made for eachother | {{Chris Sturniolo x fem oc}} ★

10 | Chapter Ten.

Chapter Ten, i admire you.

TIA HARPER

LOVE POTIONS - BJ LIPS, PRINCESS PAPARAZZI

Once we settled back at our table, the trio of Matt, Nick, and myself witnessed the simmering tension between Chris and Adam. 

Chris never mentioned Adam's name, but the air was thick with his unspoken threats. He subtly shifted his body towards me, creating a solid wall against whatever lingering attentions I might receive from Adam. I felt a rush of warmth in my chest, love bloomed in the heat of that protection.

As we finished our meals, laughter erupted around us, but I was hyper-aware of Adam's gaze, which traveled across my skin like unwanted fingers. 

Chris, unwavering, shot him a look that could silence the loudest rooms. I clenched his hand tighter, savoring the blend of fear and excitement as we stood to leave.

Suddenly, Chris turned back toward Adam with a resolve that startled me. Before I could register his intentions, he was striding over, his expression fierce, like a lion protecting its territory. 

I hesitated, heart racing, before the impulse to follow pulled me after him, leaving Nick and Matt behind.

"What's she doing here?" Adam sneered, an obnoxious grin spreading across his face. 

He stepped toward me, but Chris intervened swiftly, grabbing the front of Adam's shirt and pulling him aside, his voice low and menacing.

"I won't let you touch her," Chris asserted, his hands firm on my waist, anchoring me close and safe.

"Let's not pretend you have any claim over her," Adam shot back, his arrogance seeping into his words. My stomach churned at his derision. How dare he?

Before I could stop myself, I retorted, "I'm not a trophy to be claimed or discarded, Adam."

The words hung in the air; I could see Chris's chest heave with indignation as tension thickened. His knuckles brushed my skin, the electricity between us competing with the hostility of the situation.

From behind Chris, Adam laughed, a sound that ignited a fire in me. "Look at you both. This is pathetic. You think you can protect her?"

In a heartbeat, rage bubbled up within me. Chris felt it too. "Don't provoke her," he warned, glancing back at me, his steel-blue eyes flashing. I could sense the heat radiating off him—a mix of protectiveness and passion that made my heart race.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, a message from Nick and Matt checking in. Chris caught the movement, his expression shifting.

"Go wait by the minivan," he instructed, the command laced with urgency.

"Absolutely not," I shot back, unwilling to be sidelined. My frustration spilled over as Adam taunted us again.

"Look at you, caught in his little web. Pathetic," his mockery cut deep.

Chris's grip tightened on my waist as I felt the pulse of adrenaline, desire, and defiance coursing through me. 

"You're crossing a line, Adam," he growled, his voice a low rumble that sent chills down my spine.

As Adam launched another barb, all composure shattered within me. Chris's hands tightened protectively around my waist. 

Suddenly, I was both furious and utterly captivated; the danger and intensity of the moment amplified our connection. 

My anger flared, and Chris had to physically restrain me, his arms a barrier in more ways than one.

"Just walk away, Adam," Chris snapped, his voice low and dangerous.