Page 11 of Silent Night With Adrian

I want to look away, but I can’t. There’s a strength in him, a silent power that draws me in, commands attention. Everything about him, from the curve of his mouth to the broad line of his shoulders, is designed to both intimidate and intrigue. It’sinfuriatingly magnetic. My heart beats faster, and I have to remind myself to breathe.

Then, there’s his physique, impossible to ignore. He’s built like a fortress—solid, immovable, every muscle chiseled from a life of training and hard work. I imagine he could overpower anyone who dared to challenge him, and I catch myself wondering what it would feel like to be held in his arms—not as his captive, but as something else. My cheeks flush, and I look away quickly, embarrassed at the surge of heat that coils through my core.

“Other than Dante, is there anyone who is going to wonder where you are tonight?” he asks, his tone casual, but there’s a possessiveness underlying it, a dark curiosity that he doesn’t bother to hide.

I raise an eyebrow, picking up on the edge in his question. “What are you really asking, Adrian? If I have a boyfriend who’ll miss me?”

His lips quirk into a slight smirk, his gaze never wavering. “Just curious.”

I hold his stare, letting the silence settle thick between us, charged with something I don’t dare to name. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no,” I answer finally, a hint of defiance in my tone. “There’s no one waiting for me.”

The moment stretches out, his eyes sweeping over me with an intensity that leaves me feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way that’s both terrifying and electrifying. Then he leans forward, his voice lowering as he presses, “Your turn. Aren’t you going to ask me if I have anyone waiting for me at home?”

“You mean you don’t? I figured most men in your position are married by the time they’re thirty, matched up with a ‘devoted girl,’ as you put it.”

He chuckles, but there’s no warmth in the sound. “Not my style. I don’t do relationships. they complicate things.”

I tilt my head, genuinely curious, and my eyes trace the hard lines of his face, the powerful muscles in his neck. He looks like a man built to shoulder the weight of the world, someone too unyielding to bend for anyone. “No one at all?” I ask, unable to hide the intrigue in my voice. “I find that hard to believe.”

He pauses, something flickering in his eyes, and I feel a thrill run down my spine when he finally says, “No one serious. I’ve had my share of… distractions, but I don’t let them stick around.” His gaze pins me in place. “Too dangerous.”

An irrational pang of relief flutters in my chest. “No jealous girlfriend, then. Guess I don’t have to worry about her showing up here, all claws and venom.”

A flicker of a grin ghosts over his lips. “What’s that smile about?” he asks, his voice dropping lower, rough with curiosity.

I shake my head, though I feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” He leans in, his expression smug, not letting it go. “You don’t blush over nothing, Mia.”

I bite my lip, my gaze dropping before I force myself to look him in the eye. “Fine. Just because I don’t… date doesn’t mean I don’t have a… healthy imagination.” I want to swallow the words back the moment they leave my mouth.

Adrian’s eyebrow arches, his blue eyes darkening as he studies me. “Is that so?”

The tension coils tighter between us, and I feel myself shrinking and expanding all at once under his gaze. “I’m not saying anything else,” I mutter, but he doesn’t back down, his eyes gleaming with wicked intrigue.

“Now you have to tell me,” he murmurs, his tone a rich, thrilling drawl that sends a shiver through me. “What’s running through that pretty little head of yours?”

“You’re insufferable,” I say, turning away to break the intensity, but it only fuels his curiosity more.

“Just because I’m insufferable doesn’t mean I don’t want an answer.” He’s leaning closer now, and I can feel his gaze like a physical touch, making my pulse race. “Let me guess… something less… restrained?”

“Something like that,” I admit, barely able to breathe with how close he’s gotten.

He chuckles, low and dark, the sound reverberating through me. “Careful, Mia,” he warns, his voice a soft growl. “Keep talking like that, and I might just forget why you’re here.”

I look away, willing myself to stop the blush painted over my face and neck.

Adrian leans back, his eyes on me, uncomfortably perceptive. “You know, for someone who handles herself like you do, you’re... surprisingly untouched by this world.” His gaze holds mine, as if he’s picking me apart piece by piece.

My cheeks heat up. “Untouched? That’s an odd word choice.”

He smirks. “Not really. You have this air about you. An innocence. It’s rare, especially for the sister of Dante Vitale.” He pauses, voice dipping lower. “Tell me, Mia... am I right?”

My pulse races, and I quickly look away, attempting to mask my reaction. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Don’t I?” he presses, amusement glinting in his eyes. “You’re twenty-three, aren’t you? And yet... no boyfriend? No real experience?” His voice drops even lower, and I can barely catch my breath. “What’s wrong with the guys at Columbia?”

I try to stay calm, shrugging like this isn’t affecting me. “Nothing wrong with them,” I say quietly. “I just... never met anyone who made me want to tie myself down.”

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