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“You don’t trust yourself around me?” His smirk is teasing. His foot lifts to take another step, contrary to my request. As if he senses my growing indecision.
“Nope. I do not.” I shrug, stating the fact I know he was waiting for me to admit. His grin transforms into a full-blown beaming smile, lighting up his face—amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Fine.” He holds his hands out in surrender, pulling out the chair at the desk to take a seat. I eye the spot, nervously assessing the space under the desk. I move my gaze away before it catches his attention, grateful the book did not choose now to reappear.
“Happy?” He chuckles, already knowing the answer.
I give him a withering look. Obviously, I’m not happy. However, I need a clear mind to discuss this topic.
Perching on the edge of my bed, I clear my throat. Attempting to brush away the remaining tendrils of desire rushing through my body.
“I spoke with Nelle last night.” His victorious smile falls at those words. Sobering from our early encounter and taking a deep breath. “I need to know what she knows. I hate lying to her, to begin with, but not even knowing what she believes is eating me up inside. Not to mention the fact that she thinks I just up and left her.”
My vision blurs, a sheen of unshed tears pooling in my eyes with those words. Adrian gets up to comfort me. Coming to a halt when I lift my hand in a silent gesture to stay there. I needed to get through this conversation without his help or comfort. Aside from that, getting any closer may lead to other more distracting means of comfort. I can’t allow myself to rely on him for comfort. I needed to know that I can still hold myself together alone. I can’t rely on someone who could simply leave at any moment without a second thought. Blinking away the moisture, I take a deep breath in, steadying myself.
Adrian clenches his jaw, releasing the motion with a pained expression crossing his handsome features. “She thinks you’re at a specialty school across the country for photography.” He wrings his hands, looking away before his eyes meet mine once more. “I found a brochure for it in your room. I figured that would be the most believable excuse.”
I purse my lips at his response. I briefly considered attending a university across the country for their photography program—one of the many options I had combed through while searching for some sort of purpose in my old life.
“So, your story is that you just so happened to be a recruiter for the exact same school I was debating for months about attending?” I ask disbelievingly, my eyes narrowing on him.
“It was the first thought that came to mind. I put a little power behind my words to make her believe it.” He shrugs. My stomach drops. Not quite sure I want to know what he meant by a ‘little power.’ My chest is already tight with guilt over this lie.
“I’m sorry, Liv.” He looks down, refusing to meet my eyes. “I wanted to help you, but it seems as though I’ve made it worse,” he admits, finally meeting my eyes again. His eyes are full of regret.
“No, Adrian,” I start, pulling him out of his thoughts. “You helped me the best that you could. There’s no changing who or what I am. Since she wouldn’t be able to remember the truth, a lie is the only way to not completely ruin our friendship.”
“It’s just hard.” I smile softly at him. The words ring true to me. Sure, I wish everything didn’t have to happen like it did, but I’m still grateful. Adrian’s actions allow me to keep one of the most important relationships to me.
“Thank you.” Holding his gaze, I make sure he knows how sincere those words are. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I need to keep reminding myself of that. I’m starting to realize how lucky I am to have Adrian looking after me. From the looks of it, the gods don’t seem to care much for trivial things such as our mortal friends and families. I’m one of the only people still able to keep a small slice of their human life through my friendship with Nelle.
He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, not expecting those words. “Of course.” He nods back, accepting my gratitude. “I don’t want to make any promises, but I’m working on something. I want you to know, I will do everything that I can to make the situation with Nelle better.” His words cause me to pause, not knowing how to react to the heart-felt response. I need to keep reminding myself how strange it is to feel this connection to him after only two days. His company makes me feel more at ease than I can remember.
“I’m hoping to have some good news. Which I will tell you on one condition,” Adrian holds up a finger, cutting off my response. “You have to promise to go on a date with me next week,” he says triumphantly, his devilish smirk returning once more.
“What’s this good news?” I chuckle, unable to hide my amusement at his change in topic.
“Ah—Ah—Ah,” he tsks, waving a scolding finger at me. “I can’t tell you until our date.”
I purse my lips, tapping my chin in thought. I can’t let him get off that easily, even though I would have said yes, even without him dangling this potentially good news in front of me like a carrot.
“Hmm … I don’t know. I might be busy next week.” My tone is light and teasing. He clutches his chest in mock distress as though my words have mortally wounded him. I tilt my head, deep in thought for a moment before continuing.
“I think I might need a bit of convincing.” My words end in a chuckle as he bounces to his feet, quickly closing the space between us in a few long strides.
He kneels before me on the ground, causing me to spread my legs slightly to allow him to inch closer. “Oh, I can be very convincing,” he proclaims with a mischievous smirk. His fingers raise to trail along my jaw, sending shivers along my skin.
I lean into his touch, his eyes glued to my still swollen lips. I see the flash of hunger in his eyes, the only warning I have before his lips crash into mine. He wastes no time picking up where we left off. His tongue probes my lips, demanding entrance, and I part my lips in a gasp, allowing his tongue to dance with mine.
I move closer, needing to press my body against his. My legs part further, wrapping either side of his sculpted torso. At the movement, his hands drop to my thighs, squeezing them possessively. The touch causes me to rock my center against him.
His hands run teasingly up my thighs, rough against my soft skin. My fingers thread through his thick golden-brown hair, his tongue moving relentlessly against mine. I pull him closer, my breasts brushing against his chest. Anticipation ratcheting my desire.
His hands slowly drag up my thighs. Running under the hem of my skirt, he rests them against the curves of my ass. His fingers digging into the soft flesh, jerking my hips firmly against him, close to the edge of the bed. The movement elicits a needy moan from my lips. My pussy clenches from the intense pressure of his fingers.
I whine in protest as his lips move from mine. The sound quickly changes to a sharp gasp when his hands roughly grip the underside of my knees, lifting them in the air to rest against his shoulders.
I lower my back onto the bed, propping myself on my elbows to watch his movements. He impatiently moves my skirt back out of the way, eyes locking on to the burgundy laced panties once more. A low growl leaves his lips, hands tracing the soft lace. My body shudders with desire as his fingers move to slip the thin material from where it sits on my hips. In a quick movement I barely catch, he rips my panties off me, and the cool air hits my exposed pussy.
