Tension didn't fade.
It built.
It lingered in every glance.
Every step too close.
Every moment that lasted just a second too long.
Kate felt it all day.
In the way Adrian watched her.
In the way he stayed closer than before.
In the way his hand brushed hers—accidentally.
Except it didn't feel accidental.
Not anymore.
"You're distracted."
Lena's voice cut through her thoughts.
Kate blinked. "What?"
"You missed that completely," Lena said, gesturing toward the knife on the table Kate had been supposed to grab.
Kate exhaled. "I'm fine."
"You're not," Lena replied. "You're thinking."
Kate shot her a look. "That's usually how that works."
"Not in this world."
Kate didn't respond.
Because Lena wasn't wrong.
Still—
Her mind kept going back to earlier.
To the way Adrian had looked at her.
To how close they'd been.
To how it almost—
"Focus," Adrian's voice cut in.
Kate turned.
He was already watching her.
Of course he was.
"I am focused," she said.
His gaze didn't soften.
"Then prove it."
Something in her snapped slightly.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Something sharper.
"Maybe I would be if you stopped hovering," she shot back.
Silence.
Lena looked between them.
Oh.
This was new.
"I'm not hovering," Adrian said.
Kate let out a short laugh. "You're practically breathing over my shoulder."
"That's because they're watching."
"And I can handle that," she said.
His eyes darkened.
"Can you?"
That hit.
Kate stepped closer.
"You saw me out there."
"I did."
"And?"
A pause.
"You did better."
Her jaw tightened. "That's not what I asked."
Another pause.
Then—
"You still got hurt."
There it was again.
Kate shook her head. "So what? That means I can't handle myself?"
"It means you're not untouchable."
"I never said I was."
Silence.
Then—
"Then stop acting like you don't need me there."
The words landed hard.
Kate froze.
"…That's not what I'm doing."
"It is."
"No," she said, her voice tightening. "I'm trying to stand on my own."
"And I'm making sure you don't fall."
They were too close now.
Again.
Too close.
Too intense.
Too much.
"I don't want to fall," she said.
"Then don't."
"I won't."
A pause.
"Even if you're not there."
That did it.
Something in Adrian shifted.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"You think I won't be there?"
Kate held his gaze.
"I think I need to know I'll be okay if you're not."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
"You won't be."
Her breath caught.
"Not yet," he added.
That was worse.
Kate stepped even closer.
"So what? I just stay dependent on you forever?"
His voice dropped.
Low.
Controlled.
"No."
A beat.
"But right now—"
His hand moved suddenly—
Grabbing her wrist—
Pulling her just slightly closer—
"You're not ready to be without me."
Her heart slammed against her chest.
"And you don't get to decide that," she said.
His grip tightened—just enough.
"I do when it comes to your safety."
Their faces were inches apart now.
Too close.
Kate's breath caught.
"Or what?" she whispered.
A pause.
Then—
His voice dropped even lower.
"Or I lose you."
That was it.
That was the truth.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
Real.
Kate's chest tightened.
Because suddenly—
This wasn't about control.
It was about fear.
About what he couldn't afford.
About what he refused to lose.
"You're not going to lose me," she said softly.
"You don't know that."
"I do."
Their eyes locked.
And this time—
Neither of them looked away.
"You don't get to carry that alone," she said.
"I'm not."
A beat.
"You're here."
Her breath hitched.
"And I'm not leaving," she said.
Another pause.
"Good."
The word came out quieter this time.
But heavier.
More certain.
Kate didn't realize she'd moved closer—
Until there was no space left.
Until she could feel his breath.
Until—
There was nothing between them.
Her gaze dropped.
Just for a second.
Then back up.
A mistake.
Because this time—
He didn't stop.
His hand lifted—
Brushing lightly against her jaw—
Tilting her face up just slightly—
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like he was giving her time to pull away.
She didn't.
Neither did he.
And then—
He closed the distance.
When his mouth met hers, everything else disappeared—the tension, the fear, the constant danger—all of it swallowed by the heat of the moment, by the desire, the hunger, and everything he had been holding back finally breaking free.
And this time—
She wanted the physical connection to happen, she wanted him to take over and stir up all of those needs until they came free.
He could sense her need it seemed.
Adrian took the kiss deeper than before and pressed his body against hers, trapping her against the door in the room.
this was it.. Kate thought
It was raw need and lust for the both of them. They surrendered to it together taking each other deeper.
She grabbed his white tank top and lifted it up over his head. And let out a sound of pleasure when she saw his chest and abs and felt his warm flesh against her hands.
He looked her in the eye as he got her out of her workout outfit.
They kissed again keeping in the moment.
They were both ready for this moment, they knew deep down they were.
He slid inside, with every inch she shuddered and rejoiced over the feeling.
She was wrapped around him tight when he was sheathed deep inside.
She let out a gasp as the slapped together. He watched her intently as they were finally connected as one.