17: Bound by Desire

17: Bound by Desire
Ellie’s POV

My fingers trembled as I reached for the zipper at my back.

Adrien’s eyes never left me.

His patience stretched impossibly thin, evident in the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers flexed at his sides as if holding back the urge to strip me himself.

The weight of my decision settled over me like a heavy cloak.

The echo of the door slamming behind Liam still rang in my ears, but the second Adrien’s hands brushed my hips, the outside world faded.

I sucked in a sharp breath as he leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. "You hesitated," he murmured, his voice smooth, controlled. But there was something beneath it, something darker. "Why?"

I shivered. "I—"

"Because you still think you have a choice." He sounded amused, his fingers dragging slowly down my spine, tracing every inch of exposed skin. "That’s cute."

I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribs.

His hands settled firmly on my waist, pulling me flush against him. "But you don’t," he continued, his tone turning possessive. "You made your decision the moment you told Liam to leave."

He wasn’t wrong.

I had made my choice.

But then why did it feel like I was standing on the edge of something dangerous?

Adrien’s fingers trailed lower, teasing, deliberate. "Still thinking about him?"

"No," I whispered, and it wasn’t a lie.

He hummed in approval, his grip tightening as his lips found the sensitive spot on my neck.

I gasped, tilting my head instinctively, my hands fisting into his shirt as a quiet ache built inside me.

Everything about him was overwhelming—the way he touched me, the way he owned the moment, the way he made it impossible to think.

Liam was a fading thought.

Adrien?

He was a force I couldn’t escape.

And the truth was—I didn’t want to.

Adrien’s POV

She was mine.

Even if she didn’t want to admit it yet.

I could feel the war waging inside her, the push and pull of what she thought she should do versus what she wanted.

Her body betrayed her every time.

The unsteady rise and fall of her breath. The hesitation before surrender.

Ellie was always fighting herself.

I loved that about her.

But I loved it even more when she lost.

My fingers slid up her thigh, slow, teasing. "You like making me wait, don’t you?"

She exhaled shakily, a soft tremor running through her.

"I’m not—"

I chuckled. "Lying doesn’t suit you, sweetheart."

Her lips parted as if to argue, but I silenced her with a kiss.

Slow. Deliberate. Designed to unravel her piece by piece.

She melted.

Just like I knew she would.

But just as I was about to push her further, my phone vibrated against the table.

I ignored it.

Ellie, however, pulled back slightly. "Maybe you should—"

I caught her chin between my fingers, tilting her face up to mine.

"Do I look like I care about that right now?"

She swallowed, eyes flickering with hesitation.

I smirked. "That’s what I thought."

But the phone didn’t stop.

I exhaled sharply, grabbing it without breaking eye contact.

"Talk."

Lucien’s voice came through the speaker, his tone clipped. "We have a problem."

Ellie stiffened in my arms.

I didn’t let her go.

"What kind of problem?" I asked, already feeling my patience thin.

Lucien hesitated—just briefly, but long enough to make me take notice. "Liam isn’t backing down. He’s digging into your contract with Ellie—"

I laughed, low and dark. "Let him dig. He won’t find anything he can use."

"Maybe not. But he’s not doing this alone."

That got my attention.

Lucien continued. "A woman. I don’t have a name yet, but she’s got connections."

I glanced at Ellie, watching the way she stiffened, how her nails pressed slightly into my arms.

A woman?

There weren’t many people who would dare interfere.

Except for—

"Lady Blake," I murmured.

Lucien exhaled. "That’s my guess, too."

I rolled my shoulders, tension creeping in like a slow poison. "Find out for sure and deal with it."

Lucien hesitated. "And Liam?"

A smirk tugged at my lips. "Let him try."

Ellie shifted in my arms. "Adrien—"

I pressed a finger against her lips. "Not now, sweetheart."

She frowned but didn’t argue.

Good girl.

I ended the call and set the phone aside.

Silence stretched between us.

Then, Ellie stepped back. "I should go."

I arched a brow. "You’re not going anywhere."

She folded her arms, her eyes sharp now, full of fire. "Adrien, I don’t think you understand how serious this is. If Liam—"

"Do you trust me?"

She froze, her breath hitching slightly.

That hesitation?

I didn’t like it.

"Ellie." My voice was softer this time, coaxing.

She licked her lips, her gaze darting away before returning to mine. "I…"

I exhaled, stepping closer, brushing my fingers along her jaw. "You should."

Her breath came out shaky.

"I told you from the beginning, sweetheart," I murmured, my grip sliding lower, possessive. "I don’t lose."

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "This isn’t a game, Adrien."

I smiled. "Everything’s a game."