Dont Look At Me Like That
The problem was no longer Adrian's obsession.
It was hers.
Because somewhere between the late-night conversations, the possessive touches, and the way he looked at her like she mattered too much—
Lia had stopped knowing how to exist normally around him.
And Adrian noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"I think you're addicted to me too."
The words lingered heavily between them while rain slid down the penthouse windows behind him.
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven instantly.
Because he was right.
Terrifyingly right.
Adrian had become routine now.
Comfort.
The first person she wanted to tell things to.
The only person who looked at her closely enough to notice every tiny shift in mood before she even spoke.
And maybe the scariest part?
She liked being understood that deeply.
Adrian's hand remained warm beneath the oversized shirt, resting against the bare skin of her back.
Careful.
Possessive.
Like he physically enjoyed feeling her this close.
His forehead still touched hers lightly while his breathing sounded slower now.
Controlled again.
Barely.
Lia swallowed softly.
"You sound very pleased with yourself."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"I'm relieved."
The honesty caught her off guard immediately.
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"Relieved?"
Adrian's eyes lifted fully to hers.
"Yes."
The quietness in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Because suddenly—
beneath all the obsession—
she heard insecurity again.
Tiny.
Hidden carefully.
But real.
"You thought I didn't feel the same way?"
The silence stretched.
Then Adrian laughed softly under his breath.
Not amused.
Almost bitter.
"You have no idea how impossible you are to read sometimes."
Lia blinked softly.
"You literally analyze my breathing patterns."
"And you still hide from me."
The words settled painfully deep inside her ribs.
Because maybe that was true too.
Lia spent weeks trying to pretend Adrian didn't affect her as deeply as he did.
Mostly because admitting it felt dangerous.
Once she admitted wanting him—
there was no safe distance left anymore.
Adrian's fingers moved slowly against her back again.
Tiny movement.
Enough to make warmth spread through her stomach instantly.
His eyes darkened immediately at her reaction.
"There."
Her pulse stumbled.
"You really enjoy that."
"You reacting to me?" His thumb brushed lightly beneath the fabric of the shirt again. "More than I should."
God.
Everything sounded intimate coming from him lately.
The room felt warmer now.
Heavy with tension and rain and the quiet sound of uneven breathing.
Adrian studied her carefully for several long seconds.
Then softly—
"You know what I keep thinking about?"
Lia's throat felt dry.
"What?"
His gaze dropped slowly toward her mouth again.
Lingering.
"I should stop touching you."
Her breath caught softly.
"But you don't want to," she whispered.
Adrian looked genuinely affected by that answer.
Something dark flickered behind his eyes immediately.
"No," he admitted quietly.
"I really don't."
The honesty nearly destroyed her composure again.
Because Adrian sounded exhausted by wanting her.
Like control had become a constant battle he was slowly losing.
Lia's fingers tightened lightly against the front of his shirt.
Another mistake.
Adrian physically inhaled sharply.
His eyes closed briefly before reopening darker than before.
"You keep doing things like that."
"Touching you?"
"Yes."
His hand slid slightly higher against her back.
Warm palm spreading carefully beneath the shirt.
"You touch me like you already know I'm weak for you."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her spine.
Lia's pulse hammered violently.
"You act like that's a new discovery."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Low.
Ruined.
"No," Adrian murmured softly.
His forehead pressed more firmly against hers.
"But hearing you admit wanting me made it worse."
The confession settled heavily between them.
Because Adrian looked completely serious.
Not teasing.
Not exaggerating.
Like her feelings had only deepened whatever obsession already existed inside him.
Lightning flickered faintly across the skyline outside.
For a brief second, Adrian's face sharpened in silver light.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Completely consumed by her.
And suddenly—
Lia understood why people feared men like him.
Not because they lacked emotion.
Because they felt things too deeply.
Adrian's hand left her back slowly before moving upward toward her face.
His fingers brushed gently along her jaw.
Careful enough to make her chest ache.
"You look at me differently now."
Lia blinked softly.
"What does that mean?"
His thumb traced lightly beneath her lower lip.
"It's softer."
The observation hit too hard.
Because maybe it was true.
Maybe somewhere along the way, Adrian stopped feeling frightening and started feeling precious instead.
The realization terrified her.
Adrian noticed immediately.
"You're thinking too hard again."
"You notice everything."
"Yes."
His eyes held hers steadily.
"And you still look at me like that."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
"Like what?"
The silence afterward felt intimate enough to drown in.
Then quietly—
almost like confession—
"Like you're falling for me harder than you planned to."
The truth of it settled between them immediately.
Heavy.
Impossible to deny.
Adrian saw the realization crossing her face in real time.
And suddenly—
his composure cracked completely.
A sharp breath escaped him while his hand tightened gently against her jaw.
Not enough to hurt.
Enough to feel desperate.
His voice dropped rough and low.
"Don't look at me like that unless you're ready for me to completely lose control over you."