Because Its You
Lia couldn't stop staring at the sketches.
Rain blurred the city skyline behind her while silence settled heavily through Adrian's office.
One drawing rested beneath her fingertips now.
Her sitting on the library floor between bookshelves with tired eyes and messy hair twisted loosely over one shoulder.
She didn't even remember that moment.
But Adrian did.
Of course he did.
"You watched me this entire time," she said quietly.
Not accusing.
Not frightened.
Just trying to understand.
Adrian stood near the windows with one hand resting inside his pocket, watching her with that same unreadable calmness he always wore.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Never hesitation.
Lia exhaled softly.
"You drew things I don't even remember doing."
"You looked peaceful when you forgot people were watching."
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because that answer felt intimate in a way she wasn't prepared for.
Slowly, she looked up at him.
"How long have you been paying attention to me?"
A pause.
Then Adrian answered quietly:
"Longer than you think."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Dangerous in a softer way now.
Lia looked back down at the sketchbook.
"You kept all of these."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Adrian's gaze stayed fixed on her.
"Because they're mine."
Her pulse stumbled instantly.
That word again.
Mine.
Possessive.
Certain.
And somehow Adrian said it so naturally.
Like the feeling had existed long before he ever admitted it aloud.
Lia closed the sketchbook carefully.
"You can't keep saying things like that."
"Why?"
"Because you sound—"
"Obsessed?"
The directness of it stole the rest of her sentence completely.
Adrian stepped away from the windows slowly.
Closer.
Every movement calm.
Controlled.
"You already know I am," he continued quietly.
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven.
Because he was right.
She did know.
And somehow hearing him admit it openly made the atmosphere between them heavier.
More honest.
No pretending anymore.
No excuses.
Just truth.
Rain echoed softly against the glass walls around them while Adrian stopped a few feet away.
Close enough now that she could smell cedarwood and coffee again.
"You should be more disturbed by this," she murmured.
"I know."
"But you don't seem concerned."
"No."
Lia stared at him in disbelief.
"How are you real?"
A faint flicker touched his mouth briefly.
"I ask myself that whenever you look at me like this."
Her breath caught slightly.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying very hard not to want me."
The words wrapped tightly around her spine.
Dangerous.
Sharp.
Because part of her immediately wanted to deny it.
And another part—
the honest part—
couldn't.
Lia looked away first.
Again.
Adrian noticed.
Always.
"You avoid eye contact when nervous."
"You narrate my behavior like a documentary."
"You react to me constantly."
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You make it difficult not to."
For the first time since she'd entered the office—
something in Adrian's expression shifted completely.
Not cold.
Not amused.
Something darker.
More vulnerable.
It disappeared quickly.
But she saw it.
And somehow—
that frightened her more than his jealousy ever had.
Adrian stepped closer again.
Slowly enough that she could've moved away.
She didn't.
The realization seemed to affect him too.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"You should stop doing that."
Lia frowned softly.
"Doing what?"
"Standing still when I get too close."
Her heartbeat stumbled hard.
Because suddenly—
there was almost no space left between them.
She could feel warmth radiating from him now.
Could see the tiny scar near his wrist beneath rolled sleeves.
Could hear the slow steadiness of his breathing despite the tension crushing the room.
"You're acting like I'm dangerous," she whispered.
Adrian looked down at her quietly.
"You have no idea."
The honesty of it sent chills through her immediately.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
A warning.
And maybe the scariest part?
Lia still didn't move away.
Adrian noticed that too.
Of course he did.
His hand lifted slowly—
carefully—
before brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Soft.
Gentle.
The contact sent warmth flooding through her chest so suddenly she almost hated him for it.
"You react every time I touch you," he murmured quietly.
Lia's breathing felt uneven now.
"You keep noticing that."
"Because I think about it afterward."
The confession hit hard enough to leave her speechless.
Adrian's gaze stayed fixed on her face.
Not rushed.
Not hungry like the gala.
Worse.
Focused.
Like he was trying to memorize this moment too.
Lia's pulse hammered violently beneath her ribs.
"You think about me too much."
"Yes."
No denial.
Never denial.
Adrian's thumb brushed lightly against the side of her jaw now.
Barely there.
Enough to destroy her concentration completely.
"Why?" she asked softly before she could stop herself.
The question hung heavily between them.
And for the first time—
Adrian hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then finally:
"Because it's you."
Her breath caught completely.
Simple words.
But the way he said them—
quiet.
Certain.
Almost frustrated by the depth of it—
made something inside her chest ache unexpectedly.
Lia stared at him.
"You barely know me."
Adrian's eyes held hers steadily.
"I know the way you reread books when you're overwhelmed."
Her heartbeat faltered.
"I know you pretend not to be cold so other people won't worry."
Another breath.
Another crack somewhere beneath her ribs.
"I know you stop drawing when life hurts too much."
The room felt unbearably quiet now.
Because nobody had ever paid attention like this before.
Nobody had looked closely enough to notice the things she never said aloud.
Adrian stepped even closer.
So close now she could feel his breath against her skin.
"And I know," he said softly, "that you still haven't walked away from me."
Lia couldn't breathe properly.
Because once again—
he was right.
Every warning sign existed.
Every reason to leave stood directly in front of her.
Obsessive.
Possessive.
Dangerously attached.
And still—
she stayed.
Adrian's hand slowly settled against her waist.
Warm.
Steady.
Careful enough to give her time to stop him.
She didn't.
The realization darkened his expression immediately.
Something possessive flickered behind his eyes again.
"You should tell me to stop."
Lia's voice came out quieter than intended.
"...Should I?"
The silence afterward nearly destroyed her.
Because Adrian looked at her like he was losing control for the very first time.
And somehow—
that look terrified her enough to make her want more of it.