Darling Villain (Forbidden Fruit #1)

Chapter 13

Adrien

T he next few days blur together as I try to incorporate Tiffany’s intel into our plans. Her insight about the basement of Carter Manor was crucial, filling in a missing piece of the puzzle.

I spend countless hours on encrypted calls with my team, meticulously strategizing our next moves. We must act swiftly yet cautiously—one misstep could ruin everything we’ve worked for.

Our biggest challenge is ensuring that Leroy Holdings doesn’t get linked to Carter’s criminal activities. I’ve never been involved in human trafficking, but I am not innocent when it comes to smuggling and money laundering. My involvement was traceable until I started covering my tracks a few years back, removing evidence linking me to criminal organizations and planting red herrings.

But even with these safeguards in place, Tiffany was able to find my carefully hidden connection to her uncle. If she could uncover that, who knows what else might be exposed once we bring down Dean Carter? The risk is high, so I have my team working around the clock to scrub any remaining traces of my past dealings with Carter Corp. We can’t afford for even a whisper of suspicion to fall on us once all of this comes crashing down.

Despite the heavy workload, Tiffany is constantly on my mind. Her bravery in coming forward, her determination to do the right thing even at great personal cost—it stirs something in me I thought long buried.

It’s madness. She is just a means to an end—nothing more. I cannot let my guard down or form any real attachment. And yet, after a long day of intense planning and strategizing, I find myself walking towards her room.

I knock on her door and wait for permission to enter. With no response, I turn the handle and step inside. The room is dark except for a sliver of moonlight peeking through the curtains.

To my surprise, the room is empty.

“Tiffany?” I ask.

But there’s no response.

My heart races as I scan the vacant room. Where could she be? A flash of panic courses through me at the thought that she may have escaped or been taken. I turn on my heel, ready to search the entire house, when I notice a faint light coming from under my bedroom door.

I pause, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Taking a deep breath to steel myself, I slowly open the door.

The sight before me stops me in my tracks. Tiffany is curled up in my bed, fast asleep with one of my books open on her chest. Her golden hair is splayed across my pillow, and her face looks peaceful in slumber.

A mix of emotions washes over me—surprise, tenderness, and an unsettling warmth I’m not accustomed to feeling.

I know I should wake her and send her back to her own room. It’s inappropriate for her to be here, and allowing this blurs the lines I’ve been trying so hard to maintain. And yet, I find myself unable to disturb her peaceful rest.

Quietly, I approach the bed and gently remove the book from her hands, setting it on the nightstand. She’s wearing the silk pajamas I had ordered for her earlier in the week, along with some other necessities; I’ve never seen her look so relaxed.

As I stand there watching her, an overwhelming urge to make sure she’s real washes over me. Without thinking, I reach out and brush my fingers across her cheek, marveling at how soft and smooth it feels.

She probably wanted to talk to me but fell asleep while waiting. It’s entirely my fault—I lost track of time, too caught up in planning. It would be the polite thing to do to carry her to her own room so she can get some proper rest. It has nothing to do with the warmth that spreads through me at the simple touch of her skin.

I bend down and lift her, her head burrowing into my chest as I cradle her in my arms. I take my time carrying her back to her own room, wanting to memorize the weight of her in my arms, the way she fits against me so perfectly. Once there, I lower her down onto the bed, tucking her, handling her as delicately as precious china.

Steeling myself, I take a step back, but the creaking floorboard gives me away, and I watch as her body goes rigid, and her breathing becomes shallow.

Tiffany knows that she’s not alone.

I grab the back of the chair from the corner of the room and pull it closer to my bed, positioning it so that I can sit down and face Tiffany directly.

Tiffany’s eyes remain closed but her breathing deepens, confirming that she’s now fully awake.

“Relax, Tiffany, it’s me. You fell asleep while reading. I hope you don’t mind me bringing you back to your room.”

I’m sure Dean Carter would’ve been less than pleased to find her in my bed. He may not trust her with his secrets or company, but she is his weakness, his Achilles’ heel. His life’s work, his legacy, and everything he has worked for will crumble because of her.

I’ll get rid of the biggest scum in the city.

Even though Tiffany already gave me all the information I needed, I can’t let her go just yet. The last thing we want is for Tiffany to accidentally tip off her uncle and jeopardize our plans. But as she begins to stir and opens her eyes, I can’t help but feel guilty for entangling her in this dangerous game.

I’ve always dealt with my problems one by one, and right now Carter is the only problem I can afford to focus on. He may have risen to power because of his family name, but he is a ruthless adversary.

I’ve witnessed him destroy men simply by exploiting their weaknesses. The key to defeating him is having no weaknesses, and Tiffany Carter is becoming one.

The more time we spend together, the more she becomes a potential liability. I can already feel my resolve slipping. I never anticipated the effect she would have on me, how her presence could shake the very foundation of the walls I’ve built around myself. She’s like a ray of light in the darkness of my world, illuminating corners of my heart that have long been shrouded in shadows. And now, as she blinks her eyes open and meets my gaze, I see a mixture of emotions running through them —confusion, fear, and something else, something that seems dangerously close to trust.

My instincts mess with my rational thought; they say that I need to mark her as mine, to brand her, to possess her, to protect her. They come from the most savage and possessive part of me, the one I don’t show to the outer world. Anger and revenge mixed with desire is an explosive cocktail. I shouldn’t play with it.

Tiffany Carter is not the girl that I would ever expect to be attracted to.

Too good.

Too pure.

Too na?ve.

She is a keeper and a good girl, the kind of woman that you would bring home to your parents and marry.

The thought alone makes me want to laugh.

I’ve never been the marrying type. I have the kind of life that doesn’t include a family and children. That’s not something I can give to anyone, not even to Tiffany.

I’m not a good, decent man she deserves.

I’m dark, twisted and I’d ruin her, taint her with my dirty ways. The only way Tiffany can leave this place unscathed is for me to let her go, but I’m not sure I can do it anymore.

It may be too late.

I’ll take what I need from her, and then I’ll set her free.

I’m just afraid I’ll break her in the process.

Tiffany sits up in my bed, her top slips open, revealing the soft outline of her full breasts, the nude lace bra showing through. Her long naked legs stretch against the white sheets, her pink-painted toes bright against the white bed sheets.

She doesn’t try to cover herself up as if she doesn’t even realize that she’s exposed.

My mind goes blank. All I can think of is how I want to taste every inch of her, sink my teeth into her delicate skin, and feel her tighten around me as she comes.

That’s how quickly and easily Miss Goody Two-Shoes turns me into a horny teenager.

“Yes, I fell asleep while reading.” Tiffany licks her lips and swallows hard. The pulse in her neck beats rapidly. “I wanted to know if I helped.”

She moves to sit closer to the edge of the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest. Her areolas are soft pink against the light lace of her bra.

I clench my teeth, trying to remind myself that I can’t touch her.

“Yes, thank you. It helped. How are you feeling about everything with your uncle? I wanted to make sure you had enough time to process it all.”

“I’m fine. Shocked but fine. I should have known something was off a long time ago. It all makes sense now,” she pauses and her eyes narrow. “Thank you for returning me to my room, but I’m still not sure if I can trust you after everything that’s happened.”

I raise my eyebrows at her tone, amused by the kitten’s sharp claws and an attempt to change the topic.

“Trust me with what?”

“You and me being alone in this room.”

“It’s my house, angel. I can come when and where I want to. But let’s say I’m a generous host trying to be considerate. Tell me how I’m making you uncomfortable, and I’ll try to correct my horrid behavior.”

“You look at me as if… I don’t like the way you look at me.”

“And how do I look at you?” I get up and move closer to her. I slide my hand into her messy blond curls, threading my fingers through the silky strands, making her shiver in response.

Seconds pass loaded with strange tension stretching out like a taut wire between us.

Tiffany leans back, looking up at me. Her eyes are alive and wide, her pupils dilated.

“You won’t fool me.” She brushes her hand against my chest, her fingers running over the ridges of the muscles. I want to wreck her. “I know what you want from me. You want me to be your little lamb that you can slaughter without any guilt. I can see the way you stare at me. My mouth. My body. My lips. You’re a predator, Mr. Leroy. And I’m not the kind of girl that gets eaten alive.”

She pauses before dragging her hand down my stomach, brushing her fingers over the waistband of my pants. My cock hardens as her fingertip trails over the fabric, teasing me. “I’m not stupid. I can see when a man is interested in me.”

I suck in a ragged breath, my hands tightening in her hair.

“At least physically,” she adds.

Tiffany can’t even imagine what I would do to her and her pretty mouth if we weren’t in the situation we are in. Even now, a part of me wants to rip those pretty lips of hers open with my teeth and taste her.

I want to do things to her I never imagined doing to anyone.

“You don’t look opposed to the idea.” I hold her head still, her hair wrapped around my fist.

Her breathing becomes shallow and uneven, catching every time my thumb brushes against her bottom lip.

The air around us is thick with want and longing.

My gaze travels from her dilated pupils to her flushed cheeks and parted lips, silently pleading for me to kiss them.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to let me go,” Tiffany whispers. “I want to go home. I want my uncle out of my life. I want my life to go back to the way it was before.”

Ironic that our wants align perfectly. Getting rid of Dean Carter and starting fresh? That sounds like a plan to me.

“You know I can let you go until your uncle gets what he deserves,” I say, and Tiffany lifts her chin, her eyes flashing.

“How is keeping me prisoner advancing your goal of poetic justice? Is this just an act? An elaborate performance to get me into your bed?” she hisses, her voice trembling from anger. “Do you want to stuff my throat with your dick? Do you want to make me your dirty little secret? Is that what you’re really after, Adrien?”

My blood rushes down between my thighs; my cock is so hard, it’s painful.

“You have a very colorful imagination, love,” I murmur, leaning closer to her. “Do you imagine it frequently? My thick cock ruining your tight throat? Pushing past your gag reflex, filling your mouth with my cum? Making you my little slut?”

Tiffany laughs. “You scare me. Why in green hell I would fantasize about sex with you?”

“Liar.” I trace the outline of her jaw with my thumb. “We both know you get off on it. On the thought of me taking you, of owning you. Good girl in the hands of a bad man, unable to do anything but obey. Is that what you want, angel?”

With the grip on her hair, I pull her head to the side and place a soft kiss on her exposed neck, her pulse thunders under my lips.

Her body is tense, her breathing coming in ragged gasps.

I know she feels it too.

The electricity that builds up between us, the tension, and the magnetic pull.

“I don’t,” she moans, her fingers clutching at my shirt. “Don’t touch me.”

I keep her head in the same position and let my lips wander from her shoulder across her collarbone. Tiffany holds her breath; her hands tighten around my biceps. She arches her neck, giving me more access to her neckline, her pulse, and her skin.

I inhale her scent. It’s sweet and addicting; sunshine, flowers, and everything that’s good.

I bite the skin softly, and Tiffany shudders.

“Adrien,” she pleads, and I know I won’t be able to stop myself if I go any further.

“You want this,” I tell her as I move my lips up to her cheek, kissing her jawline, my tongue tracing the edge of her lips. “You want to know how it feels to be fucked by someone like me.”

“No,” she says breathlessly. “It’s wrong.”

“I promised you that you will be safe.” I brush my thumb over her rosy lips. “And I’m not going to do anything without your explicit permission. I’m going to make you beg for it.”

Tiffany inhales sharply.

“The things I want to do to you…” I slide my hand along her neck and down to her shoulder. My thumb grazes over her hard swollen nipple and Tiffany lets out a quiet moan, leaning into my touch. “I’m going to fuck you senseless, angel,” I promise, my voice low and husky. “I’m going to take everything you have. I’m going to own you and you’re going to beg me to do you harder. Beg to be fucked until you can’t walk. I’ll make your body feel things it’s never felt before. And you’ll love every second of it. You’ll be covered in my come, my mark all over your skin. Mine.”

“You’re crazy.”

My lips are almost touching hers as I whisper, “You can always say no, but you won’t. You want this as much as I do.”

Tiffany’s lips are so pink and so soft; I need to feel them at least one more time before I pull away.

So, I do.

Abandoning all the good sense, I close the remaining distance between us and kiss her.

Our lips brush against each other before my tongue slips inside, caressing hers. Tiffany leans in, her warm lips pressing against mine, her hands wrapping possessively around my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

I kiss her slowly, tasting her, devouring her.

She tastes so goddamn good; it hurts.

Tiffany moans into my mouth and my hand slides down to her ass, my other one going around her waist. She shivers under my touch, and I slide my hand back to her hip, pushing her legs apart. I move my hips forward and press myself against her, my hard-on pressing against the soft skin of her belly. I hold her steady and grind myself against her, showing her what she’s doing to me.

“Adrien,” my name sounds like a plea on Tiffany’s lips. “Why are you doing this?”

“We are both adults and its just sex.” I kiss her cheek and then her lips, my hand still on her ass, keeping her pressed to me.

Her hands slide down from my neck to my chest, fingers splaying against the fabric of my shirt, her touch igniting every nerve ending under my skin.

“This is a terrible idea.”

“I told you I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. You can say ‘no’ right now and I’ll leave. But keep in mind that this is going to stay between us, so don’t make it more than it is. I offer you the greatest pleasure you’ve ever had. I won’t change who I am or my plans for the future. It won’t involve love or happily ever after. It’s your choice, angel. Take it or leave it.”

Tiffany looks me in the eye for a long moment, deliberate, unblinking. Her eyes search mine, looking for answers I don’t have. “It’ll end in a disaster,” she finally says.

“Most likely,” I agree and let my eyes wander over her body. I’ve never been a man who gets off on the pretty faces and bodies, but Tiffany is something else. She’s magnificent. Tall and slender, but with curves in the right places. Her eyes are large and wide, framed by long, dark lashes. Her lips are full and rosy, they are swollen from my kisses, and I can’t deny how much I want to kiss them again.

She’s like a fantasy come to life.

I want to stay and explore this intense attraction between us, but it’s not the right time. We both need some space to process everything.

Stepping back, I study Tiffany’s face as she struggles with her emotions. A faint blush spreads across her cheeks, making her even more irresistible.

The decision is hers to make.

“It’s your choice.”

Tiffany’s eyes flicker to my lips, then back to my eyes. She brings her fingers to her swollen lips and traces them gently.

I clench my fists to prevent myself from reaching out and pulling her close. I force myself to turn and walk away before I give in to temptation.

Before she undoes all my efforts to remain a decent human being.

I take one last look at her, the image of her seared into my mind before I step out of the room, the sound of her ragged breathing following me down the hallway. I know no matter how much I try to resist, I’m already hooked on this woman, and I’m not sure how long I can keep pushing the boundaries of temptation. But I also know that I owe it to her to try.