat quickened and she smiled for no reason.
“Thank you for apologizing, Noah.”
She wanted to see his face, but she lacked the courage. Her heart raced so hard her face flushed. It felt like she was touched. A man who once hated her was thinking of her for some reason.
Adeline let her gaze wander across the sofa and slowly exhaled.
“Honestly, I was worried. Even though it was an accident…… I’m not cool enough to be completely fine with it. Still, hearing you say that, I think I’m really okay now. You don’t have to worry.”
“Can you come a little closer to me?”