Pain And Pleasure 18+✓

Twenty-eight

Adrian Castle watches my every move as I untuck my feet out of the brown sandals, one after the other, before disposing of them aside. I can feel my blood thumping through the vessels at quite a speed, but it's neither from excitement nor from fear.

What is it then? My thoughts are easily interrupted by him when Adrian clears his throat. I glance briskly at him, and the subtlety of his impatient glare resembles a hungry predator waiting keenly for its prey to relax until he pounces on it.

Well... what a prey I am.

"Come here," he orders.

I suck in a sharp breath and do as he says. What next? Is this the part where he'll tell me to kneel before him and... No, Arabella. Stop! You're not Jane The Virgin so quit thinking!

"Closer, Arabella. I want you right here with me," he instructs upon my halted steps.

Right here with him? Inexplicable warmth spreads in me like fresh air in the lungs.

Seeing my hesitant stare, he grabs my hips and burrows me onto his lap. I fall in a soft thud, bulking my weight on his firm thighs. His one hand presses on my waist, and another rests across my knees. My breath quickens when our eyes meet.

"Bad day at campus?" he asks, easing me with the gentleness of his voice.

Will I ever catch up with the prominent flexibility of his moods?

I doubt so.

Nodding, I reply, "I have a lot on my mind lately. School, my brother, my..." My feelings that I don't understand and whatnot. I pause and his eyebrows knit together into a scowl. "I'm sorry. I don't want to throw my issues at you." I take a soft breath, glancing at him in a resigned manner.

"Does your brother give you more troubles?" he asks, seemingly so serious that a frown deepens on his forehead.

"I guess it's only natural at his age to be rebellious, right?" I release a nervous smile that fades instantly upon Adrian's non-verbal disagreement. "Yeah, I know it's just me wishing. I know. But seriously... I just hope he's not involved with anything that can put him in danger. That's all I'm worried about. It scares me a shit."

I feel his smooth pat on my thighs, but nothing intrusive to shift my emotions. When I look him in the eyes, a twinkle of concern regards me.

"Let me look into it," he says coolly. I part my lips slightly. "I know you don't want me to, Arabella, but if it disturbs you this much then I have to intervene however I see fit. You're supposed to focus on your studies. Exams are around the corner, and I imagine you have plenty of stuff to wind up academically. Correct me if I'm wrong."

Is he ever wrong? I just stare.

A sigh leaves his chest. "I have resources to know his every move: where he goes, whom he meets, and what he does daily. So let me help you with this." His voice turns more gentle as he says this, taking my breath away.

I nod my head, giving him my assent.

It's the first time someone has offered to share my responsibilities. It feels strange but in a good way; as if a slight burden is taken off my overloaded shoulder to the point of respite. My heart smiles at him, not knowing how long this bliss will last.

"I heard you're staying here for a little longer?" I blurt out about his phone conversation that I somehow eavesdropped on.

"Yeah." His hand resumes wandering on my skin, sliding teasingly on the junction of my knees as if they're searching for an entrance.

Unexpectedly, it sends a shrill through me.

"How long will you be staying here?" I ask him.

"Probably for another three weeks or so, depending on how fast the hotel bidding will take," he replies simply.