Until It Was Her

Losing Control

When Adrian finally stepped out of the bathroom had gone quiet, too quiet. For a second he thought Elena might still be awake waiting. Then he saw her asleep and immediately regretted looking.

The bedside lamp cast a soft golden glow across the bed, illuminating the delicate curve of her body beneath the sheets. Sometime during the night, Elena had pushed the silk robe completely, leaving it discarded carelessly near the edge of the bed. Adrian’s eyes closed briefly, dangerous, very dangerous because now imagination became his worst enemy.

He could picture the champagne-colored lace beneath the blankets too easily. Could remember exactly how soft her skin looked beneath the dim lights earlier. And if kept staring… he was genuinely going to need another cold shower.

A frustrated breath escaped him. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered quietly to himself. Elena shifted softly in her sleep at the sound of his voice, turning slightly toward his side of the bed. Adrian froze… God. Even sleeping beside him felt intimate somehow.

Carefully, he slid beneath the covers while keeping as much distance as possible between them. Which lasted more than twenty minutes because sometime during the night, Elena unconsciously moved closer. Much closer.

_

Adrian woke up first and immediately realized two things. First : Elena was in his arms

Second: He was absolutely screwed. Her body rested softly against his chest, warm beneath the blankets, one hand lightly curled near his shoulder as though she belonged there naturally.

And Jesus christ… her chest pressed against him wasn’t helping at all. His gaze dropped before he could stop himself. Huge mistake.

The neckline of her sleepwear had shifted during the night, revealing enough soft skin and cleavage to completely destroy whatever peace remained in his mind. Adrian shut his eyes briefly. Nope absolutely not.

This was how men lost self control and ruined carefully planned boundaries. Elena stirred softly against him, pressing even closer unconsciously. Adrian nearly lost his mind. He moved carefully, slowly easing her away without waking her fully before standing from the bed like escaping a crime scene. Cold shower, gym, maybe both. Definitely both.

Without another glance, Adrian disappeared into the bathroom. A few minutes later, Elena stirred awake slowly. Adrian’s side of the bed was empty now. She blinked sleepily at the ceiling before sitting up slightly confused by the strange warmth still lingering against her body.

Had she moved closer during the night? Her cheeks warmed immediately at the possibility. Adrian was probably already working, then again… she glanced at the clock at 6:03 am. Too early, maybe he was in his study.

Elena stretched softly before getting out of bed and heading toward the closet. During her tour around the mansion earlier, she'd noticed an entire section filled with gym equipment downstairs. And honestly? Exercise sounded like a good distraction especially since her husband apparently looked attractive enough to destroy her peace daily.

She changed into black leggings and a fitted cropped workout top before tying her hair in a loose ponytail. Simple, comfortable and harmless or so she taught. Elena walked into the gym while half awake and immediately stopped moving. Adrian was there shirtless. Oh no…

He stood near the weights with his back turned, muscles shifting beneath tan skin as she adjusted the bandages around one hand. Sweat lightly covered his shoulders already, dark hair messy from exertion. He looked less like a businessman right now and more like every dangerous fantasy she should avoid.

Then he turned and froze too because Elena in workout clothes was apparently another problem entirely. The fitted fabric hugged her body softly, revealing curves he had been trying very hard not to think about since last night. Trying. Failing. Suffering.

For one second neither of them spoke. Adrian’s gaze slowly moved over her before snapping back to her face with visible effort. Elena swallowed. Hard.

“Good morning,” she managed weakly. Adrian's jaw tightened slightly. “You came to exercise?” Brilliant question. Clearly she came to stare at shirtless men before sunrise.

“Yes,” she answered, trying very hard not to look directly at his chest again. Which failed immediately. Because honestly? This felt unfair.

“You’re awake early,” he said. “So are you,” Silence… Heavy silence. The tension between them somehow felt even worse in the mornings. Raw and less controlled.

Elena looked away first before her thoughts completely embarrassed her.

“I'll come back later.”

“You don’t have to.” His voice came out lower this time. Rougher and suddenly the room felt too warm. Elena forced herself to walk toward the treadmill casually while Adrian grabbed a towel and tried not to stare at her again. Both failed miserably.

_

Breakfast afterward felt strangely normal despite the chaos happening privately inside both heads. Elena wore an oversized sweater now, thankfully hiding the workout clothes that nearly ruined Adrian's self-control earlier. Not that it helped much because now he kept imagining them anyway.

“You’re quiet,” Elena observed while pouring coffee. Adrian looked up calmly, “I usually am.”

“Not that quiet.” His eyes narrowed slightly. Was she teasing him again? God helped him, he liked it.

They ate together in comfortable silence after that before eventually preparing for work. At the front entrance, Elena adjusted the sleeve of her coat while Adrian picked up his car keys. “You don’t have to drive me today,” she said softly. “I know.” Her lips twitched.

There it was again, that smile made him want things he absolutely should not want yet. And suddenly Adrian realized something terrifying as he looked at his wife standing beside him in the morning light.

He was beginning to enjoy this far too much.