Dont Let Anyone Else Touch You
Lia barely survived the rest of the gala.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Because after Adrian said you're going to ruin me in that quiet, devastating voice—
everything felt different.
The air.
The tension.
The way he looked at her afterward.
It no longer felt like flirting.
It felt inevitable.
And maybe the most terrifying part?
Lia could feel herself falling into it willingly.
—
By the time they returned downstairs, the ballroom had grown louder.
Music echoed beneath crystal chandeliers while faculty members and investors drifted between conversations holding expensive glasses of champagne.
But the second Adrian stepped back into the room beside her—
people noticed.
Not subtly.
Openly.
And Lia immediately understood why.
Adrian looked possessive now.
Not outwardly.
Not dramatically.
Worse.
Calm ownership.
His hand resting low against her back.
His eyes tracking her movements constantly.
The way he stayed too close even while speaking to other people.
Like distance physically irritated him now.
Sienna spotted them from across the ballroom and immediately looked spiritually exhausted.
"Oh no."
Lia sighed softly. "Please don't start."
"You disappeared upstairs with him for almost an hour."
"It wasn't an hour."
"Lia." Sienna stared at her. "Your lipstick is gone."
Heat rushed violently into her face.
Across from them, Adrian watched the reaction quietly.
And for the briefest second—
a satisfied expression crossed his face.
Sienna physically pointed at him.
"See? THAT LOOK. That is not a normal man."
Adrian remained completely calm.
"She's overwhelmed."
"You're the reason she's overwhelmed!"
"She still followed me upstairs."
Lia nearly choked.
"Adrian."
"What?" he asked softly.
"You cannot say things like that casually."
"You keep saying that."
Because he kept saying insane things calmly.
That was the problem.
Sienna looked between them slowly.
Then whispered:
"You two are terrifying together."
Honestly?
Fair.
Before Lia could recover, one of the younger investors approached their group with an easy smile.
Tall.
Attractive.
Confident in the polished way wealthy men usually were.
"Mr. Monteverde," he greeted politely before his attention shifted toward Lia. "And you must be Lia."
Adrian's hand against her back immediately stilled.
The investor smiled warmly.
"I've heard a lot about you tonight."
Lia offered a polite smile.
"That sounds concerning."
He laughed softly.
"Only because Monteverde hasn't looked away from you once since arriving."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Because Adrian didn't deny it.
Didn't even look embarrassed.
If anything—
his fingers pressed slightly more firmly against her waist.
Possessive.
Instinctive.
The investor noticed too.
His smile faltered slightly afterward.
Smart man.
Still, he continued politely.
"I'm Elias Laurent."
Lia shook his hand gently.
The moment she did—
Adrian went completely still beside her.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious.
But Lia felt it instantly.
That dangerous shift beneath his calmness.
Elias must've sensed it too because he quickly released her hand again.
Too late.
Adrian's eyes had already darkened.
"You're making her uncomfortable," Adrian said calmly.
Lia blinked.
"I am literally not uncomfortable."
Elias looked between them carefully now.
"I should probably—"
"Yes," Adrian interrupted softly.
"You should."
Sienna physically covered her face.
"Oh my god."
Elias gave Lia one final apologetic smile before disappearing quickly into the crowd.
The second he left—
Lia turned toward Adrian in disbelief.
"What was that?"
Adrian looked down at her calmly.
"He touched you."
"It was a handshake."
"I know."
The quietness in his voice somehow made it worse.
Lia stared at him.
"You're jealous over basic human interaction."
"Yes."
No shame.
No hesitation.
Just honesty sharp enough to leave her speechless again.
Sienna looked deeply exhausted.
"I need alcohol."
Then she abandoned them immediately.
Coward.
Lia crossed her arms lightly.
"You embarrassed that poor man."
Adrian's gaze stayed fixed on her face.
"He wanted your attention."
"So?"
Silence.
Then Adrian stepped slightly closer.
Close enough that warmth wrapped around her again.
His voice lowered naturally.
"I already have it."
The words settled heavily into her chest.
Possessive.
Certain.
And maybe the scariest part?
He was right.
Lia hated how right he was.
Adrian's fingers brushed lightly against her waist again.
Tiny movement.
Enough to make her pulse stumble anyway.
"You react every time I touch you."
"You keep touching me in public."
"Because I can now."
Heat rushed through her body immediately.
God.
Ever since the photo leaked, Adrian had become worse.
More openly possessive.
Less interested in hiding what she meant to him.
And somehow—
being wanted this intensely by him kept unraveling her slowly.
The ballroom noise softened around them while Adrian continued watching her carefully.
Then quietly—
almost too softly—
he said:
"I didn't like him touching you."
Lia exhaled slowly.
"It was a handshake, Adrian."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I know."
But the look in his eyes said the knowledge changed absolutely nothing.
Lia studied him carefully now.
Because underneath the jealousy—
underneath the possessiveness—
she could see something else tonight.
Fear.
Tiny.
Buried deeply.
But there.
Like losing her genuinely terrified him.
The realization softened something unexpectedly inside her chest.
Her voice lowered slightly.
"You really hate sharing attention."
Adrian looked at her for several long seconds.
Then finally—
honestly—
"No."
His hand slid more firmly around her waist.
Possessive enough to make her heartbeat jump instantly.
"I hate imagining anyone else touching what I'm already obsessed with."
The confession shattered straight through her remaining composure.
Because Adrian didn't sound angry.
He sounded ruined by wanting her too much.
And somehow—
that was infinitely more dangerous.