Alpha Adrian part 26

The water splattered on Eva’s head. It felt soothing, but not enough to save her from a pounding headache.

Her feelings were so stressful that it was a wonder her hair hadn’t fallen off yet. Whether she liked it or not, Adrian got under her skin. Maybe because of Stockholm Syndrome, maybe because of this mysterious mate link that she had yet to wrap her mind around.

Being with him couldn’t be healthy. She felt so out of place that she was tearing herself down. What could someone like him see in her? Would Zena snicker behind a palm once she saw them next together?

With a groan, she rubbed her face and sank into the tub. By the time she gathered the strength to scold herself for being so pessimistic, the water was icy.

She lathered and rinsed herself a second time, turned off the water, and tossed on a towel. In the guest bedroom, she rummaged through the closet. Everything in there was a size too large, but it got the job done.

She crawled back under the covers and dose off for hours. Her arm was feeling better, but she still couldn’t do much heavy-lifting.

She was about to slip into a nap when a knock came from the door.

“Sweetheart?”

Her heart did a little flip.

“Uh…” was her very flirtatious response.

Adrian opened the door. He didn’t look like himself. Instead of having an easygoing smile on his face, his jaw was gritted and eyes focused.

“What’s wrong?”

He scratched his jaw. “I have to go down to the city. Something came up in the office and it will take a day or two to repair. I’m sorry. I really wanted to take you on your vacation.” His shoulders slumped. “I just can’t seem to catch a break, huh?”

It hadn’t occurred to her that he was having a hard time as well. He didn’t expect this weird connection with her, or the drama that ensued.

She’s suddenly reminded of the text she read on his phone days ago.

“Adrian?”

“Yes?”

“Um… did your mother pass away? I saw a message the other day…”

He blinked once, twice, and then his gaze drifted. “Yes, but we were not close.”

“I’m very sorry,” she told him genuinely, already swinging her legs off the bed. Hell, she didn’t have a mother either. She knew what it was like.

Adrian probably got little time to grieve. There was always so much to do. She couldn’t imagine what it was like running this place.

She stood and padded to him. Awkwardly, she reached up and touched his bicep in an act of support. Electricity crackled between them.

Their relationship was a braided knot of nonsense, but that strong thread of connection was still there. It bothered her to see him unhappy, and Adrian seemed to feel the same— if not stronger, for her.

He covered her hand with his, looking at her so intensely that she was sure she would drop dead and meet his mother in the next life.

“I will try to get this fixed as soon as possible.”

“I told you I don’t want an island. Hell, I don’t really want to travel, either. Being here is fine for a few weeks. But after that, you will have to figure out this Council stuff. I have to return to my life.”

He nodded, but she wasn’t sure if he heard. “I will be in my office getting some things done.” His lips curve with a smile. “You can roam the house and go hunting for more of my underwear if you’d like.”

Her mouth gaped, and he kisses her fallen chin before leaving her standing at the doorstep.

As he offered, she peeked into the rest of the house. There was no torture chamber or anything exciting, only more bedrooms, a gym, and a library.

She stopped by the kitchen. There wasn’t much in the fridge. Adrian must not be much of a cook and got food delivered daily.

Using the few ingredients she found, she threw together sandwiches for both of them and then retired to her room. With a yawn, she pet her full belly and crawled into bed.

The sound of a wolf howling stirred her awake in the dead of night. It was an eery sound full of anguish.

Her eyes first find the clock. It was six in the morning. She looked at her door next and found light streaming into it from the crack.

Curiously, she stood and opened her door. Adrian’s office door was open, and the sound of shuffling papers came from within.

She crossed into his space and found him sulked over a pile. His hair was a mess, and his eyes hazy.

“Did you wake up early?” she asked.

His eyes found her, and he took a second before replying, “yes.”

Eva knew better, though. She knew he stayed up all night to work, and was lying to avoid worrying her.

“How is work going?”

Adrian shook his head. “Not very productive. I still have to go down to the city, which I was trying to avoid by getting work done. I don’t…” he sighs. “I don’t want to leave you behind.”

“Why don’t I come with you?”

The words surprised her.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You will be bored and alone in some penthouse.”

A crazy part of her wanted to be close to make sure he got to sleep. She was getting too attached, too quickly, and she blamed the squeeze in her chest that she felt whenever she so much as looked at him.

“I’m sure.”

His back slammed against the back of his seat, and he smiled.

“Are you tired?”

“No. I have good stamina. My eyes are just irritated for staring at numbers for so long.”

“So you admit you haven’t slept all night?” Eva glared.

His legs spread, and his forearms swallowed the armrests. He looked like a king on a fucking throne, and his lap was beckoning her.

“So what? Are you going to slap me on the wrist?” he chuckled. “You’re the only one in my territory that would get away with laying a hand on me, Eva. I welcome all of your touches. Violent or not.”

It was getting hot in there.

“If you want to draw blood by scratching your nails down my back, then by all means—”

Eva found what remained of her backbone. She marched to his grand desk, took the pile of papers he was studying, and walked off with them. “Get some rest! I’m confiscating these until you sleep.”

Footsteps followed her, and giant arms spanned her waist. They picked her up, papers and all, and took her back to the office. Adrian sat down and settled her on his thighs.

She stared wide-eyed at the digits in front of her as Adrian picked up a pen.

“At least now this work is bearable,” he breathed against her cheek.

Eva remained rod-straight as he palmed her thigh with one hand and wrote with the other. She buzzed with awareness everywhere. Having Adrian wrapped around her wasn’t unpleasant. It was just… a lot to process.

a'n: I'm going to end this badboy in about 10 chapters. Hopefully I wrap it up well