Chapter 27 Is this a confession?

Chapter 27 Is this a confession?
There wasn’t a single reply that Adrian could come up with after Rowan’s…was he supposed to consider it a confession?

What could he possibly say to that?

No one had ever cared for him, but it was fine because he didn’t expect anyone to. Least of all Rowan.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” Adrian turned to the window. “Maybe you’re just stressed.”

Rowan said nothing, he’d already done so much that was out of character for him. He was being sincere but he also understood why Adrian was hesitant.

After all, a couple weeks ago they were going at each other’s throats.

Still, he’d take care of him as long as he was still his. The ring on their fingers allowed him to that much.

Instead of driving home he stopped at a pharmacy. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

He picked up everything he needed to take care of the bruise on Adrian’s cheek. He couldn’t understand why Adrian sat there and let Rose hit him.

If the roles were reversed and Rowan was the one standing in front of Adrian, he would’ ve gotten punched in the face without a second thought.

Rowan didn’t realize he was smiling when he got into the car. Adrian cast him a cautious glance but said nothing as he drove them home.

“How did you know where I was?” Adrian finally asked as they rode their private elevator to the penthouse. “And how did you even get there so fast? Because it was only a couple minutes after I replied to your text.”

“I asked Elias. I was already on the way to pick you up.”

“What of the food? I’m starving.” Adrian kicked off his shoes at the door.

Rowan immediately picked them up and kept them on the shoe rack where the maid would pick it up later to clean.

“Delivery will be here soon.” He shed his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. “Come here, let me look at that bruise.”

Adrian waved him off. “It’ll be fine.”

Rowan said nothing in response. He just walked up to him and lifted him by the waist, carrying him straight to the bathroom.

“Hey! What the fuck are you doing? Put me down!”

Rowan put him back on his feet in front of the sink. “You never do anything I ask when I’m being nice? Can’t you behave for once?”

“What do you mean behave? Don’t talk to me like I’m a fucking kid!”

Adrian’s temper was becoming old but Rowan was getting used to it. He picked up the paperbag that contained the medication he had gotten from the pharmacy before going back to stand in front of Adrian.

“Sit.”

“Don’t tell me what to—”

Rowan put his hands on both sides of Adrian’s waist and lifted him up to the sink. He tried not to notice the slender curve there or how his hands fit perfectly.

A stunned Adrian watched in silence, probably because his heartbeat was pounding so hard it drowned out every sound around him. 

“Can’t you do something when I ask without protesting?” Rowan asked after he found his voice. 

He opened the paperbag, needing to concentrate on something else instead of Adrian’s amber eyes that were threatening to swallow him whole.

Rowan cleared his throat as he brought out the contents of the bag. He cleaned the bruise before applying a soothing balm.

“I’ll apply the anti-scar cream later at night,” Rowan said, putting everything away.

He hooked his index finger under Adrian’s chin, tilting his face to the side so he could get a better view. 

“I’m sorry for her behavior,” he muttered. “And she was lying about being my fiancee. For what it’s worth I take this marriage very seriously whether you think it’s fake or not.”

This whole thing was starting to feel serious for Adrian. He tried to turn away but Rowan held his face firmly in place.

“You really don’t have to. It’s not like we actually wanted to get married. After you’re done with the entire investor thing we’ll go our separate ways.” Adrian found himself stuttering under Rowan’s intense gaze. “Let’s just focus on making the movie—”

Rowan burst out laughing. “Your face is so red right now.” He leaned until he could feel Adrian’s warm breath on his face. “Do I make you nervous?”

Adrian felt his heart flutter behind his ribs, his breath coming out in soft gasps. “It’s not—”

“You’re cute when you want to be,” Rowan said, his cheeky smile disappearing when he realized he’d said that out loud.

Adrian didn’t have a comeback either, he was too busy trying to get his heartbeat to slow down before it would burst out of his chest.

“Uh–” Rowan finally pushed away, his hand falling to his side. “Let me go check on that food order.”

Adrian waited until he heard Rowan close the door to one of the rooms before he jumped down from the sink.

What the hell was that?

It felt like an entirely different person had come over Rowan.

First, he’d gone against his father’s orders for Adrian’s sake. Now he was defending Adrian and even caring for him. 

What was his deal?

Adrian found it hard to believe the man suddenly had a change of heart after hating him for years. 

Some days he couldn’t even remember how they’d become rivals, only that they both hated each other. 

Still—it gave Adrian the creeps. Even his own reaction didn’t make sense to him.

The usual anger he felt whenever the arrogant Rowan was within a feet of him was barely even there.

But…could he really let someone take care of him?

Trusting Rowan was like handing him a gun, pointing the nuzzle at himself and hoping he wouldn’t fire.

Even as he exited the bathroom he could hear Rowan giving the delivery guy instructions. What was he to do now?

Trust was a luxury Adrian never had the privilege of possessing. Could he really let his walls down for his supposed husband?