Ariana, Please.
I woke to the warmth of her skin against mine and the sound of her soft breathing, still a little uneven from what we shared. Ariana lay curled into me, one leg slung over my thigh, her hand resting just above my heart, like she was holding onto the beat itself. The room still smelled like her—roses and vanilla and heat.
I didn’t move at first. I just watched her.
The way her chest rose and fell. The way her lashes fanned out across her cheeks. The way the golden glow from the lamp painted her skin like silk.
God, she was stunning. Even more so like this—bare, relaxed, trusting.
I couldn’t stop the slow, satisfied smile that spread across my face. I dragged my gaze down the lines of her body, committing every inch to memory. My fingers itched to touch her again, to feel her warmth and hear her breath catch in her throat.
But then she stirred.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, and her eyes fluttered open. For a second, she looked up at me with that same wonder I’d seen earlier—that same raw, open vulnerability that undid me.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
She sat up slowly, slipping out from under the covers. Her bare feet hit the floor and she reached for her clothes.
The smile vanished from my face.
“What are you doing?” I asked, sitting up, my voice low but tense.
She didn’t look at me as she pulled her panties on, then reached for her skirt. "Getting dressed."
I frowned. "Why?"
Still nothing. Just the rustle of fabric.
“Ariana,” I said again, firmer this time. “Did I do something wrong?”
That got her attention. She turned to me sharply, brows drawn together. “No! God, no. Adrian, it’s not that.”
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, walking over to her. “Then what is it? You said—”
She grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me to her. Her mouth crashed into mine, urgent and consuming. Her fingers tangled in my hair, and for a second, all thought burned away in the heat of her kiss.
When she pulled back, we were both breathing hard.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” she whispered. “And now that I know you are, I need to go back.”
“Back?” I echoed, still reeling from the kiss. “Back where?”
“Home,” she said simply. “I need to check on my mom.”
I stared at her. “Ariana… it’s past midnight.”
“I know.”
“It’s not safe. Let me drive you.”
“I’m fine,” she said, reaching for her blouse. “I can handle it.”
“No, you can’t,” I snapped.
She smirked as she stepped close, her blouse still unbuttoned. Her hand slid down between us, fingers brushing over my growing arousal. I hissed, muscles tensing, as she gave a firm squeeze.
“Looks like you’re still alright,” she said, her voice wicked.
I growled low in my throat, grabbing her wrist. “That’s not fair.”
She leaned in, her lips brushing mine. “You’re adorable when you’re worried.”
“I’m not adorable,” I muttered.
“You’re everything,” she whispered. “But I still have to go.”
“Why won’t you let me take you?”
She pulled back and started buttoning her blouse. “Because if you do, I won’t be able to leave. And I have to.”
I watched her move, the confidence in her steps, the set of her jaw. She wasn’t running from me. She wasn’t afraid. But that didn’t make it any easier.
“You’re just going to leave after what we shared?” I asked, voice softer now.
She paused, turning to face me. “Hardin, what we shared tonight... it was everything. But that doesn’t mean I get to forget the rest of the world. My mom’s been on my mind all night. I just need to see her. Make sure she’s okay.”
I raked a hand through my hair. “Then let me come with you.”
“No.”
“Why the hell not?”
She crossed the room and cupped my face with both hands. “Because if you come, she’ll see everything written all over my face. The worry.”
I stared at her, jaw clenched. “I hate this.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But it’s just for tonight.”
She reached for her heels, slipping them on one by one.
I watched her, feeling a knot tighten in my chest. The bed still smelled like her. The warmth of her body was still imprinted on my skin. And now she was walking away like we hadn’t just changed everything between us.
She came over, rising on her toes to kiss me again. This time, it was soft. Sweet. Final.
“Don’t overthink this,” she murmured. “Please.”
I didn’t answer.
She gave me a small smile, then turned and walked toward the door.
“Ariana.”
She looked back.
“I meant every word I said tonight.”
Her eyes softened. “So did I.”
And then she left.
The door clicked shut behind her, and the silence that followed was deafening.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the space she’d just occupied. My body still buzzed from the memory of her. My heart pounded like it didn’t know what to do without her warmth beside me.
Fuck.
I grabbed the shirt she hadn’t worn and brought it to my face, breathing in her scent.
What the hell had just happened?
She’d kissed me like I was oxygen. Loved me like I was everything. And then vanished into the night like it hadn’t torn me wide open.
I should’ve stopped her.
Should’ve held her down.
But the truth was, I understood.
She was protecting her world. Her family. The people who came before me.
Still, it didn’t stop the ache in my chest as I sat back on the edge of the bed, staring out the window.
Chicago glittered below, the city alive and humming.
But all I felt was the absence of her.
And God help me, I didn’t know how long I could go without her again.
I laid back against the sheets, the place where her body had been still warm. My hand landed on the spot where her head had rested, and I closed my eyes.
Sleep didn’t come.
All I could think about was her.
The way she’d whispered my name. The way her body had trembled beneath mine. The way she’d made me feel like I wasn’t broken.
She was out there alone in the middle of the night, and I hated every fucking second of it.
I checked my phone. No messages.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
By the time it hit thirty, I was pacing the living room, running a hand through my hair like a lunatic.
Finally, I grabbed my keys.
Screw it.
I was going after her.
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