Skin and Secrets

THE INN -PART TWO

Continuation

At 3 AM, Nina woke.

Adrian was asleep beside her, his face soft, younger somehow. She watched him for a long time.

She thought about Vanessa. About the jade necklace. About her mother's grave, cold and quiet, waiting for a daughter who never came.

She thought about the plan.

Destroy Vanessa's marriage. Make her pay. Make her suffer the way you suffered.

But lying here, in this bed, in this man's arms — the plan felt like a betrayal. Not of Vanessa. Of Adrian.

He had given her something she didn't expect. Not just pleasure — trust. He had opened himself to her in ways he probably hadn't opened himself to anyone in years.

And she was lying to him.

You have to tell him, a voice whispered. You have to tell him who you really are.

But not tonight.

Tonight, she would pretend.

She curled against him, closed her eyes, and let herself fall asleep to the sound of his breathing.

---

Morning came slowly.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains. The lake was silver and still. Nina woke to the smell of coffee.

Adrian was sitting in the window seat, a mug in his hands, wearing only his jeans. His back was to her. She watched the muscles move beneath his skin as he raised the mug to his lips.

"Good morning," she said.

He turned. Smiled. It was a different smile than the one he wore at the office — softer, unguarded.

"Good morning."

She sat up, holding the sheet to her chest. "How long have you been awake?"

"An hour. I didn't want to wake you."

"You should have."

He set down the mug and walked to the bed. Sat beside her. Pushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Last night," he said.

"What about it?"

"I meant what I said. I don't regret it."

She looked at him. At the gray in his hair, the lines around his eyes, the small scar on his chin she had never noticed before.

"Neither do I," she said.

He kissed her. Slow. Sweet. A promise.

They stayed in bed until noon.

---

The drive back to the city was different.

They held hands across the console. He played music — something old, something soft. She watched the trees blur past the window and tried not to think about what came next.

"Adrian."

"Mm?"

"What happens now?"

He was quiet for a moment. "I don't know."

"Are we going to keep pretending?"

"At work? Yes. We have to."

"And outside of work?"

He glanced at her. His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand.

"I don't want to pretend anymore," he said. "Not with you."

She squeezed his hand. "Then don't."

---

He dropped her at her apartment at 6 PM.

The sun was setting. The sky was pink and orange and purple. They sat in the car for a long time, not speaking, just holding hands.

"I don't want to go inside," she said.

"Then don't."

"I have to."

"I know."

He leaned over and kissed her. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow," she agreed.

She got out of the car and walked to her door. She didn't look back. If she looked back, she would run to him. And if she ran to him, she would never stop.

Inside her apartment, she leaned against the door and closed her eyes.

Her phone buzzed.

Adrian: I miss you already.

She smiled through the tears.

Nina: I miss you too.

She set the phone down and looked at her mother's photograph.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

She wasn't sure if she was apologizing to her mother or to Adrian.

Maybe both.

---