Temptation

The eyes that once sparkled brightly after seeing her writhing in pain were now doused in concern. For the first time in his life, Adrian was worried for the girl whose mere existence was enough to set his soul on fire.

After injuring Noah most atrociously, Adrian looked down at the petrified girl, only to find him staring at him in shock and horror. His punch was lethal, but what he did next was much more brutal, as Noah ended up colliding with a wall, which cracked his skull open.

Claire had never seen Adrian act this violently before. The girl was terrified to the bone, evident to Adrian.

His gaze slowly dropped down to her tear-soaked cheeks.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice soft and demeanour polite, leaving Claire confounded.

What happened to him all of a sudden?

Not getting a response, he removed his hands and gently cupped her chin. The moment his hands contacted her skin, Claire jerked as the alarm in her mind went off.

"Move away." Gritting her teeth, she pushed him and looked back at Noah, who was sprawled on the floor. Blood was dripping from his head and mouth as Adrian had broken his jaw, too, but even in his wounded state, his cold and calculative gaze was riveted on Adrian and Claire, trying to figure them out.

But Claire couldn't notice the ire in his eyes as she tried to run towards him because, no matter what, she still considered him a friend. The girl had hardly taken a few steps forward when her right forearm was grabbed, and she was pulled back firmly.

"Adrian," Claire shouted as she glowered at Adrian, who was now staring at her sternly. She wiggled, but he simply tightened his hold and pressed her figure closer.

"Ompf. What are you doing, Adrian? Leave me," she tried to peel his fingers off him. Frustration laced her features as she looked at him angrily.

"You're hurting me."

"I won't if you listen to me."

He retorted, making Claire fly off the handle.

"My foot. I didn't ask for your help. This is my personal matter. You don't have any right to- Ahhh!!"

Her eyes widened to the size of saucers when her brown eyes clashed with his molten grey balls that resembled pits of inferno. His countenance turned rigid and furious. His jaw instantly locked tight as he didn't appreciate her telling him not to pry into her 'personal matters.'

Personal Matters...

Noah.

Claire gasped when he suddenly snaked his arm around her waist and yanked her close. Her hands automatically flew to hold his shoulders for support. Panic seized her as he easily overpowered her small frame. His hot breath fanned her lips as he angled her face up by holding her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"Never. I repeat, never say this again." his raucous voice was cold. Warning lingered in his tone as he moved closer; their noses touched. Claire let out a shuddering breath as she stared at her reflection in his beautiful eyes.

"Nothing's personal between us, Cherry." He rasped near her mouth, making her eyes flutter in response.

His endearment caused her heart to gallop inside her chest. His fingers slid from her chin to her jaw as he grabbed her face softly and gazed down at her.

Claire couldn't breathe, think, or move. Her mind had turned blank. The anger swirling in his eyes betrayed the love his actions carried. He was angry, yet he was being gentle. But the question was, why?

How in the world did his personality take a 360-degree turn in one night?

"A-Adrian," Claire worked her dry throat as she looked away, unable to match his intense gaze and tried to move back, "Leave me."

"I will, but first we need to get your eyes checked."

His words caught her by surprise, "What?"

"Yeah. The eye drops you are using aren't effective at all, and if you prolong their use, they will cause more damage than they cure. But don't worry, I had booked an appointment. We need to leave." He continued nonchalantly.

"What is the matter with you?"

Claire couldn't hold back her annoyance anymore. Gathering all her strength, she pushed him back, making him stagger. She succeeded in getting out of his grip and hollered at him.

"I slapped you yesterday, remember? I even insulted you and poured ketchup all over your head. And after humiliating you to my heart's content, I quit the job. Instead of hating me, you are trying to heal me. Did you hit your head somewhere, or is this one of your sick games you are trying to play with me?" She sneered.

Claire wasn't a fool who wouldn't catch his act. But she hadn't expected Adrian to stay so calm and composed. He wasn't a bit fazed by her outburst as he watched her with a solemn expression marring his face.

"We are getting late. Let's go," he spoke coldly, ignoring her words and advancing towards her.

"I wouldn't go anywhere with you unless you answer my question."

"I am not liable to answer your nonsense," Adrian seethed, controlling his temper and attempting to hold her hand.

"And I am not liable to act as per your wishes." Claire gritted her teeth, but terror mounted in her when Adrian suddenly leapt forward and pinned her against the wall. She moaned in pain as she felt her back on fire.

"You have to unless you want to see him dead." He rasped and flashed her a devious smirk.

Long gone were the clouds of concern; his eyes were shining with the same streaks of ruthlessness he was known for. Claire knew from the start that it was all an act. Obviously, how can a leopard hide its spots so easily?

But this time, she couldn't help but feel a bit sad. She confirmed it was a pretence, but she herself didn't know why his concern for her stirred a warm feeling inside her heart. A feeling she had least expected from her bully, but the way he looked at her fondly, the care and worry his gaze carried, softened her heart.

But how can she forget that he was a monster who relished her pain? She shouldn't attach feelings to someone who wasn't capable of being called a human.

Letting out a dry chuckle, she spoke, "What happened? You got fed up way too soon, so you decided to end your drama."

Adrian's smirk slipped as he caught the tinge of sadness hiding behind her mockery. He was astounded. He had never thought that apart from hatred and disgust, he was capable of making her upset.

The wheels in his mind turned.

Sadness equals attachment. He was her bully, but also a boy who stayed in her mind 24/7 and managed to spend almost an entire day with her. Claire might lie, but all her memories start and end with Adrian. Obviously, they are all bad, but she can't deny that ever since he entered her life, he has ingrained himself in every chapter of her life.

A sickening smile ghosted on his lips when he realised something.

Claire, who was lost in mourning over her miseries, flinched when he felt his hand cradling the left side of his face. Repulsed, she immediately tried to move away when he placed his hand beside her head, thwarting her movement and cupped her cheek, making her look into his eyes.

But her vision slowly turned foggy. She blinked as her eyes had started to ache. She was already having trouble, and Noah's and Adrian's mishandling of her only made her injury worse.

"Mmff. Leave; it's hurting." Claire closed her eyes and started struggling when she felt his thumbs drawing circles over her eyelids. Cupping her face, he gently stroked them, trying to soothe her, but it only made her queasy.

"What are you-"

"Sshh", Adrian cut her off, and before she could understand, he bent and swooped her up in his arms.

"Hey, wait!! No, put me down, Adrian!!" Claire screamed and flailed her arms, but he carried her in bridal style and exited the hallway while Noah watched them with burning eyes.

*****

"Thanks, brother. We will take our leave now."

Claire bit back a scoff at the sight of Adrian expressing gratitude towards the doctor, who smiled warmly at him. He forcefully brought her to the hospital, got her treated and even bought medicines for her. He was acting like a caring friend for no reason. She had her eyes closed from the drops, but she could hear them talking and exchanging pleasantries.

Soon, she heard footsteps approaching her. The bed creaked as he deliberately placed his palms beside her arm, hunching forward, making her clench her fists tight as the fragrance of his expensive cologne suffocated her.

"You can open your eyes now. But Doc says you should not put too much strain on yourself and need a lot of rest today. So, I would drop you off at home. You don't need to attend the university." He conveyed this in his extremely sweet tone, making her gag in response.

Claire slowly opened her eyes, only to find a palm shielding her view.

"Wait a minute." The lights were dimmed instantly so she could adjust to the light. Blinking her eyes, she found him removing his palm, and soon his beaming face came into her sight.

"You can open them now."

Claire didn't reply and slowly got up.

"Easy, love," Adrian whispered sensually as he placed a pillow behind her, making sure she was comfortable. His mollycoddling peeved her to no extent. Claire didn't look at him. She was annoyed and irritated to the core. His actions were making no sense to her.

Adrian smirked, watching her fuming silently. Enjoying her silence, he inched closer to her face, making her quickly turn her head to the side.

He chuckled, "Dodging me. Claire Bennett, you are being so mean to a guy who has been nothing but kind to you since this morning."

"I never asked for your kindness in the first place," Claire shot back, her temper flaring. How much she wished to bang his head on the wall and tie him to the same bed on which she was sitting helplessly right now.

She flinched, feeling him suddenly crowd in on her. Incensed, Claire immediately placed his hands on his chest and turned to glare at him, but gasped in shock when her nose collided with his. Their faces came dangerously close, so much so that they both started breathing in the same air.

She could feel her heart thumping inside her chest. Blood rushed to her cheeks as he was insanely handsome. His steely grey irises held her innocent brown eyes captive, forcing her not to stray away as he memorised her features. Just like her, Adrian was also battling a storm inside his heart after watching her from this close.

Her lips quivered in anticipation, catching his attention. His gaze immediately zeroed in on those pink heart-shaped petals that were trembling.

The seam of her lips was cracked. A chill ran down her spine when Adrian tilted his head; his gaze was still fixated on her lips as he scrutinised them.

"Your lips are dry."

Goosebumps ran all over her body as his voice suddenly turned deep and hoarse. The air in the room turned chilly as the tension tightened. The dim lights did no justice either. Claire shuddered. She could feel his restraint against her palms that were resting against his sturdy chest.

While she was completely conscious, Adrian drifted off in a heavenly daze.

"So beautiful," he murmured, but it was audible enough for Claire, who paled in response.

Beneath that puff jacket, he could feel the heat in his body rising, and Claire could feel it pricking her skin like needles. She caught a tinge of a raw and primal hunger in those grey pools. The hair on her nape rose in fright.

No, this needed to be stopped.

"Adr-" Her pupils dilated in fear. She instantly clamped her mouth when their lips brushed against each other.

Both of them froze. Claire hadn't planned on doing this. She was trying to talk some sense into him as he was leaning so close. Dread seeped into her veins when she found him staring at her in shock.

'What had she done?'

"S-Sorry. I am extremely sorry. I..." tears of humiliation and embarrassment circled her eyes. She tried pushing him back when Adrian suddenly charged forward. Grabbing her wrists harshly, he hovered over her by pushing her back on the bed and pinned her hands on top of her head.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

"What are you- mmpfff!!!"

A scream tore through her lips, which he swallowed as he captured her lips in his mouth.