Page 13 of Silent Night With Adrian

The weight of the moment settles between us, and I know that line we’ve been dancing around is growing thinner, harder to ignore. My gaze trails over her, taking in her bare legs, the way the oversized shirt skims her thighs, leaving just enough to the imagination. I see her blush, and I smirk, letting my eyes linger on her a moment longer than necessary.

I strip off my shirt first, watching her reaction as I reveal each inch of my chest, letting the firelight catch the lines of ink that map my skin. Her gaze lingers, more curious than shy, as if she's trying to read every scar, every tattoo. I reach down, unbuttoning my pants, and slide them off, leaving me in just my boxers. Her cheeks flush, and she quickly looks away, but I catch her sneaking a glance from under her lashes.

“Comfortable?” I ask, smirking as I slip under the covers, keeping close enough to feel the heat of her body.

She clears her throat, shifting slightly on the bed, and gives a quick, unconvincing nod. “I’ll be fine as long as you stay on your side.”

“Relax, princess. If I cross any lines, you’ll know,” I say, my voice a murmur, watching the way her lashes flutter, the way her breathing hitches just a bit. She’s affected, whether she wants to admit it or not.

We lie there, the silence stretched taut between us. My eyes drift over her, taking in the softness of her skin and the curve of her neck where her pulse thrums. She’s so close, her warmth soaking into me, yet there’s still that final, invisible wall between us.

“Adrian,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?”

She hesitates, her fingers brushing the edge of the blanket as if searching for something to hold onto. “Why did you do it? Why did you burn the dress?”

I let out a long, slow breath, feeling the weight of her question. “Because you deserve better than to be someone’s pawn,” I say, voice rough. “You deserve better than this life, Mia.”

Her eyes meet mine, wide and unguarded, and for a moment, all the walls we’ve both built up begin to crumble. The air between us thickens, and I can feel the pull, a magnetic force that has me leaning closer without even realizing it.

My hand moves on its own, tracing a line along her jaw, my thumb brushing her cheek. Her breath catches, and she doesn’t pull away. I see her swallow, her lips parting slightly, and damn if it isn’t the most tempting thing I’ve ever seen.

“Adrian…” she breathes, her voice soft and uncertain, but there’s a hint of a dare in her eyes, like she’s waiting for me to close that final inch between us.

I’m about to give in, about to claim her mouth with mine, when she suddenly shifts, turning her back to me, her breathing unsteady. “Goodnight,” she whispers, her voice tight, her body tense.

I grit my teeth, clamping down on the desire clawing at my insides. “Goodnight, Mia.”

The fire crackles, and I lie there, staring at her back, wondering how long I can keep my hands off her… and how long she’ll keep pretending she doesn’t want me just as badly.

The only glow was coming from the faint embers still smoldering in the fireplace. I close my eyes, trying to push her out of my mind, but sleep doesn't come easily. Eventually, exhaustion pulls me under.

Chapter 11 Adrian

Warmth. Softness. Mia has shifted, curling up against me, her arm draped over my chest, her face nestled against my shoulder. My heart stutters, and I fight the urge to pull her closer. I shouldn’t. I should move, put some space between us, keep this boundary intact. But I don’t.

Instead, I watch her, taking in the delicate features softened by sleep, the way her hair spills over my shoulder. There’s something innocent, almost fragile in the way she breathes, her face so close I can feel her breath against my skin.

Then, she stirs, her long black lashes fluttering. Her eyes open, a little hazy, and she glances up at me, her hand instinctively pressing against my chest. Her lips part, and before I can say anything, she leans forward, placing a soft, tentative kiss on my chest.

“Mia,” I murmur, my voice rough, fighting the urge to let this go further. “You don’t want this. Not with me. You’ll regret it.”

Her gaze focuses as she blinks away the sleep from her eyes. “I know exactly what I want, Adrian. I’ve spent my whole life avoiding men from our world, but…” She hesitates, her cheeksflushing, “...I’ve dreamt of you. Not just tonight. So many times over the last few years since we first met. I never forgot you. You were always someone who was out of reach for me. But I still fantasized and compared every man I met against you. If something happens to me, I don’t want to leave this world without knowing passion. Without knowing you.”

I groan, my resolve to keep her at a distance starts to crumble. She has no idea how much her words slay me. Because they reflect so much of what I’ve felt for her over the years.

Before I can say anything, she moves closer, pressing her lips to mine. Her kiss is soft, unhurried, but full of purpose. I let myself sink into it, and the kiss deepens, our hands exploring, discovering. She’s a mixture of innocence and fire, a dangerous combination that’s undoing me completely.

I pull back, my voice barely a whisper. “Mia… I don’t have protection. And… I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her gaze is steady, unwavering. “I have an IUD,” she says, her cheeks tinged pink, but her tone is firm. “I didn’t want any accidents, especially in our world.”

Her admission sends a jolt through me, and any remaining reservations crumble. I’m careful, gentle as I lower her onto the bed, taking my time, kissing every inch of her, letting her body respond, letting her relax, letting her know exactly what’s coming. I want her to be ready. I need her to know she can trust me.

Our breaths mingle, her lips soft and full beneath mine. I kiss her deeply, savoring the taste of her, my hands exploring her curves with reverence. My fingers trace a path down her neck, feeling her shiver as I graze the sensitive skin. I kiss along her jaw, down to the hollow of her throat, lingering there as she tilts her head back, giving herself over to my touch.

I reach under her shirt, reaching for her rounded full breast, massaging the luscious soft warmth while at the same timeflicking my thumb over her hardening nipple. She gasps, her back arching into me, and I feel her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. Her skin is warm, smooth, and every inch of her is responsive, each kiss and touch drawing out soft whimpers, heightening her anticipation.

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