After The Kiss
Silence filled the apartment after Adrian kissed her.
Not awkward silence.
Not uncertain.
Worse.
The kind that changes things permanently.
Lia sat frozen against him, breathing unevenly while rain echoed softly against the windows behind them.
Her pulse still hammered violently beneath her skin.
Because Adrian kissed exactly the way he did everything else—
intensely.
Carefully.
Like he'd been thinking about it for far too long.
And maybe the worst part?
She kissed him back without hesitation.
That realization hit seconds later.
Hard.
Adrian's forehead still rested lightly against hers.
His breathing sounded steadier now.
Controlled again.
But not fully.
Lia noticed that too.
For the first time since meeting him—
Adrian Monteverde looked affected in a way he couldn't completely hide.
His hand remained firm against her waist.
Like he physically disliked distance now that he'd finally crossed that line.
"You're quiet," he murmured softly.
Lia stared at him in disbelief.
"You just psychologically destroyed me."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
Almost amusement.
Almost relief.
"You kissed me back."
Her face immediately burned hotter.
"You noticed that?"
"I notice everything."
Of course he did.
God.
Lia looked away quickly before her heartbeat embarrassed her further.
But Adrian's hand moved gently against her jaw again, guiding her attention back toward him.
Not controlling.
Worse.
Careful.
"You keep doing that."
"What?"
"Looking away when something matters."
The words settled heavily between them.
Because this mattered now.
There was no pretending otherwise anymore.
No hiding behind tension or dangerous conversations.
Adrian kissed her.
And she wanted him to do it again.
That truth terrified her.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You said that was selfish."
"It was."
"You've literally broken into my apartment."
"That wasn't for me."
The quiet certainty in his voice destroyed her remaining logic instantly.
Because somehow—
she believed him.
Adrian's thumb brushed softly beneath her jaw.
"You're thinking too hard again."
"You kissed me."
"Yes."
"You sound very calm about that."
A pause.
Then Adrian admitted quietly:
"I'm trying to."
Something inside her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because beneath all the obsession—
beneath the possessiveness and intensity—
Adrian still seemed genuinely affected by her.
Like wanting her had become something difficult to manage.
And maybe that was exactly why he felt dangerous.
Not because he lacked emotion.
Because he felt too much of it.
The rain outside softened into gentle tapping while warm apartment lighting wrapped around them quietly.
Neither moved away.
Neither seemed fully capable of it.
Finally, Lia whispered softly:
"How long have you wanted to do that?"
Adrian's eyes darkened immediately.
"A while."
"That's not a number."
"No."
Lia stared at him carefully.
The honesty was still there.
But something else existed underneath now too.
Possession.
Relief.
Like kissing her had only made whatever obsession existed worse instead of satisfying it.
And maybe Adrian noticed her realizing that.
Because his gaze sharpened slightly afterward.
"You're nervous."
"Obviously."
"You aren't regretting it."
The certainty in his voice made her pulse stumble again.
"You sound very confident."
"You touched me like you wanted it too."
Heat rushed violently into her face.
Because unfortunately—
he was right again.
Lia looked down at his shirt beneath her fingers.
Still clenched there.
Still holding onto him unconsciously.
The realization nearly killed her emotionally.
Adrian noticed immediately.
His eyes lowered toward her hand.
Something dark flickered behind them.
"You keep holding onto me."
Her breathing turned uneven again.
"You say things that make people nervous."
"No," Adrian murmured softly.
"This makes you nervous."
Before she could respond—
his hand slid slowly higher against her waist.
Not inappropriate.
Worse.
Intentional.
Like he was testing how much closeness she'd allow now.
Lia's pulse jumped instantly.
Adrian noticed.
Of course he did.
"You react every time I touch you."
"You keep touching me."
"You keep letting me."
The room went quiet again.
Because once more—
he was right.
Lia could've moved away at any point.
Could've stopped this.
Instead—
she sat curled against him while his hand rested possessively against her body like he belonged there already.
And maybe the scariest part?
It felt natural.
Adrian studied her face carefully for several long seconds.
Then quietly—
almost thoughtfully—
"You look different now."
Lia frowned softly.
"What does that mean?"
"You stopped looking at me like you're afraid of wanting me."
The words wrapped tightly around her throat.
Because he noticed that too.
Of course he did.
Lia opened her mouth—
then froze when Adrian suddenly leaned closer again.
Slowly.
Giving her time.
Her heartbeat turned chaotic immediately.
His gaze dropped briefly toward her mouth before lifting back to her eyes.
"You're thinking about it again."
Her voice barely worked.
"You're arrogant."
"You tilted your head toward me."
Heat flooded her entire body.
God.
Being perceived this closely by Adrian felt genuinely dangerous.
Because nothing escaped him.
Not reactions.
Not hesitation.
Not desire.
Adrian's fingers tightened slightly against her waist.
Like control was becoming difficult again.
"You should tell me to stop looking at you like that."
Lia swallowed carefully.
"How are you looking at me?"
The silence afterward nearly destroyed her.
Because Adrian looked at her like he'd already become addicted to this.
To her.
And maybe the worst part?
She could feel herself becoming addicted too.
His voice lowered almost to a whisper.
"Like I finally know what you taste like."
The confession hit so hard Lia physically stopped breathing.
Adrian noticed immediately.
A dark, pleased expression flickered across his face.
Then softly—
dangerously softly—
he added...
"And now I don't think I'll ever be satisfied again."