Beneath the Surface

Chapter 7: Lost Control

Amelia's mind was a whirlwind as she walked through the doors of Adrian's penthouse. She had no idea how she'd ended up here, but the tension between them had been building to an unbearable point. The events of the evening played on repeat in her head—the violence, the anger, Adrian's words. You're mine.

The thought unsettled her, but it also stirred something deep inside. She couldn't deny the heat that surged whenever he was near, the undeniable pull she felt toward him. But it wasn't just attraction. No, this was something else—something more complicated.

Adrian was standing by the window, his back to her. The city lights spilled across his broad shoulders, making him appear both distant and unreachable.

"You didn't have to bring me here," Amelia said, her voice low, though the words didn't carry the conviction she'd hoped for. She felt more exposed than ever before, walking into Adrian's world, his territory.

"I did," he said softly, without turning around. "You need to understand what's at stake here. You don't belong with him. You belong with me."

Amelia froze, her heart hammering in her chest. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Adrian slowly turned around, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her pulse race. His eyes were dark, the usual control slipping from his features. There was something raw in his expression, a vulnerability that unsettled her.

He took a step toward her, and then another, until they were inches apart. "You think I'm out of control. But Amelia..." He reached out, his fingers grazing the side of her face. "I can't stop this. I can't stop wanting you."

Her breath caught, and her body betrayed her. She couldn't pull away. She didn't want to. Not when he looked at her like that, not when his touch felt like fire on her skin.

"Adrian..." She whispered his name, but it was a plea, not a protest.

His face softened, but only for a moment. Then, something shifted in his eyes. The mask slipped completely, and his hand cupped her jaw, tilting her face up to his. "Amelia," he repeated, the words almost a growl. "You're mine. Don't you understand? No one else gets to touch you. No one else gets to have you."

Before she could respond, before she could even think, he kissed her.

His lips were demanding, unrelenting, and Amelia felt herself giving in—just for a moment. She let him take the lead, his kiss deepening, growing more desperate. His hands roamed to her back, pulling her flush against him, the heat of his body overwhelming her senses.

His kisses were possessive, his mouth slanting over hers in an almost frantic way. There was no gentleness in it, only need and hunger. He kept muttering between kisses, "You're mine. Only mine."

Amelia's hands curled into his shirt, her body betraying her every step of the way. She wanted to fight back, to demand answers, to demand respect, but all she could think of was the way his lips moved against hers, the fire in his touch, the way he made her feel like she couldn't breathe without him.

Adrian pulled back suddenly, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, his hands resting on her shoulders, keeping her close. His eyes flickered with something dark, something dangerous.

"Amelia, you don't understand," he said, his voice hoarse. "I've never felt this way about anyone. You make me lose control." He leaned in again, his lips brushing the side of her neck, his breath hot against her skin. "I can't let you go."

She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the sensations that were flooding her body. His lips trailed down to her collarbone, his hands sliding under her shirt, the heat of his touch searing her skin. She felt trapped, but not in the way she thought. No, this was something deeper. Something she couldn't fight, even if she wanted to.

Her breath hitched as his lips returned to hers, more urgent than before. He kissed her as if he were trying to claim her completely, his hands holding her in place, not allowing her to pull away. His body pressed against hers, hard and relentless, and Amelia could feel the tension that coiled in him, in both of them.

"Adrian," she breathed, her voice trembling. She didn't know what to say, how to make sense of all the emotions swirling between them. Fear. Desire. Confusion.

He pulled back, his eyes wild with an emotion she couldn't place. He was breathing heavily, his hands shaking as they ran through his hair.

"Tell me you want this," he whispered, his voice a rasp. "Tell me you want me."

Her heart slammed against her ribs, her thoughts clouded by the storm of emotions swirling within her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. The pull between them was too strong, too consuming.

"I want you," she whispered, before she could stop herself.

The words were like a spark, igniting everything inside Adrian. His hands gripped her waist, lifting her effortlessly as he backed toward the bed. His lips found hers again, more fiercely than before, as if he couldn't wait any longer, as if he feared losing her.

But as they fell onto the bed together, the intensity of the moment was interrupted by a single thought that flashed through her mind.

This was more than just a kiss. More than just desire.

This was a power struggle.

And Amelia wasn't sure if she was strong enough to win.