As I walked back into his bedroom, a picture caught my eye on his nightstand. It was the only photo I’d seen in the entire penthouse. Step by step, I didn’t stop until I grabbed it in my hands. The image of us made it hard to stand upright. I had to sit on the edge of his mattress to catch my bearings. There before my very own eyes was the reality of our past staring me right in the face.
It was a picture of Cade, Adrian, and me.
I was standing in the middle with their arms wrapped around my waist. I must have been sixteen at the time. I didn’t remember taking it or why this picture was significant enough for him to frame it and place it on his nightstand where he’d see it every day.
Just when I thought I figured him out, he ripped the rug out from under me. The sound of his shower shutting off brought my attention back to the present. His footsteps quickly followed. I didn’t have to spin around to know he was standing behind me by his bathroom door.
With the photo still in my grasp, I finally turned. Only to find Adrian Drake…
Clean.
Wet.
Naked.
Eight
Paige
There in all his glory, water glistened off his chiseled physique. Unable to resist the temptation that was this man, my gaze shifted from his face to his chest, to the place I had absolutely no business looking.
His dick.
Holy shit. Did it get bigger?
I sucked in a breath.
When my lustful glare finally met his, I noticed the smuggest grin plastered on his devastatingly handsome face. It instantly washed away all the desire I was feeling for him.
“I see you still have no modesty.”
“You’re in my room, and I have no modesty?”
“Don’t play that game with me.” I rolled my eyes. “You know exactly what you’re doing.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying. I showered in my bathroom.”
“How about you cover your cock?”
“What can I say?” He shook his head. “I prefer to air dry.”
“Adrian.” I threw the blanket on the bed at him, and he caught it. “It’s time for me to leave.”
“Try to run, Cherry. Let’s see how fast I can still catch you.”
“You’re the worst.”
“Sweetheart, I’m the best you’ve ever had.”
“You mean in comparison to the twenty guys I’ve been with? I’d say you come in at a close nineteen.”
His jaw clenched. “Well you’ll always be number one for me.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
He made his way over to his dresser, pulling out a pair of gym shorts. I looked the other way while he stepped into them.
“My cock is away now. You can stop staring at it.”
“I wasn’t… You know what, it doesn’t matter.” Lifting the picture frame, I asked, “What’s this about?”
“It’s a photo.”
“I know what it is. Why do you have it?”
“I have several pictures of us, Paige. We grew up together, remember?”
“Stop playing coy. You’re no good at it. We didn’t grow up together. I grew up with your brother, with you there occasionally.”
“What moments would that be? When you were riding my cock or sucking it?”
I ignored his question. “This is the only photo you have in your entire penthouse. Why this one?”
“Don’t ask questions you’re not ready to hear the answers to.”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t ready.”
“Have I told you how beautiful you are when you’re playing Nancy Drew?” Eyeing me up and down, he grinned. “You still read those smutty books?”
“How many times do I have to tell you there’s a solid storyline? They’re romance books.”
“That you fuck yourself to?”
My eyes widened. “Stop changing the subject. Why this picture? I don’t even remember taking it, so what significance does it have to you?”
“I already told you. When you’re ready, you’ll hear it.”
“What do you want?”
“To tuck you in my bed every night.”
“I’m not sleeping in here with you.”
“Then what are you doing snooping around in my room?”
“Doesn’t feel nice, does it?”
He raised his arms in a surrendering gesture. “By all means, Paige. Poke around. I have nothing to hide.”
“You say that with certainty?”
“I meant it when I said what’s mine is yours.I have nothing to hide”
“It doesn’t matter how much you butter me up. I’m not sharing a bed with you.”
He leaned back against his dresser, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is that what I’m doing? Buttering you up?”
“Adrian…”
“I love it when you say my name like that.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“I will. Eventually.”
“Whatever.” I spun to leave, but I wasn’t fast enough.
He grabbed my wrist, and dragged me back to him. Using my momentum against me, my chest collided with his.
This was the first time in ten years I was touching him, and it made my heart seize.
All I could do was order, “Let go of me.”
He leaned in close to my mouth. “Never.”