The late study session was under Mr. Collins' watch, and halfway through, he asked Madison to head to the office to fetch some exercise books.

Madison found two hefty stacks on the desk and was contemplating how to carry them back without dropping anything when footsteps sounded behind her.

Turning, she saw it was Noah.

Instinctively, she blurted, "What are you doing here?" Then regretted it, realizing she shouldn’t have spoken first, especially since they were in an inexplicable cold war.

Noah approached. “Mr. Collins thought you might need help with these.”

“I don’t need your help.”

Madison stacked the piles together, about to lift them, when a firm hand clasped her wrist.

Noah’s hand was large, enveloping her wrist easily. She felt him squeeze gently, “Don’t be mad at me, Madison.”

“Mad? Why would I be mad?” Madison pulled free, turning to meet his gaze.

Noah hesitated, unsure why she was upset, but understood she wasn’t pleased. He could only trace it back to that library incident—perhaps stopping her had irked her?

His ears reddened. “Did I grip your ankle too hard? I’m sorry if I hurt you…”

Madison was momentarily confused. “Huh?”

“If stopping you upset you… I’m sorry,” Noah continued, taking a step closer. “If you want to do something, I won’t stop you next time.”

Madison pieced together what he meant—did he think she was mad because she couldn’t tease him?

In truth, her annoyance came from watching him get closer to Sarah and not speaking to her. So, she used silent treatment as a counter.

But since Noah had arrived at his own conclusion, she decided to go with it. After all, if he said he wouldn’t stop her, it would only make things easier for her.

Suppressing a laugh, Madison acted as though unimpressed. “Oh.”

Her response was so bland, Noah couldn’t decipher what her “Oh” meant.

Frowning, he asked softly, “Is that it?”

“What else should there be?”

He couldn’t answer. What did he expect her to say? That it was okay?

But Madison soon gave him an answer.

“Well then,” she murmured, her hand finding its way between his legs, teasing through the thin fabric of his school pants, drawing closer until they nearly touched. Her voice turned sultry, “Like this?”

Noah hadn’t expected her audacity and instinctively retreated, but she gripped firmly, forcing a sharp gasp from him, a mix of pain and pleasure.

He froze, and Madison resumed her gentle caress, as if a feather was tormenting him.

She caught his shirt hem in her other hand, their bodies nearly merging, while her nose brushed against his chin. “You said you wouldn’t stop me,” she whispered, “Don’t hide.”

After a moment, Noah seemed to consider her words, his voice low and resigned. “Okay.”

And true to his word, he stayed put.

Madison had only intended to tease him, but his low breathing and the firming heat beneath her fingertips made her insides heat up too.

His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, and she leaned in to graze it gently with her tongue, “Good boy,” she praised.

Noah was on edge, fists clenched at his sides, scared of angering her if he touched her—and more scared of losing control.

The office door was wide open, windows welcoming the cool breeze; anyone could walk by anytime. The tension only heightened his arousal.

Rationality prompted him, “Someone might…”

Madison snapped back to reality. She released him, quickly separating the books again, “Let’s head back.”

Stepping away swiftly, Noah hesitated, watching as she beat him to the hall.

It took a moment before Noah chuckled ruefully, adjusting his pants, and gathered the books, striding after her.

They’d taken a while with the books, so Mr. Collins asked casually, “Why the delay?”

Madison replied smoothly, “They fell, and we had to pick them up and sort them out.”

Noah glanced at her composed demeanor, amazed by how even her casual fibs were charming.

Mr. Collins nodded and waved them on to continue their tasks.

After the last bell rang, Madison was packing up to leave when Noah intercepted her.

“Earlier that afternoon, I picked out a gift for you.”

Madison anticipated trivial trinkets like hair ties or bracelets, but when Noah revealed his choice, her thoughts jumbled with surprise.

Noah presented a thick math workbook and a comprehensive guide on essays. “This one’s great for tackling the final problems, and I browsed through this essay compilation—it has examples and critiques, plus some cases you might use for materials…”

“Stop,” Madison placed the books down, “Thanks.”

She turned to leave, only for Noah to halt her once more.

“Wait,” he gently tugged her wrist, retrieving a red woven bracelet from his pocket, “And this.”

Finally, something fitting!

Madison lifted her arm, “Tie it for me.”

With all sincerity, Noah fastened it around her wrist, scrutinizing it briefly before meeting her gaze, “It suits you.”

Madison tilted her head, offering her first genuine smile of the day, “Thanks.”