Damien Doukas’s POV
“Stop it!”
I raised an eyebrow at her flushed face. “What did I do Adrianna dear?”
“Stop looking at me like you want to eat me!” She hissed, and I grinned.
“What if I do want to eat you?” I raked my eyes over her body. “And I have to say you look absolutely lovely when you’re furious.”
Adrianna blinked before flushing and then narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m not furious. I’m frustrated. There is a difference.”
I grinned rakishly. “Well, that’s something we have in common. I’m frustrated beyond belief, my love. I’m sure both of us could relieve our frustrations together. Would you be interested?”
Adrianna frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
I smirked and raked my eyes down her body, and she gasped in horror, her cheeks turning a darker shade of red which I had not thought was possible. “Not that! Absolutely not that! I was frustrated with your horrid attitude!” I burst out laughing. “You’re such an innocent, my darling, Adrianna.”
I grinned at her, and she scowled at me. “Quit calling me your darling. So is it gold or silver?”
“I say blue.” I stretched my feet onto the ottoman and smiled at Adrianna. She avoided my gaze. “Blue is not even an option for the tablecloths.”
“I still say blue. Trevor is a boy, no? Boys like blue,” I said.
Adrianna frowned and turned to her lists. “The flowers can be blue, but the decorations must be in gold. Olivia’s grandparents are like almost Spanish royalty,” she continued looking down at her list. It was obvious she didn’t want to look at me.
But I wanted her to look at me with those beautiful green eyes. “I still think blue is better,” I said. I knew Adrianna had little to no patience, and immediately, her eyes looked upwards to me and sighed in exasperation. “I told you, blue is not allowed. I have met with Olivia’s grandparents, and blue is certainly not one of the colors that is appropriate!”
I smirked. “I know. You keep repeating yourself many times, my darling.”
Her face flushed, and she was about to snap at me until she composed herself. She took a deep breath and said calmly, “Well, perhaps, I need to speak louder so you can hear me clearly and I do not have to repeat myself.”
I frowned. I wanted her to shout, flare up so I could kiss her quiet. I had imagined kissing her many times, but I never seemed to be alone with her. She was avoiding me I could tell. Again, my eyes drifted to the engagement ring that was attached to her necklace. I scowled. Was Adrianna already engaged? No, she would have worn it proudly on her finger.
A sigh caught my attention, and my eyes snapped towards her. Adrianna was leaning back onto the sofa her eyes shut, and her body was stretching. She was wearing a peach-colored blouse with a black skirt, and her hair was a tangle of brown curls surrounding her face.
She was beautiful.
Lust clenched her fist around me, and I groaned inwardly. I wanted her so badly. It was killing me. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly in my life. I stood up and held a hand out, “Come, Adrianna dear, let’s go get a break.”
She eyed me warily, and I grinned charmingly hoping that she would be like the rest who would fall at my feet so I could get over this silly obsession I had with her. “I promise I will behave.”
As expected she stared at my outstretched hand, hesitating. “You will behave, would you not?” she asked warily. I smirked. “Of course.”
Funny, it seemed she didn’t want me as I wanted her. Adrianna saw my smirk, and immediately, she was on her guard, she started shaking her head, “No. I will stay here, you are free to go and pick up a woman to sleep with or something.”
I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want anyone else but her. An idea struck me, and I grinned wickedly, picked her up and carried her over my shoulder. And like the hellion she was, she started struggling and hitting me. “Put me down, Damien Doukas! Put me down, you awful crazy brute!”
I smirked and placed her in my car. “Adrianna love, I’m not crazy.” If looks could kill, I would have been stabbed with a knife about a hundred times already.
“Damien, I would like to be let out of this car please,” she said angrily. Even when she was furious, she was still polite. Her hands were clenched in delicate fists, and I grinned. “Safety is important.” I reached over to pull the safety belt over her chest, and she growled at me. “I can do it on my own just fine!”
I laughed and started the car before driving off.
***
“Maybe, this is a good idea,” Adrianna admitted as we strolled along the park with sandwiches in our hands. I grinned at her. “Of course, I’m full of good ideas.”
She rolled her eyes before taking a delicate mouthful of her sandwich. “One day, your ego is going to make your future wife want to slap the life out of you.” I snorted. “Who ever said I’m getting married?”
Adrianna glanced at me and shrugged. “Don’t you want children or a family you can depend on; a wife you can lean on for support, children who will kiss you good night on the cheek, who will love you even though you think you don’t deserve them?” I stopped and frowned.
“Well, of course. But not now, I’m still not ready to settle down.”
My stomach twisted, and suddenly, I wanted the image of the family she had painted out for me.
Adrianna didn’t respond but remained silent as she stared out emptily, her hand clutching the darned necklace again.
“So are you engaged or something?” I asked curiously. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to know everything about this woman in front of me. And I waited anxiously for her answer.
A shadow passed her emerald green eyes. “No.”
My heart leaped, and I grinned. “So what’s with the ring around your necklace?”
Immediately, her face shut down, and I could sense her shutting herself from me. “I was engaged,” she said quietly before walking away quickly.
I frowned, not liking the fact that Adrianna had loved somebody and agreed to marry him. My fists clenched, and I ran to catch up with her. “Wait, what?”
She bit her lip before shaking her head. “Please drop it.” I opened my mouth to argue but noticed her demeanor and dropped it. She was withdrawn, her blue eyes empty and sad. She was hauntingly beautiful.
“So when do you wanna arrange for the gold table cloths?” I asked as I changed the subject. She seemed surprised that I had agreed to do so. Did she think that low of me? I frowned. I was curious, and hell, I was annoyed.
Who was she engaged to? Where was he? Did he leave her? Did she love him? I scowled at myself. Why the hell was I thinking about this?
The image of Adrianna with some guy was making my stomach twist uncomfortably. I grimaced and shoved the thought away in my mind. Why did I care?
“Okay, great. Let’s head back,” Adrianna said watching me warily before walking off.
Since like my dear Adrianna has too many secrets. I shifted my jaw and frowned. I was going to uncover them.