Page 30 of Adam
He scoffs with a smirk, almost amused, and slowly walks towards me, his hands still behind his back. I take a few steps back, my back crashing against the wall, but that doesn’t stop him.
“Please,” he says quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes piercing into mine. “I always remember what matters.”
I lift my eyes and meet his. He’s giving me the most intimidating look I’ve ever seen on a man, yet somehow, I’m not uneasy. A little awkward, sure, but not in a bad way.
“Oh. Uh … okay,” I mumble, trying not to look away. “But you didn’t reply to me. What are you doing here?”
Slowly and without tearing his eyes off me, he shoves his hand into his pants pocket and takes out something.
“I brought you this,” he says, opening his palm, revealing my orchid hairpin.
“My hairpin!” I blurt, almost childishly, reaching out for it. He closes his hand around it and pulls it back, tilting his head with a smug little smirk. “What …?”
“You know why I came.” His voice is low, guttural.
“I-I don’t,” I mumble, feeling my knees giving in.
“Youdragged me in this shithole with you, princess,” he says solemnly. The amused and easygoing demeanor is completely gone. What’s left on his face makes my spine feel like it’s about to snap.
A knot forms in my throat as he looms over me, intimidating me to the core.
“I did it to help you.”
“Funny how I’m just as screwed as you now.” He leans in closer, his minty-fresh breath hammering my lips. “Some rescue mission, princess.”
I need space. I shove him hard, my hands trembling.
“Funny how you don’t see my father would’ve crushed you like a cockroach if it weren’t for me.”
He crosses his arms, a smug grin tugging at his perfectly shaped lips.
“Oh, so that’s what this was. You wanted to play the hero,” he says, dripping sarcasm. “My bad. I figured you were just bored and wanted a shiny new pet to drag around on a leash.”
“I just wanted to save your life, you idiot!”
His brows lift, eyes lighting up with entertained disbelief, like he just heard the dumbest thing all week.
He steps in close, grabs my jaw, and slams me back against the wall, firm enough to make a point.
“Oh, little orchid,” he purrs, voice thick with dark sarcasm. “You might be the boss now, but I’m the reason you’re still breathing. So unless you’re dying to see how fast things can go sideways …” He leans in, lips grazing my ear. “Maybe show a little gratitude to the man who’s been playing guard dog for you and doing it on a pretty short leash. Unless, of course, you like it rough.”
Yeah, he’s enjoying this way too much.
The bastard’s smirk is practically dripping off his face, and his hand is still on my jaw possessive, like he owns the air I’m breathing.
He pulls back just enough to look me in the eye, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth.
“You don’t have to like me, little orchid,” he says, low and maddeningly smooth. “But don’t forget …Youchose me.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the shiver crawling up my spine.
He’s infuriating, arrogant, and dangerous.
And somehow, maddeningly right.
I clear my throat. “What happened to you?” I ask, looking at the scratch on his cheekbone.
He shrugs like it’s nothing, but that arrogant glint is already back in his eyes.
