The moment Adrian lifted his head, that bold, reckless defiance shining clearly in his deep grey eyes, the air in the opulent study seemed to thin. It wasn't just a look; it was a refusal to submit, an admission that Adrian's fear was a calculated mask, now discarded in favour of sheer, exhausted frustration.
Alexander forgot the rules he had just enacted, forgot the pen, forgot the unhygienic habits. All that mattered was the electric, undeniable tension that flared between them whenever Adrian let his guard drop.
"You're testing me, Mr. Cole," Alexander stated, his voice a low, warning growl. He was trying to sound angry, but the raw hunger he felt was betraying him.
