*Adrian*Lifting weights had become a hollow ritual for me whenever I needed to vent. The gym of my apartment building, usually a haven for releasing pent-up energies, now felt like a prison cell, confining me with my own reflections as I tried to focus on the burn in my biceps.Just one more set, I thought to myself. But even as I pushed through the motions, my concentration faltered, betraying me as it latched onto the image of Lily.Her smile, her laughter, her scent, her skin... I missed every single detail of hers. Since she'd walked away without a word of explanation as to why she was breaking up with me, my world had crumbled beneath me, leaving me grasping to return to how my life was before I had met her.I racked the weights with a clatter, rubbing the sweat from my brow as I leaned against the cool metal frame. Because of that, my documentary for the Festival Submission lay neglected for days now, since nothing I did seemed to satisfy me. Hours spent hunched over the
*Lily*"Another night burning the midnight oil, huh?" Rachel's voice threaded through the silence of our dorm room, pulling me back from the precipice of self-pity.My fingers fumbled through stacks of notes on genetic mutations, but each word seemed to blur into an indistinct hum, much like the ache throbbing through my skull. It wasn't just the relentless study sessions for the upcoming exams that were to blame; it was Adrian's absence. No matter how hard I tried to keep my brain busy, I couldn't stop thinking about him.I glanced up at Rachel, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Just trying to guarantee good grades," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of the fatigue that had become my constant companion.Rachel arched an eyebrow as she collected the laundry scattered across her bed. "You're drowning yourself in those textbooks." Concern softened her features, and she approached me, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Getting sick won't help you ace your exam
*Adrian*Seated at the bar, my fingers traced the rim of my half-empty glass, the liquid sloshing gently as I contemplated why on earth I had agreed to come here. When I accepted Chris' invitation, I definitely did not expect to see Lily here too.But then again, that was just one more thing about her that I hadn't seen coming. Just like I wasn't expecting our break up either.I was taken aback when I turned around to scan the crowd and spotted her sitting at the far end of the bar. I thought I was imagining things, maybe the alcohol was having a quicker effect on me now that I was heartbroken.Who knew?But there she was, the source of my torment, in bone and flesh, drinking and laughing with her friends as if she hadn't just dumped my ass a few days ago. I took a sip of my drink, trying to calm the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest. I hadn't seen or spoken to Lily since we split up, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to see her now. Was she really okay with all of
*Lily*The karaoke night had taken a turn I would never have expected in a million years. Before I could wrap my mind around what was happening, I was pinned to a wall outside of the bar, Adrian lavishing me with his kisses and intoxicating touch.Feeling the heat of his body pressed against me made me temporarily lethargic, as if I couldn't think properly. His touch sparked a rebellion in my flesh, demanding indulgence, but my mind screamed for me to stop, to pull him away. My scholarship—my future—depended on keeping my distance from him. Yet, when agony swam in his eyes and he confessed his misery, a pang of guilt twisted inside me like a knife. I was the one responsible for it, and for some reason beyond myself, I couldn't push him away."I miss you so much," Adrian had confessed. "How can you do this to us, huh? How can you pretend this is not real?"That shattered my resolve, and I let him kiss me, the taste of him bittersweet and intoxicating. My hands found their way to
*Adrian*"Are you going home for the holiday this time?" Chris asked curiously from beside me as we prepared to watch a game in the living room of my apartment.I should have planned something for the break, but due to everything happening lately, I wasn't in the mood for anything. I had a lot to work on with filming and editing anyway, so I decided to stay within campus and focus on that instead.It had been seven days since the karaoke bar—seven days since Lily had allowed herself a moment of vulnerability and surrendered to me. If I tried really hard, I could still feel the aftertaste of her kiss lingering in my mouth, intoxicating and addicting. But then, she vanished again, leaving me with nothing but the memories of her.I glanced at Chris while he scrolled through the channels on my TV. "I guess I'm just not in the holiday spirit this year, so I'll stay here.""Is it because of Lily?" he prodded gently, his brows furrowing slightly. "Or your dad?" "Both," I admitted,
*Lily*As Adrian pulled into the garage of his building, doubt and apprehension gnawed at me. I wasn't expecting to bump into him while walking out of the bus station, let alone to be invited to have a conversation with him. I had agreed, not finding it within me to reject his offer to have a polite and innocent conversation, but I wasn't expecting him to bring me here, to his apartment.I had a million reasons to believe that wasn't a good idea. The biggest one being that I had no control of myself whenever he was near me. And coming to his apartment, just the two of us, suddenly felt like a premeditated failure.Uncertainty clutched at me as I pondered not going up. As if sensing my hesitation, Adrian turned to look at me as he turned the car off."Hey," Adrian said, his voice gentle yet firm. "We will just have a conversation. Whenever you want, I'll take you to Elysium. You just let me know."His words were soothing and reassuring. Not that I was expecting him to do anything
*Lily*My words seemed to be exactly what Adrian needed to hear to carry on with what we were doing. He claimed my lips once more, and his hand, masterful and unerring, darted to my ass, pulling me harder against him. I couldn't suppress the moan that escaped my throat as I felt the urgency of his touch.His mouth charted a fiery trail from my mouth, to my jaw, descending tortuously to the tender expanse of my neck and then further still, to my cleavage. With each brush of his lips, I arched my back, yearning to feel the heat of him across every inch of my skin.His fingers found the hem of my shirt, and with a fluidity born of impatience and longing, he peeled it over my head. The cool air of the room kissed my exposed skin, but the chill was nothing compared to the smoldering look he gave me. It was a gaze that devoured me, that seared into my soul and left me feeling vulnerable, yet enlivened.I could feel the weight of his stare on my black lacy bra, heated and intense upon t
*Lily*Adrian's hand lingered on my thigh for a fraction of a second longer than necessary as he dropped by the curb of Elysium later that night."Are you sure you don't want to stay with me tonight?" Adrian asked for the second time, drawing a smile out of me.After composing ourselves, we talked and forged an uneasy pact. If we were to be together again, we had to be more discreet, only meeting outside of the university. And even so, we'd have to be really careful not to go to places where Elysium students could see us.I was really adamant about sneaking out with him within campus and Adrian seemed fine with it, as long as I didn't push him away anymore."I’ve already told you," I explained again, rolling my eyes and pretending to be annoyed. "I need to prepare for classes tomorrow, and if I sleep with you at your place tonight, I'm a hundred percent sure we won't be able to wake up in time for class."Adrian smirked at me, a malicious grin that almost made me regret asking