Amber

Chapter 37: Can't Stop Thinking About Him

(Amber's POV)

I slammed my bedroom door shut and leaned against it, breathless, heart pounding, completely losing my mind.

Adrian had driven me home like it was nothing.

Like he hadn't just spent the entire night kissing me senseless, teasing me, looking at me like I was his.

And now?

Now I was in my room, blushing like an idiot, replaying every second in my head.

—

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

"Get inside, sweetheart. Before I find a reason to keep you here."

I hated him.

I hated him so much.

Because I knew—if I had stayed in that car any longer, I would have let him.

—

I threw myself onto my bed, grabbing my pillow and screaming into it.

Why did he have to be like this?

Why did he have to be so impossible, so cocky, so infuriating?

Why did he have to make me feel like I was the only girl in his world?

And worse…

Why did I like it?

—

I reached for my phone before I could stop myself.

I wasn't going to text him.

I wasn't.

I just… wanted to check.

Just wanted to see if he had texted me first.

Not that I cared.

Not that I was waiting for it.

—

No new messages.

I huffed. Typical.

I tossed my phone onto the bed and rolled over, staring at the ceiling.

I could still feel his hands on my waist, his breath against my lips, his voice in my ear.

I groaned, covering my face.

This was not good.

I was falling for him.

And I didn't know how to stop.

—

My phone buzzed.

I jumped.

Then, slowly, hesitantly—

I grabbed it.

One new message.

Adrian.

My stomach flipped.

—

ADRIAN: Are you still blushing?

I choked.

What the—

How did he—

I clenched my jaw, typing back.

ME: No.

Liar.

—

ADRIAN: Liar.

I gritted my teeth.

Of course, he knew.

Of course, he was smirking at his phone right now, enjoying every second of this.

ME: Shut up.

—

I barely had time to breathe before he sent another message.

ADRIAN: I miss you already, sweetheart.

My heart stopped.

Damn him.

I hated how easily he could say things like that. How effortlessly he could make my stomach flip, my breath catch, my entire world tilt.

I clenched my jaw, fingers hovering over my screen.

I should ignore him.

I should turn off my phone, roll over, and pretend I didn't feel anything.

But instead—

ME: You're impossible.

—

His reply was almost instant.

ADRIAN: And you love it.

I groaned, throwing my pillow over my face.

Because I did.

I did love it.

And that was the problem.

—

I rolled over, hugging my pillow.

ME: Go to sleep, Adrian.

ADRIAN: You first, sweetheart.

ME: I'm already asleep. You're just talking to my ghost.

ADRIAN: Cute. But I'd know if you were really asleep.

I frowned, hesitating. ME: How?

ADRIAN: Because your heartbeat slows when you're asleep.

My breath hitched.

I stared at the screen.

He could hear my heartbeat?

—

I swallowed hard, typing back.

ME: You're a creep.

ADRIAN: And you're blushing.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

This man was going to kill me.

—

The Next Morning – At School

I walked into class, telling myself I wouldn't think about him.

I wouldn't let him get under my skin.

I wouldn't let him win.

But the second I stepped inside—

Adrian's golden eyes locked onto mine.

And I was done for.

—

He smirked. "Morning, sweetheart."

I huffed, ignoring him, heading straight to my seat.

But the second I sat down, he leaned closer, his voice low, teasing.

"Still blushing?"

I whipped my head around, scowling. "No!"

His smirk widened. "Liar."

—

I groaned, pulling out my notebook and pretending to focus.

But Adrian wasn't letting me go that easily.

His fingers brushed my wrist, tracing slow circles.

I shivered.

Damn him.

"Did you sleep well?" he murmured.

I glared. "I would have if you weren't texting me."

He chuckled, tilting his head. "You could have ignored me."

We both knew that wasn't true.

And judging by the way he was grinning, he knew I knew it too.

—

Before I could respond, the classroom door opened.

And just like that—

The air shifted.

Because Damien had arrived.

—

I felt Adrian tense beside me.

His smirk disappeared, his jaw tightening.

His golden eyes darkened.

I swallowed hard, glancing at Damien as he walked in—calm, unbothered, smirking like he owned the room.

Like he wasn't ruining everything.

Again.

—

He glanced at me. "Morning, sweetheart."

Adrian's entire body locked up.

I barely had time to react before his hand gripped my thigh under the desk, tight, possessive.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Because he was jealous.

Really jealous.

—

I turned to him, whispering, "Adrian, stop."

His grip didn't loosen.

His golden eyes flicked to mine, dark, dangerous.

"Why?" he muttered. "You like it when he talks to you?"

I scowled. "That's not—"

"You smile at him," Adrian continued, voice rough. "You let him sit near you."

I sighed, exasperated. "We're in the same class, Adrian. What do you want me to do? Vanish?"

He didn't laugh.

Didn't smirk.

Just stared at me like he was two seconds from throwing Damien out the window.

—

"Adrian," I whispered, softer this time.

His fingers tightened on my thigh.

"Tell me you're mine," he muttered.

My stomach flipped.

Because he was serious.

Because this wasn't just jealousy.

This was fear.

The fear of losing me.

And I hated it.

I hated that he thought that was even possible.

—

I exhaled slowly, twisting in my seat to face him.

His golden eyes flickered, searching mine.

Still tense. Still burning.

And I knew—words wouldn't fix this.

Not right now.

Not when he needed more than just reassurance.

So I gave it to him.

—

I leaned in, pressing my lips against his.

He froze.

For half a second, he was completely still.

Then—

His hand shot up, gripping the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

And just like that—

The tension snapped.

—

He kissed me hard, desperate, possessive.

Like he had been starving for this.

Like he was reminding me exactly who I belonged to.

I sighed into his lips, melting, falling, sinking.

Because I was his.

I had always been his.

And I didn't want to be anywhere else.

—

I pulled away, breathless, flustered, dazed.

Adrian's smirk returned, but this time, his eyes were softer.

"So you do like me," he murmured.

I rolled my eyes, still breathless. "Shut up."

He chuckled, tilting his head. "Make me."

Damn him.

Damn him.

—

From across the room, Damien sighed dramatically.

"If you two are done," he drawled, "I'd like to get through the day without watching a vampire romance movie in real life."

Adrian glared. "No one's talking to you."

Damien smirked. "You sure about that?"

Adrian's grip on my thigh tightened.

And just like that—

The jealousy wasn't over.

Not even close.

—