BACK WITH OUR BILLIONAIRE DADDY

CHAPTER FIVE. NO TURNING BACK

The moment Elena stepped outside with Adrian, the cold night air hit her face.

For the first time since leaving Damien's apartment, she wondered if she had completely lost her mind.

She was leaving a bar with a man she'd met only hours ago.

A stranger.

She didn't know where he lived. She barely knew anything about him.

Adrian seemed to notice her hesitation.

"We can stop here."

Elena looked at him.

"What?"

"I can get you a car home."

"You think I've changed my mind?"

"I think you're allowed to."

She stared at him for a moment.

"I haven't."

Adrian nodded. "Okay."

A black car pulled up in front of them.

The driver got out and opened the rear door.

Elena looked from the car to Adrian.

"You have a driver?"

"Usually."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly do you do?"

Adrian smiled slightly. "Work too much."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the answer you're getting tonight."

Elena shook her head and got into the car.

Adrian joined her.

The driver closed the door.

For the first few minutes, neither of them spoke.

Elena watched the city pass outside the window.

Her nerves were getting worse.

Maybe she should go home.

Maybe she should call Maya.

Maybe tomorrow she would wake up and wonder what on earth she had been thinking.

Adrian's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Where do you want to go?"

She turned toward him.

"I thought we were going to your place."

"We can. Or I can have Daniel take you anywhere else."

"Daniel?"

"My driver."

Elena glanced toward the front.

Apparently even the driver's name had been properly introduced while she was busy panicking.

Adrian continued, "Your home. A friend's place. A hotel. Wherever you want."

"You really are determined to give me an escape route."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want there to be any confusion."

"About what?"

"Whether you chose this."

Elena stared at him.

She didn't know why those words affected her so much.

Maybe because Damien had spent the evening explaining why her choices had been inconvenient for him.

Elena moved her hand onto the seat between them.

Adrian looked down at it.

She turned her palm upward.

After a moment, he placed his hand in hers.

"I'm still coming with you," she said.

His fingers closed around hers.

"Okay."

---

The building Adrian lived in only created more questions.

The doorman greeted him by name.

The lobby looked like somewhere Elena would be afraid to touch anything.

When the elevator opened directly into his apartment, she stopped.

"You live here?"

Adrian stepped out.

"Sometimes."

Elena followed him.

"Sometimes?"

"I travel a lot."

The apartment was enormous.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city. Dark wood, stone and soft lighting made the space feel expensive without being flashy.

Elena slowly turned toward him.

"You're rich."

Adrian laughed.

"That's what you've learned tonight?"

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"What do you actually do?"

"Business."

"Very specific."

"You said no expectations."

"I did."

"Then perhaps my résumé can wait."

Elena smiled despite herself.

"Fair."

Adrian removed his jacket and placed it over a chair.

Suddenly, the reality of why she was here returned.

Her smile disappeared.

Adrian noticed.

He didn't move toward her.

"Elena."

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to be."

"I know."

"If you want to leave, I'll take you back."

She looked at him.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

The answer was immediate.

Her heartbeat quickened.

"But what I want isn't the only thing that matters," Adrian added.

Elena swallowed.

"I don't want to leave."

He held her gaze.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Neither moved.

The space between them suddenly felt much smaller.

Elena took the first step.

She stopped directly in front of him.

Adrian's eyes searched hers.

"Tell me if you change your mind."

"I will."

He lifted one hand slowly and touched her cheek.

Elena could have stepped away.

She didn't.

His thumb brushed lightly across her skin.

Then Adrian leaned closer.

He stopped just before their lips touched.

"Okay?"

Elena answered by closing the distance herself.

The kiss was softer than she expected.

Careful.

Almost too careful.

Then Elena curled her fingers into the front of his shirt and kissed him again.

Adrian's hand moved to her waist.

The second kiss wasn't careful.

Elena's pulse raced as he pulled her closer.

For the first time that night, Damien wasn't in her head.

Neither was Serena.

There was only Adrian.

Elena pulled back enough to breathe.

Adrian rested his forehead against hers.

"Still okay?"

"Yes."

"You can tell me to stop."

"I know."

She looked into his grey eyes.

"No promises," Elena whispered.

"No promises," Adrian agreed.

"No expectations."

"None."

"Tomorrow, we go back to our lives."

Adrian was quiet for a second.

Then he nodded.

"Tomorrow."

Elena knew she should probably think about this longer.

She didn't want to.

Tonight had taken enough from her already.

This choice was hers.

She reached for Adrian's hand.

"Take me upstairs."

His eyes darkened, but he didn't move immediately.

"You're sure?"

Elena squeezed his hand.

"Yes."

This time, when Adrian led her toward the stairs, Elena followed without hesitation.

Whatever happened after tonight, she would deal with it tomorrow.