144: Unbelievably Annoying

144: Unbelievably Annoying
RUE

My stomach dropped. "Dad—"

The gunshot echoed through the air, the sound paralyzing me.

But Adrian had moved first. He was fast, reckless, and stupid. He shoved my father down, only to jerk back with a strangled hiss as the bullet tore into his arm.

"Adrian!" My heart stopped cold.

He staggered, clutching his arm, crimson already seeping through his sleeve. Not fatal. Not fatal. Not—oh God.

"You absolute idiot!" I was on him in seconds, grabbing his wrist and pressing my hand hard against the wound. His blood stained my fingers in no time. "What the hell were you thinking?"

He clenched his jaw, his teeth bared in pain, but his damn smirk still tried to fight through. "Thinking..." He winced, his eyes squeezing shut for a second. "...that I'd rather take a bullet than see you cry over your old man."

I wanted to slap him and kiss him in the same breath. My throat burned. "You're bleeding out in a parking lot, and you're still running your mouth?"

"Yeah," he muttered, his breathing shallow. "It's part of my charm."

Behind me, Dad was barking orders, his men scattering like trained dogs. I knew he was fine. Adrian had made sure of that. Which only made my chest ache more.

I pressed harder against Adrian's arm, my throat constricting. "You're not allowed to be charming right now. You really should shut up and stay conscious."

He tilted his head just enough to look at me, sweat beading at his temple. His voice was raspy when he spoke. "I'm the one who's been shot; why do you look so pale?"

My laugh came out shaky and broken. God, even while he had been shot, he was ridiculous. "Come on, Trouble."

His lips quirked slightly.

I leaned closer, glaring at him even as my chest caved in. "Stay awake. Or so help me, Adrian, I'll personally drag you back by the hair."

His chuckle broke into a hiss of pain. Still, he whispered, "My girl," before sagging into me, his weight heavy against my shoulder.

I clutched him tighter, my heart hammering.

And for one terrifying second, I thought he had passed out.

Then—thank God—he groaned, muttering curses under his breath. Typical.

Behind us, heavy footsteps approached. I looked up, bracing for my father's fury. The scolding. The lecture.

But instead...he crouched. His intense blue eyes scanned Adrian, then they lingered on my bloody hands.

For a second, I could've sworn that I saw something crack through his expression. Something softer.

He exhaled slowly, his voice low. "He took the bullet for me."

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening.

Dad's gaze lingered on Adrian, then on me. He nodded once. "Get him to the car. My men will patch him up.

That was it. It was only an order but it had the faintest trace of respect buried beneath it.

My chest squeezed. He wasn't saying it out loud, but I knew. He was aware of Adrian’s sacrifice.

So I met his gaze. "You don't hate him."

His jaw flexed. "I never hated him, princess."

Adrian groaned again, mumbling something about chocolate and cashmere scarves, and I almost laughed through my tears.

I held him tighter, whispering in his ear. "Hear that, Trouble? You've officially impressed my father. Don't let it go to your head."

His lips curved weakly. "Too late."

Of course.

...

By the time I got him into my car, his wound had been patched. I drove like a maniac, my eyes darting between the road and Adrian, who was slouched in the passenger seat.

"Stay awake," I snapped for the hundredth time. "If you pass out on me, I swear I'll resurrect you just to kill you myself."

He chuckled and tilted his head toward me. "Relax, Ruin. It's just my arm. I've gone through worse."

I shot him a glare. "You were literally bleeding on me, Adrian."

His grin was lazy, infuriating, and somehow still gorgeous. "Yeah, but I was being dramatic. Gotta keep you on your toes."

I scoffed, my chest still too tight. "You're unbelievable."

"Unbelievably handsome?" he asked, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. "Unbelievably annoying."

"Same thing," he murmured, leaning his head back against the seat.

For a moment, it was quiet. Just the hum of the engine and my pulse hammering in my ears. Then, suddenly, he spoke in an urgent voice.

"Rue. Pull over."

My heart jumped. "What? Why?"

"Just do it. Park the car. Now."

His tone left no room for argument. My stomach twisted, but I yanked the wheel and pulled over. Then I turned to look at him with wide eyes. "What the hell is going on—"

But before I could finish, he leaned across the console, his good hand sliding to the back of my neck. His lips crashed against mine, stealing the words along with my breath.

For a heartbeat, I froze. Then my chest ignited, everything narrowing until there was only him, his warmth, and his taste.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his grin soft and devastating all at once.

"I've wanted to kiss my girlfriend since I saw her today," he whispered. "Didn't want to wait another second."

Girlfriend.

Heat shot through my cheeks, my hands gripping the steering wheel.

"You're ridiculous," I whispered, my voice shaking.

He smirked, his eyes glittering even through the pain. "Yeah. But I'm yours."

Then he claimed my lips again.

I fumbled blindly, hitting the window button until the glass slid up, sealing us off from the world. Privacy was necessary. Because when Adrian's hands were on me, I forgot how to breathe, let alone behave.

He tugged me across the console like I weighed nothing, pulling me into his lap despite the fact that he was the one with a bullet wound. I started to protest, but then his mouth devoured mine, and every thought went to hell.

His lips were hot and hungry, stealing every gasp I gave him. I clutched at his shirt, trying to keep up, but his kisses were sizzling.

His hand slid up, his fingers slipping beneath my skirt. I jolted, a moan slipping from my lips.

He groaned against my mouth. "Fuck, Rue...I love that you wear skirts all the time."

My skin burned where his palm rested against my thigh, his touch hot enough to make me squirm.

"Adrian," I gasped.

His answer was another kiss, deeper this time, his teeth catching my lip.

His hand skimmed up under my shirt, his rough palm dragging higher until he found bare skin. His breath hitched.

"No bra?" His voice dropped by an octave, his green eye glinting.

"Shut up," I gasped, but then his thumb brushed over my nipple, and my back arched.

He groaned, his head tipping back against the seat. "Oh, Rue...you're going to kill me."

His free hand cupped my breast, stroking my nipple.

Heat coiled in my stomach, every nerve sparking as I moaned feverishly.

"That sound," he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. "Do you know how long I've wanted to hear it again? My girl moaning in my arms."

My body shook with every kiss he left down my neck, my fingers digging into his shoulders.

I tried to speak, tried to tell him he was injured and should be resting, not making me a mess in the front seat of the car. But then his mouth claimed mine again, rough and hungry, and my brain completely shut down.

His tongue tangled with mine, his hand slipping just high enough under my skirt to make me shiver violently. I pressed against him without thinking, my hips shifting in a rhythm I couldn't stop.

He moaned, his hand splayed wide across my thigh, holding me exactly where he wanted me. "Ruin...don't stop. Fuck yes, don't stop."

Heat burned through me, dizzying and terrifying. I was kissing him back just as hungrily, my moans muffled against his lips, my entire body trembling.

His fingers slipped past my lace panties, slow at first, then harder and deeper, until my hips were grinding shamelessly against his hand.

"Adrian...yes—" I gasped, my head falling back.

"Say it," he growled, his mouth hot on my throat. "Say you're mine."

The words tore out of me right away. "I'm yours…Adrian, I'm yours—"

That was it. Raw pleasure ripped through me, my body clenching around his fingers, my moans muffled against his lips as he kissed me through it.

After my climax, Adrian's forehead rested on mine, both of us panting like we'd just survived a hurricane. His fingers were still tangled in my skirt, his chest heaving under me.

"Penthouse," he rasped. "We're finishing this at the penthouse. No interruptions."

My lips curled into a wicked grin. "You better keep that promise."

Sliding back behind the wheel, I fixed my hair with shaky hands and cranked the music up, my face flushed as I slammed my foot on the gas.

Adrian's hand never left my thigh, his thumb rubbing lazy circles that had me squirming all the way across the city.

When we arrived at the penthouse, we were greeted by an uncanny sight.

A bright red envelope was taped to his penthouse door.

Adrian froze, his whole body going still under my touch. The easy smirk vanished. His jaw tightened, his broad shoulders tensing.

My grin slid right off my face.

"...Adrian?" I asked softly, concerned.

He didn't answer. He just reached for the envelope, staring at it as if it was a bomb.