She gave him a small, skeptical look but before she could say anything, he leaned closer, brushing his thumb along her jaw. The gesture was unhurried, deliberate as if committing to memory the feel of her. "You always look at me like that when you're pretending not to care," he murmured.
Noelle's lips curved but her breath hitched as he tilted her chin up. "And you always talk like you're trying to win something," she whispered.
"You know me, I like to win."
He closed the space between them, kissing her softly at first, a lingering, searching kiss that deepened when she relaxed against him. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer until she could feel his heartbeat beneath her palm.
Noelle's arms found their way around his neck, her fingers brushing the back of his hair. The air between them thickened with everything unsaid, the quiet ache of time apart. When she broke the kiss, her forehead rested against his, both of them catching their breath in the hush that followed.
Ren traced small circles on her lower back, his voice barely a whisper. "You have no idea how much I missed this," he said.
She smiled faintly, pressing her nose against his cheek. "You and your dramatic lines," she teased, though her voice softened.
"Can't help it," he murmured, nuzzling into her hair. "You smell like home."
She laughed quietly, the sound muffled against his chest. "That's the corniest thing you've said all week."
He tightened his hold around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Maybe. But it's true."
They stayed like that for a long time, tangled in warmth and trading soft kisses. Every time she tried to pull away, he drew her back in, just to hold her a little longer.
Finally, she whispered, "You should go before you fall asleep here again."
Ren smiled against her temple. "Maybe I should." But he didn't move. Instead, he kissed the corner of her mouth, slow and lingering, as if storing the moment for the week ahead.
"You mean go or fall asleep here?" Noelle asked, smiling to herself.
His lips met hers with a desperate need that left no space for hesitation. Every movement was demanding and unrelenting, as if he couldn't breathe until he felt her fully against him. Her hands tangled in his hair, clutching, pulling him closer, matching the intensity of his need. There was a roughness in the way he kissed, a fiery blend of thirst and longing, each press of lips and nip of teeth speaking louder than words ever could. The world around them seemed to vanish, leaving only the shared heat and frantic rhythm of their desperate, consuming kiss.
Noelle's hands slid up his chest, feeling the solid warmth beneath his shirt, the faint tension in his muscles that spoke of long days and sleepless nights. When her fingers brushed over the firm line of his abdomen, she felt him inhale sharply, his breath catching against her lips.
He smiled against her mouth. "You're dangerous when you do that," he murmured, voice low and rough with affection.
"Do what?" she whispered, feigning innocence.
He opened his eyes, gaze steady and soft. "Make me want to forget everything else and stay."
Her answer was another kiss, tender, searching, full of the ache that came from too many days apart. Ren's hands moved instinctively, one settling at the small of her back, the other tracing up her side until his thumb rested just below her ribs, feeling the rise and fall of each breath.
He lingered a moment longer, hesitating, every fibre of him wanting to stay wrapped around her. But reality of school, work and other obligations tugged at him and he knew he should leave. Slowly, reluctantly, he eased back, keeping his hand on her waist a little longer than necessary, retaining her warmth, the scent, the way she fit against him, before finally stepping away.
She leaned into him, her laughter quiet and breathless. "You really did missed me, didn't you?"
He pressed his forehead to hers, smiling. "You have no idea."
For a moment, they just stayed there, tangled together on the couch, his arms wrapped around her waist, her fingers tracing idle patterns against his shirt. The warmth between them wasn't just from touch, but from the quiet, unspoken relief of being close again.
Ren brushed his thumb across her cheek, tilting her chin gently. "You always smell like lavender and vanilla," he said softly. "It's driving me insane."
"Good," she murmured, eyes half-closed. "Now you'll remember me even when you're too busy to visit."
He chuckled, the sound low and sincere. "As if I could forget."
When he kissed her again, it was unhurried, less a demand and more a promise. His hand rested at her waist, thumb grazing the edge of her blouse, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath. Noelle sighed softly, her heartbeat steady against his chest.
It wasn't about passion alone. It was comfort, forgiveness, and a thousand small moments they'd almost lost, all folded into one quiet embrace.
Ren couldn't stop looking at her.
The way her eyes softened when she smiled. The way she tilted her head slightly when she teased him. The way her voice dropped to something quiet, almost tender, when she was with him.
Noelle was beautiful, yes… but right now, sitting close enough that he could feel her warmth against him, she was irresistible.
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb grazing her cheek. "You know…" he murmured, his tone low, "no one else gets to see you like this."
Her brow lifted slightly, amused. "Like what?"
He smiled, leaning closer until his lips were a breath away from hers. "Like this," he said, voice roughened by honesty. "You're always so composed… so untouchable. But with me…"
His hand slipped around her waist, drawing her closer until she was against him, her breath catching softly. "You're different. Softer. Warmer. And I can't get enough of it."
Noelle's lips curved into a small, knowing smile, but her eyes gave her away: wide, uncertain and a little shy. "Maybe you just bring out the worst in me."
Ren laughed quietly, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. "No," he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth, then her temple, then her lips again, slower this time, tasting every breath. "And you bring out the best in me."
Her hands rested on his shoulders, feeling the tension he carried every day. The familiar scent of coffee and soap grounded her as his mouth found hers, the kiss was slow and consuming, lingering with a mix of tenderness and urgent need, each movement charged with the desire they had held back all week.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing uneven, he murmured, "You have no idea how hard it is to keep my hands off you sometimes."
He shifted, one arm around her waist, the other resting at the small of her back, drawing her flush against him. He could feel the soft rise and fall of her breath, the way her body pressed against his, every movement teasing, every sigh driving him further. Noelle let out a small gasp when he nuzzled her neck, brushing his lips along the sensitive skin just beneath her jaw. His fingers traced along the curve of her waist, down to her hips, holding her steady as he lifted her onto his lap.
Even as he held Noelle close, inhaling her scent and letting the warmth of her body calm him, Ren's mind was quietly restless. It wasn't just the work waiting for him, or the errands he needed to finish before school started: it was Seraphina.
Unlike some of the girls who flirted and handed him their numbers while he was just serving coffee, Seraphina was different. She was an employee. He saw her almost every day. He had to if he wanted to keep the café running smoothly, if he wanted the business to survive. Her antics weren't harmless; her teasing had a bite, a deliberate edge that made him flush and distracted him in ways he didn't like. And now, more than ever, he couldn't afford to slip up.
Ren's fingers brushed against Noelle's hair, drawing comfort from her warmth but a shadow of thought crossed his mind. How do you deal with someone like Seraphina? Someone who knows her way around your space, around your routines and isn't shy about testing the limits? You couldn't ignore her. You couldn't just walk away. You had to handle it calmly, decisively and without letting her know she got under your skin.
His jaw tightened slightly. He'd figure it out. He always did. But for now, Noelle's steady heartbeat against his chest and the quiet trust she offered were all he allowed himself to focus on. She was his anchor, the one thing that made all the rest bearable.
Even if Seraphina's presence was a constant thorn in his side, he could wait. He had priorities. And right now, the most important one was right here in his arms.
He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, whispering softly, "You make everything else easier to bear."
Noelle murmured something in response, half-asleep, content to just be held. And for the first time that day, Ren let himself sink fully into the moment, knowing that later, he'd have to face Seraphina's mischief, but for now, he could just breathe her in.