Page 11 of Cruel Hero

The cool night air is a welcome relief from the stuffy heat of the ballroom. It’s a beautiful night, with a clear sky and a full moon. I lean against the cold marble of the balcony. The garden below is a serene oasis, lit by soft golden lights that seem to twinkle like stars against the dark foliage. The faint hum of the party drifts out from the ballroom, but out here, it’s quiet—almost peaceful. I can hear the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze and snippets of conversation from the garden below.

It could be Lucas.

I slip out of the side door and make my way towards the voices.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabs me and pulls me into the shadows. My heart races, and I try to wriggle free, but the grip around my waist is firm and prevents any escape. The stranger presses me against the wall of the mansion, my back meeting the cool, hard stone. When I lift my gaze, I find myself looking into those familiar dark blue eyes that have haunted my dreams for months.

My breath catches.

“Hi, angel,” he whispers, his intense gaze boring into mine. The moonlight catches the edges of his face, casting shadows that only enhance his rugged features. I’m acutely aware of the proximity between us, the heat radiating off his body, seeping into mine. His cologne is a heady mix of cedar and sandalwood, and it awakens something dormant inside me.

My entire body is buzzing with electricity, my skin tingles where his fingers graze my arm, and my heart pounds so loudly I’m certain he can hear it.

“Adrien.” Memories flood back to me in an instant—his crooked smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed, the warmth of his touch against my skin. It’s as if time stands still in this moment, and all the unresolved feelings I thought I had buried resurface with a vengeance. “What are you doing here?”

Adrien is my sworn enemy, a reckless mistake of my past, but in the most twisted, involuntary way, I miss him desperately.

Without a single thought for anyone else—not my uncle, nor my sister, or even Lucas—my hands reach out to grab the front of his tuxedo, pulling him closer until our chests collide.

In the glow of the moonlight, his eyes sparkle like precious gems and I can’t resist running my fingers through Adrien’s dark hair as it falls over his forehead and frames his handsome face. My hands roam all over him—his chest, arms, back—I need to make sure he’s real.

“Did you miss me, my love?”

I press myself closer to him, every inch of my body pressed against his.

He is solid and warm, tangible in a way that makes me tremble. With closed eyes and parted lips, I lean forward and press my lips against his.

Adrien responds eagerly, capturing my lips with his own, and I melt into him. He tastes of champagne and chocolate, his tongue tracing the corners of my mouth and exploring its edges.

As the kiss deepens, he groans low in his throat, and I push myself tighter against him, letting my heavy breasts mold against his chest.

“I missed you too, angel.”

I’m drowning in the best possible way, his powerful arms holding me close and keeping me afloat. Without hesitation, I wrap my legs around his waist, needing to be even closer to him.

His stubble grazes my chin as his mouth presses against mine, kissing me fiercely. I know he’ll leave marks on my sensitive skin; I hope he does. I want to remember him, his taste, his touch, for the weeks to come.

Adrien’s tongue slides against mine, his teeth nibbling at my lower lip, and I whimper into his mouth as his erection presses against my stomach.

I moan softly, my hips bucking against his hard body as he grinds against me. I can feel the thickness of his erection through the layers of fabric, and my pussy clenches in anticipation.

I break away from the kiss, gasping for breath as I lock eyes with him. His skin is flushed, and his lips are swollen, mirroring my own. His chest rises and falls rapidly, his breathing as ragged as mine. For a moment, we just stare at each other, the air between us crackling with unspoken words and unresolved tension. His hand comes up to brush a strand of hair from my face, his touch surprisingly tender despite the ferocity of our kiss.

“Tell me you’re still mine,” Adrien murmurs.

“I’m...”

With a sharp jolt, I realize who I am supposed to be with right now—Lucas.

“Wait,” I whisper, though my body betrays me, pressing closer to him as if it has a will of its own. My voice is shaky, barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “I need a moment to think.”

“It’s too late, angel.” His fingers trail down my body, spreading the wildfire. “I haven’t been able to think straight since the moment I saw you.”

“I’ve met someone.”

He pulls back slightly. “Who?”

There is fire burning in those blue depths, and something dark and dangerous flickers in them before they return to a neutral expression.

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