The Sway and Slide of Love

The Christmas decorations on the street looked even more striking at night. But to Noelle, the festive and joyous red color looked more like blood.

Hendrix went straight to his study once they had returned to Roselle Court. He had been sleeping there for a while now.

Occasionally, when Noelle woke up, she would find him sitting by her bedside, never crossing any boundaries.

And tonight was no different.

After showering, Noelle should have gone straight to bed. But instead, she suddenly went downstairs to pour herself a glass of water.

The light in Hendrix's study was still on. He was on the phone while typing on his keyboard, speaking quickly and decisively. When he heard footsteps, his head immediately snapped up.

He hadn't fully switched out of work mode, so his gaze was still sharp and intense. But the moment he realized it was Noelle, his expression softened, and his eyes slowly drifted over to her. Even though the heater was turned on, he found her outfit to be a little too light for comfort.

Hendrix had long planned for Noelle to live in this house, so he had prepared a wardrobe full of clothes for her, suitable for every season. What she was wearing now was from that collection—a white spaghetti-strap nightgown with a loose robe draped over it.

Her freshly washed hair fell over her shoulders, a few strands resting against her chest, with the ends slightly curled. In her hand, she felt a glass of water.

"Mr. Freeman?" a cautious voice came through the phone, reminding Hendrix he was still on a call.

He reluctantly tore his gaze away and muttered a few quick responses before ending the call. By then, Noelle had already set the glass of water down in front of him.

"Did I interrupt your work?" she asked.

"No," he replied. As soon as he spoke, he realized his voice was unexpectedly hoarse. Instinctively, he cleared his throat and adjusted his posture before asking, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Noelle didn't answer. Instead, she looked down at the glass of water. With no other choice, Hendrix picked it up and took a sip.

"I can't sleep," Noelle finally said, then quickly changed the subject. "You've been

taking care of me lately, so has work piled up at the office?"

"It's fine. Nothing major."

"Oh," Noelle murmured, but she didn't move.

"Is there something you need?" Hendrix asked.

Noelle remained silent as she slowly lowered her gaze.

Hendrix noticed her hands slowly balling into fists. She was gripping so hard that her fingertips had turned pale.

He forced himself to look away and was about to say something when Noelle

suddenly asked, "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

The air in the study seemed to freeze for a moment. Hendrix sat there, staring at

her as if trying to confirm what he had just heard.

Noelle bit her lip, but her gaze er tip, but her gaze

remained locked onto his. He hadnoveldrama

always been the initiator for this kind of thing in the past, so she wasn't used to making such an invitation. Right now, this was already the best she could do.

When Hendrix didn't move, Noelle felt a pang of defeat. Just as shez was about to take it back, he suddenly stood up, crossed the roon in a few strides, and scooped her up into his arms.