13. Eliana
Eliana
Late that night, the doorbell rang. Without checking the peephole, I walked toward the entrance, already assuming Walter had arrived with another bouquet. I opened the door with a tired smile. “Mr. Walter, you can stop bringing the flowers. I don't need them anym?—”
“Really?”
A familiar voice interrupted me.
“Is that how you're planning to break my heart?”
The enormous bouquet slowly lowered, revealing Adrian standing behind it. His suitcase rested beside him, his tie loosened and his hair slightly messy from traveling, yet he was smiling exactly the way I'd been hoping he would. For one brief, wonderful second, pure happiness swept through me.
Then the image of the supermodel on television flashed through my mind as my smile disappeared. I looked away and tightened my hand around the edge of the door.
Adrian’s grin faded. His eyes searched mine before he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.
“I missed you,” he whispered against my hair.
He thought he could get away with this. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. “So did I.”
He pulled back just enough to smile at me. “Won't you invite me inside? I came straight from the airport.” He nudged his suitcase with his foot. “I haven't even been home yet.”
I stepped aside, and he wheeled his suitcase into the house.
Once inside, Adrian opened his luggage and began taking out gifts one after another. There was a bottle of expensive perfume, a beautiful wristwatch, imported chocolates, and finally, a small snow globe that he carefully placed into my hands.
Inside it, a bride and groom stood beneath falling snow, frozen in the middle of a kiss.
“I saw it in a little shop,” Adrian said. “For some reason... it reminded me of you.”
I smiled faintly as I studied the tiny couple before looking back at him. “Why are you always so good to me?” I asked quietly. “One day this is all going to end, isn't it? Why do you keep making it harder to let go?”
Instead of answering, Adrian gently pulled me into his embrace. One hand moved through my hair while the other rested against my back.
“Why? Why would you even say that?” he frowned. Then slowly murmured, “Eliana, you're my forever. There was no one before you. There'll be no one after you.”
Huh… Liar.
I couldn't bring up his past. The tears I'd been holding back finally escaped. I admitted how lonely the house had felt, how every bouquet only made me miss him more, and how angry I'd been that he stayed so distant while I counted the days until he came back.
Adrian let out a soft chuckle. “I’m guilty. I wanted to see whether I could survive being away from you.” He smiled to himself before adding, “I couldn't. I actually came back before I even finished my new project in New York.”
He told me every meeting had felt longer than it should have. No matter how busy he became, his thoughts always drifted back to me. “I think you've done something dangerous, Eliana.”
I looked up at him. “What?”
“You've somehow convinced me that home isn't a place anymore.” His thumb brushed away the tears on my cheek. “It's you.”
A laugh escaped me through my tears, and I rested my forehead against his. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. We simply stayed there, close enough to feel each other's breathing, neither willing to be the first to break the quiet.
Eventually, I smiled. “You must be hungry. Let me make dinner.”
Adrian grinned. “I've been looking forward to dinner all day, and my dinner is right here.”
He gently took both my hands, and I laughed softly. “You’re such a pervert.”
“Maybe.” His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. “But I've been away from you for days. I'm allowed to be a little selfish tonight.”
The teasing smile slowly faded from his face as he stepped closer. Adrian lifted one hand to my cheek, his thumb brushing softly across my skin. “I missed this,” he whispered. “Being close enough to you that I don't have to imagine it.”
My heart stumbled.
His touch sent shivers through my body, reigniting the desire I had kept at bay while he was away.
His blue eyes, dark with desire, held my gaze captive as he leaned in slowly.
His lips met mine in a soft, lingering kiss, almost careful at first. When my fingers curled into his loosened tie and pulled him closer, his arms slipped around my waist, and the kiss deepened with all the longing we'd tried to contain while he was away.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless. Adrian rested his forehead against mine, his eyes lingering on my lips. “I have a feeling you won't get much sleep tonight. Can I proceed?" he murmured, his voice thick with want.
I nodded, too overwhelmed to form a word.
"I can never get enough of you," he breathed, his eyes trailing over my body with reverence. He leaned in, pressing soft kisses along my neck. I let out a soft moan, as my hands found their way to his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt.
"Adrian," I whispered, my voice trembling.
He responded by capturing my lips in another searing kiss, his hands roaming over my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake.
He guided me down onto the sofa, his body covering mine as he deepened the kiss.
His hardness pressed against my thigh, and I couldn't help but arch into him, craving more contact.
Adrian's hands slid under my shirt, his fingers tracing the curves of my breasts. He broke the kiss to pull my shirt off, tossing it aside before leaning down to pepper kisses along my collarbone. His tongue swirled around one nipple, drawing a gasp from my lips.
"Adrian," I moaned, my fingers tangling in his hair. He looked up at me, a raw hunger burning in his eyes.. "Please," I whimpered, not even sure what I was asking for.
He understood, though. His hands slid down to the waistband of my pants, popping the button open before tugging them down my legs in one swift motion.
Adrian stood up, his eyes never leaving mine as he stripped off his own clothes. My gaze roamed over his body, taking in the defined muscles of his chest and abs, the V of his hips leading down to his erection.
He leaned over me again, his lips finding mine in a passionate kiss as his fingers slipped between my thighs. I was already wet for him, and he groaned at the feel of it. "Eliana," he breathed against my lips. "You're so wet for me."
I could only moan in response as his fingers explored my folds, teasing my clit with featherlight touches. He circled the sensitive nub before dipping two fingers inside me, curling them just right to hit that spot that made me see stars.
"Yes," I gasped, my hips bucking against his hand. "Don't stop."
He obliged, pumping his fingers in and out of me while his thumb pressed against my clit. The pleasure built inside me, coiling tighter and tighter until I was teetering on the edge.
"I'm going to come," I warned, my voice breathy.
"Let go," Adrian urged, his fingers moving faster. "I've got you."
That was all it took. I came undone, my orgasm crashing over me in waves of ecstasy. Adrian's fingers continued to move, drawing out my pleasure until I was completely vulnerable beneath him.
Before I could even catch my breath, he was positioning himself at my entrance. "I need to be inside you," he growled, his voice strained with desire.
I nodded, wrapping my legs around his waist. He pushed into me slowly, giving me time to adjust to his size. When he was fully seated inside me, we both let out a groan of pleasure.
He started to move then, pulling out slowly before thrusting back in. The sensation was incredible, and I met each of his thrusts with my own. Our bodies moved together in perfect sync, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room.
Adrian adjusted his angle slightly, hitting that spot inside me that made me see white. “Oh god,” I cried out, my nails digging into his back.
"That's it," he encouraged, increasing his pace. "Come for me, sweetheart."
His words pushed me over the edge once again, and I came undone beneath him. My walls squeezed tight around him as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me.
Adrian followed soon after, burying himself deep inside me as he found his own release. We stayed like that for a moment, our bodies joined as we both came down from our highs.
Eventually, Adrian rolled off of me, pulling me into his arms. We lay there for a while, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
"I love you," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I blushed, snuggling closer to him.
We dozed off for a bit. When we awoke some time later, Adrian scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bedroom.
"What are you doing?" I asked with a sleepy smile.
"Round two," he replied with a wink. "I've got a lot of catching up to do."
He laid me down on the bed, his body hovering over mine. This time was slower, more intimate. We took our time exploring each other's bodies, our hands and mouths mapping out every inch of skin.
Adrian made love to me in a way that made me feel cherished, worshipped even. He kissed me softly as he entered me, his movements gentle yet passionate. We moved together as one, our bodies perfectly in sync.
When we reached our peaks this time, it was with a shared moan of completion. Adrian collapsed on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress in the most satisfying way.
We lay there for a while after, our hearts beating as one. I had never felt so connected to another person, so complete.
"I missed you so much, Mr. Billionaire," I whispered, tracing patterns on his chest.
"I missed you too, Miss Author," he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "More than you'll ever know."
The night slipped by in a peaceful intimacy that neither of us seemed willing to put into words.
We talked until our voices grew softer, laughed over things that wouldn't have seemed funny to anyone else, and eventually settled into a silence that felt more comforting than conversation.
For the first time since Adrian had entered my life, I didn't feel the need to wonder what would happen next.
I just simply wanted to trust him, my Mr. Billionaire.
At some point, sleep found me. Before sunrise, I stirred beneath the blankets, reaching instinctively toward the other side of the bed. My fingers met only cool sheets.
I opened my eyes slowly. Adrian was gone.
For a moment, I wondered if he'd already left, but then I heard his voice coming from the living room. I couldn't make out the other person's words, only the low murmur of his voice carrying through the quiet house.
I slowly sat up on the bed and listened. There was something different about the way he was speaking. His voice was softer than usual, almost gentle, as though he were discussing something he didn't want anyone else to hear.
I remained still, listening from the bedroom. A pause followed. Then Adrian spoke again, and I heard the faint smile in his voice.
"Yes..." he said quietly. "...I'll be looking forward to it."
I stared toward the half-open bedroom door.
Who is he talking to? And what exactly is he looking forward to?
I should have gotten out of bed and asked him. Instead, I stayed where I was, listening to the quiet conversation beyond the door.
Should I be concerned about this?