Boundaries.. Yes

Lina’s POV

I appreciated motivations. They helped me get things done faster.

Life was a great motivator, too. It usually urged me forward using simple things like goals or words. But now, Riven had joined the mix.

I needed no one to tell me that my new stepbrother was a devil. A real one. And he ruled LA. Not subtly, but fucking openly. He cut off the hands of that jerk at college without any consequences at all. The LAPD came, but they did absolutely nothing.

Riven ruled this hell, and I was going to get out of it.

How? Simple. I’d find his watch, file for an internship in another country, and leave.

So, as I stepped into the hotel club, I felt determined. Our very first encounter happened here, and he lost his watch right after. I hoped I might find some clues.

Unsurprisingly, the club pulsated with life. Through the heavy bass that thrummed in my chest, I slipped between dancing bodies. Soon, I slid onto a high stool in front of the counter.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, throwing a look my way.

My throat moved as I glanced at the stacks of drinks on the shelves. I knew better than to take a sip of anything. I needed to keep a clear head to find this watch.

“Riven Rykerthrone. He comes here a lot, doesn’t he?” I went straight to business.

The bartender’s face fell before he snickered and leaned in. “Y’know, asking about The Grim Reaper himself isn’t wise.” He cocked his head.

It took me a second to process his words. Riven wasn’t just anyone in LA. I’d heard and seen his brutality, and now I wondered, Just how did I get entangled with The Grim Reaper?

“Fuck my life,” I mumbled, driving my fingers through my brown hair.

The bartender stepped back, and shortly after, a glass of whiskey sat in front of me. “Here.”

I glanced at the glowing brown liquid. Truly, I felt tempted to gulp it down. There was nothing better than alcohol when it came to forgetting shit. But as I reached for it...

“Adelina.”

My outstretched fingers froze midair. That baritone voice could only belong to one person. One man. One fucking ex.

“Adelina,” the voice cut through the club noise again.

I turned to the side, and my eyes were cursed for the second time today. His tousled platinum-blonde hair and lip piercing were unmistakable. Our gazes collided. Our worlds were about to, too, because he started walking right toward me.

Hell no.

“Adelina!”

Without thinking, I jumped down from the stool and bolted. My hands reached for the railing once I hit a flight of stairs. Why was Princeton here?

The frantic pounding of my heart blocked out every noise, even his loud shouts behind me. I burst into a quiet hallway, and my attention fell on a door that was slightly open. I went straight for it.

“Adelina, please!”

I didn’t stop. The open door seemed like a gateway to safety, so I reached for the knob and dove right in.

But after I slammed the door shut and backed against it, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. I was in a literal hell because the devil himself stood right in front of me.

The shirtless, loosely towel-wearing devil stood there. Water dripped from his wet hair, framing his face. Even then, I could still see the dark amusement in those blue eyes.

“Are you tipsy, Miss Tequila?” he spoke, and God... I was screwed.

My thumping heart failed to block out the smooth taunt in his tone.

“Or did you miss me?” Riven chuckled, tilting his head.

The lights of the room seemed to highlight his chiseled body. I scrunched my nose at the sight. To think his body looked this clean while his soul was so incredibly dirty.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I mumbled, pressing myself harder against the wood of the door.

I hated this. I resented it. I couldn’t go out because Princeton, a certified asshole, would see me. But I couldn't stay here either.

“I’m never ridiculous, love.” Riven took a step forward, and my breath turned shallow.

“Oh, please. Unfortunately, I’ve known you for less than twenty-four hours, and you’re a psychopath!” I yelled, my voice dripping with anger. My grip on the doorknob turned so tight my skin went pale, but I didn’t care. “You’re crazy, Riven. Absolutely mad. Once I find your watch, I’m getting outta here,” I added fiercely.

Still, he seemed completely unaffected and kept coming closer.

“You’ve traumatized me.” My voice shook a bit, growing softer. The space between me and this madman shrunk to nothing. “You... suffocate me.”

Riven truly did as he stood barely an inch away. His large shadow completely blocked the light, and for once, I didn’t hate being tall.

“I don’t feel safe anywhere. Not at the mansion. Not even at college. And now—”

“Now,” he cut me off expectantly, leaning closer. Too close.

“You’re my goddamn stepbrother. You know this, so let’s set boundaries,” I whispered, as if speaking of something forbidden. It was a request that should have been normal, sane, and logical.

But as Riven lifted a hand and grabbed my chin, I stared into his eyes. They belonged to someone abnormal, insane, and completely illogical.

“You begged me to use you. You begged to be mine. Remember?”

My breath caught. My body instinctively wanted to pull away as he snaked a hand around my waist, pulling me right against him.

“I—” The words got stuck in my throat.

“Adelina!” Princeton’s voice suddenly boomed from the hallway.

My eyes went wide, and I shoved my hand straight against Riven’s bare chest. I took advantage of the tiny bit of space, turned around, and pulled the doorknob, wanting to dash out. An asshole ex was better than a devil, right?

“Get away from me,” I gasped.

But Riven didn’t. In fact, he did something much worse.

Riven’s hold on my waist didn’t waver. His grip tightened, and his other hand moved up to the side of my neck. He held me firmly, pressing my back right against his hard chest. My lower back pressed directly into his lap.

A sharp breath escaped my lips as the heavy thuds of boots drew closer outside. The sound stopped completely as Princeton appeared in the open doorway.

I watched Princeton's face turn white as a ghost, his arms dangling lifelessly at his sides. I couldn't blame him. Who wouldn't be stunned at the sight of their ex being held up... like this?

“Prince—”

“As you can see,” Riven’s cool voice cut me off, freezing my tongue. I went completely quiet as he leaned down, his warm breath hitting the side of my neck. “She’s busy.”

He glared right at Princeton.

“Now shoo.”