Sienna's POV

“You really don’t wanna play that game with me.”

The low warning in Adrian’s voice sent heat straight through my stomach.

God. The worst part was that i liked it.

Actually, no.

I loved it.

Because Adrian almost never lost composure.

He was always calm. Controlled.

Unreadable.

But right now?

That jealousy in his voice sounded dangerous.

And somehow that only made me want to push him further.

Probably a terrible idea.

Definitely a terrible idea.

Still;

I looked down at my phone slowly. “You’re jealous?”

Adrian’s jaw flexed immediately.

Oh my God.

He really was jealous.

A tiny thrill moved through me before I could stop it.

I tried not to smile.

Failed horribly.

“You look amused,” Adrian muttered.

“A little.”

His grip tightened around the steering wheel.

Rain streaked across the windshield while the inside of the car somehow kept getting hotter.

Or maybe that was just him.

“What’s funny?” he asked.

I leaned back slightly against the seat. “Nothing.”

“Sienna.”

That deep warning voice again.

Jesus Christ.

My thighs pressed together instinctively.

I could actually feel how wet I was becoming from this conversation alone and honestly that was becoming slightly humiliating.

No man should have this much effect on me.

Especially not Adrian.

Especially not my brother’s best friend.

“Why do you care?” I asked softly.

Then a heavy silence.

Adrian kept his eyes on the road.

He was too focused and controlled.

That alone told me everything.

Because men who didn’t care didn’t grip steering wheels that hard.

“Answer me,” I pushed.

His laugh was quiet.

“You really enjoy testing me.”

“Maybe I enjoy seeing you jealous.”

That did it.

The car suddenly slowed before Adrian turned sharply into an empty parking lot beside a closed building.

My heartbeat instantly spiked.

Oh my God.

The rain outside sounded louder now.

He parked roughly before finally looking at me fully.

And Jesus Christ.

That look nearly ruined me.

Dark. Frustrated. Hungry.

Like he was one wrong word away from snapping completely.

“You should stop talking,” he said quietly.

I swallowed hard.

“You’re the one who pulled into a parking lot.”

His eyes dropped briefly to my mouth before lifting back to my eyes again.

“You have any idea what you’re doing to me right now?”

The roughness in his voice sent heat flooding lower in my stomach immediately.

I tried to act unaffected.

Though I failed completely.

“Probably the same thing you’re doing to me.”

That silence again. But this one felt worse.

The tension inside the car became almost unbearable.

Adrian leaned back slightly in his seat, staring at me like he was trying to decide whether touching me was worth destroying his self-control.

I hoped it was.

God help me, I really hoped it was.

“You should not be talking to guys like Ryan,” Adrian said finally.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“He wants to fuck you.”

The bluntness of it made my stomach flip.

Heat spread across my face instantly.

“You don’t even know him.”

“I know men.”

His voice stayed calm.

“And I know exactly how they look at you.”

Something about the possessiveness in his tone made my pulse flutter dangerously.

I crossed my legs slowly, trying to relieve some of the pressure between my thighs.

Adrian noticed instantly.

His eyes dropped briefly before darkening even more.

The air inside the car suddenly felt too thick to breathe properly.

“Why are you acting like this?” I whispered.

His jaw tightened.

“You really wanna know?”

Yes.

God yes.

But suddenly I wasn’t feeling brave anymore.

Because Adrian looked dangerously close to losing control now.

And somehow that excited me more than it scared me.

“That depends,” I murmured softly.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“On what?”

“On whether you’re finally gonna admit this isn’t one-sided.”

That hit him hard.

I saw it immediately.

Something darker shifted in his expression.

The next few seconds happened slowly.

Painfully slowly.

Adrian reached toward me suddenly.

His fingers wrapped lightly around my jaw before tilting my face toward him.

My breath caught instantly.

Oh my God.

His hand felt warm against my skin.

Too warm.

Every nerve ending in my body came alive at once.

“You think I don’t know this is a problem?” he said quietly.

The deep roughness in his voice made my stomach tighten again.

“You think I haven’t spent years trying to ignore this?”

Years.

The word alone nearly destroyed me.

Years.

Adrian’s thumb brushed lightly against my jaw.

The tiny movement sent heat straight between my thighs.

Damn.

I was so turned on it almost hurt.

“Then stop ignoring it,” I whispered.

A dark look crossed his face instantly.

The kind that made my heartbeat stumble.

“Sienna.”

The warning in his voice barely registered.

Because all I could focus on now was how close he was.

How good his hand felt against my skin.

How badly I wanted him to kiss me already.

“You keep looking at me like that,” Adrian said slowly, “and eventually I’m gonna stop pretending I know how to behave around you.”

The words wrapped around me completely.

Warm. Dangerous. Filthy.

My breathing turned uneven.

“Maybe I don’t want you behaving.”

Jesus Christ.

Did I actually say that out loud?

Apparently yes.

Because Adrian went completely still.

The tension inside the car tightened instantly.

And then suddenly his hand slid from my jaw into my hair.

Enough to control and make heat explode low in my stomach.

A quiet breath escaped me before I could stop it.

His eyes darkened immediately at the sound.

“Fuck,” he muttered softly.

That single word nearly ruined me.

Because it sounded frustrated.

Like he was losing a fight with himself.

My fingers curled against the seat beneath me while his gaze stayed locked on my mouth.

Hungry.

God.

He looked hungry.

“You need to stop doing that,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“Looking at me like you want me to ruin your life.”

Heat flooded my face instantly because he was right.

That was exactly how I was looking at him.

And maybe the worst part?

I really did want that.

The realization should’ve terrified me.

Instead it made me wetter.

Adrian’s breathing changed slightly as if he noticed where my thoughts went.

Of course he noticed.

He always noticed everything.

His forehead rested lightly against mine suddenly.

My heart nearly stopped.

Oh my God.

We were so close now.

If either of us moved even slightly;

Our mouths would touch.

I could feel his breath against my lips.

Warm.

Slow.

Dangerously controlled.

“Tell me to stop,” Adrian murmured quietly.

I stared at him helplessly.

Because he sounded like a man hanging by a thread.

Like one wrong word would finally break whatever restraint he had left.

But I didn’t want him to stop.

That was the problem.

I wanted him worse every second.

My fingers slowly grabbed the front of his shirt.

His eyes closed briefly.

Like even that tiny touch affected him too much.

God.

I loved seeing him like this.

Loved knowing calm controlled Adrian Cross was completely losing his mind over me.

“Adrian,” I whispered softly.

His hand tightened slightly in my hair.

It was possessive.

The heat between my thighs became almost unbearable now.

“Jesus Christ, Sienna,” he muttered roughly against my mouth.

My lips parted automatically.

His breathing changed instantly at the sight.

And for one dangerous second;

I genuinely thought he was finally going to kiss me.

Then headlights flashed briefly across the parking lot.

Reality slammed back into the car immediately.

Adrian pulled away fast, dragging one rough hand down his face.

The loss of his body heat hit me instantly.

Hard.

He looked angry now.

Not at me.

At himself.

“That was a mistake,” he said quietly.

My chest tightened painfully.

“A mistake?”

His jaw flexed hard.

“You don’t understand what happens if Ethan finds out.”

The mention of my brother shattered the tension slightly.

But not enough.

Not nearly enough.

Because my body still ached for him.

Still wanted him.

“And what happens if he doesn’t?” I asked softly.

That question made Adrian look at me again.

Really look at me.

And the expression on his face almost stole my breath.

Because suddenly he looked less controlled than I had ever seen him before.

Like the only thing holding him back now was guilt.

Nothing else.

“You keep asking dangerous questions tonight,” he murmured.

Maybe.

But judging by the way he kept staring at my mouth;

He wanted dangerous answers too.

“You keep asking dangerous questions tonight.”

The way Adrian said it made heat slide low through my stomach all over again.

God.

I hated how affected I was by him.

No.

Another lie.

I loved it.

Loved the way his voice changed around me.

Loved the way he looked at me like he was constantly one second away from losing control.

But then he called this a mistake.

That part kept replaying in my head louder than everything else.

Mistake.

Like touching me was something he regretted already.

Like I was embarrassing him.

The thought hurt more than it should have.

Before I could stop myself, I reached for the car door.

Adrian noticed instantly.

“Where are you going?”

His voice sharpened immediately.

I looked away from him before answering. “Home.”

His jaw tightened. “Sienna.”

“You said this was a mistake, remember?”

The words came out colder than I expected.

Because my chest suddenly felt painfully tight.

For a second Adrian just stared at me.

Then I pushed the door open slightly.

Cold rain-scented air slipped inside the car instantly.

And suddenly Adrian grabbed my wrist.

My breath caught.

His hand was firm enough to stop me.

Firm enough to make heat flash through my stomach despite how angry I was trying to stay.

“Sienna,” he said quietly.

I looked down at his hand around my wrist.

Ah.

Even that tiny touch affected me too much.

“Let go of me.”

His grip tightened slightly instead.

It was desperate, and somehow that felt worse.

“Listen to me.”

I laughed softly.

A little bitter.

“No, actually I’m good.”

I tried pulling my hand free.

Adrian’s expression darkened immediately.

“You’re seriously gonna walk home in the middle of the rain because I pissed you off?”

“Yes.”

“Sienna.”

“You called it a mistake.”

The second the words left my mouth, something shifted in his face.

Like he finally realized why I was angry.

Not annoyed.

Hurt.

God.

I hated that he could probably see that.

“I didn’t mean you were a mistake,” Adrian said quietly.

I looked away toward the rain hitting the windshield. “Sure.”

His hand slid slowly from my wrist down into my palm before gripping my hand completely.

Warm. Large.

My pulse fluttered traitorously.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

Then silence.

Adrian leaned back slightly in his seat, dragging one rough hand through his dark hair.

Frustration covered his face now.

Good.

Maybe he deserved it.

“You really wanna do this right now?” he muttered.

“Yes.”

My answer came too fast.

His eyes lifted back to mine immediately.

And God.

That look almost weakened my anger completely.

Almost.

“You don’t get to touch me like that,” I whispered, “then suddenly act like you regret it.”

The tension inside the car became suffocating.

Adrian stared at me so intensely my stomach tightened again.

“I don’t regret touching you.”

The deep roughness in his voice made heat crawl down my spine.

Then why did that single sentence make my chest ache so badly?

“Could’ve fooled me.”

His jaw flexed hard.

“You think this is easy for me?”

I blinked.

“What?”

Adrian laughed once in frustration and disbelief.

“You think pulling away from you back there was easy?”

The anger inside me cracked slightly.

Just enough for heat to slip through again.

Damn him.

“You’re the one acting like this is some horrible thing,” I shot back.

“That’s because Ethan trusts me with you.”

“There it is.”

I pulled my hand from his immediately.

“My brother.”

“Sienna…”

“No, seriously,” I interrupted. “That’s all this is, right? You feel guilty because of Ethan.”

“That’s not all this is.”

The words came out instantly.

And something about how quickly he answered made my heartbeat stumble.

But I was still angry enough to push.

“Then what is it?”

Adrian went quiet again.

I hated that look right now. Hated how calm he suddenly became while my emotions were completely wrecked.

“I should take you home,” he said finally.

That did it.

Something inside me snapped.

“Oh my God.”

I grabbed the door handle again.

“This is exactly what I mean.”

“Sienna.”

“No, let me leave.”

“You’re not walking home.”

“I’ll call someone.”

“Who?”

The question came out sharp instantly.

Possessive.

My pulse jumped traitorously again.

“Maybe Ryan since apparently he wants to fuck me so bad.”

Ah, fuck that was a mistake.

The second those words left my mouth, Adrian’s expression changed completely.

Darkened.

His eyes locked onto mine so intensely it almost stole my breath.

“You really need to stop saying his name.”

The low warning in his voice sent heat flooding between my thighs again.

God.

This man was ruining my life.

I swallowed hard before forcing myself to open the door anyway.

Cold air rushed into the car.

Then suddenly Adrian grabbed my arm and pulled me back toward him.

Hard enough to make me gasp softly.

The door slammed shut again beside me.

And suddenly,I was too close to him. Way too close.

My heartbeat instantly turned violent.

Adrian’s hand stayed wrapped around my arm while his other hand braced against the seat beside my head.

Trapping me without fully trapping me. His breathing sounded heavier now. It was less controlled.

Well, good for him.

Because mine was completely ruined too.

“You think I’m scared of wanting you?” he asked quietly.

The roughness in his voice wrapped around me instantly.

I tried answering, but I failed completely.

Because Adrian looked furious now.

At himself.

At this situation.

At how badly he wanted me anyway.

“Adrian…”

“No,” he interrupted softly. “You wanna know what the problem is?”

His face moved closer slowly.

Painfully slowly.

Every nerve ending in my body lit up instantly.

“The problem is,” he murmured, “I don’t know how to want you a normal amount.”

My breath caught sharply.

Oh my God.

Heat exploded low in my stomach so hard it almost hurt.

The look in his eyes right now;

Jesus Christ.

He looked obsessed.

Hungry.

Like he was barely holding himself together anymore.

“I tried staying away from you,” he continued quietly. “Tried ignoring this.”

His thumb brushed lightly against my arm.

I shivered instantly.

“Didn’t work.”

The confession hit me directly in the chest.

And suddenly all my anger tangled dangerously with desire again.

Because Adrian sounded wrecked.

Like wanting me was destroying him too.

“You keep looking at me like that,” he muttered roughly.

“Like what?”

“Like you already know I’m fucked.”

My lips parted automatically.

His eyes dropped to them immediately.

The tension inside the car turned unbearable.

I could barely breathe anymore.

Adrian’s gaze stayed locked on my mouth while his grip on my arm tightened slightly.

God.

The heat between my thighs became almost unbearable again.

I hated how wet he made me from words alone.

“You keep pulling away,” I whispered shakily.

His jaw tightened.

“Because if I don’t…”

He stopped talking abruptly.

My pulse exploded.

“If you don't, what?”

Silence.

Then Adrian looked at me like he was finally done fighting himself.

Completely done.

And suddenly his hand slid into my hair again.

My breath caught instantly.

“You really wanna know?”

The deep roughness in his voice nearly ruined me.

I nodded before I could think better of it.

Big mistake.

Because Adrian snapped.

One second he was staring at my mouth.

The next;

His lips crashed into mine.

Hard.

Hungry.

Completely uncontrolled.

A shocked sound escaped me instantly.

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

Finally.

The kiss was nothing like I imagined.

Worse.

Better.

Dangerous.

God, I can't tell.

Adrian kissed me like he’d been holding himself back for too long and suddenly couldn’t anymore.

His hand tightened in my hair while the other pulled me closer against him.

Heat exploded through my entire body immediately.

I kissed him back without hesitation.

Couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to.

And judging by the rough sound Adrian made against my mouth;

That completely destroyed whatever control he had left.

The kiss deepened instantly.

Messy. Frustrated. Addictive.

My entire body felt overheated now.

Sensitive everywhere.

God.

I had wanted this for so long.

Adrian’s hand slid from my arm down to my waist before gripping tightly enough to pull another breathless sound from me.

His breathing turned rough immediately at the sound.

“Fuck,” he muttered against my mouth.

That single word nearly melted my brain.

Because he sounded affected.

Ruined.

Like kissing me was hitting him just as hard.

My fingers grabbed the front of his shirt desperately while his mouth moved against mine again slower this time.

But somehow even more dangerous.

Like now he was actually tasting me.

Learning me.

And judging by the way his grip tightened again…

Adrian liked what he found.

A lot.

My head spun when his forehead rested briefly against mine afterward.

Both of us were breathing hard but neither was speaking.

Rain poured outside the car loudly now.

But inside?

All I could hear was my own heartbeat.

And Adrian’s rough breathing against my mouth.

Then his thumb brushed softly across my swollen lips.

The look in his eyes nearly destroyed me completely.

Because now he didn’t look guilty anymore.

He looked addicted.

Adrian's POV

Kissing Sienna was a damn mistake.

Now I knew exactly how she tasted. And there was absolutely no way in hell I was surviving that knowledge peacefully.

The inside of the car felt too small now. Too hot.

Sienna sat beside me breathing slightly unevenly while rain hit the windows softly around us, and all I could think about was dragging her back into my lap and kissing her again.

Dangerous thoughts.

Very dangerous.

Especially because she looked completely unaffected right now.

Well.

Almost unaffected.

Her lips were swollen from me.

Cheeks flushed.

Hair slightly messy from my hands.

But somehow she still managed to look at me with that dangerous little expression like she knew exactly what she’d done to me.

That cocky look nearly pissed me off.

In the hottest way possible.

“You’re staring again,” Sienna murmured softly.

I leaned back against the seat slowly. “You’re smug now.”

One corner of her mouth lifted immediately.

“I think I earned it.”

Jesus Christ.

That confidence on her was going to ruin my fucking life.

“You really enjoying this?” I muttered.

“Yes.”

Too fast.

Too honest.

My jaw tightened.

Sienna tucked one leg slightly beneath herself as she turned toward me more fully in the seat.

The movement dragged my attention lower for one dangerous second before I forced myself to look back at her face.

Barely.

“You know what your problem is?” she asked quietly.

I laughed once. “Pretty sure I have several.”

“You act like you’re in control even when you’re clearly losing your mind.”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

Dangerous answer.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

That was the problem.

I was losing my fucking mind.

Over Ethan’s little sister.

A girl I was supposed to protect.

Ignore.

Stay the hell away from.

Instead I was sitting in a dark parking lot trying not to drag her on top of me again after kissing her like I’d been starving for it.

Which honestly?

I had been.

For years.

“You should stop looking so pleased with yourself,” I said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because it makes me wanna do something stupid again.”

The heat in her expression deepened instantly.

Fuck.

There it was again.

That look.

That soft dangerous look like she liked hearing me lose control over her.

Sienna shifted closer unconsciously.

Or maybe consciously.

Honestly I didn’t know anymore.

And I definitely didn’t trust her innocent act right now.

Not after the way she kissed me back.

Not after the sounds she made against my mouth.

Jesus Christ.

My self-control was hanging by a thread.

“You regret it?” she asked suddenly.

The question hit me immediately.

Not playful this time.

Real.

I looked at her properly.

And suddenly she didn’t look smug anymore.

She looked nervous.

Like my answer actually mattered to her.

That realization hit harder than expected.

“No,” I answered instantly.

Too instantly.

Sienna’s eyes searched mine quietly.

“Then why do you keep acting like the world is ending?”

I dragged one rough hand down my face slowly.

“Because your brother would probably kill me.”

That made her laugh softly.

And fuck.

I felt that laugh somewhere directly in my chest.

“He trusts you too much for that.”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Her expression softened slightly.

Then suddenly her fingers brushed lightly against my jaw.

My entire body went still instantly.

Jesus Christ.

That tiny touch affected me way too much.

“You know,” she murmured quietly, “you get scary when you’re jealous.”

I grabbed her wrist gently before she could pull away.

“Ryan still bothering you?”

Her eyes widened slightly.

Then she laughed again.

Warm.

Dangerous.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You’re still thinking about him.”

I stared at her blankly.

“Sienna.”

That only made her smile wider.

“You really hate him.”

“I don’t hate him.”

“You definitely hate him.”

“I hate the way he looks at you.”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Silence filled the car instantly afterward.

Shit.

Sienna stared at me for a second too long.

Like she wasn’t expecting honesty that direct.

Then slowly—

very slowly—

her thighs pressed together.

Fuck.

I noticed immediately.

Of course I did.

And judging by the way her cheeks heated slightly—

She realized I noticed too.

The tension inside the car thickened instantly.

“You notice everything, don’t you?” she whispered.

My eyes stayed on her for another second before I answered quietly,

“With you? Yeah.”

That look again.

That dangerous soft look she got whenever I stopped pretending.

I should’ve looked away.

Instead my hand slid from her wrist slowly upward along her arm.

Feeling her shiver beneath my touch instantly.

Jesus Christ.

“Sienna.”

The way her name came out rough made her breathing change immediately.

God.

This girl reacted to me so openly.

So honestly.

And it was becoming addictive in the worst possible way.

“You keep saying my name like that,” she whispered.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re trying not to do something.”

I laughed quietly.

“That obvious?”

“Yes.”

Her voice softened slightly.

“And I think you’re losing.”

That did something dangerous to me.

Something hot.

Because she sounded pleased about it.

Not scared.

Not hesitant.

Pleased.

I stared at her mouth again.

Big mistake.

Because now all I could think about was kissing her harder.

Slower.

Longer.

The memory of her breath catching against my lips flashed through my head instantly.

Fuck.

My restraint snapped dangerously low.

“Come here,” I muttered roughly.

Sienna blinked once.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Her heartbeat visibly quickened beneath the soft fabric of her shirt.

I watched it happen.

Watched her breathing shift.

And somehow that only made me want her closer.

Dangerous.

Very fucking dangerous.

Slowly, Sienna moved toward me across the seat.

Close enough now that I could smell her again.

Vanilla.

Rain.

And something dangerously feminine that was becoming permanently attached to my brain.

She stopped inches away.

Probably waiting for me to move first.

Smart girl.

I grabbed her waist immediately.

A soft surprised breath escaped her lips as I pulled her fully onto my lap.

Jesus Christ.

The second she landed against me, every rational thought in my head disappeared completely.

Warm.

She was so fucking warm.

Her eyes widened slightly while one of my hands tightened automatically against her waist to steady her.

“You really are losing your mind,” she whispered breathlessly.

“You noticed?”

Sienna tried hiding a smile.

Failed badly.

And somehow her sitting in my lap felt both incredibly wrong and way too natural at the same time.

My hands stayed firmly on her waist while she looked down at me with flushed cheeks and swollen lips.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Because now I understood exactly how easy it would be to become addicted to touching her.

The realization barely settled before my phone suddenly started ringing loudly through the car.

Reality crashed back instantly.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

Sienna burst into quiet laughter immediately.

And fuck.

Even laughing she still looked too pretty sitting on my lap.

The screen lit up against the dashboard.

ETHAN.

Of course.

Sienna looked at the screen.

Then at me.

Then her smile turned dangerous.

“Oh this is evil,” she whispered.

“Don’t start.”

“You answer it.”

I stared at her.

“You are literally sitting on me right now.”

“That sounds like a you problem.”

Jesus Christ.

I almost laughed despite myself.

Then Ethan kept calling.

I exhaled slowly before finally answering.

“What?”

“You sound annoyed,” Ethan said immediately.

“No shit.”

Sienna pressed her lips together hard trying not to laugh.

Traitor.

“Did you pick Sienna up already?” Ethan asked.

I looked down at the girl currently sitting in my lap trying not to smile.

“Unfortunately.”

Sienna immediately smacked my chest lightly.

Ethan laughed through the phone. “Sounds about right. She annoying you already?”

“You have no idea.”

Now Sienna was fully biting back laughter against my shoulder while I tried keeping my voice normal despite the fact that her thighs were pressed against me.

Dangerous fucking situation.

“Just bring her home before she starts a fight with somebody,” Ethan muttered.

“Working on it.”

“Cool. I’m ordering food.”

The call ended a second later.

Silence immediately filled the car again.

Then Sienna looked up at me innocently.

“You called me annoying?”

I stared at her for a second.

“You’re sitting in my lap while I talk to your brother on the phone.”

Her cheeks turned pink instantly.

“Still,” she muttered.

My hands tightened slightly on her waist.

“Still what?”

“That was rude.”

I laughed quietly despite myself.

And honestly?

That was probably the real problem.

I was starting to enjoy this way too much.