Chapter 113 My Angel | 006
NOELLE
Azren stares at me like I've lost my mind. What he doesn't know is that I am desperate. My heart is going haywire in my chest, tears stinging my eyes. The thought of going back to the hell I just barely managed to escape from is terrifying. All I can do right now is hope that he'll help me.
"I can't do that," he says, and my heart plummets. Fresh tears well up my eyes, slipping down my cheeks. That's it, I'm done for.
Just as I'm about to pull away, he grabs me by the hand. I look up at him, more tears streaming. His expression is blank. I can't tell if he feels sorry for me. No, scratch that. I can't tell if he feels anything at all.
"I can offer you something else though," he says and my mouth goes dry.
"And what's that?"
"A contract marriage," he replies, and my eyes go wide.
"Until when?"
"Indefinitely. Until I can fully get Haden off your back."
Relief sinks into me so suddenly, it feels like a whiplash. Overwhelmed, I grab both of his hands, smiling through my tears.
"Thank you so much. Thank you," I sniffle. And before I know it, I'm full-on sobbing like a child.
The memory of the torture I went through hits me hard until I'm shaking. Azren quietly wipes my tears away with the pad of his thumb.
"You look ridiculous when you cry, Noelle," he says softly and a stupid flush creeps up my face.
"Shut up."
"Come here," he utters, pulling me against his chest and stroking my hair.
It feels like we've known each other for forever and the time we spent apart didn't matter. I wonder why. He makes me feel so safe and he smells unfairly good. Like coconut and something sweet.
"Noelle," he rasps after my sobs have quieted.
"Hmm?"
"We can't do this again. We can't be this close," Azren tells me, and I pull away slowly. A knot lodges itself in my throat, my body already aching for his warmth.
I want to ask why. I need to know. But saying that will make me sound like an attention seeker, won't it?
"I have conditions for the contract. We have to avoid getting involved emotionally or sexually. However..."
I slowly look up into his electrifying blue eyes. His eyes are heavily hooded now. Almost as if he's about to keel over. I wait for him to complete his statement but to my bewilderment, he slumps forward. Right into my arms. I barely manage to hold on to him. But boy, is he heavy. Well, having a pack of muscles will do that to you.
"Are you okay?" I ask, and he groans weakly, his hand tightening on my waist.
"Tired," he slurs and I blink, confused.
"Maybe you should go to bed," I tell him even though I want to stay like this a little longer. He clearly doesn't want that closeness. Why should I bother?
When he still doesn't move, a frown creases my brows.
"Azren?" I whisper.
He doesn't move or speak. So, I look down at him when his body slips slightly. To my bewilderment, he's asleep!
I shift carefully, trying to ease Azren down onto the carpet without waking him up. His body is dead weight, and I'm not exactly built like a weightlifter. My arms tremble as I lower him inch by inch, but the second his head nears the floor, he lets out a low, sleepy rumble and curls into me like I'm his personal pillow.
One arm snakes around my waist. And his face burrows against my stomach, then slides lower until his cheek rests on my thigh.
His dark lashes fan against his skin, and his breathing evens out into the slow, deep rhythm of someone who hasn't slept properly in months.
I freeze for a few seconds. Then, suddenly, a breathless chuckle tumbles out of me.
It's ridiculous. This terrifying, six-foot-something tribrid who just rift-teleported us out of a hunter's net and promised me an emotionless contract marriage is currently using me as a human teddy bear.
I glance down at him.
His features are unfairly perfect up close. High cheekbones, straight nose, full lips slightly parted in sleep. His hair is midnight black and a little messy, longer on top, falling across his forehead. Even unconscious he looks dangerous... and heartbreakingly beautiful.
His parents must have been ridiculously gorgeous, I think absently. No one gets a face like this by accident.
My fingers move before I can stop them. I brush a strand of hair off his brow. He sighs in his sleep, pressing closer, and something warm and achy unfurls in my chest. For the first time in months, the knot of fear in my stomach loosens just a little.
So, I keep stroking. His breathing stays deep and even. The penthouse is quiet except for the faint hum of the city far below. My eyelids grow heavy. My head feels fuzzy, and the warmth of his body against mine is lulling me under like a drug.
I tell myself I'll just rest my eyes for a minute. My head tips back against the wall.
Darkness pulls me down.
The front door bangs just as soon as I drift off.
My eyes snap open.
A girl stands in the doorway, her wavy black hair streaked with bubblegum pink dye, her cute bangs framing a heart-shaped face. She looks like we could be the same age.
Her hazel eyes are wide and sparkling with mischief. She's dressed like she just stepped off a fashion shoot with her cropped leather jacket, ripped fishnets, platform boots, silver choker, and a tiny skirt that somehow looks expensive and rebellious at the same time. Hot. Unapologetically hot.
We both freeze.
She blinks at me, then at Azren who is curled up like a giant cat in my lap, then back at me.
A slow, delighted smile spreads across her face.
"Hello there," she whispers.
She closes the door quietly behind her, kicks off her boots, and pads over on socked feet. When she reaches us, she crouches down, with her elbows on her knees.
"What happened to my brother?" she whispers, her eyes shifting between Azren's sleeping face and mine. "Did you drug him? Knock him out? Because if you did, I need details. And possibly your number."
Her grin is infectious.
I swallow hard, suddenly hyper-aware of how disheveled I must look.
"He... passed out," I whisper back, my cheeks burning. "He just slumped forward. I think he's exhausted."
She tilts her head, studying him with a mix of fondness and exasperation.
"Yeah. That tracks." She reaches out and gently flicks his ear. He doesn't even twitch. "He hasn't slept more than an hour at a time in months. Guess you fixed that, huh?"
Oh…
That’s weird. Is she a tribrid like him?
"I'm Azalea. His baby sister. And you're his pretty Noelle, right?”
I blink. "He... told you about me?"
"Not in words. More like growled your name at the walls for three months straight." She smirks. "So, spill. Why is my brother asleep on your lap looking like he finally found peace?"
I open my mouth. Then I close it, glancing down at Azren.
"Because I asked him to marry me," I whisper. "And he said yes. Sort of."
Azalea’s eyes go huge. Then she throws her head back in silent laughter.
"Oh gods," she mouths, wiping at her eyes. "This is going to be the best year of my life. Mum is going to be so thrilled.”
My heart skips a beat. Her mum? My…fake mother-in-law? How do I tell her it’s only a contract? Shit.
Just then, the door opens and a beautiful woman who looks to be in her thirties steps in, carrying… packages of food? Their elder sister? She looks a lot like them.
God, she’s stunning.
Her hazel eyes zero in on mine before dropping to Azren’s. Then they sparkle.
“Now, who is this? Look at you holding my baby so well,” she says with a gorgeous smile, and my eyes go wide. Wait a second.
Azalea giggles, the sound causing Azren to stir slightly. Azalea finally speaks, her voice dripping with mischief.”
“Mum, meet your daughter-in-law.”
Oh. Shit.