Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1166

Jude blinked. "Leaving already? We barely started."

The only answer he got was the merciless slam of the door.

At the end of the corridor, Dylan lit a cigarette, its crimson cherry flaring in the shadows.

He pulled out his phone, the glowing screen illuminating his hardened profile.

His finger hovered over Noreen's profile picture for a long time.

Finally, he locked the screen and crushed out the cigarette.

It was the twelfth day of the new year.

Halley Joyner was hosting his Mentor's Banquet.

Noreen had given Seth a heads-up beforehand.

She had originally considered inviting him, but since their relationship wasn't officially public yet, bringing him along would mean a barrage of explanations. So, she decided against it.

Seth hadn't brought it up either, though when she walked him downstairs the night before, he casually asked, "Since it's a Mentor's Banquet, Dylan will be there, right?"

Noreen was speechless.

The moment he dropped that name, she knew exactly what was spinning in his head.

She poked him in the chest. "Are you getting jealous over nothing again?"

Seth caught her finger, bringing it to his lips to press a soft kiss against her skin. "You know I hate the guy."

Noreen sighed, genuinely wondering if he would ever let this grudge go.

Little did she know, Seth was vowing to hold that grudge for the rest of his life.

"Alright, get going," she urged, trying to tug her hand free.

His scorching breath ghosted over her fingertips, sending an indescribable tingle down her spine.

It was like a feather brushing against her heart—restless and aggravating.

For the past few days, Seth had been acting like a completely different person. He was entirely too well-behaved.

No clinging, no hovering, no pushing boundaries.

Even their rare kisses were brief pecks.

A stark contrast to his usual aggressive dominance.

Cupping the back of her neck with one hand, his thumb rubbed slow, agonizing circles over the sensitive skin behind her ear.

His other arm locked securely around her waist, molding her against him until not a sliver of space remained between them.

"Seth..."

She turned her head to gasp for air, but he chased her lips, refusing to let her escape.

He bit her lip lightly, sending a jolt of electricity straight down her spine.

A tormented groan tore from Seth's throat.

Caught in the heat of the moment, Noreen wanted him to stop.

Or at least take her to the car, somewhere out of sight.

But before she could speak, the kiss broke off right at its absolute peak.

As if hitting an invisible tripwire, he jerked his head away, forcefully tearing himself from her lips.

His arms remained hooked around her, but he wrenched his upper body back, creating a solid foot of distance.

Pinned against the cold steel of the streetlamp, the chill pierced her skin, yet it couldn't extinguish the raging fire in his eyes.