Liana's Apartment – Night
Liana's breath hitched sharply as Adrian's fingers slowly traced along her jaw.
Her skin burned beneath his touch, and yet she stood frozen.
Her eyes flickered up to his, catching the dangerous glimmer in them—the same ruthless possession she had seen before.
There was no gentleness in his gaze.
No hesitation.
Only raw, unyielding dominance.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Her heart was pounding violently against her chest, so loud she was certain he could hear it.
Adrian's thumb slowly dragged across her lower lip, his eyes narrowing slightly.
His lips curled into a slow, dark smirk.
"You're trembling," he murmured.
His voice was low—mocking, almost amused.
"Why?"
Liana's throat tightened.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.
She forced herself to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Leave, Adrian."
But her words lacked conviction.
She could feel it—the slight tremor in her voice, the weakness in her stance.
And so could he.
His smirk widened slightly.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing against her cheek.
"No."
The single word was laced with a dark finality.
Her chest tightened.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, aching to shove him away.
But she couldn't move.
He was too close.
Too overpowering.
"I…" she struggled, her voice barely a whisper.
"I'm not afraid of you."
Adrian chuckled softly—a low, dark sound that sent a shiver down her spine.
He tilted his head slightly, his lips hovering just above hers.
"Liar," he whispered darkly.
And before she could react, his hand slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him.
Her breath caught sharply.
Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest, but his grip was firm.
Unyielding.
"You've always been afraid of me," he murmured against her ear, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Even back then…"
Her stomach clenched.
Her pulse quickened violently.
She knew exactly what he was referring to.
Her past with him.
The one she had buried so deeply.
But he was ripping it back to the surface.
She shoved against his chest, but he didn't budge.
His grip only tightened, his eyes darkening with a savage glint.
"Let go," she gritted out, her voice sharp.
Adrian's smirk faded slightly.
His eyes hardened, the playful mockery vanishing in an instant.
Without a word, he suddenly spun her around and pinned her against the wall.
Her breath left her lungs in a sharp gasp.
His hands caged her in, palms flat against the wall on either side of her head.
His face was mere inches from hers.
Too close.
Too suffocating.
Her chest heaved slightly, her breaths coming in shallow, uneven pants.
But she refused to look at him.
She turned her face away, staring at the wall.
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
His fingers slowly trailed down the side of her neck, deliberately slow.
And then he leaned closer.
So close, his lips were almost brushing against her ear.
"You can't keep running, Liana," he whispered darkly, his voice low and menacing.
"No matter where you go…"
His lips ghosted over her skin.
"I will find you."
Her eyes squeezed shut, her breath hitching painfully.
The words sent a violent shiver down her spine.
Her hands pressed against his chest, trying to push him back.
But he didn't move.
His eyes flickered with something dangerous and feral.
Slowly, his fingers lifted, trailing along her collarbone, almost tauntingly.
"You think Lucas can protect you?" he mocked softly.
His lips curled into a cruel smirk.
"How sweet."
Her chest tightened sharply.
Her eyes snapped open, anger flashing through them.
"Don't you dare touch him," she spat out, her voice trembling slightly.
Adrian's smirk only widened.
He leaned closer, his lips brushing just beneath her ear.
"You're worried about him?" he purred mockingly.
His breath was warm against her skin.
"You should be worried about yourself, sweetheart."
Her fingers dug into his chest, but he caught her wrist.
With a swift motion, he pinned her hand against the wall above her head.
Her breath caught sharply.
Her pulse roared violently in her ears.
Adrian's eyes darkened further, the possessiveness in them almost suffocating.
He slowly lowered his head, his lips ghosting along her jawline.
"You still belong to me," he whispered against her skin, his voice low and menacing.
"No matter how far you run… you'll always be mine."
Her throat tightened painfully.
Her chest constricted violently, making it hard to breathe.
Her entire body was trembling slightly—
But she refused to let him see her break.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Her lips curled into a faint sneer.
"I was never yours," she hissed softly, her voice trembling slightly but firm.
For a brief second, she saw it—
The flicker of rage in his eyes.
His grip tightened ever so slightly on her wrist.
And then… he suddenly let go.
Liana stumbled slightly, gasping softly as she pulled away from him.
Her chest heaved, her eyes sharp and defiant.
Her wrist throbbed slightly where he had held her.
Adrian's face was unreadable.
But his eyes…
His eyes were burning with a dangerous fire.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Only the heavy, uneven breaths filled the room.
And then—
"You can't escape me," he murmured softly, almost mockingly.
His voice was low.
Dangerous.
Final.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.
But before he left, he glanced over his shoulder.
His lips curled into a slow, cruel smirk.
"You'll come to me willingly soon enough, Liana."
And then he was gone.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Liana's knees buckled slightly, her hands trembling violently.
She stumbled back against the wall, her chest heaving with shallow, uneven breaths.
Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging sharply into her palms.
Her heart was pounding so violently, she thought it might burst.
But she refused to cry.
Refused to break.
Her eyes hardened slightly, her breath still uneven.
Her lips parted in a shaky exhale.
And then she whispered softly—
A promise to herself.
"I will never belong to you, Adrian Knight…"
But even as she said the words, she could still feel the ghost of his touch lingering on her skin.
And no matter how much she tried to deny it…
A part of her knew—
She was already losing the battle.
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See you in next chapter