11. Ella
11
ELLA
“After you,” Adrian rasps as the elevator dings and the gleaming doors slide open.
That deliciously low, gruff voice of his skates across my skin, erupting in goosebumps as he guides me inside with a firm hand. A very firm hand. That’s also quite big. Not that I noticed.
Once or two dozen times this evening.
It’s hard not to when it has been on my body or entwined with my hand ever since we left the yacht. Guiding me, soothing me… turning my body into a molten mess of nerves. And right now, with his hand on the small of my back, the effect is just as strong.
E- lectric .
More so now with the elevator doors closing. The air inside is thick. And with Adrian so close to me, it’s becoming hard to breathe until he pulls away.
I glance sidelong at him as he leans against the wall, folding his arms across his chest. The man is far too handsome for his good. And when he’s wearing a suit? Good lord. Everything is perfectly tailored, but after an evening on the water and strolling the small, winding streets, his hair is a little messy. It suits him, though. I like seeing cracks in his carefully crafted exterior.
“Thanks for tonight.”
I mean it, too. I’d been concerned about tonight, wondering if I’d be able to make a good impression on his parents while trying my best not to empty the contents of my stomach. I think it was a success on both accounts. But the most surprising part of the night was Adrian.
He’s been so kind and caring this whole evening, checking in with me, making sure I’m comfortable, putting my needs before anyone else’s, including his own. He’s nothing like the man I thought he was back at BlackeThorne. Cold. Calculated. A businessman through and through.
I was wrong, and I don’t mind admitting it.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to abduct you.”
I smile, wondering if I should have made him throw me over his shoulder. I wouldn’t have minded that. Feeling those strong arms around me. But then I remember how sick I felt, and I’m sure as soon as he picked me up, I’d have made a mess of that deck and Adrian’s suit.
“Came close, huh?”
He grunts.
“How are you feeling? Gelato sitting okay?”
“Great. No issues at all.”
My stomach has been feeling better from the moment we got off that hellish boat ride, which I might add, took longer than a few minutes. Thank god it wasn’t a rowboat. Once we hit dry land and started walking, my stomach settled. And then I got hungry because I’d hardly eaten anything all day. And for the first time in what felt like a decade, I had meat. A pepperoni pizza at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
Literally. It was cut out of a rock formation, and we had to descend into it like a cave, albeit a much more refined cave with brick walls and candle-lit enclaves. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have considered it our first date.
Wait. Was it?
Maybe…
“I’m glad,” Adrian rasps, leaning in and kissing me on the forehead as yet another tingling sensation rockets through me.
The elevator stops, dinging as the doors open.
He slips his hand around mine as though it’s the most natural thing in the world, and we head out of the elevator together. But if I’m honest, it does feel natural. Not forced. Like this is normal. I like it a lot, but as we approach our room, my nerves begin to resurface.
Memories begin to resurface.
That kiss. Holy hell , that kiss. Adrian and I haven’t talked about it, but I’d be lying if I said this isn’t the first time I’d thought about it. The way he held me. The way he devoured me. He said it was practice for the real thing, and a part of me is hoping we get another practice round in because the first was cut short. But the other part is screaming no. Do not even attempt it. Because after this week is over, so is this relationship.
It’s. Not. Worth it.
My mind is in complete chaos as Adrian opens the door to our room and steps aside, allowing me in. I take a deep breath, centering myself before kicking off my heels. “It feels good to get these off. Heels and stone streets do not mix. Heels and any surface do not mix. These things might be gorgeous, but they are deadly .”
Something in the air shifts. The fine hairs on my neck rise. When I turn around, Adrian’s staring at me as though in a trance, his eyes dark and intense.
I swallow hard, my skin on fire under his gaze. He turns around, shutting the door. Locking it. And when he turns back around, his gaze shifts, softening.
“If you need a foot rub, I’m game.”
How about a full-body rub?
I nearly choke as the voice comes careening out of nowhere. Thankfully, I recover before Adrian notices.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll take a soak in the tub.”
Adrian nods, passing by me as I take in his heady scent. “The offer stands.”
But I won’t be if he continues looking at me like that. My legs are feeling like jelly as my pulse thrums all over my body.
I head to the bedroom, acutely aware of Adrian’s eyes following me as I walk. And after I slip by the door, closing it behind me, I still feel the heat of his gaze simmering on my skin.
I sigh, rubbing my arms. I’ve been trying to resist the way he makes me feel, shoving it down, but there’s only so much I can ignore. I can’t ignore that kiss. I can’t ignore the way he looks at me like I’m the only thing in this world he wants. The way my heart hammers when he’s near. Everything.
I close my eyes. One more day. I have to get through one more day, and then I can figure everything else out. Who knows? Maybe I’m imagining everything. Seeing more to this situation than what’s there. Maybe once we go back to the real world, he’ll follow through with his end of the contract, and that will be the end of it. We’ll be done.
But as soon as that thought crosses my mind, something inside me screams. I don’t want this to end.
* * *
With my hair and skin still damp, I change into my sleep clothes, a pair of silk shorts and a matching cami that suddenly seem much more revealing than they did when I packed them. I’d brought them because they’re comfortable, but as I glance at my reflection, Adrian might see the outfit differently. There’s not much left to the imagination, that’s for sure.
I could grab the robe I saw hanging in the closet, but a part of me is interested in Adrian’s reaction. And that’s not like me. I tend not to try and attract attention to myself, but I’m craving a little more of Adrian’s. A night wandering the charming coastal town together was not enough.
I head for the door, pausing as I reach for the handle as I listen. Metal clangs and Adrian curses. I can’t help but smile. But when I open the door and see Adrian, I damn near choke.
Adrian in a suit is heavenly, but Adrian in gray sweats and a white t-shirt is downright sinful. His muscles are on full display as he attempts to wrangle the metal cot in the middle of the room, banging on one end as he bends over… ahem .
I’d offer to help, but I’m enjoying the view.
“Congrats,” I say, when he finishes.
Adrian turns around, smiling widely until his eyes land on me, and it drops as his eyes flare. He swallows as his gaze takes in the breadth of me. I think he likes my outfit.
“Ella,” he rasps. “I-uh-” he scratches the back of his neck and then finally recovers. “That was a little more complicated than I expected.”
I take a few steps inside the room, my nipples tightening under his gaze.
“Were you working on that the entire time I was in the bath?”
“Would it change your opinion of me if I said yes?”
I snort. “Not at all. I never expected a billionaire to be good with his hands.”
Now it’s his turn to move toward me. “Who says I’m not?”
A chill skates across my skin. I run my hand along my arms, trying to quiet the rippling goosebumps.
“You know,” I begin, glancing at the cot. “You don’t have to sleep on that cot.”
Oh god. Did I just say that?
He makes a throaty noise as he closes the gap between us. That dark intensity returns to his eyes as every part of my body feels like it’s engulfed in flames.
“That’s asking for trouble.” His voice is gruff. Deep. It’s so thick and heavy that I can feel it like a quilt wrapped around my body.
And I open my mouth again, speaking without a second thought. “What if I’m looking for a little trouble?”
He pauses. It’s so quiet I can hear both of us breathing.
“Are you saying you want to break your first rule?”
“I think it’s silly that a man as…” My gaze travels the length of him, trying my best to ignore the length of him pressing against his sweats before continuing, “big as you should try to sleep on a cot as small as that. It’s a king-size bed. We’d have to use walkie-talkies if we wanted to talk to each other.”
I try to crack a joke to lighten the heaviness in the room, but it fails to land. Adrian’s still staring me down like a predator sizes up its prey. He has one singular focus, and he’s making it clear what it is.
“We wouldn’t be talking,” he rasps. “And we wouldn’t be breaking only the first rule. There wouldn’t be a single rule left unbroken by the end of the night if you allow me to sleep in that bed tonight. I’ve only had one taste of your lips, Ella. I’d ask for the whole thing.”
He swallows.
I swallow, but my mouth is bone dry.
He reaches for my face, cupping my cheek, and I grab his hand in response. It feels so good. Adrian feels so good. I want to keep pushing, but it seems like I might be in over my head.
“But after the wedding ends,” he rasps. “Our contractual obligations end.”
I try to respond, but my throat is sealed shut.
“No rules to break.”
…only bed frames?
He threads his fingers through my hair, dragging his fingertips along my scalp before letting my hair fall away with his hand. I’m not sure if he’s right or making things up, but honestly, I don’t care. Forget the contract.
“Goodnight, Ella.”
I blink, watching him as he heads for the cot.
And rather than argue, rather than listen to that little voice in my head, I wish him goodnight and head into the bedroom. I close the door, but not before I see him remove his shirt. Defined abs. Broad Chest. A v-taper that… phew.
There’s no way I’ll have a good night’s sleep now.
* * *
Turns out I’m right.
I can’t sleep. I’ve been tossing and turning for hours in this massive bed. I’ve never slept in anything so big, and it makes me feel even more alone. It’s a shame Snickerdoodle isn’t real because I could use a sleeping buddy right about now.
Although I think I might prefer Adrian…
And that’s a huge problem. Or at least, a part of me thinks it is. A part of me keeps thinking that I need to keep this simple. Go back to the rules that I laid out. The business arrangement. Because that’s all this is.
But the other part wants to completely ignore it and explore if there is something between us. I don’t know anymore. It’s crazy to think that I’ve caught these feelings so fast. It’s not normal for me, but then again, this isn’t a normal situation. And Adrian isn’t an average person.
I’ve been replaying my time with him in my head. The flight. The conversations. The boat. That kiss . Okay, I’ve mostly been thinking about that kiss. I know it was cut short, but it was the best kiss I’ve ever had, which is again, a huge problem. It was probably nothing special for him. Another kiss with another girl.
Heat rises in my cheeks as I think about him kissing someone else. I shouldn’t be feeling so possessive. We’re not dating. This isn’t real, even though it feels like it is.
I sigh, throwing off the covers as I sit up. I glance at the door to the main living area and find light shining under the door.
Guess I’m not the only one who’s restless. I wonder…
Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip out of bed and pad to the door. I crack the door open just a fraction, peering through the narrow gap. Adrian’s awake, sitting on the edge of the cot, staring at his phone.
I blink. And then again, because I can’t believe what I’m looking at. What he’s looking at.
Me.
He’s zoomed in on a photograph of me that I didn’t realize he’d taken. It’s outside, during the photographs we took earlier with his family. I’m laughing at something, my head thrown back, completely oblivious to Adrian’s photography skills. And he’s stroking my face…
I close the door silently, retreating a few steps, trying to process what I saw. There’s no way. Right? I must have imagined it. Surely, I did.
I shake my head. Shake my arms and legs out. This is all in my head. I’m sure he didn’t snap a candid of me while I wasn’t looking so he could gaze at it at damn near three in the morning. Or if he did, it was just him getting into character. Just like that kiss, it’s practice for the big day. He has to get used to seeing my face, so he doesn’t cringe when he has to—oh my god, what am I saying?
I exhale long and slow. And then cough. And then again. One more time for good measure before opening the door.
This time, Adrian’s phone is lying face down on the table next to the cot.
“Everything okay?”
I clear my throat. “My throat’s a little dry and I need?—”
Oh god. Oh lord. Adrian’s shirtless. Completely naked up there. And when he stands up, I nearly faint as I stare at those muscles, just hanging out right there.
Abs. Eyes. Abs, chest, eyes. Bulge. Eyes. My gaze is shifting so fast that I think my brain might short-circuit.
Adrian reaches down and grabs a bottle of water before walking toward me. “Here, take this.”
I glance at it, still unmoving. And then I feel faint once I feel the heat from his body, breathing in the lingering scent of his cologne.
He smiles. “It’s unopened. You won’t get cooties, I swear.”
Uh, buh, uh. WAKE UP!
“Thanks. Already had my cootie shot decades ago. Probably need a booster though.”
He grunts. I cringe. This is awkward. I’m awkward. But can you blame a girl? I know I’m not the only one who’d fumble in front of a man like this. All hard edges. Muscles galore. A face that could make nuns reconsider their path.
I open the bottle and take a sip. “Couldn’t sleep?”
He rubs the back of his neck, and oh my god, those muscles look even better as he stretches.
“Not really.”
I glance at the cot and frown. “Where’s your blanket? And pillow?”
“I’ve got a towel. It’s fine.”
“No. It’s not.” I can’t even imagine a man of this size curling up beneath a towel. “Are you using a rolled-up newspaper for—no.” I shake my head. “No. You’re sleeping in the bed, and that’s final.”
His eyes darken. A shiver races down my spine. Tingles and heat spread across my body. “Ella.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Besides, the bed is huge. It’s a day’s journey from one side to the other.”
He takes a step forward, repeating my name in that gruff voice. I remember the photo. The way he was stroking it as I watched.
“I’ll call off this fake relationship if you don’t.”
And for the first time, I see a pained expression on his face. It was meant as a joke. Thankfully, it lasts for only a short time.
“We couldn’t have that.”
I shake my head.
“Fine,” he says, dragging it out. “I’ll sleep with you, Ella.”
“Next to me,” I correct, although the flutter in my stomach would like the former much more than the latter.
“I hope you don’t mind…” He gestures at his still very attractive musculature. “But I tend to run hot. I’m usually in nothing but underwear, but I figured I’d cover up a little.”
No need for that. Just take it all— whew. “Not at all.”
He takes another step, and now I’m really feeling the heat. “If you’re comfortable with it.”
“I’m fine.”
His jaw ticks. “Okay.”
One last semi-surreptitious glance at his abs, and I’m off, acutely aware of Adrian following closely behind me. I slip under the covers, and he does the same, maintaining a respectable distance. A little too respectable, but I can’t complain. I shouldn’t either. I’m sending this man so many mixed signals, I’m surprised he’s still able to function around me.
“Goodnight, Ella,” Adrian rasps.
The hairs on my neck stand. My body feels electrified.
“Goodnight, Adrian,” I mutter as I lie rigid on my side of the bed, hyper aware of his presence. I feel every single movement, no matter how small. I can hear each breath. But as the minutes tick by, the tension in my body begins to ease. There’s something oddly comforting about having him here, like his very presence makes me feel safe and protected. My eyelids grow heavy, and the last thing I remember before drifting off is the steady sound of his breathing beside me.