Page 32 of Protected By My Playboy Billionaire

“No, you can be excited about it and start getting ready.”

“Lilly, the exam—”

“Oh, the exam!” The excessive drama in her voice mocks me. “Whatever shall we do?” I can almost see her roll her eyes at the same time I do. “Can you please be a college student for one night? Or do you prefer locking yourself up in that room?”

I weigh my options. A party and being surrounded by people my age definitely sounds better than locking myself upstairs and avoiding Adrian since he’s trying so hard to avoid me. I know myself well enough to know that if I stay here, my night will be full of studying and self-pity. Screw this.

I sigh. “Fine, you win.”

Lilly cheers, making me thankful I don’t have the phone beside my ear. “I’ll come pick you up in an hour and a half. Please don’t change your mind. Even Mr. Sexy Tycoon’s security won’t be able to stop me from dragging you out of that gilded prison.”

“Alright, I got it.” My laugh is genuine as I shake my head. “I’ll see you later, then.”

After a final goodbye, I hang up the phone and keep stirring the yogurt in the bowl, the colors of the fruit already mixing in. I scoop a little of the yogurt, fruits peeking out, and place the spoon in my mouth. Maybe a night out is exactly what I need to take my mind off things, even just for a little while.

“Good evening.”

My heart skips a beat as I whirl around to face Adrian, quickly taking the spoon out of my mouth and tossing it back into the bowl. He’s leaning against the wall, his arms folded in front of his chest, making the cords of muscles in his forearms stand out. His hair looks as if he’s been running his hands through it over and over. The top buttons of his shirt are undone, so his collarbones and the lines of his chest peek out.

There’s not a single detail about him that doesn’t look sculpted, as if Michelangelo himself had spent years making him. How long has he been standing there?

“Adrian! I didn’t hear you come in. I… I thought you weren’t home.” I hesitate before speaking again, “I didn’t see you all day.”

He looks at me with a neutral expression, his gaze piercing as he responds, “I’ve been busy. Needed some time.”

I bite my lip, unsure how to respond. When he doesn’t say anything else, “Oh,” is all I manage to say, feeling a pang of disappointment at his curt explanation.

“So, a party?” Adrian’s voice breaks through the silence, and I can sense the skepticism in his tone. He’s going to try to stop me.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. “Yes, I’d like to go,” I reply, meeting his gaze head-on.

Adrian furrows his eyebrows in disapproval. “Going to a party the night before an exam wouldn’t be the wisest decision.”

I hesitate, weighing my options once again. “I won’t stay past 2 am,” I assure him, trying to sound convincing. He stares at me long and hard. I can see the storm in his expression. “I don’t want you togo,” it says. But after avoiding me all day, the sweetness of defying him is tempting.

“I hope you have fun.” His response surprises me. I expected a bit of a fight, or at least a few of his clever remarks, but this…

“I will,” I scoff, feeling a surge of frustration at his nonchalance. His eyebrows twitch upwards, followed by the corners of his mouth. He remains quiet, simply standing there with his arms folded and those intense gray eyes pinned on me. He’s not trying to stop me, even though his expression screams protest and irritation.

“Well, then,” I lift my chin, scrambling for whatever bravado I can find, “I’ll go get ready.” I walk past Adrian and into the living room. Just as I reach the stairs, his voice stops me in my tracks.

“Elana,” he calls out, and I turn around to see him holding the bowl of yogurt I had forgotten on the counter. “You forgot something.”

“Oh, right,” I mutter and start pacing towards him, but freeze in place.

Adrian, without hesitation, takes the spoon and scoops up a spoonful of yogurt and fruit, lifting it tohis lips while not breaking eye contact. I feel my cheeks flush as I watch his lips close around the spoon, the spoon that he saw me put in my mouth first.

With a smug smirk, Adrian places the spoon back in the bowl and extends it towards me.

“Here,” he says casually, his eyes dancing with mischief.

I walk back towards him and snatch the bowl from his outstretched hand, my heart racing as I feel the heat of his gaze on me. That throbbing sensation between my legs returns, and I try my best to ignore it. Without meeting his eyes, I mumble a quick “Thanks” before hurrying out of the kitchen, feeling flustered and off-balance. I half-run up the stairs and into my room. I close the door behind me, the wave of heat washing over me once again as I look down at the spoon, the marks in the yogurt from his lips staring back at me.

As I step outside Adrian’s building, the cool evening air greets me, and I spot Lilly waiting forme in her car. With a smile, I make my way over and climb into the passenger seat, greeted by Lilly’s grin.

“Someone looks good,” she chirps, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Thanks.” I return her smile and tug on my white denim jacket.