Come Home With Me
The problem with Adrian calling her his in public was that he meant it.
Not casually.
Not playfully.
Completely.
And somehow—
that terrified Lia less and less every day.
—
By the end of the week, the ring had become campus news.
Not just gossip.
An actual phenomenon.
People stared openly now.
Whispers followed Lia through hallways.
Even professors looked mildly uncomfortable whenever Adrian appeared outside Blackthorne waiting for her after lectures.
Which happened often.
Very often.
Because Adrian had apparently decided picking her up personally was now part of his routine.
And honestly?
That should've concerned her more than it did.
Lia stepped out of her final class Friday afternoon already exhausted from three straight hours of presentations and two emotionally traumatic quizzes.
The hallway buzzed with students packing up for the weekend.
Sienna walked beside her holding iced coffee and endless judgment.
"You know what's insane?"
Lia sighed softly.
"That sentence never ends well."
"That man has picked you up every day this week."
"He likes driving."
Sienna stopped walking entirely.
"Lia."
"What?"
"He owns an entire company."
"...And?"
"He has drivers."
Unfortunately—
that was also true.
Lia opened her mouth to defend Adrian again—
then stopped.
Because honestly?
She didn't know why Adrian insisted on picking her up himself.
He just... did.
Every single day.
And every single day—
the second he saw her—
he looked calmer somehow.
Like finding her physically settled something restless inside him.
The realization warmed her chest in a dangerous way.
Her phone vibrated softly in her hand.
Of course.
Adrian.
Message:
Adrian:
I'm outside.
Lia:
You text that like I don't already know.
Adrian:
You're five minutes late leaving class.
Lia:
You monitor my class schedule???
Adrian:
Yes.
Lia:
That is insane behavior.
Adrian:
Come downstairs.
Sienna leaned over her shoulder immediately.
Then physically closed her eyes.
"I'm genuinely terrified of him."
Heat rushed into Lia's cheeks despite herself.
Because the horrifying part?
The texts no longer surprised her.
This was just Adrian now.
Obsessive.
Possessive.
Constantly aware of where she was.
And somehow—
she'd started finding it comforting.
God.
She was actually doomed.
The second they stepped outside the university building, Lia spotted the familiar black car waiting near the curb.
Students noticed too.
Of course they did.
Adrian Monteverde parked outside campus had basically become a local event now.
The driver's door opened immediately the moment he saw her.
And suddenly—
everything else faded again.
It always did.
Adrian looked unfairly attractive leaning against the car beneath the gray afternoon sky.
Black coat.
Dark hair slightly messy from the wind.
Expression cold until his eyes landed on Lia.
Then instantly—
soft.
The shift happened so naturally now it nearly hurt to witness.
Sienna noticed too.
"Oh my god," she whispered dramatically. "He literally looks relieved."
Lia's pulse stumbled.
Because he did.
Like seeing her after a few hours physically relaxed him.
Adrian walked toward them slowly.
Focused entirely on Lia.
Students nearby openly stared.
Some pretended not to.
Failed miserably.
Adrian stopped directly in front of her before his eyes immediately lowered toward the ring on her hand.
Warm satisfaction flickered across his face instantly.
Then his attention returned to her.
"You look tired."
The quiet concern in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Lia shrugged lightly.
"Long day."
Adrian's expression darkened immediately.
"Did you eat?"
Sienna made a strangled sound beside them.
"There it is."
Lia ignored her.
"Yes."
"What did you eat?"
"Oh my god," Sienna whispered again. "He does this in person too."
A faint smile flickered across Adrian's face before disappearing just as quickly.
His hand settled naturally against Lia's waist.
Possessive.
Comfortable.
Like touching her had become instinct.
"You're staying with me tonight."
Lia blinked softly.
"That sounded less like a question."
"It wasn't."
Heat rushed instantly through her chest.
God.
He really had stopped pretending casualness existed between them.
Sienna looked emotionally exhausted.
"You two genuinely stress me out."
Adrian ignored her completely.
Of course he did.
His thumb brushed lightly against Lia's waist through the fabric of his coat while his gaze studied her carefully.
"You're exhausted."
"You text too much for someone running a company."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"You answer every time."
The truth of that settled warmly into her chest.
Because she did.
Always.
Adrian stepped slightly closer.
Close enough that warmth surrounded her immediately despite the cold breeze.
Then quietly—
low enough only she could hear—
"Come home with me."
The words wrapped tightly around her spine.
Not possessive this time.
Something softer.
Need.
Lia looked up at him carefully.
And suddenly—
she understood something terrifying.
Adrian no longer called the penthouse his apartment when speaking to her.
Now—
he called it home.
The realization hit harder than it should have.
Because somewhere between staying overnight and leaving her things behind and waking up in his arms—
she'd accidentally started thinking of it that way too.
Adrian noticed the exact moment the realization crossed her face.
Of course he did.
His eyes softened instantly.
"There you are."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
"What?"
"That look." His thumb brushed lightly against her waist again. "The one where you realize you belong with me."
Heat flooded violently into her chest.
Sienna physically gagged beside them.
"I hate both of you."
Neither of them paid attention.
Because Adrian still looked at Lia like the rest of the world didn't exist anymore.
And maybe the most terrifying part?
Lia was beginning to feel exactly the same way.