Chapter 10: Marked by Tension

The weekend came fast, and with it, the storm Adrian had been dreading but also craving.

Kai showed up at Adrian's apartment Saturday evening.

Not because he wanted to.

Because Kensington had said so.

She insisted they needed the extra time to polish their pitch before Monday's presentation. She didn't care if they worked remotely, just as long as the job got done. And when Adrian always the overachiever, the little shit offered his place, Kai stupidly agreed.

Now here he was.

Standing at the door of a vampire's penthouse.

Armed with nothing but his laptop, a bad attitude, and zero self-control.

The door opened before he could knock.

Adrian stood there barefoot, wearing sweatpants and a fitted black tee that clung to him like sin.

Kai's wolf whimpered internally.

"I was hoping you'd change your mind," Adrian said, smug.

"I was hoping you wouldn't open the door," Kai muttered, brushing past him.

He tried not to notice the scent of dark amber and something older something ancient that lingered in Adrian's space. It wasn't just a home. It was his domain.

And it was overwhelming.

"You want anything?" Adrian asked. "Water? Wine? Something stronger?"

Kai dropped his bag on the couch. "You got whiskey?"

Adrian smirked. "I've got blood-spiked whiskey."

Kai raised a brow.

"Kidding." Adrian chuckled. "Mostly."

He disappeared into the kitchen, giving Kai a moment to breathe and pace and definitely not peek into the hallway leading to Adrian's bedroom.

Nope.

Kai settled on the couch and opened his laptop just as Adrian returned, handing him a glass. Their fingers brushed.

Kai ignored the spark.

Tried to, anyway.

"So," he said, clearing his throat, "we need to rework the pitch slides for the environmental branch and finalize the"

"You talk business when we're alone?" Adrian interrupted, flopping down beside him, way too close.

Kai glared. "We are working."

"I'm trying to," Adrian said, eyes dark, "but you're so distracting in those jeans."

Kai's cheeks burned.

"You're insufferable."

"You're irresistible."

"Shut up and open the project folder."

Adrian did, but not without sliding closer, thigh brushing thigh. Kai tried to focus. Really, he did. But every damn time Adrian leaned over to point something out on the screen, he got a whiff of that scent again.

It made his chest tight. His mouth dry.

"You okay?" Adrian asked, softly this time.

Kai looked at him.

Their faces were close too close.

"I'm not the one sniffing coworkers in the copy room," he snapped.

Adrian grinned, but there was heat behind it. "That was once."

Kai stared. "It was four times."

"Well," Adrian whispered, "you smell like forbidden fruit. What do you expect?"

Kai's hand curled into a fist, the tension unbearable.

Adrian saw it. Felt it.

He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from Kai's forehead. "I won't kiss you," he said, "unless you beg."

Kai's breath hitched.

"You think I'd beg for you?" he whispered.

Adrian tilted his head, lips brushing the air between them. "I think you already are."

And then boom.

Thunder cracked outside.

The lights flickered.

Kai jumped.

Adrian caught his wrist on instinct, his grip firm but warm.

For a second, neither of them moved.

The storm outside raged, but it was nothing compared to the storm between them.

Kai licked his lips.

"I hate you," he whispered.

Adrian's thumb brushed over the back of his hand. "I know."

"But I don't want you to let go."

Adrian leaned in, lips brushing his jaw.

"I wasn't planning to."

Kai didn't pull away.

Neither did Adrian.

The hum of the storm was steady now, wind pressing against the windows like it wanted in on the tension too. Kai could feel his pulse thrumming in his ears, each beat a warning, each breath tighter than the last.

"You really shouldn't do that," Kai murmured, voice low, trembling at the edges.

Adrian's mouth hovered near his jawline, the heat of his breath brushing Kai's sensitive skin. "Do what?"

"Touch me like you care."

Adrian froze.

And for once, the vampire didn't joke. Didn't smirk.

Instead, he let go of Kai's wrist gently, like he was releasing something fragile like he knew he was dangerously close to breaking it.

"I don't touch people I don't care about," Adrian said, voice quiet.

That?

That was somehow worse.

Kai looked at him, lips parted, caught between biting back a retort or… something else. Something dangerous. Because he believed him. And believing Adrian was a slippery slope straight into hell.

"We need to get back to work," Kai said, his voice cracking just slightly.

Adrian gave a nod, pulling back. "Right. Of course."

But the air didn't clear.

If anything, it got heavier. Denser.

Even as they turned back to their laptops and tried to pretend they hadn't just shared a moment that made the room spin, their bodies stayed close. Shoulders brushing. Legs tangling subtly beneath the coffee table.

And when Adrian reached over to scroll, his hand brushed Kai's again.

They didn't flinch this time.

They lingered.

Kai told himself it meant nothing.

He was lying.

So was Adrian.

Because when Kai got up to stretch and yawned like a sleepy cat, Adrian looked not just at his mouth, but at his throat. His collarbone. The way his shirt lifted slightly, exposing a sliver of skin.

It wasn't hunger in Adrian's eyes.

It was longing.

"Stop looking at me like that," Kai said without turning around.

Adrian's voice was hoarse. "Like what?"

"Like you're trying to decide whether to kiss me or bite me."

Adrian chuckled. "Why not both?"

Kai's laugh was dry, sharp, but his heart thudded anyway. "God, you're such a menace."

Adrian rose from the couch slowly, walking over to him. Not looming no, Adrian never loomed. He prowled. Graceful. Confident. Dangerous.

"But I'm your menace, aren't I?"

Kai hated the way that made him shiver.

"You wish," he said.

Adrian's hand ghosted over his hip as he leaned in. His lips brushed the shell of Kai's ear.

"I do," he whispered. "Every damn night."

Kai couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

Could only feel.

And he hated how much he wanted to feel more.