Adriana’s POVMorning light poured through the curtains, golden and soft, spilling over the tangled sheets and the warm body beside me. I stirred slowly, comforted by the weight of Hunter’s arm draped across my waist, anchoring me in a rare sense of calm.His chest rose and fell steadily against my back, bare skin pressed to mine. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel like a prisoner in his world. Not entirely. Not this morning.His lips brushed lazily against my shoulder. “You’re awake.”I turned to face him, blinking up at his blueish-gray eyes. “Barely.”“I’ve got news.” He stretched, muscles shifting beneath his skin. “Blade’s getting married.”I blinked. “Blade? The one with the tattoos on his neck?”“The very one,” he said with a smirk. “His girl finally said yes. The wedding’s tonight. He wants the whole crew there.”“You going?”“I don’t do weddings,” he muttered, swinging his legs out of bed.I pushed myself upright. “But he’s your guy. Won’t it look bad if you don
⚠️ Reader Warning: This chapter contains mature, intimate content (18+). Please read with discretion. ⚠️Adriana’s POVThe steam from the shower curled around us, wrapping the space in warmth and shadow. He stepped in first, then held a hand out for me. I took it.Under the cascade of water, everything softened: the tension, the pain, the weight of what we were to each other. Hunter reached for a bottle of body wash, poured it into his palm, and began to run his hands over my shoulders, my back, my arms slowly, reverently, as though this was worship, not cleansing.My breath caught. “You’re… gentle.”“Only when you let me be,” he murmured, mouth close to my ear.His hands moved lower, down the curve of my waist, over my hips, behind me. Not just cleaning. Exploring. Claiming.We were skin to skin, pressed against each other beneath the water, every breath laced with heat and restraint. Until restraint shattered.And then, he touched me like he meant to undo every wall I’d built.“You
Adriana’s POVThe sun poured through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the polished floors of the room. I blinked against the light, groaning softly as I turned in the massive bed, the silk sheets tangled around my legs. My body was sore in the best way, a quiet reminder of how the night had ended wrapped up in Hunter’s arms, his skin on mine, his mouth trailing lazy kisses across my shoulder until I fell asleep.He wasn’t in bed now.I sat up, pushing my hair back, and the scent of coffee hit me before the door creaked open. Hunter stepped inside, shirtless and freshly showered, his damp hair curling slightly at the ends. A black towel hung low on his hips, and the tattoos on his chest gleamed in the soft light.“Good morning, trouble,” he said with a crooked smirk, setting a tray of breakfast down on the small table near the window.I blinked again, trying to shake the distraction of how good he looked first thing in the morning. “You brought breakfast?”He shrugged, tos
Adriana’s POVThe night had settled softly over the estate, blanketing everything in silence except for the quiet thrum of my thoughts. I sat curled on the velvet chaise in the corner of the room, my knees drawn to my chest, Hunter’s hoodie drowning my frame in warmth and a scent that had somehow become comforting.The door creaked open. I didn’t look up right away. I didn’t have to.“You’re still awake?” came his voice, low and steady, but laced with something I couldn’t quite name. Not command. Not irritation. Something quieter.I nodded.He didn’t say anything else as he crossed the room. The space beside me dipped under his weight. I felt the heat of him, but he didn’t touch me. Not yet.“I didn’t know how old you were,” I said after a moment, turning my head to glance at him. “But I figured you weren’t exactly twenty-two.”He chuckled dry, but real. “I’m twenty-eight.”There was a pause.“You said that like it means something,” I murmured.“It does,” he replied, his voice almost
Adriana's POVHunter pushed me up against the wall, pushing his knee between my legs as he licked into my mouth, his hands were underneath my skirt and my entire body was shaking, with the need, with the want, with the tingles. I could feel him pressed against me, felt his hard on pressing against me and I wanted him. Tonight, it was just going to be us with a little bit of spice, because that's just who we are. He was licking into my mouth, my arms around his neck, fingers pushing into his hair as we kissed and kissed. Each brush of our tongue sent sparks through my body. I slipped my hands down his shirt, nails dragging down his chest as we kissed. I slipped my hands underneath his shirt, feeling the warm skin underneath. This man. He breaks the kiss, locking his gaze with mine as he pulled his shirt over his head. I watched him do this and it felt like it happened in slow motion, it made my mouth water as I took him in. He looked so good, muscles in the right places and his abs,
Adriana’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I blinked awake slowly, my heart already pounding before I even fully remembered why.Hunter’s mother was coming.The very thought made my stomach churn with nerves. I sat up quietly, careful not to wake him, but Hunter was already stirring behind me. I felt his hand brush my lower back gently as he mumbled, “You okay?”“No,” I whispered, hugging my knees to my chest. “Your mom’s going to be here soon.”He sat up beside me, running a hand through his tousled hair. “She won’t hurt you, Adriana.”“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I turned to face him. “I’m worried she’ll look at me and see a debt. A mistake. An outsider.”Hunter’s jaw clenched. “She might. But she’s also smart. She’ll see the truth eventually.”I sighed, nodding, though nothing inside me felt settled. He kissed the side of my head gently. “Go take a shower. I’ll make sure everything’s ready.”⸻By late morning, the en