Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1144

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Noreen's entire body tensed, her muffled voice slipping through their tangled lips. "Someone... someone's here!"

Seth didn't stop. He deepened the kiss, his tongue invading her mouth, as if pouring every ounce of his agonizing longing into this single moment.

The stone at her back was freezing, and the chatter of passing guests was mere steps away.

Trapped in the corner, her lips entirely claimed by Seth, even her breathing trembled.

She didn't dare struggle, terrified that the slightest noise would draw attention.

The restaurant blazed with light, the corridor filled with laughter and conversation.

Yet he devoured her even more intensely, as if he thrived on the dangerous thrill of tasting her right on the edge of ruin.

It wasn't until her knees buckled that he finally pulled back half an inch. He swiped his thumb across the corner of her lips, his eyes dark and predatory. "Let them find us."

Noreen kicked him hard in the shin.

Seth chuckled, finally willing to dial it back. He rested his large hand on the top of her head and ruffled her hair, his tone coaxing. "I'm done teasing. I called you out here to give you your New Year's gift."

Just as Noreen opened her mouth to ask what it was, the night sky across the river erupted in a brilliant explosion of fireworks.

A trail of sparks shot into the clouds before bursting with a deafening boom.

Golden light rained down like shimmering willow branches, illuminating half the sky.

The radiant glow washed over her upturned face, reflecting the pure awe in her eyes.

Seth didn't watch the fireworks; he only watched her.

The brilliant light shattered into a galaxy within her eyes, and he lowered his head, pressing a tender kiss to the top of her hair.

As the fireworks faded and the last streak of light vanished into the night, Noreen kept her head tilted back. Her eyes were dazzlingly bright, overflowing with starlight.

She turned to him, her voice bubbling with uncontainable joy. "I love this New Year's gift."

She paused, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Though, this is only the second most beautiful fireworks show I've ever seen."

Seth raised an eyebrow, absentmindedly twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. "And the first?"

"That time at The Esplanade," she answered without hesitation. "When InnoCore went public, the entire sky over the docks was lit up."

Seth suddenly let out a low, husky laugh. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he dropped a bombshell that made her heart race. "I set those off for you, too."