POV Emilia
Steam curled into the night sky, thick and heavy, the air smelling like chlorine and danger. I stood barefoot at the edge of the hot tub, arms crossed, my pulse thrumming in my ears. Adrian was already there, sunk back into the bubbling water, shirt discarded on the deck behind him. His eyes found me in the dark like they’d been waiting.
“You’re overdressed,” he said, his voice low and rough, echoing against the water.
“I wasn’t planning on joining you,” I shot back, though my feet didn’t move.
“Liar.” His smirk cut through the steam. “You’ve been staring at me like you’re dying to get in.”
I hated how right he was. My body leaned forward, my chest too tight, my skin prickling. “Maybe I just like watching you suffer.”
He tilted his head back with a low laugh. “Miss Hart, the only one suffering right now is you. Take it off.”
My throat dried out. “Ask nicely.”
“Fuck nicely.” He pushed forward in the water, the muscles in his shoulders gleaming. “Strip. Or I’ll drag you in fully clothed and rip every layer off myself.”
The threat lodged heat straight between my legs. I peeled my shirt over my head, fingers trembling, then shimmied out of my skirt. His gaze dragged over every inch of me, vulgar in the way he didn’t bother to hide it.
“Good girl,” he muttered, voice dropping like gravel. “Now get the fuck in.”
The water burned hot against my skin as I sank down, goosebumps colliding with heat. I sat across from him, trying to pretend the bubbling water and steam gave me cover. His hand shot out, fingers gripping my ankle under the surface.
“Closer.”
“I’m fine here,” I whispered, my voice betraying me.
His grip tightened. “I wasn’t asking.”
I slid closer, the water sloshing between us, until my thighs brushed his. His eyes flicked to my mouth, and that was it — his hand shot to the back of my neck and pulled me into him.
The kiss was brutal, desperate, his tongue sliding against mine like he wanted to own the air I breathed. I gasped against him, clutching his shoulders, water splashing around us.
“This is crazy,” I panted when he let me breathe.
“Shut up.” His mouth slammed back onto mine, biting, demanding. “You talk too fucking much.”
His hands roamed underwater, gripping my hips, pulling me onto his lap until I was straddling him, the heat of the tub nothing compared to the fire licking under my skin.
“You feel that?” he growled against my lips. “That’s what you do to me. Every goddamn day, walking around like you don’t know you’re mine.”
“I’m all yours,” I shot back, even as my body betrayed me, pressing closer, my nails raking his chest.
“Say that again,” he snarled, hand clamping down on my waist. “Go on. Say it while you’re shaking for me.”
The water bubbled violently around us, matching the frantic pace of my heartbeat. My breath caught when his mouth trailed down my throat, sucking hard enough to bruise.
“Fuck,” I moaned, tangling my fingers in his hair, tugging until he hissed. “Adrian—”
“Say it louder.” His teeth scraped my skin, his voice dark with obsession. “I want the neighbors to hear who you belong to.”
“Adrian!” The sound tore out of me, half-whimper, half-scream.
His laugh was wicked, sharp against my ear. “That’s right. Mine.”
His hands roamed harder, rougher, as if he wanted to leave proof everywhere, every squeeze a mark I’d carry tomorrow. The filth spilling from his mouth matched the chaos of the water splashing over the tub.
“You like this, don’t you? Being fucked in the open, steam rising, anyone could walk out and see. You’re dripping for me, Emilia. Admit it.”
I bit down on his shoulder, tasting salt and heat, too far gone to fight. “I want you,” I gasped, every word a confession dragged from my chest.
“You already have me.” His lips crashed into mine again, swallowing the sound. “You’ve had me from day one, Miss Hart.”
The world tilted, my body rocking against him, every nerve on fire. The water around us felt electric, the steam suffocating, and all I could hear were his filthy words in my ear.
“Come for me,” he ordered, voice hoarse, brutal. “Right here. Right now. Let go, Emilia. I want to feel it.”
His grip tightened, forcing me against him, relentless. The tension coiled sharp and unbearable, and my breath shattered into a scream I couldn’t hold back.
“Fuck!” I cried out, breaking apart, every muscle trembling, steam and heat swallowing me whole.
His mouth devoured the sound, his arms locking me down as if I’d disappear. “Good girl,” he rasped, kissing me hard, deep, like he wanted to drink the moment straight out of me. “That’s mine. Every last fucking bit of it.”
I collapsed against his chest, the water sloshing around us, my body trembling, my head pressed against the curve of his neck. He stroked the back of my head roughly, almost possessively, like he was staking a claim no one else could touch.
“You’re out of your mind,” I whispered, still breathless, voice shaking.
“Damn right I am.” His grin brushed my temple, his voice full of dark satisfaction. “And you love it.”