Chapter 282

The kiss came crashing down on Eleanor-fierce,burning,impossible to ignore.

A shudder rippled through her as Nolan's feverish heat seared her, forcing her to push against his chest ever so slightly.

"Nolan, you-" she began, ready to point out the fever blazing through him.

But her voice faltered when his broken, hoarse whisper slipped through clenched teeth. "Eleanor...help me... I'm in torment."

Eleanor's gaze locked onto Nolan, his eyes bloodshot with a fire barely contained. Then she noticed the gash on his arm-the wound he had carved into himself for her sake. Her last line of resistance crumbled like sand in the tide.

All reason abandoned her.

She gave up fighting, tilted her head back, and-clumsy but desperate-returned his kiss.

That night, heat and desire burned like wildfire,wrapping the room in heady passion. By dawn, Eleanor stirred awake to a trail of feather-light kisses.

Her body felt drained, every bone aching with exhaustion, and without thinking, she curled closer to the warmth holding her.

"Mm... stop it," she mumbled drowsily, her voice heavy with the sweetness of half-sleep. "Let me sleep a little longer."

It had been her first time-and Nolan had pushed her limits until the small hours-so she was utterly spent.

Nolan gazed down at the woman in his arms, soft and languid like a lazy kitten. His eyes shone with raw affection and an unmistakable pride.

She was his now. Entirely, irrevocably his.

The thought made him bend to kiss Eleanor's forehead with reverence, his voice gentle. "Alright."

He eased himself out of bed, careful not to wake her,tucked the blanket securely around her, then slipped on a robe and left the room.

But the instant the door clicked shut behind him,all warmth drained from his face.

Now it was time to deal with Trudy. His expression hardened to steel as he strode into the living room, where Erick stood waiting stiffly like a soldier before his commander.

Erick had gotten a panicked call from the hotel manager last night. Alarmed, he had hurried over at dawn,fearing the worst.

The moment Nolan appeared, Erick lowered his head respectfully.

Nolan sank onto the sofa, legs crossed, his gaze glacial.

"Where is Trudy?" he asked, voice razor-sharp.

Erick's pulse skipped, but he answered quickly,"Locked in the room next door, sir. She has been crying and demanding to see you all night."

Nolan's lips curled into a cold, derisive smile. See him?She wasn't worthy.

"Send her back to the Whites'," he ordered flatly."And find out where she got that drug. Someone supplied her, and I want an explanation."

That sort of drug was tightly guarded, forbidden.

For Trudy to get her hands on it meant she hadn't acted alone.And Nolan had every intention of smoking out the culprit and making them pay dearly.

Erick bowed low. "Understood."

He slipped out at once, too wise to linger a heartbeat longer.