Come Closer
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven the second Adrian said it.
Because I'm not done touching you.
The words lingered heavily between them while thunder rolled softly outside the penthouse windows.
Everything about this room suddenly felt dangerous.
The dim lighting.
The storm.
The oversized shirt hanging from her body that smelled like him.
And Adrian—
standing impossibly close with one hand against her waist while looking at her like he'd already lost whatever control he'd been trying to hold onto all night.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You say things that should honestly come with warning labels."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"You still like hearing them."
The truth of that settled painfully deep inside her chest.
Because somehow—
she did.
Adrian's honesty had become addictive.
The quiet confessions.
The possessiveness.
The way he said things most people would hide forever.
It felt dangerous being wanted this intensely.
But it also felt impossible to walk away from now.
Adrian's thumb moved slowly against her waist again.
Small movement.
Enough to make warmth spread through her stomach immediately.
"You're shaking."
"You keep looking at me like that."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to memorize me."
The silence afterward stretched too long.
Because Adrian didn't deny it.
Instead—
he stepped even closer.
Close enough now that barely any space remained between them.
"I am memorizing you."
The confession shattered straight through her composure.
Because he sounded serious.
Completely serious.
Lia's pulse hammered violently.
"You make everything too intense."
"No," Adrian murmured softly.
His fingers slid slowly upward against her back.
"This is just what wanting you feels like."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her spine.
And suddenly—
Lia understood something terrifying.
Adrian didn't know how to love halfway.
Everything about him was complete devotion.
Complete obsession.
Complete ruin.
The storm outside intensified again while silence thickened around them.
Adrian lowered his forehead lightly against hers once more.
His breathing felt steadier than hers.
Controlled.
But barely.
"You're tired," Lia whispered softly.
"I know."
"Then sleep."
"No."
She blinked slightly.
"Why are you so stubborn?"
His gaze lowered briefly toward her mouth.
"Because you're standing this close to me wearing my clothes."
Heat flooded instantly through her chest.
"You keep bringing that up."
"Because it's destroying my self-control."
God.
The honesty again.
It genuinely made survival impossible.
Lia's fingers curled lightly against the front of his shirt without thinking.
The reaction hit Adrian immediately.
A sharp inhale left him softly.
His eyes darkened completely afterward.
"There."
Her pulse stumbled.
"What?"
"You touch me like you already belong here."
The words settled heavily between them.
Possessive.
Intimate.
Terrifyingly sincere.
Lia looked up at him carefully.
"And what if I don't?"
Adrian went very still.
Not angry.
Worse.
Affected.
His hand tightened slightly against her waist before relaxing again.
Like instinct fought restraint for a second.
"You do," he answered quietly.
The certainty in his voice made her chest ache.
Because Adrian believed it completely.
Not ownership in a cruel way.
Something softer.
Deeper.
Like he'd already made space for her everywhere in his life.
His eyes moved slowly over her face again.
Focused.
Careful.
Then softly—
almost reverently—
"You look beautiful standing in my room."
Her heartbeat hurt now.
Actually hurt.
Because Adrian always sounded like he meant every compliment too much.
Lia looked away briefly, overwhelmed by the intensity of him.
Immediately—
Adrian's hand brushed beneath her jaw again.
Gentle fingers guiding her attention back.
"Don't hide from me."
"You make being looked at stressful."
"No," Adrian murmured.
His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.
"I make you feel wanted."
The truth of that nearly destroyed her.
Because yes.
Yes, he did.
More wanted than she'd ever felt in her entire life.
The silence stretched softer now.
More intimate than tense.
Rain sliding against the glass.
Their breathing uneven in the quiet room.
Adrian studied her carefully for several long seconds before speaking again.
"You know what I keep thinking about?"
Lia's throat felt dry.
"What?"
The look he gave her after that made warmth spread through her entire body instantly.
"How easy it would be to get addicted to this."
Her pulse stumbled violently.
"This?"
"You in my arms." His gaze lowered briefly toward the shirt she wore. "You wearing my clothes. You staying."
Every word wrapped tighter around her chest.
Because Adrian sounded almost frustrated by how much he wanted these things.
Like attachment had become too deep too quickly.
Lia's voice came quieter now too.
"You already are addicted."
A pause.
Then Adrian laughed softly under his breath.
Not amused.
Almost ruined by it.
"Yes," he admitted.
The honesty settled heavily between them again.
Then slowly—
carefully—
his hand slid from her waist to the back of her neck.
Warm fingers threading lightly through her hair.
Possessive enough to make her breathing uneven instantly.
His eyes lowered toward her mouth again.
Lingering this time.
"You keep looking at me like you want another kiss."
Heat rushed violently into her face.
"You're arrogant."
"You leaned closer."
The horrifying part?
She had.
Adrian noticed the realization immediately.
Something dark and satisfied flickered behind his eyes.
Then softly—
rough enough to sound honest—
"Come closer before I lose what's left of my patience tonight."