Dont Tease Me If You Cant Handle It
Lia couldn't breathe properly after that.
Good girl.
The words stayed trapped beneath her skin while Adrian's hands remained firm against her hips.
Warm.
Possessive.
Like he physically liked holding her there too much.
The private lounge suddenly felt unbearably small.
Jazz music drifted faintly through the floor below while rain streaked silver against the windows overlooking the city.
And Adrian—
Adrian was still looking up at her like restraint had become painful.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You can't say things like that."
His thumbs brushed lightly against her hips.
"Like what?"
"You know exactly what."
A faint flicker crossed his expression.
Not amusement.
Something darker.
Satisfied.
Because he knew what that praise did to her.
And maybe the most humiliating part?
Lia was starting to realize Adrian genuinely enjoyed unraveling her slowly.
His gaze stayed fixed on her face.
"You reacted beautifully."
Heat rushed violently into her chest again.
"You are impossible to talk to."
"No," Adrian murmured softly.
His eyes lowered briefly toward her mouth.
"You just stop thinking clearly around me."
The truth of that nearly destroyed her composure.
Because lately—
he was right.
Conversations with Adrian no longer felt safe.
Every word wrapped tighter around her nerves.
Every touch lingered too long afterward.
And now—
now he sat between her legs with his hands on her hips looking at her like she was his favorite weakness.
Lia's fingers tightened slightly against his shoulders.
The reaction affected him instantly.
Adrian exhaled slowly through his nose.
Like even small affection from her still hit too hard.
"You keep touching me like you don't understand what it does to me."
Her pulse stumbled.
"You say that like I'm doing it on purpose."
"You are."
The certainty in his voice made warmth spread straight through her stomach.
Dangerous warmth.
The kind that made smart decisions disappear quietly.
Adrian leaned closer slowly.
His forehead brushed lightly against her stomach again through the satin fabric of her dress.
Not quite affectionate.
Not quite teasing.
Worse.
Intimate.
The tiny movement sent a shiver through her immediately.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
A dark expression crossed his face briefly before his grip tightened again.
"You're sensitive tonight."
Lia looked down at him carefully.
"You make me nervous."
"No," Adrian said softly.
"You like attention from me."
Her breath caught instantly.
Because the worst part?
That was becoming true too.
Adrian watched every reaction carefully.
Always carefully.
Like he genuinely loved studying the effect he had on her.
And maybe that should've scared her more than it did.
Instead—
it made her feel wanted in a way she'd never experienced before.
The silence between them deepened.
Heavy.
Dangerously intimate.
Then Adrian's hand slid slowly higher against her back.
Still respectful.
Still controlled.
But possessive enough to make her pulse jump anyway.
His voice lowered.
"You know what I've been thinking about all night?"
Lia's throat felt dry suddenly.
"What?"
The look he gave her nearly ruined her emotionally.
Dark eyes steady beneath loosened tie and dim lighting.
Like he was already imagining things he shouldn't say out loud.
"You sitting in my lap."
Heat flooded straight through her body.
"Adrian."
"You asked."
"That does not mean you answer honestly."
"It always means that with me."
God.
That honesty again.
The kind that made every conversation feel too intimate too quickly.
Lia tried stepping back slightly just to breathe normally again.
Adrian's hands immediately tightened at her hips.
Not enough to trap her.
Enough to stop her movement.
The action sent another dangerous wave of warmth through her chest.
His eyes darkened instantly afterward.
"You keep trying to move away."
"You keep saying things that psychologically attack me."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Low.
Warm.
Real enough to make her heart stumble.
Then Adrian tilted his head slightly while studying her face.
"You like when I lose control around you."
The words hit hard because they were true.
Seeing Adrian affected—
really affected—
did something terrifying to her.
Because Adrian always seemed untouchable otherwise.
Too composed.
Too controlled.
But around her?
His restraint cracked.
And maybe part of her liked knowing she could do that to him.
Lia looked away quickly.
Mistake.
Adrian's fingers brushed lightly beneath her jaw again, guiding her gaze back down toward him.
Gentle.
Possessive.
"You keep hiding your face when I'm right."
"You enjoy being right too much."
"No." His voice softened unexpectedly.
"I enjoy you."
The confession wrapped tightly around her chest.
Too sincere.
Too direct.
Adrian didn't flirt like other people.
He admitted things.
Like every feeling had already rooted itself too deeply to hide anymore.
The city lights flickered softly behind them while rain continued sliding against glass.
Everything about the moment felt slow.
Dangerous.
Like the rest of the world disappeared outside this room.
Adrian's thumbs traced lightly against her hips once more.
Then quietly—
rough enough to sound honest—
he murmured:
"Don't tease me if you can't handle how obsessed I become afterward."
Her heartbeat nearly stopped.
Because Adrian didn't sound joking.
He sounded like a man already losing control over how much he wanted her.