Adrian

Chapter 38: Mine, Not His

(Adrian's POV )

Amber had kissed me.

She had kissed me in front of everyone.

In front of Damien.

It should have been enough.

It should have calmed the storm in my chest.

But it didn't.

Because she was still talking to him.

Still laughing at his stupid jokes.

Still acting like he wasn't just waiting for me to slip up—so he could take her too.

And that?

That drove me insane.

—

I crossed my arms, slouching dramatically in my chair, glaring at her like a child who didn't get his favorite toy.

Amber glanced at me, brow raised.

"Are you seriously pouting?"

I huffed.

"No."

She snorted. "You so are."

I scowled harder. "Am not."

She grinned. "Are too."

I turned away, staring at the wall like it had personally offended me.

"I don't want to talk to you right now."

—

She sighed, exasperated. "Adrian—"

"Nope." I waved a hand. "You made your choice. You like talking to him so much? Go talk to him."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh my god, you're impossible."

I scoffed, still refusing to look at her.

"I'm impossible? Me?"

She nodded. "Yes, you."

I glared. "Well, excuse me for not enjoying the sight of my girlfriend laughing at another guy's stupid jokes."

Damien, still standing nearby, cleared his throat.

"For the record, they were very funny jokes."

I snapped my head toward him, glaring daggers.

"Nobody asked you, Vale."

—

Amber groaned, rubbing her temples.

"You are so dramatic."

I gasped, offended.

"Dramatic? Me?"

She smirked. "Yes. You."

I scoffed, still pouting.

"I'm not dramatic. I'm deeply wounded. There's a difference."

—

She sighed heavily.

I peeked at her from the corner of my eye.

She was biting her lip.

Hiding a smile.

Oh no.

Oh hell no.

She was enjoying this.

She liked watching me pout.

She liked seeing me jealous.

—

I scowled. "You're evil."

She blinked innocently. "Me? What did I do?"

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face.

"Unbelievable."

—

She took a step closer, tilting her head.

"Adrian…" she sang softly.

I refused to look at her.

Not falling for it.

Not this time.

—

Her fingers brushed my arm.

My breath hitched.

Damn it.

—

"Adrian," she whispered again.

Soft. Sweet.

I clenched my jaw, still pouting.

Still furious.

"You can't just say my name all cute and expect me to forgive you," I muttered.

She giggled.

Giggle.

Oh, now she was really testing me.

—

I looked at her fully, golden eyes narrowed.

"You think this is funny?"

She nodded, grinning.

"Very."

I gasped.

"Amber Rose, you are a cruel, cruel woman."

She shrugged. "And yet, you still love me."

I scoffed.

"Tragic, really."

—

She laughed, stepping even closer, way too close, until her breath was warm against my neck.

"You know, you're kinda cute when you pout."

My eye twitched.

"Cute?" I repeated, horrified.

I was supposed to be dangerous.

I was supposed to be intimidating.

And she thought I was cute?

—

I took a step back, crossing my arms again.

"I don't want to talk to you."

Amber huffed.

"Adrian, come on."

I shook my head, turning away again.

"Nope. You had your chance."

"Adrian—"

"No."

"Baby—"

I froze.

—

She had never called me that before.

And she knew it.

She saw the way my breath hitched.

Saw the way my jaw clenched.

Saw the way my entire body locked up.

And that's when I knew.

I was so weak for her.

—

She smirked.

Oh, she was really enjoying this.

I scowled.

"You fight dirty."

She shrugged. "And you love it."

—

I groaned.

"You're gonna be the death of me."

She giggled.

Then—

She grabbed my face.

Pulled me down.

And kissed me.

—

I froze.

My heart stopped.

Then—

I melted.

—

She was soft, warm, slow— but teasing, like she was saying, See? You can't stay mad at me.

And damn it, she was right.

I grabbed her waist, pulling her against me, deepening the kiss.

She sighed against my lips, melting into me.

And just like that—

I forgot I was mad.

I forgot everything.

—

She pulled back, smirking.

"Better now?"

I grumbled.

"Maybe."

—

From across the room, Damien sighed.

"If you two are gonna keep making out, I'm leaving."

I glared at him.

"That's the best idea you've ever had."

—

Amber laughed, grabbing my hand, squeezing it.

I sighed, finally relaxing.

Fine.

I'd let it go.

For now.

But next time?

If Damien even looked at her too long…

I was going to make him regret it

__