For the first time in days, Noelle felt a small measure of relief, the threat finally pushed back and the knowledge that Ren would always stand between her and danger.
Back at Ren's apartment, Noelle sank onto the couch, her legs tucked underneath her, still trembling slightly from the encounter. The news of Ethan's confession hung in the air, heavy and impossible to shake. Mei Ling had come forward: she'd reported Ethan's stalking to the police and now an investigation was underway. Ethan, once so sure of himself, had confessed and was terrified. It made Noelle's stomach twist even more, the reality of it settling deeper into her bones.
Ren sat beside her, close enough to offer comfort, his hand brushing hers every so often, as if grounding her in the moment. She leaned into him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.
Ren tightened his arm around her. "You don't have to face him alone," he said softly. "Not now, not ever. You have me. He won't be able to scare you again."
Noelle let out a shaky laugh, half relief, half lingering fear. "I don't know what I'd do without you…"
"You don't have to think about that," Ren replied gently. "I'm here. Always."
For a while, they just sat there, in quiet comfort. Noelle's body slowly relaxed, her breathing evening out. The weight of fear and anxiety began to lift, replaced by a fragile sense of safety she hadn't felt in days.
Ren leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, careful not to startle her. "There," he whispered. "Let's get you some rest. You've had a long day."
Noelle closed her eyes, feeling warmth and security she hadn't allowed herself before. She was safe, truly safe, for the first time in a long while. And with Ren by her side, she knew she could face tomorrow, whatever it might bring.
Noelle had drifted off easily, tucked against him like she belonged there. One moment she'd been murmuring something half-asleep, and the next she was breathing slow and deep, her head resting just below his collarbone, her hand curled loosely over his chest.
Ren lay rigid, every muscle in his body aware of her. The warmth of her breath through his shirt, the way her knee brushed against his thigh. It was all too much and not enough at once. He tried to focus on the rhythm of the ceiling fan, on the slow tick of the clock, anything but the weight of her body so close.
He swallowed hard. He'd carried her to his bed because she'd been exhausted, because she'd looked so small and lonely in her apartment but he hadn't thought this far ahead. He hadn't thought she'd fall asleep on him.
When she shifted, her leg brushing closer to his, Ren froze. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, a heavy thud that echoed through his chest. God, he was a terrible person. She was asleep. Vulnerable. Trusting. And yet he felt like an animal, breath shallow, muscles tight, every instinct clawing at him as he fought the pull of the heat pooling low in his stomach.
He stared up at the ceiling, guilt and longing knotted in his chest. He wanted to move her, to put some distance between them but even the slightest twitch might wake her. And she looked so peaceful, like she hadn't slept this deeply in ages.
A slow exhale escaped him as he closed his eyes. Get it together. She's safe. That's what matters.
So he lay there, uncomfortably awake, acutely aware of every inch of her, caught between the sweetness of her trust and the razor-sharp edge of his restraint.
Noelle jolted upright, breath ragged and heart pounding like it was trying to claw its way out of her chest. For a moment, the darkness around her wasn't her room; it was the shadow of her dream still clinging to her skin, whispering that she wasn't safe.
Her fingers trembled as she pressed a hand to her face. The sheets were tangled around her legs, damp with sweat. She blinked, trying to remember where she was, when she felt a gentle weight shift beside her.
"Noelle?" Ren's voice was still rough from his internal struggle but warm in the stillness. The word was barely more than a whisper but it anchored her.
She didn't answer right away, she couldn't. Her throat felt tight. Ren pushed himself up, eyes catching what little light came from the window. When he saw her expression, the last traces of sleep fell away.
"Hey, hey…" he murmured, reaching out slowly, like she was something fragile. "You're okay. It's just me."
Noelle let out a shaky breath. The dream was already fading but the fear hadn't. Without thinking, she leaned toward him, her forehead finding his shoulder. Ren's arms came around her instantly, firm and steady. He held her close until the tremors in her body began to ease.
For a long while, neither of them spoke. The only sound was her breathing; uneven at first, then slowly matching his rhythm.
When she finally whispered, her voice was small. "It felt so real."
"I know," he said softly, his hand tracing slow circles on her back. "But it's gone now. You're safe. I'm here."
She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his words sink in. His scent, something faintly like cedar and rain, filled her lungs, grounding her in the present.
And as the night settled back into silence, Noelle's breathing evened out, her heartbeat steadying against his chest; a quiet promise that morning would come, and she wouldn't have to face it alone.
Ren could still feel the way Noelle's heartbeat fluttered against him, uneven, fragile. The nightmare had stolen her calm, and for a moment, he hated how small and scared she looked.
He lifted a hand to her face, brushing her hair away from her eyes. "Hey," he whispered, voice soft but steady. "You're safe now. Look at me."
She did and something in his gaze broke through the haze. There was warmth there and worry and something deeper she didn't dare name aloud.
Ren leaned forward until their foreheads touched. "Breathe with me," he murmured.
She did. Once. Twice. Then again. Her trembling eased.
When he felt her steady, he pressed a kiss to her temple like a featherlight promise. Then another, lower, along her cheek. She sighed, her body sinking closer. The ghost of fear in her eyes softened, replaced by something else; something tender, trembling, alive.
His lips found the curve of her neck, lingering there, gentle but sure. Each touch was slow, meant to remind her she was real, loved, safe. She let out a breath that trembled into a quiet laugh, her hands curling in the fabric of his shirt.
"Ren…" she whispered, voice small but full of feeling.
"Shh," he breathed against her skin. "Just focus on now. On me."
He kissed her again, slower this time, as if each kiss unraveled the last of his hesitation. The heat between them grew but it wasn't just the warmth; it was the quiet trust building with every touch. His lips lingered, tracing her skin with soft affection that made her shiver, the kind of shiver that came from something deeper than just desire.
By the time he pulled back, her eyes were clearer, her heartbeat calm again. He smiled, brushing his thumb across the faint pink marks blooming along her collarbone.
"There," he said softly. "Nightmares can't reach you when you're awake."
Noelle's hand rose to his cheek, her thumb tracing the edge of his jaw. "No," she whispered, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips. "Not when you're here."
He kissed her once more, this time tender, lingering and the night finally felt quiet again.
When Noelle finally opened her eyes, the morning light was already spilling through the curtains, soft and golden, pooling across the tangled sheets.