*Lily*The tome from the university library lay splayed open on my bed, its pages dense with archaic references that swirled in my head, leading nowhere. I decided to abandon the futile study session, restless energy propelling me through the corridors of the Bronze Wing dormitory. Arriving at Jenna’s door, I hesitated, hand hovering before the wood hesitantly. Her situation gnawed at me, an unsolved puzzle that kept me awake and unsettled. It wasn't that late yet, but she could be sleeping already. I was certain she hadn't had a tranquil night of sleep last night because of what happened, but I needed to talk to her.The gentle rap of my knuckles against the door disrupted the silence around me. After a few seconds, it swung open, revealing Jenna in her pajamas, looking completely distraught. Her golden hair was a cascade of untamed waves, and she had a haunted look in her eyes that I couldn't ignore."Sorry to disturb you, Jenna, but can we talk?" My voice was soft but carried
*Lily*I found myself ensnared in one of Elysium's dark corners, my heart racing with anticipation as I watched Adrian approaching me. I couldn't tear my gaze away from him, my body already responding to his presence–a dangerous attraction that threatened to consume me entirely.There he was, striding towards me with a predatory grace that made my breath hitch. His messy dark hair, usually rebellious, now appeared almost intentionally tousled as if sculpted by the very hands of desire. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, igniting an inferno within me. The lean muscles of his athletic build moved beneath his clothes with a silent promise of strength, and I felt a heat burgeoning deep inside me. My body betrayed me, becoming hot, achingly horny.He didn't utter a single word; he didn’t need to. His pace never faltered, his gaze never wavered. When he finally reached me, Adrian wordlessly pinned me against the cool, unyielding stone wall, his lips desperately finding mine with a
*Lily*Too unsettled to remain in my bed, I tossed the covers aside and headed to my wardrobe to get changed. I couldn't stay cooped up in this suddenly too small of a room–not with the walls echoing my frantic thoughts, closing in on me as if they wanted to suffocate me. I needed air, some space to think—so I slipped on a pair of sandals and a loose dress, and made my way to a nearby coffee shop for a late breakfast.As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by a cheerful barista–a young woman with an easy smile that I envied at the moment. She nodded as I ordered a black coffee and a sandwich, her fingers dancing over the register.Securing a corner table by the window, I sipped the bitter coffee—its warmth sliding down my throat and my stomach, providing me with temporary comfort.My thoughts swirled as I grappled with the idea of confronting Adrian. Every logical sinew in me screamed that I should question him, especially since he had been so adamant about me digging into
*Lily*The cool night air did little to sober the heady buzz coursing through my veins as Adrian guided me towards his car—a sleek, predatory thing that seemed to crouch in the parking lot, waiting."Of course you'd have such a car," I mumbled, my words slurring just a touch as I traced the smooth line of the black hood with an unsteady finger. Adrian’s chuckle rumbled through the air as he opened the passenger door for me, his hand on the small of my back steady and warm."Watch your head," he cautioned, though it was unnecessary; my movements were surprisingly calculated for someone whose head was spinning. Adrian circled the vehicle and settled into the driver's seat, the door closing with a satisfying thud. He turned the key, and the engine purred to life. I was acutely aware of him—his every movement, every breath. After the dream I had with him this morning, being confined in the intimate space of his car felt like I was doing something really dangerous."So, what's the
*Lily*"Wait, Lily," Adrian murmured against my lips, pulling back ever so slightly, his breath still mingling with mine. "This isn't right—not here."Puzzlement knitted my brows together, even as my chest heaved with shallow breaths. His fingers lingered on my waist, a silent plea for understanding. "We should go somewhere more...appropriate," he added, eyes dark with desire but underscored by a surprising gentleness. "I don't want to do anything with you inside a car."I pondered his words and slowly nodded, his chivalry catching me off guard for a moment. I slid off his lap with a sense of loss, the chill of the leather seat beneath me stark against the heat of my body. "Okay," I whispered, grabbing my shirt and pulling it over my head, unsure if my voice trembled from the cold or from the sudden shift in tempo.Adrian looked to be struggling with his instincts the same way I was, and that was enough to make me more relaxed, even though my body was aching with need for more of
*Lily*My limbs felt heavy with an unfamiliar soreness when I woke up that morning. I reluctantly opened my eyes to find Adrian lying peacefully beside me, his chest rising and falling slowly.I was instantly burdened with regret. The sheets whispered against my skin as I shifted, the soft morning light casting a halo around his disheveled dark hair, those strands that always seemed to rebel against any attempt at order. I couldn't help but scold myself inwardly, chastising my lack of judgment for succumbing to a one-night stand. And not with just anyone, but with Adrian Sterling. But even as I berated myself, my gaze lingered over his features softened by sleep—so different from the sharp, calculated expressions he wore in the daylight. His beautiful blue eyes were hidden beneath closed lids, granting him an innocence that the waking world would never afford him. And despite the turmoil in my heart, I couldn't deny that he looked even more handsome now, stripped of his usual v
*Lily*Despite my best efforts to suppress my anxiety the next morning, it clung to me like a second skin as I stepped into the Bioethics and Medical Law Classroom. I had slept poorly, finally coming to a decision on what to do regarding Adrian. But that decision left my body exhausted and my mind grappling to focus on anything other than my feelings for him. Not to mention my bad mood that seemed to be worsening with each step I took.Yes, I came to terms with my heart. I was tired of pretending I didn't feel anything other than irritation and attraction for Adrian. After the time we spent together, I couldn’t deny there was something I felt for him, but I wouldn’t address that anymore. I could not feed that feeling anymore.Adrian was out of my reach. I shouldn’t expect anything more. There shouldn’t even have been a first time in the first place. Besides being afraid of being involved with someone from the Silver Wing, there was also the fact that Adrian had a bad boy reputa
*Adrian*"Hey, man, I'm gonna head out for a snack. You good here?" Kit's voice jolted me back to the present."Sure, take your time," I replied, barely glancing up from the monitor.The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me enveloped in a comfortable silence that settled over the editing room like a familiar blanket. My fingers danced across the keyboard, finalizing the edits on old projects that had been clamoring for completion since the end of the last semester.As the cursor blinked on the screen, awaiting further instruction, my mind began to drift – not to the looming deadline of the National Film Festival Submission but to Lily Everhart. Images of our sex night on Saturday seared through my thoughts, unwanted and unwelcome. The feel of her skin beneath my hands was a tactile sensation that refused to fade, igniting a trail of fire along my nerves. Her breathy moans rang in my ears like an intoxicating melody, and the taste of her still lingered on my tongue.It was an