Amelia arrived at Adrian’s penthouse, her heart pounding, nerves tingling in the pit of her stomach. She had never done anything like this before, not with him, anyway.
The penthouse felt impossibly grand as she walked through the doors, the city skyline stretching out behind glass windows. She had spent the day preparing for this, no games, no masks, just a raw, open attempt to show him something she had never said aloud before.
Dinner was waiting on the long glass dining table, the faint flicker of candlelight casting shadows on the sleek, modern furnishings. She had done everything - the candles, the wine, the food, all meticulously arranged. Everything was perfect, save for the knot in her stomach. She wasn’t sure what she was trying to prove or whether she even believed this would work. But she had to try. She couldn
Amelia woke to the scent of cedar and something unmistakably Adrian. The first thing Amelia noticed when she woke up was warmth. Not just the warmth of silk sheets tangled around her legs or the golden morning light filtering through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. No, it was the warmth of him.Adrian Black.His warmth surrounded her, his strong arm draped over her waist, his breath steady against the back of her neck, his body pressed firmly against hers. His breathing was slow and steady, the even rise and fall of his chest against her back hypnotizing.She blinked, momentarily disoriented. For a moment, she just lay there, absorbing the stillness, the not so unfamiliar feeling of waking up here, with him. No running, no pretending. Just this.
Amelia couldn’t help but smile to herself as she sat at the sleek glass desk in office, her fingers dancing over her laptop’s keyboard. The morning had started with tension, but now it had settled into something comfortable, something that felt real.And yet, despite the relative calm, she couldn’t ignore the heat that lingered between them, the electric buzz that was always just beneath the surface. It was as if the air around them was charged, thick with unspoken words and desires that they were both trying to keep at bay. She felt she had never been good at keeping things at bay.Amelia had spent the last hour ignoring Adrian. Not because she wanted to. But because if she didn’t, she was going to do something insane, like straddle him on the couch and make them both late for work, considering the way he kep
The second Amelia’s lips crashed into Adrian’s, it was over. There was no turning back. Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer, as if that could erase the jealousy still burning in her chest. But this wasn’t just about jealousy. This was about power.And Adrian Black had too much of it over her.His grip on her tightened, fingers digging into her waist as he backed her against the bedroom door. The impact sent a jolt through her, but all she could focus on was him. The way his lips moved with urgency, with dominance, with hunger."You’re mad," Adrian murmured against her mouth."Shut up," Amelia growled, nipping at his bottom lip.
The tension in Adrian’s shoulders hadn’t disappeared, even after Amelia had practically forced him to step away from work for the night. Whatever phone call he had received earlier had thrown him off balance, and Adrian Black was not a man who liked being off balance.Amelia felt it in the way he held her — firm, protective, but distracted.They had spent the night wrapped around each other, but even as his hands had claimed her body, his mind had been somewhere else.Now, as the morning sun filtered through the curtains, Amelia sat on the edge of the bed, watching Adrian get dressed. His movements were controlled, precise, but she caught the tightness in his jaw, the subtle way his fingers clenched at his cufflinks before securing them.
The private jet was obnoxiously luxurious, which, of course, was to be expected. Adrian Black did nothing halfway.Amelia crossed her legs, pretending to be unimpressed as she took in the sleek leather seats, the polished mahogany accents, and the ridiculous amount of space for just the two of them. A bottle of vintage champagne sat chilling nearby, as if they were about to toast to something extravagant.Adrian, sitting across from her, smirked. "You look tense, sweetheart."She shot him a glare. "I am not tense."He raised a brow, amusement flickering in those storm-gray eyes. "Sure, you’re not." Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Relax. You act like I’m taking you to a remote isl
The night air was warm, carrying the scent of salt and something subtly floral. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, moonlight rippling over the waves in a hypnotic dance. But Amelia wasn’t looking at the ocean anymore.She was looking at Adrian.He stood impossibly close, his heat pressing into her back, his arms wrapped possessively around her waist as if he had every right to hold her like this. Maybe he did. Maybe she had stopped resisting the moment she stepped onto this island with him."Dangerous habit, sweetheart," he murmured against her ear, his breath feather-light but potent enough to send a shiver down her spine.Amelia swallowed hard, gripping the cool metal railing of the balcony as if it
The midday sun cast a golden glow over the island, the sky an endless stretch of blue, unmarred by even a single cloud. The sound of waves lapping against the shore mixed with the rustling of palm trees in the warm breeze. It was paradise, untouched, isolated, and breathtaking.Amelia adjusted the oversized straw hat on her head. The waves rolled lazily onto the shore, and the golden sand was warm beneath her feet as she made her way to the beach. It was the perfect day, the kind that begged for relaxation, for cool drinks and sunbathing and doing absolutely nothing.So why did she feel so damn restless?Maybe because Adrian Black was still lurking in her mind like a deliciously bad idea. She inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill her lungs, trying to focus on the beauty
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden light over the rumpled sheets and tangled limbs. Amelia stirred, her body aching deliciously in places she hadn’t even known could be sore.A soft groan escaped her lips as she shifted, stretching out against the warmth beside her. Adrian. His arm was draped possessively over her waist, his bare chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, dark lashes fanned over his sharp cheekbones. Even in sleep, he looked like temptation incarnate.She exhaled slowly, her muscles protesting the movement. Damn him. The night before had been relentless, Adrian had taken his sweet time proving exactly why she should never challenge him. Every whispered promise, every deliberate touch had unraveled her, left her trembling and spent beneath
The ocean sparkled under the late-morning sun, a blinding expanse of endless blue stretching toward the horizon. The air was humid and salted, the sky painted in strokes of blue and gold as early afternoon pressed into view.On the private beach nestled below Adrian’s coastal villa, paradise looked like a postcard. Amelia, however, was not feeling particularly zen. Especially not when Adrian revved the engine of the jet ski and sent them flying across a wave that could’ve launched them straight into orbit.Adrian turned, smirking over his shoulder. “Ready, sweetheart?”Amelia stood on the dock, squinting into the sunlight. Her hair was up in a messy ponytail, oversized sunglasses perched on her nose, and a bright coral bikini peeking through the open
The moment Adrian’s lips crashed into hers, the world fell away. The air between them was thick with heat and longing, heavy enough to drown in.The storm outside faded into a distant hum, nothing but white noise compared to the thunder in Amelia’s chest. He kissed her like she was the only thing tethering him to reality, like the craving for her was so deep it had carved a permanent space in his soul. His mouth moved with a hunger that contradicted the slow burn simmering just beneath the surface.She responded just as fiercely.There was no rush to undress. No frantic fumbling. Just the fevered, maddening art of holding back of tasting, teasing, testing the limits of restraint.Adrian broke the kiss bu
The morning arrived with a storm, rolling in from the sea with an ominous rumble of thunder. Sheets of rain battered against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa, the wind howling like a restless beast. The sky was dark, casting an eerie glow over the room, but inside, cocooned beneath the thick covers, Amelia felt nothing but warmth. The sky outside was a deep shade of gray, casting the bedroom in a muted, dreamlike light. It was the kind of morning that begged for laziness, for tangled sheets and whispered words.She stirred against Adrian’s chest, her bare skin brushing against his. He was awake, his arm lazily draped around her waist, fingers tracing slow, idle circles on her hip. Even in sleep, he was possessive. Even in a storm, he was in control.Amelia sighed, her lips brushing against his collarbone. “It&rsq
Adrian Black was not a man who shared. He didn’t tolerate competition. He didn’t believe in second chances. And he sure as hell didn’t like watching another man look at what belonged to him, especially not Amelia.Amelia knew this. She had known it the moment she first met him, the moment she first saw the raw, untamed intensity in his storm-gray eyes. And yet, she couldn’t help herself pushing him, teasing him, testing the very limits of his control every time she got a chance. It was a dangerous thrill she was hopelessly addicted to.That flirtatious street vendor might have been a harmless fool, but Amelia’s teasing? That was deliberate. She knew exactly what she was doing, stoking the fire, pushing him to the edge, daring him to lose control.
Amelia should have known better. Messing with Adrian Black was like playing with fire, dangerous, exhilarating, and bound to leave a mark. And judging by the wicked gleam in his storm-gray eyes, she was about to get burned.Still dangling over his shoulder, dripping from the ice-cold water she had just dumped on him, Amelia kicked her legs in protest. "Adrian! Put me down!"He ignored her, carrying her effortlessly through the villa. His grip on her thighs was firm, possessive, as if she belonged to him like she wasn’t going anywhere until he decided."Adrian," she tried again, squirming.His palm landed on her ass in a sharp, warning slap. "Keep struggling, sweetheart. I dare you."
Sunlight spilled through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over the rumpled sheets. Amelia groaned as she stirred. The first thing she registered was warmth. Not just the warmth of silk sheets tangled around her body, or the golden sunlight spilling through the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows, it was the warmth of him.She stirred, stretching slightly, only to regret it instantly. Every inch of her felt the aftermath of last night, the roughness, the desperation, the way Adrian had absolutely wrecked her, a reminder of exactly what had happened last night.She blinked slowly, disoriented by the brightness, her limbs feeling too heavy to move. The room was quiet except for the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, and a low, amused chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.
"You looked stunning in that dress," Adrian rasped, eyes devouring her.Amelia smirked. "And now?"His gaze darkened, his fingers tracing the bare skin he'd been longing to touch all evening."Now?" His voice was pure sin. "You look ruined just how I like you. Why’re you so fucking beautiful, Amelia?"She looked divine and there was no way to ignore that. He cupped her breasts, reveling at the feel of their heavy weight. He grazed his fingers across her already hard nipples, then he abruptly replaced his fingers with his mouth, kissing and sucking, first one breast then the other.Amelia took Adrian by his hand and led him to the edge of her bed. Then
The dress was indecent.Amelia stared at the deep red silk draped across the bed, its high slits and plunging neckline screaming danger. It wasn’t just revealing, it was a damn invitation to sin.She narrowed her eyes. "You picked this?"Adrian leaned against the doorway, looking infuriatingly pleased with himself. "I have excellent taste.""You mean you have no shame."He smirked. "That too."Amelia grabbed the dress, holding it up. "This barely covers anything."Adrian strolled forward, plucking the fabric from her fingers
The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden light over the rumpled sheets and tangled limbs. Amelia stirred, her body aching deliciously in places she hadn’t even known could be sore.A soft groan escaped her lips as she shifted, stretching out against the warmth beside her. Adrian. His arm was draped possessively over her waist, his bare chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, dark lashes fanned over his sharp cheekbones. Even in sleep, he looked like temptation incarnate.She exhaled slowly, her muscles protesting the movement. Damn him. The night before had been relentless, Adrian had taken his sweet time proving exactly why she should never challenge him. Every whispered promise, every deliberate touch had unraveled her, left her trembling and spent beneath