Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Dance

“The one in your shoulder holster,” she added coolly, “tucked beneath that expensive jacket of yours… right there, isn’t it?” Her gaze flicked pointedly to his side before returning to his masked face.

“Take it off, Segen.” She demanded.

Keegan blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by her smart guess. But that wasn’t about to end the fun. No, he was enjoying every second of this. A slow smirk spread across his face as he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms.

“Segen? That is not my name,” he replied in a teasing tone, clearly savoring the playful challenge she’d thrown his way.

Grace let out a soft hum and took another step closer. “That might be the case…” she started as her lips curled into a knowing grin, “…because I gave you that name thinking you didn’t remember your own name, you schmuck!

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Before Keegan could respond, she suddenly reached up and smacked him lightly on the head, her hand moving faster than he expected.

Keegan’s eyes widened in mock shock. “Ouch! Hey! What was that for?” He raised his hands as if trying to defend himself, but his smile never wavered, clearly amused by the unexpected attack.

Grace kept smacking him as each tap became more playful than the last. “That was for being all mysterious and not telling me your name!” She gave him one final tap on the forehead and then stepped back with hands on her hips, satisfied with her little victory.

Keegan rubbed his head as he chuckled softly, looking at her like she’d just knocked the air out of him. “How did you know? You really are something else, aren’t you?” he said in admiration as he burst in laughter realizing that he is falling deep.

“How could I not?” Grace snapped. “The first time I saw you dressed like a beggar, the first things I noticed were your skin and those ridiculously beautiful eyes of yours. You think I’d forget that? Cognac doesn’t exactly blend in.

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Keegan arched a brow, clearly amused.

“And second,” she went on, pointing a finger at his chest, “it hasn’t even been a week since Marco beat your ass. Your lip’s still bruised, you idiot!”

Keegan blinked once… then hummed in what could only be described as genuine, unbothered pride. “You’re one smart woman,” he said with an almost reverent grin.

The unexpected compliment threw her. She stumbled on her next breath and quickly looked away, masking her surprise with a huff as she cleared her throat. “Don’t get used to hearing it from me,” she muttered.

He chuckled softly, watching her with a fondness that no longer tried to hide itself.

“Well,” she said after a pause as her voice now turned quieter. “why were you pretending to be a beggar back then?

She asked and turned her gaze back to him. “And… who are you, really?”

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For a moment, Keegan didn’t answer. The smile on his lips softened into something more sincere–something

almost vulnerable. Then, without a word, he reached out and gently took her hand, pulling her closer with gentleness that gave her time to pull away if she wished.

But she didn’t.

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Chapter 108: Dance

+25 BONUS:

His other hand found her lower back, warm and steady, holding her there as if anchoring her to the moment. The wind stirred around them again, catching strands of her hair and brushing them against his cheek.

“I’ll tell you everything,” he murmured in a low voice. “But not tonight.”

She blinked up at him, about to protest. But Keegan only similed as the edges of his expression softened, while his thumb grazed the back of her hand. “Not because I don’t trust you… but because you deserve the whole truth when it’s not tangled in moments like this.”

His eyes searched hers, and for once, there was no teasing. Only his honesty.

“So for now, I am pleading…” he whispered, leaning just slightly closer to her ear. “indulge me in a dance… my lady.”

Grace didn’t answer with words. Her eyes held his for a moment, unsure if she should trust him, unsure if she shouldn’t. But something in the way he looked at her made her legs move before her doubts could speak.

She placed her hand over his chest.

“I’ve never done this before,” she admitted under her breath, her cheeks warming. “So if I step on your feet, don’t cry.”

Keegan’s mouth twitched into a grin. “You wound me. Do look like a man who cries over shoes?”

“You look like a man who owns too many expensive ones,” she mumbled, looking down at his polished dress shoes. “Probably imported.”

“Ah,” he exhaled theatrically. “You know me too well already.”

Then he pulled her just a little closer with his palm resting lightly against the small of her back. The wind swirled softly around them, lifting her hair and rustling the hem of her dress as the rooftop opened wide beneath the moonlight. The city below was loud and restless, but up here–it was just them. No music. No rules. Only silence and the whisper of the wind between them.

Keegan led her into a slow sway.

One–two. One–two.

She stepped once, then twice… and promptly crushed the front of his shoe with her heel.

“Damn it–sorry!” she gasped, stepping back, mortified.

Keegan looked down at his poor shoe, then up at her with a grin that spread like sunlight. “Tragic. These cost more than my last apartment.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll learn not to kidnap girls and ask them to dance on rooftops.”

He laughed in a low and unbothered tone, and pulled her right back into the dance instead. “If this is the price I pay for holding you close,” he whispered, “then let my wardrobe suffer.”

Grace huffed a reluctant laugh, trying again–more carefully this time. But her feet didn’t seem to cooperate with the rhythm he was creating. She moved too fast, then too slow, and once again twisted awkwardly, bumping into him and wrinkling his crisp coat in her fist.

“God, I’m awful at this,” she mumbled under her breath.

Keegan leaned in with his voice playful against her ear. “You are. Absolutely terrible.”

“Gee, thanks.”

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Chapter 108: Dance

→ +25 BONUS

“But I find it absolutely adorable.”

She blinked in surprise, then rolled her eyes trying to hide the way her lips twitched with the start of a smile.” You’re just saying that because I look like a walking disaster and you’re trying to make me feel better.”

“No,” he said, more softly now. “I’m saying that because no one’s ever danced with me like this. Not perfectly. Not gracefully. But it meant everything to me…“‘

Grace faltered as her steps slowed.

But he didn’t let her go.

”

And in that quiet pause, she looked up meeting those cognac–colored eyes behind the mask. Eyes that had once belonged to the stranger she named Segen, eyes that now told her everything without a single word spoken.

He gently raised her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

Then, with his gaze still locked on hers, he murmured, “May 1?”

And before she could answer, he spun her once beneath the light of the moon and her laughter escaped as she stumbled, catching herself against his chest once more.

“Careful,” he said, his arm tightening around her waist. “I only have one heart. And you’re already holding it hostage.”

Grace blinked at him–startled, confused, maybe even a little breathless.

But she didn’t pull away.

And when he leaned in, his forehead brushed gently against hers as the rooftop seemed to stop spinning. Their dance turned slower until they finally came to a stop, with her hand still pressed over his heart.

No more steps or movements. It was just them, standing close with nothing but the wind as their music. All of a sudden, the words slipped from Grace’s lips before she could stop herself.

“Why me?”

But Segen only smiled and pressed a kiss on the top of her head before answering.

“Why not you?”

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