Page 10

Adrian

The cold water crashed over me like a shock, each icy drop biting into my skin, chilling me to the bone. But it did nothing—nothing to cool the burning in my chest, nothing to drown out the rage still twisting through me, and definitely nothing to silence the wild, desperate need clawing at my thoughts.

Fuck. No.

This was a mistake. Not the wild night we spent together—no, that had been inevitable, a perfect storm of tension and desire that I hadn’t even tried to fight. But prolonging it? Extending our reckless, hungry agreement to the full length of her visit here? That was insanity.

I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against the cold, tiled wall, letting the icy water cascade down my back. I needed to end this. To shut it down, to get her out of my head before I did something I couldn’t take back.

But even as I tried to focus, tried to force myself into that cold, controlled calm that had always been my strength, she was there. Olivia.

Dark, wild hair tangled between my fingers. Sharp green eyes burning with defiance, with desire. Her mouth, warm and wicked, tracing hot lines down my chest, her voice, low and breathless, whispering my name like a plea and a challenge all at once.

My jaw clenched, and I felt the familiar ache—thick, heavy, and completely out of place in this freezing shower. My cock was already hard, twitching at the memory of her—her lips, her body, the way she writhed beneath me, the way she fell apart in my arms.

Fuck. No.

I slammed my fist against the wall, the sharp pain racing up my arm a welcome distraction. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t lose myself in her, couldn’t let her twist me around like this. She was chaos—beautiful, wild chaos—and I was letting her tear apart everything I’d built, everything I’d controlled.

No. It ended now.

The second I saw her, I would tell her. No more late nights. No more teasing, no more touches, no more… everything. I would lock this down.

I turned off the shower, grabbing a towel, the cold air wrapping around me like a second punishment. But it didn’t matter. I needed the clarity, needed the sharp, biting cold to remind me that I was in control.

Olivia was a distraction. A wild, reckless distraction that I couldn’t afford. And it was time I proved that she was nothing more than that.

The cool, crisp fabric of the fresh shirt slipped over my damp skin, but even as I tried to force the buttons into place, the tension in my chest refused to fade. My mind raced, wild and tangled, clawing at itself with images of Olivia—her fierce smile, her breathless laughter, the taste of her lips—

The soft click of the front door echoed through the penthouse.

I froze.

My jaw clenched, and I turned just as she stepped in, her dark hair wild around her shoulders, two dresses draped over her arm. Her smile was bright, casual, but there was a faint flush in her cheeks, the lingering glow of sunlight on her skin.

Fuck.

Of course, I’d given her a key. Stupid. Reckless.

“Hey!” she called out, her voice light, her gaze sweeping over the room. “I got two, just to be safe. Lavender’s a tricky color, you know? And I didn’t cut the tags, so I can return whichever one Sophie doesn’t like.”

Smart girl. Always thinking ahead, always—

But something else hit me, a scent that shouldn’t exist—fresh spring rain. That clean, earthy sweetness, the kind that lingered on the grass, that soaked into the soil, that breathed life back into the world after a brutal, bitter winter. It wrapped around me, soft and soothing and maddeningly impossible.

It wasn’t raining. It hadn’t rained in weeks. It was August. Sweltering heat and dry winds. But that scent—warm rain, damp earth, and something else, something sweet and wild—wrapped around me like a fog, and I couldn’t breathe.

Olivia didn’t notice my frozen, rigid posture. She kept talking, her voice a casual, cheerful hum.

“So I grabbed lunch with Sophie and her friend—”

Friend?

The word hit me like a knife. Friend. Was that it? That fucking Beta Karl had mentioned? A polite, nice, spineless Beta who’d whisper sweet nothings to her? Who’d take her out to dinner, who’d make her feel safe—who’d try to take her from me?

No.

No. No. No.

She was mine. Mine.

I moved before I even realized it, my vision blurring, my body a pulse of raw, furious need. I crossed the room in two steps, my hands grabbing her shoulders, spinning her around, her wide, startled eyes meeting mine for just a heartbeat.

“Adrian—?”

The dresses slipped from her arms, pooling on the floor in a forgotten heap. Her mouth opened, a soft, confused gasp, and I saw her lips move, but the sound didn’t register.

My wolf roared, a wild, vicious demand that drowned out everything else. I leaned in, my lips brushing against the soft, warm skin of her neck, my teeth grazing the delicate curve, and then I bit down.

A sharp, possessive bite—deep enough to leave a mark, to claim.

Her body stiffened, a sharp gasp breaking from her lips, but I didn’t let go. I felt her pulse racing beneath my lips, tasted the sweet, heated scent of her, and I didn’t just want her—I needed her.

Mine. Mine.

I pulled back, my breath ragged, my hands still gripping her shoulders, my gaze locked on the soft, pink mark already beginning to bloom on her neck. Her wide, shocked eyes stared up at me, her lips parted, her breath coming fast.

“Adrian—”

Her voice was a whisper, breathless, confused.

“You’re mine.” My voice was a low, rough growl, a vicious, unyielding declaration. “I don’t care about Sophie's Beta friend. I don’t care about anyone else. You. Are. Mine.”

Her lips moved, her breath still coming fast, her cheeks flushing, a wild, uncertain light dancing in her green eyes. But I didn’t give her a chance to argue, to run, to pretend this was something less than it was.

I leaned in again, my lips crashing against hers, fierce and hungry, my fingers tangling in her hair, pulling her closer, pressing her back against the door. Her hands flew to my chest, caught between pushing me away and pulling me closer.

But I didn’t care. I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want to hear her tell me this was a mistake, that she didn’t want this.

Because I knew. I could feel it—the wild, desperate heat in her kiss, the way her body arched against mine, the way her hands curled into my shirt, her nails scraping against my skin.

“Adrian,” she whispered again, her voice breaking, her breath a soft, shuddering plea.

“Mine,” I growled, my mouth tracing a burning path along her jaw, down the side of her neck, my fingers slipping beneath the thin strap of her blouse, baring her shoulder. “Say it.”

Her fingers dug into my chest, her head falling back against the door, her eyes half-lidded, her breath coming faster. “Yours.”

The word was a soft, desperate whisper, and it was all I needed. My mouth crashed against hers again, my hands sliding down her body, gripping her hips, pulling her against me, the sweet, maddening scent of fresh rain still swirling around me, sinking into my skin.

I didn't make it two steps away from the door. I couldn’t. The second her lips parted beneath mine, the second her breathless, desperate whisper of "Yours" slipped between us, something snapped. All the control, all the restraint I’d tried to claw back since this morning shattered like glass.

My hands slid down her body, gripping her thighs, and without a second thought, I lifted her, pressing her against the cool, solid door. Her legs wrapped around me instinctively, her arms looping around my neck, pulling me closer, her fingers tangling in my hair.

Her mouth was hot, desperate against mine, her soft, breathless moans swallowed by my kiss, and I was lost—lost in the taste of her, the heat of her, the wild, electric need that seemed to spark with every touch.

“Adrian—” she gasped, her head falling back against the door, and I didn’t waste a second. My lips trailed down the soft, exposed line of her throat, my teeth grazing the faint, pink mark I’d left—my mark.

“Are you always this needy?” I whispered, my voice rough and teasing against her skin.

“I don’t hear you complaining,” she shot back, her voice a mix of defiance and desperate need.

“I never complain about having my sweet chaos wrapped around me.”

Her laugh was breathless, her hips pressing against me, her nails scraping against my shoulders. “Then do something about it.”

“Careful what you wish for.”

My hand slid beneath her skirt, fingers tracing the soft, warm skin of her thigh, pushing the fabric higher, and I felt her shudder, her breath catching, her nails digging into my shoulders.

My fingers found the thin lace of her panties, already damp, and I didn’t hesitate, pushing them aside, slipping between her slick, heated folds.

“God, Adrian,” she gasped, her head falling back, her mouth parting in a soft, desperate moan.

“I told you, my sweet chaos, I’m not nearly done with you.” Her answer was a broken, desperate moan, her hips pressing against my hand, her body grinding against my touch. I kissed her again, fierce and hungry, swallowing every sweet, desperate sound she made, my fingers sliding against her, feeling her shudder, feeling her body pulse beneath my touch.

Her thighs tightened around my waist, her head falling back against the door, her breath coming in soft, shuddering gasps. I could feel her tensing, that sweet, desperate build in her body, the way her nails clawed at my shoulders, the way her hips moved against my hand.

But I needed more. I needed all of her.

I didn’t even think as I fumbled with my belt, my pants falling just enough, and I grabbed her hips, pressing the head of my cock against her slick, welcoming heat. Her eyes flew open, wide and wild, her breath catching, her mouth parting in a soft, desperate gasp.

“Adrian—”

“Mine.” I growled, and I thrust into her, burying myself in her heat, feeling her body stretch, tighten around me, her cry a sweet, breathless plea against my ear.

Her legs tightened around me, her arms clinging to my neck, her body arching against me, and I didn’t give her a second to breathe. I moved, hard and fast, each thrust pushing her against the door, her cries growing louder, her breath coming faster, her nails leaving sweet, stinging trails down my back.

Her mouth found mine again, her kiss wild, desperate, her tongue tracing mine, her voice breaking with each sweet, gasping moan.

“Adrian—yes—don’t stop—”

“I won’t.” My voice was a low, rough snarl, my lips tracing the line of her jaw, her throat, her pulse racing beneath my mouth. “You’re mine, Olivia. Only mine.”

“Yes—” Her voice was a shattered, breathless plea, her body tightening around me, her hips meeting every desperate, hungry thrust. “Gods, yes.”

Her head fell back, her eyes squeezed shut, her body trembling, and I could feel that sweet, perfect tension building in her, that desperate, frantic edge that drove me even harder, even faster.

“Come for me,” I whispered against her ear, my teeth grazing the soft curve of her neck. “Come for me, Olivia. Show me you’re mine.”

And she shattered.

Her body clenched around me, a sweet, desperate cry spilling from her lips, her nails clawing at my shoulders, her hips grinding against me, every shuddering breath a perfect, wild rush.

I wasn’t far behind. That perfect, tight heat, the sweet, desperate pulse of her body pulled me over the edge, and I buried myself in her, a fierce, possessive growl tearing from my throat as I came, my grip on her hips tightening, my mouth catching hers in another wild, breathless kiss.

We stayed there, tangled against the door, our breaths mingling, our bodies pressed together, the soft, lingering aftershocks of pleasure still pulsing through us.

I leaned my forehead against hers, my fingers still tracing slow, lazy circles against her thigh, her soft, warm skin a perfect contrast to the cool air around us.

Her breathing slowly returned to normal, her chest rising and falling against mine, the wild, desperate tension melting into a warm, blissful haze. But as her breathing steadied, she leaned back slightly, her sharp green eyes catching mine.

“What beta?”

“What?”

“You said something about a friend of Sophie's?”

I blinked, the fog of possessive hunger slowly fading. “The one Karl told me about. The one Sophie supposedly introduce you to. When she took you to lunch. That was a setup, she wants you to...”

A laugh burst out of her, bright and sharp, cutting through the room like a blade. “Oh my gods, he played you like a fiddle, my strong, overprotective Alpha friend. I had lunch with Sophie and her friend Ada. A caterer, not some random Beta.”

I felt the heat rush to my face, a mix of embarrassment and fury boiling in my chest. That smug, manipulative little—

“Son of a—” I muttered, pushing away from her, running a hand through my hair as I started pacing the room. “That prick. He knew exactly what he was doing. He pushed me, he watched me lose it, and he just—”

Olivia’s laughter only grew, sweet and musical, and when I turned, she was bent over, picking up the two dresses she’d dropped earlier, carefully draping them over a chair, smoothing out the fabric.

“Adorable. Did you actually think I’d just throw myself at some random guy because Sophie wanted me to?”

I stopped mid-pace, my fists clenching at my sides, the embarrassment mixing with a stubborn, lingering possessiveness. “I didn’t think you’d throw yourself at anyone.”

“Except you?” she teased, her eyebrow arching, that wild, teasing smile tugging at her lips.

“Apparently.” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face, still trying to shake off the fury clawing at my chest. “But that little stunt of Karl’s—”

But then I stopped, a sharp, electric jolt of realization cutting through me, and I turned to look at her, my gaze narrowing.

“You know, Sophie moved in with Karl a while ago.”

“Yeah, so?” Olivia didn’t even look up, her fingers still fussing with the sleeve of one of the dresses, carefully smoothing out imaginary wrinkles like she was trying to negotiate a peace treaty with the fabric.

“So… her old apartment is empty.”

The delicate lace slipped from her fingers, fluttering back to the chair. Olivia’s hand hovered for a second, frozen in midair. The silence stretched, heavy and brittle, and I saw the faintest twitch of her jaw, the slow, almost mechanical blink of her lashes—like her brain had just slammed on the brakes.

Her hand fell back to her side, her fingers curling into a loose fist. Her gaze didn’t lift, but I saw it—the slow, creeping shadow slipping over her expression.

“That little…”

“She played you,” I murmured, a slow, dark grin spreading across my face. “Just like Karl played me.”

Her head snapped up, her sharp green eyes locking onto mine, and there it was—a flash of wildfire, bright and blazing.

“No,” she whispered, but it wasn’t denial. It was the quiet horror of someone staring directly at a trap they’d walked straight into. “No. No, no, no—”

Her fingers dug into the chair’s back, her grip tightening until her knuckles went white. “She… she canceled my hotel reservation, Adrian. I booked my own place, and she canceled it. Said I needed an ‘ upgrade .’”

My grin widened. “An upgrade straight into my bed.”

“That sneaky, manipulative, pastel-wearing little—” Olivia’s voice climbed, a dangerous, wild edge creeping in.

I leaned against the wall, folding my arms, watching the storm brew in her expression with a sort of amused fascination.

“I mean, honestly, I expected this kind of crap from Karl. But Sophie? Oh, no. Sweet, innocent Sophie would never manipulate anyone.” Her voice was a mocking, high-pitched lilt, then dropped to a furious snarl. “She freaking boxed me in like I’m some stray she picked up off the street!”

“Oh, come on, my sweet chaos.” I shrugged, biting back a laugh. “Maybe she just wanted you to be comfortable. And nothing says comfort like a five-star suite and an Alpha’s bed.”

Olivia’s glare snapped to me, a wild, dangerous light blazing in her eyes. “Oh, don’t you start. I’ll skin you alive right after I strangle my sister.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed—a low, warm rumble that only seemed to fuel the fire in her eyes.

“Oh, you think this is funny?” She spun, jabbing a finger at me. “You’re loving this. Big bad Alpha finds out his brother pushed his buttons, and now he gets to watch me explode. Well, congratulations. You and Sophie can both go to hell.”

Her fury was a wildfire, bright and scorching, and I loved it. But beneath the sharp, biting anger, there was a hint of something else—betrayal, hurt.

“Olivia.” I stepped forward, but she whipped around, her eyes blazing.

“That bitch!” she snapped, the words cutting through the room like a thunderclap.