Mr. Brockwell

CHAPTER TEN

*Calista*

Adrian stood before me with a blank expression plastered on his face, and all I could do was study the parts of his exposed body that I'd never seen before. I was surprised to see that his bare arms were covered in tattoos! From his wrist all the way up past the sleeve of his shirt, he was covered in ink and I felt like I was drooling. His muscles flexed and stretched the fabric of his shirt, as my eyes went wide with desire. Holy crap, his body should come with a discretionary warning! Caution, staring too long might cause inappropriate thoughts!

My sight flew up to his light gray eyes that were staring back, blinking and wondering what he was thinking about. I wasn't sure why he left his office so quickly, or why he was just standing there with a blank look, but I didn't feel the need to ask. Whatever it was, it wasn't uncomfortable and I felt content staring into his eyes. Though, I was curious as to why he wanted to stare at me. I know I'm weird, but he didn't strike me as the same type of weird.

"Have you talked to Ivan yet?" Adrian asked, finally moving to sit beside me.

"Ivan?" I repeated in confusion. Why the hell is he bringing up Ivan?

"Yeah, I thought he would've contacted you by now. Saying the same s**t he's said before to win you back." Adrian remarked, and I could feel the hatred dripping off his words.

"Except this time it won't work." I muttered, folding my arms across my chest.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Calista." Adrian faintly smiled.

"How was work?" I asked, happy to change the subject.

"It was alright," he muttered and paused for a moment before continuing, "Would have been better if I had my assistant."

Did he just wink at me? My entire body went from a normal temperature to red freaking hot in a matter of seconds! My face feels flushed, like I'm blushing beyond control. My breathing is erratic and my heart is vibrating inside my chest. Everything inside my body feels electric and alive, from my head to my toes. The sensation is breath taking and I find myself speechless, all from a little wink. I'm done for.

"Oh..." I murmured and cleared my throat to try and sound not quite so desperate, "Y-yeah.. It definitely would have been better."

Oh my gosh. Now I just sound like a sultrious vixen! I didn't mean for my voice to sound so raspy.. I'm trying to contain my excitement and it's not working. Adrian glances at me with a peculiar expression, but soon it forms into a playful smirk. How do I make this better? How do I come across as normal?!

"Sorry- I'm just a little tired.." I muttered and unknowingly began to gnaw away at the inside of my cheek.

"You've been through a lot, just try to take it easy." Adrian said with a crooked grin that made me sigh.

I have a crush on my boss, a big one. I'm extremely attracted to him and I can't seem to steer myself in a different direction. Adrian doesn't act like he dislikes me, but then again, he could just be helping out his new employee. It's not something I trust myself to judge alone, but that will have to wait until later when I can talk to Quinn.

"Are you hungry?" Adrian asked, standing up from the couch.

"Yeah, I could eat." I shrugged and he immediately offered his hand to help me. Of course, I accepted.

Sitting at the dining table, I wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't awkward, but I felt like anything I said was just going to make matters worse. So, I focused on finishing my meal and keeping to myself, but Adrian had other plans. Just as I'm about to finish my meal, he clears his throat to speak and I hold my breath.

"I was thinking," Adrian remarked, and his eyes found mine, "You should probably break up with Ivan sooner rather than later.. Otherwise, his anger will only grow until you two talk."

"You're right, but..." I struggled to find the words to express my feelings, trailing off.

"I'll go with you, nothing bad will happen to you." Adrian promised, and I felt the warmth of his heart from across the table.

"You coming with me will only anger him more, Adrian.." I murmured under my breath with deliberate irritation that I'm in this position, "I have to show up by myself.."

"That's stupid, he'll attack you without a doubt, Calista. He won't tolerate you breaking up with him." Adrian growled, leaning forward in his chair with intense eyes.

"I'll bring a taser to protect myself," I added, and Adrian rolled his eyes with a sarcastic snort, "Adrian, you can't come with me.."

"You're not going alone." He argued with a stern voice, shaking his head while cutting into his steak aggressively.

"We'll discuss this at a later date. I'm not doing anything right away. Not like I can do much with this thing around my neck, anyway." I grumbled, tugging at the neck brace.

"You do remember the person that caused the damage to provoke having to wear that neck brace in the first place, right?" Adrian snarled and I stared at him in shock, is he really picking a fight with me?

"Look, we both want the same thing, an easy and clean break. The only way that's going to happen is if Ivan doesn't become upset, seeing you is going to send him through the roof. You were the guy who took me out to dinner, against Ivan's wishes, he hates you.. Trust me, I know him better than you do.." I grumbled and sighed heavily, fighting the tears that started to form in the back of my eyes.

"I understand what you're saying, you're right, but you're still not going alone." Adrian noted with a gentle nod, finishing his meal and setting his napkin to the side.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes and got out of my chair.

Adrian was instantly by my side and assisted me out of the dining room and back into the living room by the fireplace. I sat on the couch and watched him fetch a blanket, covering me with it. I was thankful and curled up with the plush material instantly, smiling at the scent because it reminded me of him.

He sat next to me and stretched his arm across the back of the couch, just inches away from my shoulder. There was an invisible electric current that radiated between our bodies and I had to wonder if he could feel it too, or was it just me? When I glanced at him, he was already looking at me. One look at the man and all my anger subsided, leaving me with nothing but a giddy tickle in the depths of my stomach.

"What do you normally do for fun around here, Mr- I mean, Adrian?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Normally I don't have much time to myself.." Adrian confessed in a muted tone, shrugging, "What would you like to do?"

"Well, I can't do a lot of the things I'd normally suggest, because of the neck brace.. So we'll have to stick with a boring option, watching a movie or something of that nature." I responded and watched as a broad grin formed across his face.

"Let's watch a movie. I'll show you the movie room in the basement." Adrian remarked, and helped me off the couch.

Adrian once again wrapped his arm around my waist and rested his hand against my hip, helping to guide me while I walked. He held both of my hands and walked backwards down the stairs, helping me with each step. Even though I was shaking, he helped calm my anxiety of not being capable of watching where I walked on my own.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, I looked out and saw five black leather chairs seated in front of a huge wide screen television. Each chair had two cup holders and could recline back, as well as massaging and heating elements. Adrian got me seated and let me pick a movie, so I chose an action movie. Something that I knew wouldn't be boring for him.

Towards the end of the movie, I could feel my eyes starting to drift shut and I couldn't fight the sensation. I fell asleep and figured Adrian would wake me when it was over. Instead, I opened my eyes to find him lifting me out of the recliner and into his arms. He carries me bridal style back upstairs and deposits me in my bedroom, on my bed.

I kept my eyes closed, as I felt him lift the blankets up and over my body to cover me up. It's a sweet gesture, but what I didn't expect was him to kiss my forehead. The minute his velvet lips pressed up against my forehead, my heart stopped and everything in my body became still. All the focus was on his lips against my skin, the electricity that's left behind when he pulls away is still sizzling under my flesh. Even if just a little one, Adrian freaking kissed me! The thought alone was enough to send me into orbit.