Hendrix was mindful of Noelle's sunburned skin, and with the moment's tension easing slightly, he was about to let her go when Noelle suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Hendrix," she whispered softly into his ear.

The blunt and passionate words made Hendrix stiffen, his eyes snapping to hers with an almost visceral reaction.

Noelle smiled at him. Between her fingers was the tie she had just removed from his neck, the silky fabric sliding smoothly through her fingertips. Leaning in again, she gently licked his lips.

The last shred of rationality in Hendrix's mind snapped in an instant. Without hesitation, he grabbed the back of Noelle's head and kissed her fiercely.

that moment, they clung to each other desperately, as if they were two people struggling to breathe, finding solace only in each other. Their embrace was intense, as though they had finally found the one they couldn't live without and were terrified of losing them again.

They held on tightly to each other, unwilling to be the first to let go.

By the time it was over, Noelle had almost completely lost ber voice. Her skin and forehead were damp with sweat, and the ointment she had applied earlier was now completely wasted.

When Hendrix returned with a glass of water, she drank it all in one go before finally catching her breath. 'Should I carry you to the bathroom to wash up?" Hendrix's voice, softened by satisfaction, was especially gentle. "I'll reapply the ointment after."

Noelle gave a small hum of acknowledgment, her way of answering.

But Hendrix didn't move right away. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

Noelle found it odd.

"Shouldn't you call me something first?" he asked with a low chuckle.noveldrama

It was then that Noelle remembered the ridiculous things she'd said earlier in the heat of the moment. Clearly, Hendrix had enjoyed every word. Outwardly, he always presented a calm and composed demeanor, but once his clothes were all stripped off, he was actually more debauched than anyone else. Hendrix looked at Noelle, fully expecting to have to banter with her for a while, but in the next moment, she smiled at him and softly called out, "Baby."

The light, casual word made Hendrix's back straighten immediately, and a distinct tingling sensation traveled up his spine.

Hendrix knew it wasn't the time for a second round, so he simply smiled, clearly pleased, and lifted Noelle off the bed. After helping her wash up, he reapplied the ointment to her sunburned skin.

The food he had brought back earlier had completely cooled by now. Hendrix placed the containers in the microwave, reheating them one by one.

Meanwhile, Noelle sat on the living room rug, quietly eating the cake. She hadn't had cake in a long time, and now, she was so satisfied that her eyes closed in delight.

Hendrix brought the reheated food over and took the cake from her hands in the process. "You have to eat dinner

first."

Noelle didn't argue and obedienti,

ted eating.

During the time they had been living together, Hendrix had come to understand her taste quite well. Nearly everything on the table now was something she liked.

Noelle's appetite was decent, and as Hendrix sat there peeling shrimp for her with gloved hands, she suddenly said, "You should go and pack up your things later?"

Her voice was so calm that Hendrix didn't immediately catch her meaning. "What things?"

Noelle seemed to find his question amusing. "Your clothes and whatever else you brought. Just take everything back with you."

Hendrix froze, and the expression on his face vanished entirely.

After a few seconds, he asked in a tense voice, "What do you mean by that?"