The room felt smaller the moment Adrian stepped in, the air charged with something neither of them could name. Selene’s back was to him, hands resting lightly on the edge of the desk, pretending to focus on the papers scattered there. But her body was alive—every subtle shift, every quick intake of breath told him she was aware of him, aware of the storm that had already begun between them.
“You’re pretending,” he said, his voice low and dangerous as he circled behind her. “Pretending you’re not feeling this.”
She froze, jaw tightening, but didn’t turn. “I’m not pretending anything,” she replied, voice strained, steadying her fear—or maybe her desire.
Adrian’s hand shot out, gripping her shoulder and spinning her to face him. Her eyes widened, chest heaving as she tried to back away, bu
