Page 26 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

He shook his head and stood up from the chair. “I won’t drink them.” Then he cast a glance at Caspian and Nia. “You both want one?”

“Not for me.” Nia declined. “I have to drive Ivory to the dorms later, but don’t let me hold you back.” She gave a small smile to Caspian and then to Ivory. “It is a party, after all. You should enjoy yourselves.”

“I’m good with beer,” Caspian said, wrapping his arm around Nia and settling into the couch. “We can break out the board games and play the special adult version.”

Adrian cocked an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

Caspian grinned. “Take The Game of Life, for example. Instead of drawing a life tile, you have to finish your drink. I recommend small cups for that one.”

“Ohh, sounds fun,” Ivory said.

“Get the game set while they grab the drinks?” Nia asked, looking at Caspian with love-struck enthusiasm.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Adrian motioned to Ivory as he walked to the door. “It’s just across the hall. Come pick what you want.”

“Oh, okay.” She followed, guilty about leaving Nia and Caspian alone for the second time, but it wasn’t like they didn’t enjoy each other’s company. If anything, Adrian was the one who had to suffer being alone with her again.

Watching him silently as they crossed the empty hallway, familiar nerves crept in while he unlocked the door. Maybe if she kept her mouth shut this time, she wouldn’t say anything embarrassing.

So much for forgetting—she still recalled his exact words to her from months ago. Then, on top of it, proved she’d clung to feelings she said she wouldn’t.

The last thing she wanted was for him to see her as some desperate love-struck girl, and she thought of him as more than some guy who’d be a good lay. Good thing he hadn’t taken her words as more than a slip of the tongue…right? But what if…

Dread clawed into her gut. Based on what Jace had said or what he’d been about to say, her actions could have been taken in a drastically different way. This wasn’t an attempt to seduce Adrian against his wishes. She had to clear it up before Adrian started thinking she was something she wasn’t.

The lock clicked, and the door swung open. Before she could say anything about the matter, Adrian stepped into the apartment. He flicked on the light and went to the kitchen, but her feet stuck to the ground, unable to follow. The threshold felt more intimidating than it should’ve been.

She shuffled hesitantly over the entrance like it was a holy grail. At first glance, the layout looked like a mirror of Nia and Caspian’s, but instead of a desk, there was a wall lined with bookshelves. A round wooden table with a handful of matching bar stools connected the kitchen and living areas, where a couch with a gray fabric slipcover and a large recliner faced the television.

Across the room, the door to the bathroom hung halfway open, and the door adjacent stood sealed shut—she assumed it led to his bedroom. Or better, a dungeon.

“Here, take your pick. As many as you want,” Adrian said, opening the fridge.

Hurrying over, she chastised herself for gawking. It wasn’t her place to look around or take in the scenery. He wouldn’t want her trying to pick out information about him from his living space, even though he gave out so little about himself.

She bent and inspected the shelves inside the fridge, reading the collection of brightly colored cans.

“Ooh, peach margarita?” she hummed and reached in. Picking out her favorite flavor and a couple of others that looked good, she straightened and turned around. A draft of air colder than the cans in her hands made a trail of goosebumps rise along her neck. She shivered as her sweater did its best to trap in body heat with its loose knitting.

Adrian had gone onto the porch and let in a blast of winter air. She set the cocktails on the counter and walked over to him, catching a peek at the top of his cigarette pack as he slipped it back into his pocket, hands empty. He’d probably decided to wait to smoke until the party was over. Until he didn’t have to do it around her.

She swallowed, wishing the memories that had come flooding back didn’t make her heart race.

He turned to face her, and the faint light reflecting through his eyes made them shimmer like liquid gold. In an instant, she knew he hadn’t forgotten about their last night together. He hadn’t forgotten her, just like she couldn’t forget him.

“Iv,” he started, a low hum in his voice she’d craved for far too long. He shifted closer, gaze roaming over her face. A pull tugged from deep inside her as if he’d switched on a personal gravitational field, and she was tuned to be drawn into it.

No. She forced herself to look away. She wouldn’t let emotions overpower her logic.

Adrian reached out and slid his palm around the back of her neck, guiding her eyes back to his. Blocking her escape. Heat surged through her veins.

“Be honest with me,” he continued. “Even with what I’ve told you, what you’ve seen, do you have feelings for me?”

THIRTEEN

He was so close. Close enough that she could see every curve and edge in his expression, to gauge the depth of his brows and measure the fan of his dark eyelashes. Close enough to study the pool of shadow under his lower lip and the round cut of his Adam’s apple.

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