His Reluctant Temptation

The Chase

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Selene’s heart pounded, a sharp contrast to the calculated calm she forced onto her face. Adrian stood in the doorway like he belonged there—like he had been waiting for this moment.

Her fingers clenched around the strap of her heels. “You need to leave.”

Adrian took a slow, measured step forward, the distance between them shrinking. His stormy gray eyes flicked to the bed, where Eric still lay, oblivious, tangled in the sheets. His jaw tightened just slightly, but the smirk on his lips remained.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” he said, voice low, deliberate. “Not when we both know you don’t want me to leave.”

Selene exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay composed. “And what exactly do you think you’re doing here? Breaking into my suite?”

Adrian tilted his head, a slow, knowing smile playing on his lips. “I own this hotel. I didn’t break into anything.”

Of course, he did.

Selene swallowed, her throat dry. She hated the way her body betrayed her, how just standing in the same space as him felt like an electric current running through her veins, setting her on edge in ways no one else ever had.

She turned away, snatching her clutch from the nightstand. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Then make time.”

The authority in his voice made her fingers pause. Before she could move, Adrian’s hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her. His touch burned—too familiar, too dangerous.

She spun to face him, trying to shake him off. “Let go.”

His grip was firm but not forceful, his thumb grazing the inside of her wrist, sending a shiver down her spine. “Is this what it’s come to, Selene?” he murmured. “Sleeping with strangers to prove a point?”

Her chest tightened. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Adrian studied her for a long moment, his gaze dissecting her, peeling her apart like he could see right through her walls. Then, his lips curled into something darker. “No, you don’t. But let me give you one instead.”

Before she could react, he pulled her closer—so close that she could feel his breath against her skin.

“You can pretend all you want,” he said, voice dangerously soft, “but we both know why you’re really here. Why you keep trying so hard to drown your thoughts.” His fingers brushed against her jaw, tilting her chin up. “Because you want me, Selene. And it’s driving you insane.”

Her breath hitched, a sharp inhale she couldn’t control.

Eric stirred in the bed behind them, mumbling something incoherent. The reminder of his presence snapped Selene back to reality.

She wrenched herself free from Adrian’s hold. “You’re delusional.”

Adrian’s smirk didn’t waver. “Am I?”

Selene turned sharply and strode toward the door, her pulse thrumming. But before she could reach it, Adrian’s next words stopped her cold.

“I know about your marriage.”

A chill ran through her.

She didn’t turn. Didn’t react. But she knew he saw the slight stiffening of her shoulders, the betrayal of her body that confirmed he had struck a nerve.

Adrian took a step closer, his voice measured, careful. “I know what's going on with you both. Why you keep sleeping with different men.” He took his time with his next words. “But tell me this—if your marriage is in shambles, why are you still pretending? Why haven’t you divorced him yet?”

Selene forced her face into a mask of indifference before turning to him. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”

Adrian exhaled slowly, his tone shifting from teasing to something more… dangerous. “I meant what I said last night, Selene. You can fight this all you want. You can run. You can sleep with every goddamn escort in this city.” He reached for her chin again, forcing her to look at him. “But at the end of the day, it’s still me you want.”

Her pulse was a thunderous roar in her ears.

She wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she didn’t still burn for him in ways that made her chest ache.

But she couldn’t.

Because they both knew the truth.

She tore her face away from his grip, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “You’re arrogant.”

Adrian’s smirk deepened. “I’m right.”

Selene’s fingers tightened around her clutch. She turned, pressing a hand against the door handle.

“This isn’t over, Selene,” Adrian murmured behind her, his voice like a promise wrapped in sin. “You know that, don’t you?”

She hesitated for half a second—only half—before walking out without another word.

But as she stepped into the hallway, her breath ragged, she knew one thing for certain.

Adrian Cross was just getting started.

And she wasn’t sure if she could resist him this time.

Selene didn’t stop walking. Not when the elevator doors closed behind her. Not when she pressed the button for the lobby with a little more force than necessary. Not when her pulse hammered so loudly in her ears that she could barely hear the soft chime of the descending floors.

Her reflection in the mirrored walls stared back at her—poised, composed, but beneath the surface, a storm raged.

Adrian Cross.

She had spent years burying the memories, pretending that what they had was nothing more than a fleeting mistake. But he had never been the type to stay buried. He always came back, resurfacing like a ghost determined to haunt her. And now, knowing that he had been watching, prying into her life, learning about her marriage—

The elevator doors slid open.

The lobby was quiet at this hour, only a few staff lingering near the reception desk. Selene adjusted the strap of her dress, lifting her chin as she stepped out, her heels clicking against the marble floors.

She had to get out of here.

A sharp voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Leaving already?"

Selene froze.

Adrian leaned against one of the sleek columns near the entrance, as if he had all the time in the world. He was still in his suit from earlier, but the tie was loosened, the top buttons undone, exposing just a sliver of skin. He looked relaxed. Unbothered. But his eyes—they were watching her with the same intensity as before.

Selene exhaled, forcing a smile. "I didn’t realize stalking was part of your skill set."

Adrian pushed off the column, hands slipping into his pockets. "And I didn’t realize you were still this good at running."

She walked past him without another word, but Adrian was faster, stepping in front of her before she could reach the doors.

"Move."

"Not yet."

Selene clenched her jaw. "What do you want from me, Adrian?"

His gaze searched hers, something unreadable flickering in the depths of his storm-gray eyes. "Honesty. Just once."

She let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "That’s rich, coming from you."

Adrian didn’t flinch. "You’re still wearing the ring."

Her breath caught.

Her fingers curled instinctively, but it was too late. He had seen it. The diamond that still sat on her left hand, a symbol of a marriage that had long since crumbled.

"You don’t understand anything," she said quietly.

"Then make me understand."

She looked up at him, eyes locking onto his. "It’s none of your business."

Adrian studied her for a long moment, then nodded, as if he had expected that answer. But then he leaned in, so close she could feel the heat of him, his breath ghosting over her skin.

"You can lie to me all you want, Selene." His voice was almost a whisper, a dangerous promise laced beneath every word. "But don’t lie to yourself."

Her throat tightened.

He was too close, too familiar, and every part of her body hated how much she remembered—how much she still felt.

A sharp gust of wind blew through the lobby as the doors opened behind them. Selene took the distraction for what it was and stepped around him, walking out without looking back.

But she could still feel his eyes on her.

And for the first time in years, she wasn’t sure if she was the one running away—

Or if Adrian had just begun his chase.