Chapter Twenty-nine
Wounded pup
The lovely Grace Edwards had a beautiful pregnancy glow on her round face. Her high cheeks were stained pink as she eyed me with chocolate-brown eyes.
Adrian introduced us, but she didn’t extend her hand, and I didn’t offer mine.
“How are you, Adrian?” she asked in an angelic voice.
“I’m good.” His gaze fell to her expanding belly, and she rubbed it instinctively.
“Pregnancy agrees with you.” He admitted. “You look beautiful.”
Her eyes sparkled and she smiled. “I don’t feel it, but thank you. I just can’t wait to meet him.”
“A boy?” Adrian asked.
Grace and Zach both nodded.
Adrian swallowed hard and then shook his head. “I can’t do this.” He rejected and stalked off.
“Adrian, please.” She cried after him.
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
“This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.” She stated tearfully.
He turned and his eyes were dark. “How was it supposed to be, Grace?”
“We didn’t want this, Adrian.” Zach confessed. “It just happened. We can’t control these things.”
“That excuse might help you sleep at night, but it does nothing for me.” Adrian spat.
“It was just fate, Adrian.” Grace acknowledged.
“You believe that?” Adrian asked.
She nodded. “I do.”
He smiled but it wasn’t friendly. “That’s bullshit.” He contradicted.
“Adrian…” Zach was really trying to communicate with his brother.
“I have nothing more to say to you.” Adrian neared his brother and gritted his teeth. “You’re lucky I don’t break your jaw again.”
“If it will give you peace, do it.” Zach urged him.
Isabel came rushing forward.
This would end badly.
“Adrian, we should go.” I told him.
“Why can’t you be civil?” Isabel asked.
“You always took his side.” Adrian argued. “Why? Why can’t you for once agree that he fucked me?”
“Adrian…” She attempted.
“Forget it.” He rejected. “This is me being civil.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me away with him. We stormed away from the party toward the back of the house. My entourage followed, but I turned around and stopped short of placing my hands on Paul’s chest.
“I think we need a minute, guy,” I said.
“My name is Paul.” He frowned.
“Okay, Paul. Give us a minute or I will be forced to cause you pain, and I’m really trying to be a lady tonight.”
He opened his mouth to dispute, but Felix cautioned him. “Let them, Paul.” He ordered. “Give them their moment.”
I nodded a thank you and followed Adrian down the dark corridor.
He was leaning against the wall near the balcony doors. When I got close enough, he wrapped me in his arms and pinned me between his body and the wall.
With urgency, his mouth came down hard on mine. He claimed my tongue with ease and coaxed my body to melt into his.
His hands explored me – every inch of me. They moved from my waist up to my breasts where he snagged the fabric so his fingers could touch me. After a few moments of soft kneading, he took one in his mouth.
“Adrian…” I panted.
But he didn’t stop, and I wasn’t sure I wanted him to.
The caution inside me was drowned out by the rising pleasure of his mouth on my body.
The wolf inside me howled and panted. She wanted it. Wanted him. I wanted him.
I knotted my hands in his hair as his mouth came up to devour my lips. His hand trailed down to my thigh and caressed it. Then it slid closer and closer to my core until finally reaching its destination. He toyed with me briefly before entering the untouched territory. I gasped. His mouth hadn’t left mine. He licked my lips and then bit at them gently.
Expert fingers worked magical circles inside me. He groaned against my mouth. My wolf and I whimpered for more of his attention.
I tore his shirt open and ran my hands up and down his perfectly smooth chest.
“Touch me, Jade,” he whispered.
My hands reached for his pants. I unzipped them and let his straining muscle free. I groped it and squeezed it tightly in my palm. Adrian threw his head back and made a noise in his throat like a growl. My hands slid up and down against the smooth shaft while my hips pushed forward.
He tore off the silky thong I wore and tossed it aside. Then lifted me up against the wall. My heart beat a million miles a minute as my legs wrapped around his waist of their own accord.
I felt the tip of him tease me. I pulled him closer and anticipated the moment. But he stopped and grunted something.
“No.” I cried and pulled him by the collar of his shirt. “Don’t…”
“I can’t, Jade,” he said in a thick whisper.
He put me down.
I leaned against the wall for support because my legs had been weakened by his welcomed assault.
“I can’t do this to you. It would be for the wrong reasons and I’ve made too many mistakes this year.”
With that, he pulled away, buttoned his pants, and left me there to quiver.
After a breath or…maybe six, I gathered my pride and ruined undergarments off the floor and followed him.
My wolf hated me for refusing to bury ourselves deep inside her and feeling the warmth she had to offer. The feel of her hands on my body caused my spine to tingle. It took every ounce of control I had not toplunge myself into her. But I just can’t. I can’t make another bad decision. I was cautioned to stay away from her – I can’t risk it. He threatened my family. Even though my brother and I are at odds if something happened to him or his little growing family I’d never forgive myself. I needed a distraction. I leaped off the balcony and darted toward the forest.
Adrian