Kiss Me Again
Lia knew she was losing this fight.
Not against Adrian.
Against herself.
Because every instinct telling her to slow down became quieter every time he touched her.
Every time he looked at her like she was something dangerously precious.
Every time he admitted another devastating truth in that calm voice that made her chest ache.
And right now—
standing in Adrian's bedroom while rain echoed outside—
she could physically feel herself falling deeper.
"Come closer before I lose what's left of my patience tonight."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her spine.
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven instantly.
Because Adrian sounded affected again.
Really affected.
Like wanting her this much exhausted him.
The silence stretched softly between them.
Then—
before she could think herself out of it—
she stepped closer.
The reaction in Adrian was immediate.
A sharp inhale.
His hand tightening briefly at the back of her neck.
Eyes darkening enough to make warmth rush through her entire body.
God.
No one had ever looked at her like this before.
Like closeness itself felt addictive.
"You shouldn't do things like that so willingly," Adrian murmured softly.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You literally told me to."
"I know."
But the look in his eyes said obedience affected him far more than it should have.
His fingers threaded more firmly into her hair now.
Careful.
Possessive.
Like he physically enjoyed holding her this close.
Lia's pulse hammered violently beneath her skin.
"You're staring again."
"You stepped closer to me wearing my clothes," Adrian said quietly.
His thumb brushed lightly beneath her jaw.
"I'm trying very hard to stay rational."
The confession nearly destroyed her emotionally.
Because Adrian sounded genuinely frustrated by how much he wanted her.
Not proud.
Not teasing.
Like control had become painful.
Lia looked up at him carefully.
"You make everything sound dangerous."
"It is dangerous."
The honesty settled heavily into the room.
Rain streaked silver against the windows while thunder rolled softly through the city.
The storm made everything feel isolated somehow.
Like the rest of the world disappeared outside this room.
Adrian's eyes lowered toward her mouth again.
Lingering longer this time.
Lia noticed immediately.
So did her breathing.
"You keep doing that," she whispered softly.
"Looking at you?"
"Like you're thinking too much."
A faint flicker crossed his expression.
"I am thinking too much."
His fingers tightened slightly against the back of her neck.
"About kissing you again."
Warmth flooded violently through her chest.
God.
His honesty would genuinely ruin her someday.
Lia's hands rested lightly against his chest now without her even realizing when they got there.
The moment Adrian noticed—
his composure cracked visibly.
A sharp breath left him softly.
His eyes closed for half a second like he physically felt the touch too deeply.
When he looked back at her—
the control in his expression had thinned dangerously.
"You touch me so casually now."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her stomach.
"You act like that's my fault."
"It is."
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
Close enough now that their breaths mixed together.
Close enough that the tension between them felt unbearable.
"You know what the problem is?" he murmured softly.
Lia's throat felt dry.
"What?"
"You trust me enough to stand this close."
The words settled painfully deep inside her chest.
Because maybe—
maybe that was true too.
Lia should've been afraid of how intense Adrian became around her.
Instead she kept stepping closer.
His forehead brushed lightly against hers again.
The intimacy of the gesture nearly hurt.
Because Adrian touched her like she mattered too much to him already.
"You make me feel insane sometimes," Lia whispered quietly.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Low.
Warm.
"You should hear my thoughts when you're not around."
Her pulse stumbled hard.
"That does not reassure me."
"It wasn't meant to."
God.
He was impossible.
Adrian's hand slid slowly from the back of her neck down her spine.
Warm palm pressing lightly against her lower back.
Pulling her fully against him this time.
The closeness nearly stole her breath immediately.
Because now there was no space left between them.
Nothing except warmth and tension and the sound of rain outside.
Adrian looked down at her like he was struggling with restraint again.
"You keep looking at my mouth."
Heat rushed instantly into her face.
"You're imagining things."
"You tilted your head."
The horrifying part?
She had.
Adrian noticed the realization immediately.
Something dark and satisfied flickered behind his eyes.
Then softly—
almost like warning—
"Lia."
The way he said her name sent warmth straight through her chest.
Dangerous warmth.
The kind that made smart choices disappear quietly.
Her fingers tightened slightly against his shirt.
Another mistake.
Adrian exhaled sharply.
His restraint visibly snapped another inch.
"You keep touching me like you want something."
Her voice barely worked now.
"And what if I do?"
Silence crashed through the room.
Heavy.
Alive.
Because Adrian looked genuinely affected by that answer.
Not composed.
Not controlled.
Ruined.
His eyes darkened completely while his hand pressed more firmly against her back.
Then softly—
rough enough to sound honest—
"Kiss me again before I lose my mind completely."