Chapter - 101 - We can do it quickly

EMMA

The sun barely rises above the horizon and I’m not surprised to find Hadrian already working out in the backyard. I sink down on the grass where the morning sun warms up my skin.

Today was supposed to be a day off, but Dex planned another training this morning. The announcement came twenty minutes ago. I figure that it must be really important if Dex dares the chance of beheading. I can practically hear Alex sharpening her blades.

My muscles are still aching from yesterday. My head pounds and it screams at me that we’re never drinking alcohol anymore.

I agree. Alcohol makes me do things that I shouldn’t. It makes me forget that I should keep an appropriate distance from Hadrian.

I hug my knees as I watch Hadrian push his body from the ground in repeated motions. I watch the sheen of sweat and how it glints in the morning sunlight. I watch how his muscles move beneath his skin.

His muscles are swollen and look bigger than a couple of weeks ago when he arrived. There is more definition in his biceps and the cords in his back.

A year ago I didn’t care for male muscles. They are just part of the human body, everybody has them. But there is just something about Hadrian's muscles. Like a puzzle or a map, it triggers my curiosity.

His hands are spread out in the grass and I think back on how his fingers worked me over yesterday, even if it was for a brief moment. I watch how he holds himself up with every push-up. I can just imagine myself under him.

“Do you want to fuck, little mate?”

I blink away the fantasy and find Hadrian watching me with a raised eyebrow and dark intensity in his eyes. He stops the push-ups and sits on his heels to face me. He reaches for the towel next to him and wipes the sweat from his face and neck. “We can do it quickly.”

“Stop it.” My skin burns under his gaze. I look around to see if nobody heard, but we’re the only ones on the field. The others must have a little trouble getting up as well.

Hot magma surges in my core. My mind is quick with procuring new fantasies and thinking through possibilities. In the alley along the side of the house, nobody ever comes there. It has a nice plastered wall.

“That isn’t a no,” Hadrian says with a smirk. I watch how a drop of sweat falls from his collarbone down his pecs and finds a way through the hills of his abs. It stops when it reaches the waistband of his shorts.

My eyes linger on the long, prominent bulge between his legs and I have to actively drag my head out of the gutter. “We can’t.”

Where is the girl who was aghast at the idea of having sex against a wall? When was she replaced by a tainted one who wonders how hard he can fuck me before I make a sound? The fact that we can’t makes the desire only bigger.

I shake my head and look away from him. “Yesterday was too close.” I know how persuasive Hadrian can be, but he has to understand the dangers. And maybe if I speak them out loud I will listen to them too. “It cannot happen again.”

I expect that I have to substantiate my motivation, but Hadrian surprises me when he agrees with me.

“I know.”

My mind trips for a moment before it catches up. “Then why are you suggesting it?” Resisting him is already hard enough without his suggestive teasing.

He stands up and that long gritty monster made for pleasure keeps drawing my eye as he walks toward me.

The people around me will be shocked and appalled if they know how many times a day I think about sex with Hadrian. Emphasis on *‘with Hadrian’*. I cannot imagine doing it with anyone else.

Hadrian sits down on the grass beside me. “Because I can see your skin simmer with heat, begging to be touched. I can smell you and it makes me hard.”

He’s close enough that I can feel his heat coming from him, but he doesn’t touch me. The draw to him is strong and seems to only get stronger every day.

“I think you should leave, this is too dangerous.” The words hurt to speak. They feel like poison in my mouth, but I don’t trust myself enough not to cave.

Hadrian is quiet for a moment. “I’m not leaving.” There’s no teasing edge anymore. He’s dead serious.

“What about the kingdom?”

Hadrian scoffs and rests his arms on his knees. “I’m not welcome anymore.”

This is news to me. “What happened?”

His features are stoic, but I can still see the hurt. “My father chained me in silver when I lost my strength.” He clenches his fists for a moment before opening his hand and revealing the lingering scar. “I escaped and threw the silver chains at him.”

“Oh shit…” I shake my head. “I mean shoot.”

Hadrian turns his full torso to me. “Are you cursing now too?”

“Uhm…” I’m definitely being corrupted.

The gold in his eyes simmers and darkens. “Hmm, It’s kind of hot.”

I have to tear my eyes from him before I lose control again. “Do you know what the plan is?” *Business, yes that’s safe.* If Hadrian is staying then he needs to know where he’s getting himself into.

“The plan where you want to infiltrate Sanguinem through the tunnels…” He speaks the words carefully and I feel caught. The guilt prickles at the back of my neck.

“With the map you stole from me…” He continues building the guilt inside me and I can’t look at him. I fear seeing disappointment.

I can’t handle Hadrian being disappointed in me. That part of me that wants to please him and seeks his praise is already crying.

“And shoot a silver arrow at my father’s heart when he makes one of his rare outside appearances.” There is silence and my eyes flit for a brief second to Hadrian.

He watches me and doesn’t show what he’s feeling. “Yeah, I know.”

“Sorry.”

"I'm in, Emma." Hadrian gives me a small smile. Hurt and guilt cloud his features. “My father needs to be stopped, but I don’t have the strength right now to challenge him.”

I place my hand over his and the tingles dance on my palm. The familiar calm wave flows through me and I can see his shoulders lose their strain. I embrace the feeling even though in the back of my mind the thought simmers that this shouldn’t be possible.

“If Dex is here, then he’d better start running,” Alex calls loudly as she appears in the backyard. Alex wears big black sunglasses and has one hand on her waist as she marches towards us.

I quickly pull my hand away and hug my knees. Alex removes her sunglasses and dark shadows are evident under her eyes. Other than that she looks stunning as always. Like a cover model for a sports magazine or something.

Alex pops down on the grass next to me and lets herself fall flat. She places her sunglasses back on when the sun starts to brighten up. She leans up on one elbow and we watch Kelsey jumping towards us while practicing backflips.

“Please tell me that I’m imagining the pink blur spinning upside down,” Alex asks when she spots Kelsey and lowers her sunglasses to double-check.

I tilt my head and watch the girl in pink. I pucker my lips. “Nope.”

Alex groans and falls back on the grass. “So not fair, then at least tell me that you feel half as bad as I do.”

“I do.” The headache still lingers under my scalp and gives continuous pressure behind my eyes. I guess my body doesn’t rapidly heal hangovers.

Kelsey pops down on the grass and casts us a wide smile. “Good morning, guys. The weather is so nice right?” Her voice is so bright and sweet and lacks any exhaustion.

“Fuck off.”

Kelsey giggles as she takes in the half-dead Alex before she puts her attention to me. “How did things go last night? We waited for you, but you stayed away for so long. We figured that you weren’t coming back.”

“What do you think happened?” Alex mumbles.

“So, are the rumors true? Does he really sport eight inches?” Kelsey wiggles her eyebrows and her eyes are shining, eager for gossip. She doesn’t mind the big werewolf sitting next to us.

Hadrian scoffs beside me. Alex hears it too and lifts her sunglasses to look at Hadrian. “You don’t think eight inches is impressive, Jack?”

“I actually fell asleep in my brother’s room.” I quickly say to draw her attention away from Hadrian.

Alex rolls her eyes and falls back on the grass. “Cheater.”

Kelsey starts chatting to Alex and I know Alex is tuning her out as she hums at somewhat appropriate times.

Hadrian leans in and I can feel his breath brushing over my ear. “Eight inches won’t give you any three-minute orgasms. We both know you need more.”

Flames burn in my core and cheeks at the memories.

“Are your hot flashes back again Emma?” Kelsey asks with a giggle.

Alex chuckles. “It’s not even the time of the month yet.”