In My Bed
Lia knew the exact moment staying became a mistake.
It happened when Adrian led her quietly through the penthouse toward his bedroom.
Not because he touched her.
Not because he looked at her that way again.
Because it felt natural.
Like this was something they'd done before.
Like she already belonged inside his space.
And honestly—
that terrified her more than anything else.
The hallway lighting glowed soft and low while rain echoed faintly through the glass walls surrounding the penthouse.
Adrian walked slightly ahead of her now, one hand loosened at his side while the other still occasionally brushed against her lower back like instinct.
Protective.
Possessive.
Constant.
Lia noticed everything lately.
Especially the little things.
The way Adrian always checked whether she followed beside him.
The way he slowed his pace unconsciously for her.
The way his attention never fully left her even while silent.
Obsessed.
The word should've frightened her more.
Instead—
warmth spread painfully through her chest every time she realized how deeply he cared.
Adrian pushed open the bedroom door quietly.
And Lia stopped walking immediately.
The room looked exactly like him.
Dark wood.
Soft lighting.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the storm-covered skyline.
Everything elegant.
Controlled.
But somehow still lonely.
Like no one truly lived here despite the expensive perfection surrounding it.
Her gaze moved slowly across the room before landing on the large bed near the windows.
Heat rushed instantly into her face.
Oh.
Right.
Sleeping.
Together.
Suddenly that reality felt significantly more dangerous.
Behind her, Adrian noticed the exact moment panic crossed her expression.
Of course he did.
"You're nervous again."
Lia crossed her arms lightly.
"You brought me into your bedroom."
"Yes."
"You say things so calmly."
"They're true."
God.
That honesty again.
It genuinely made survival difficult.
Adrian stepped closer slowly.
Not touching her yet.
Just near enough to make her pulse uneven.
"You can still leave if you want."
The words settled heavily between them.
Because Adrian always did this.
Always gave her an out even while looking like letting her go physically hurt him.
Lia studied him quietly.
Dark hair slightly messy now.
Tie gone.
Black dress shirt loosened at the collar.
He looked tired.
Not weak.
Just worn down by wanting her too much.
And somehow—
that realization softened something inside her immediately.
"You really wouldn't stop me?"
The question came quieter than intended.
Adrian's expression shifted slightly.
Something darker flickering behind his eyes before control smoothed over it again.
"No," he answered softly.
Then after a pause—
"I'd hate it."
The honesty nearly broke her.
Because Adrian sounded sincere.
Not manipulative.
Like letting her leave would genuinely hurt him.
Silence stretched softly between them while thunder rolled outside.
Then Adrian stepped past her toward one of the dressers.
"You can borrow clothes."
Lia blinked.
"What?"
"You'll be uncomfortable sleeping in that dress."
Oh.
Right.
The dress.
The realization somehow made this feel even more intimate.
Adrian opened a drawer before pulling out a black t-shirt folded neatly between expensive fabrics.
Then he walked back toward her slowly.
His gaze moved over her face carefully.
Focused.
Always focused.
When he handed her the shirt, their fingers brushed lightly.
Warmth shot straight through her chest instantly.
Adrian noticed immediately.
A faint darkening crossed his expression.
"You still react every time I touch you."
"You keep touching me unexpectedly."
"I touch you gently."
The quietness of his voice wrapped tightly around her ribs.
Because he did.
No matter how possessive Adrian became—
he was always careful with her.
Like she mattered too much to handle roughly.
Lia took the shirt slowly.
The fabric smelled faintly like him.
Cedarwood.
Rain.
Something darker underneath.
And suddenly—
wearing his clothes felt alarmingly intimate.
Adrian noticed her hesitation.
"You're overthinking."
"I'm standing in your bedroom holding your shirt."
A faint flicker touched his mouth.
"That's my favorite sentence you've said tonight."
Heat rushed violently into her face.
"You're impossible."
"No," Adrian murmured softly.
His eyes lowered briefly toward her mouth again.
"You're just finally inside my space."
The possessiveness beneath the words nearly destroyed her composure.
Because Adrian looked affected by that realization too.
Like seeing her here physically satisfied something obsessive inside him.
Lia cleared her throat softly before escaping toward the bathroom attached to the bedroom.
Mostly because she needed distance before her heart completely betrayed her.
Behind the closed door, she leaned against the counter and stared at herself in the mirror.
This was insane.
Actually insane.
She was in Adrian Monteverde's penthouse.
About to sleep in his bed.
Wearing his clothes.
And the worst part?
Part of her already knew she wouldn't sleep at all tonight.
Because Adrian made existing feel too intense now.
After several minutes, Lia finally changed into the oversized black shirt.
It fell past her thighs easily.
Soft fabric warm against her skin.
And unfortunately—
it smelled so much like him that her pulse immediately betrayed her again.
Great.
Fantastic.
Emotionally doomed.
She stepped quietly back into the bedroom.
Then froze instantly.
Adrian sat near the edge of the bed, sleeves rolled slightly up his forearms now while reading something on his phone.
The second he looked up and saw her—
he stopped moving entirely.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Because Adrian looked at her like breathing had suddenly become difficult.
His eyes moved slowly over her bare legs.
The oversized shirt.
Her loose hair.
Then back to her face.
A sharp inhale left him softly.
And for the first time all night—
Adrian looked genuinely wrecked.
Not controlled.
Not composed.
Wrecked.
Lia's heartbeat turned violent beneath her ribs.
"You're staring again," she whispered weakly.
Adrian set his phone down carefully without looking away from her.
"You're wearing my clothes."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her spine.
Because he sounded affected.
Deeply affected.
Like this sight meant too much to him already.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You told me to."
"I know."
But the look in his eyes said he absolutely hadn't thought through what that would do to him.
Adrian stood slowly from the bed.
Tall.
Dangerously calm again.
Then he walked toward her.
One step.
Then another.
Until warmth completely surrounded her once more.
His hand lifted carefully toward her waist.
Stopping just before touching her.
Like he was still trying to behave.
Still trying to control himself.
Barely.
"You have no idea," Adrian murmured softly, "what seeing you like this does to me."
And maybe the scariest part?
Lia wasn't sure she wanted him to stop feeling it anymore.