Isabela. My whole damn world.

***POV NOAH***

Isabela.

My whole damn world.

As the water from the shower ran down her body, I felt like I could finally breathe again. Being away from her was like dying a little every day—and now, with her here, all mine, every inch of my body screamed for her.

I pressed her against the cold bathroom wall, feeling her warmth consume me. I left a kiss on her chin and slowly trailed down to her neck—the one I loved so much. I kissed, sucked, and gently bit her skin like I was marking my territory. Because Isabela is mine. Every part of her body is mine. Every moan. Every breath…

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” I murmured against her skin. “How much I dreamed of being able to touch you again…”

She moaned softly, and let out a heavy sigh, while I kept kissing her.

“Noah…” her voice came out low, needy. “I need you so much…” she whispered, and those words set me off completely.

I lost all control.

My hands slid down her thighs until I gripped them firmly. I lifted her effortlessly, fitting her body into mine. She clung to me tightly.

I looked into her eyes as I slowly entered her, letting out a deep, guttural groan.

So warm. So tight. Made for me.

Her nails dug into my back. It hurt—but it was the kind of pain I loved.

“Ahhh…” she moaned loudly as I thrust into her hard. “Yes… Noah…” she panted. And, fuck, every time she says my name like that, I lose my mind a little more.

I started to move, slow at first, savoring every second. I wanted her to feel everything. I wanted her to know how much she was loved and desired. Every thrust was a promise. Every glance we shared was a wordless confession.

“Don’t ever leave me again, you hear me?” I said through clenched teeth, my forehead pressed against hers. “I’m yours. Only yours. And you’re mine. Completely mine.”

“I promise,” she whispered.

My movements grew more intense, the water running between our bodies. But nothing drowned out the sounds of pleasure, urgency, and longing in every touch we exchanged.

When she came, screaming my name, it felt like I had conquered the world.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I came right after, my entire body shaking, buried deep inside her, overwhelmed by insane relief.

I held her tight as my life depended on it. Maybe it did.

She slid down from my lap, placing her feet on the floor, still breathless and exhausted.

“I love you,” I said, still panting, my heart racing. “And I’ll protect you, my love.”

“I love you,” she said, caressing my face. “But I don’t want to drag you into this mess…”

Isabela stroked my face gently. She was in pieces… I could see the fear in her eyes.

“Please, don’t get involved in this…,” she pleaded again like she was trying to convince me to run. She’d never succeed.

I grabbed the hand that was caressing my face and brought it to my lips, kissing it.

“Listen to me carefully, Isabela,” I said firmly, looking into her eyes. “You didn’t drag me into anything. I jumped in. Because when you love someone, you do everything for them. I’m choosing to walk through hell if I have to. And if you think you’ll push me away with this whole ‘don’t get involved’ thing, forget it. You won’t succeed. I’m staying with you till the end.”

She closed her eyes. I knew how much all of this stirred inside her. I pulled her closer, wrapping her in my arms, trying to shield her, to be her shelter in the middle of the storm she was living in.

“I’m scared, Noah…” she confessed softly. “Not just for me, but for Isis… for you…”

Rage burned inside me. I wanted to find that bastard and end his pathetic life with my own hands.

“Let me take care of you, my love. I won’t let him come near you. He’ll never lay a finger on you again.”

Isabela sighed.

“I never wanted to drag you into this, Noah. You have a career… a clean name… a powerful father. You don’t need to carry this burden with me.”

“And who says I give a damn about what my father thinks?” I snapped, almost laughing without humor. “He never cared about my life. And for the first time, I know I’m right. Because I’m choosing you. I’m choosing us.”

She stared at me for a moment, like she was still trying to believe this was real. That I was real. And I understood. She’d been broken so many times, now even love scared her.

“We’re getting through this, Isa. Together. You and me. I want to be with you. Not just when it’s easy. But especially when it’s hard.”

She looked at me with tear-filled eyes. And, fuck, that wrecked me inside. I wanted to take every ounce of pain she’d ever felt. I wanted to erase her past with a kiss. But I knew what she needed was someone who stayed. And I was staying.

“You have no idea how much I needed to hear that,” she whispered, resting her forehead against mine. “I’m so tired, Noah. Tired of fighting alone…”

I cupped her face in my hands and made her look at me.

“You’ll never be alone again. Got it? Never again.”

She nodded slightly. Closed her eyes and let a tear fall. I kissed her again, this time more gently, with love instead of urgency. The kind of kiss that promises forever.

“Come on, let’s take that bath,” I said, pulling her by the hand. “You need to relax. And I… I just want to feel you close to me.”