Chapter Fifteen
Isla
I stared at my closet, anxiety knotting in my stomach as I tried to decide what to wear tonight. My hands rifled through hangers uselessly.
Introducing my very new, not-remotely-normal boyfriend to my family after less than twenty-four hours of “dating” felt like the kind of thing you’d confess at your deathbed, not actually do.
Every dress suddenly looked juvenile, too short, too tight, not “please don’t panic, my new boyfriend is only slightly dangerous.”
"I can't believe you're meeting my parents one day into dating," I sighed, pulling out a pale pink dress only to immediately stuff it back like it might bite. "This is insane."
Adrian was sprawled across my bed, his massive frame making my queen-sized mattress look ridiculously small under him. His legs dangled off the edge, every foot of him stretched out and easy.
He was watching me with undisguised fascination, green eyes tracking my every movement like I was the most captivating thing he'd ever seen .
His ever-present jade-handled knife spun between inked fingers, catching bits of sunlight and tossing them across my carpet.
"Why wait?" he countered, flashing that beautiful devil-may-care smile that made my knees weak and my brain forget every reason not to give in.
“I’m not going anywhere, angel. Besides, better to get the interrogations out of the way. If Crew survives, I get to keep you.”
I grabbed a cream-colored slip dress with a modest neckline that still managed to hug my curves.
"My brother’s going to interrogate you like you're a criminal," I warned, holding the dress against me and turning to Adrian for approval. "And my dad will probably try to intimidate you with some story."
Adrian's eyes darkened as he took in the dress, his knife stilling mid-twirl. "Wear that one," he decided, his voice dropping an octave. "And don't sweat about your family. I already won over another important one ten years ago.”
I snorted, not buying it for a second, but some ridiculous thing inside me relaxed.
There was something so vibrantly, intensely real about Adrian—even in his danger, he felt trustworthy in ways normal boys never had.
I disappeared into the bathroom to change, hyperaware of Adrian's presence just beyond the door. When I emerged, his reaction was worth every second of deliberation.
He sat up straight, knife forgotten on the bedspread, eyes drinking me in with such naked appreciation that I felt myself flush from head to toe.
"Angel," he breathed, rising to his feet in one fluid motion. "You're so pretty."
He crossed to me in two long strides, his hands settling on my waist.
The ribbon—his ribbon—still circled my throat, a silent declaration that I belonged to him. His fingers traced it before sliding up to cup my face .
"I'm the luckiest man alive," he murmured, bending to press his forehead against mine. "And I'm going to make sure your family knows exactly how much you mean to me."
Some nights, I’d wondered if I’d ever feel honestly special in someone’s arms. One day with Adrian and I burned with it.
“We should go,” I whispered, mostly because Adrian looked like he’d be content to just hold me there forever. “You still need to change.”
He grinned, reluctant but smug. “My place first. I’ll shower and put something on that won’t give your dad a heart attack.”
The gleam in his eyes suggested he’d enjoy testing the boundary.
As we stepped out of my building, Adrian's hand settled possessively at the small of my back, guiding me toward the private parking area.
The evening air was warm against my skin, and my heart fluttered with anticipation.
Not just for dinner with my family, but for whatever disaster would probably come after.
I expected Adrian to lead me toward one of the sleek, understated luxury cars that sometimes populated my neighborhood's streets. Instead… he steered me toward something that could only be described as pure automotive chaos.
There, gleaming under the streetlights like some alien spacecraft, sat a Lamborghini in the most outrageous shade of lime green I'd ever seen.
The color was almost radioactive, practically pulsing with energy—exactly like its owner.
Of course.
"That's..." I trailed off, searching for words.
"Beautiful? Magnificent? A testament to my impeccable taste?" Adrian supplied, fishing keys from his pocket. The fob had a small knife charm dangling from it, because obviously.
I rolled my eyes, stifling laughter. “I was thinking… subtle.”
He grinned, opening the passenger door for me with a flourish. " That's half the fun, angel. Besides—" he leaned in, lips brushing my ear, "—they’ll know exactly what they're dealing with."
The interior was all black leather and carbon fiber, somehow both luxurious and violent—Adrian in car form.
I couldn't help but think how perfectly the car represented Adrian himself. Outrageous and attention-grabbing on the outside, but meticulously crafted beneath the surface.
His hand immediately clamped around my thigh when he sat, thumb tracing slow, possessive circles.
The machine beneath us roared to life, all raw power; I barely managed to take in the interior before we took off, a neon blur cutting through the city.
"Ready to see my nest?" he asked, those green eyes dancing with mischief.
I placed my hand over his, feeling his veins under my palm. "As I'll ever be."
The Lamborghini shot forward, the acceleration pressing me back into my seat as Adrian navigated through the city streets, the lime green blur reflecting in windows as we passed.
The drive to his place was a blur of anticipation. I watched the city transform around us, moving from my comfortable neighborhood to a more remote upscale area.
"Home sweet home," he announced as we pulled into a private garage beside a massive brick building. "Don't worry, I cleaned up the blood stains last night.”
My head whipped toward him, eyes wide, and he burst into laughter. "Kidding, angel. Mostly."
The connecting door required a code and a fingerprint scan, which seemed excessive until the doors opened directly into his place. I stepped out and froze, momentarily overwhelmed by the space before me.
It was enormous with soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls, and industrial windows that offered a panoramic view of the city.
But it was the contents that truly took my breath away .
To my right, a multi-monitor setup dominated a sleek desk, screens displaying things like stock tickers, and lines of code I couldn't begin to understand.
To my left, a kitchen gleamed with stainless steel appliances and a marble island big enough to prepare a feast.
Straight ahead, a living area centered around an obscenely large leather sectional, flanked by filled bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling.
Everywhere, the juxtaposition of luxury and craziness seemed to define Adrian himself. Priceless-looking art hung alongside brick walls, including the storm one from last time.
A vintage arcade machine blinked in one corner, while a glass case displaying what had to be antique knives stood in another.
The whole space was immaculate yet somehow untamed, just like its owner.
"What do you think?" Adrian asked, watching my reaction with that intense focus that made me feel like the only person in the world.
"It's... you," I said finally, unable to find better words. "It's so perfectly you."
He beamed. "Best compliment you could give me, angel. Take a look around while I shower.” He leaned on the door, eyes twinkling. "Unless you'd like to join me?"
I felt heat rush to my cheeks, and his grin widened at my reaction.
"Just offering," he added with a playful wink before disappearing down a hallway.
I wandered the space for a while, drawn to different elements like a butterfly to flowers.
The art was exceptional—a mix of highly coveted pieces I recognized from galleries and older works that looked museum-quality.
I paused in front of the familiar canvas, dark blues and violent reds, reminiscent of a storm at sea or a battlefield.
"That one’s my favorite," Adrian's voice came from behind me, making me jump .
I turned to find him freshly showered, a towel slung low on his hips, water still beading on his tattooed chest.
The sight made my mouth go dry. His abs were glistening, and he looked like something carved out of my deepest desires.
"Really?” I asked, forcing my eyes back to the canvas.
"Of course, it doesn’t compare to yours.” He moved to stand beside me, his heat radiating against my skin as he engulfed my presence beside him.
I studied the painting with new appreciation, seeing the controlled violence in every brushstroke. It was raw, powerful, and undeniably skilled.
"It's beautiful," I said honestly.
"Not as beautiful as you," he replied all cheesy, pressing a kiss to my temple before moving away. "Give me five minutes to dress, then we can go."
While he changed, I continued my exploration, finding the massive aquarium that separated the kitchen from the living area.
Inside, sleek, kind of scary silver fish with razor-sharp teeth circled lazily, and I stared at them wide-eyed and entranced. A deep blue light illuminated the water.
"Piranhas," Adrian explained, returning in dark jeans and a forest green button-up similar to yesterday, which made his eyes even more striking.
The top buttons were undone, revealing the edges of his tattoos, but the overall effect was surprisingly respectable.
"Birthday gift to myself.”
"They're... interesting," I managed, watching one particularly large specimen eye me through the glass.
"They're excellent listeners," he smirked with a wink. "Never judge, never interrupt."
I laughed, turning to take in the rest of the space. "Your home is amazing, Adrian. It feels like a museum crossed with a hacker setup crossed with... "
"A serial killer's lair?" he grinned helpfully, eyes dancing with mischief.
"I was going to say an antique store, but sure, let's go with that."
He laughed, the sound echoing through the large space. "Come on, angel. Let's go charm your family."
The nerve-wracking, exhilarating walk to his car was a blur, but I barely noticed. Adrian’s hand never left me as my head spun with nerves, anticipation, and that strange sense of rightness.
As we slid into the Lambo, Adrian leaned over, kissing me with a kind of patience and promise I’d never known. “Ready to introduce me to the family?”
I grinned at him, impossibly ready, impossibly his. “Ready.”
He pulled back, wild and untamable and absolutely mine. “Let’s go make a night no one will forget.”