Noel
I took a step back, my heart pounding harder with each inch of space he closed between us. His movements were slow, deliberate, like he wanted me to feel the weight of every step. I tried to keep my breathing steady, but when he was just about to get too close, I sidestepped quickly and planted myself beside the bed, my palms damp with nerves. The locked door behind him felt like a prison wall, and the silence in the room only made it worse. He raised his hands slightly, almost as if to show he meant no harm, and his voice was calm but unsettling.
"I'm not here to hurt you," he said, his gaze steady. "I just want to show you how much I like you."
I swallowed hard, trying to read his intentions, and for a moment, his words took the edge off my fear. But the vulnerability of being al
