She stood her ground with her chin lowered, eyes sharp beneath her lashes and her brows pulled tight in that familiar line that meant she was already ten steps ahead of him. She has seen this version of him before. The cold resolve, the quiet decision that was already made. The two of them fought too many times for her not to recognize the signs.
Nora had hated him when they first met. Hated his arrogance, hated the way he had to control everything, the way he acted like everything was out to get him all the time.
And then, infuriatingly, he had grown on her. Slowly. Relentlessly. Just like she had on him, even if he never once had the courage to admit it out loud.
His hand at her throat made her inhale sharply, the sound quick and instinctive, surprise flashing through her before she could stop it. It wasnāt fear more than it was the suddenness of him, the weight of his presence swallowing her whole. Nora;s hands came up immediately, fingers wrapping around his wrists as she stared up at him. Daring him to do it.
When his mouth met hers, she didnāt hesitate one bit. She kissed him back like she has been waiting for it, hunger and greed rolling straight through her, lips parting as she leaned into it the best she could in this situation. There was nothing careful about it the way they kised, nothing restrained. She poured everything she has been holding back into that kiss, fingers tightening on his wrists as if daring him to feel it, to acknowledge it, to stop pretending this was anything other than want.
She saw it immediately. That flicker in his eyes, the instinct to retreat, the old habit trying to win whatever battle that was happening in his head.
Still in his grasp, Nora shook her head just slightly, the movement small but her eyes never softened as she looked straight at him.
āIf you leave me right now, Niklaus Mikaelson." She warned, lips curving just enough to promise chaos. āI will make your life a living hell.ā
Was that toxic? Absolutely. But Nora knew exactly who she was and would do anything to get what she wanted.