Chapter 213: v2 - 32: the second test IV

Chapter 213: v2 Chapter 32: the second test IV

There was no warning.

No careful approach.

One moment she was speaking, and the next his mouth was on hers.

Marian froze.

Then her fingers caught against his coat.

For a heartbeat, she resisted.

She hadn’t expected him to do this.

But then she remembered.

He had come after her.

She had walked away from the palace, and he could have let her go.

Instead, he had sent his aide after her.

He had brought her here.

Something inside her softened.

Her fingers tightened against his coat.

She kissed him back.

Adrian’s hand moved from her wrist to her waist, drawing her closer.

The kiss deepened.

It was nothing like the composed man who had stood beside Lady Rosemont in the ballroom.

There was anger in it.

Frustration.

And beneath both was a hunger Marian recognized immediately.

He had wanted her to stay.

He had wanted her enough to come after her.

For a few seconds, she allowed herself to forget the ballroom.

Then she remembered why she had come.

She pulled back slightly, breathing hard.

"You can’t just—"

"I saw you with Julian."

Marian stared at him.

"What?"

"Tonight."

"We were talking."

"I know."

"He’s Clara’s brother."

"I know."

"Then why—"

"I didn’t like it."

She went still.

The answer was so simple that she almost didn’t understand it.

Adrian’s eyes remained fixed on hers.

"I didn’t like seeing you smile at him."

And suddenly Marian understood.

The jealousy.

The anger.

The reason he had approached Ophelia.

Her heart gave a small, startled beat.

He had been jealous.

Adrian had been jealous of Julian.

And somehow, despite everything, that made her feel better.

Because he had noticed.

Because it had affected him.

Because perhaps she had not imagined how much he still cared.

Marian’s lips parted.

"You were jealous."

Adrian’s expression tightened.

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t have to."

For the first time since she had left the ballroom, the hurt inside her began to loosen.

Not disappear.

But loosen.

Marian looked into his eyes.

"Then why didn’t you just come to me?"

Adrian’s gaze held hers.

"Because I wanted you to come to me."

Marian blinked.

"I was going to."

"But you didn’t."

"I thought you were busy."

"You could have come anyway."

Marian gave him a small, incredulous look.

"You wanted me to interrupt the Emperor while he was speaking with ministers?"

Adrian’s gaze held hers.

"I wanted you."

The words were quiet.

They struck deeper than anything else he had said that evening.

Marian went still.

He hadn’t said you could have interrupted me.

He hadn’t said I would have made time for you.

He had simply said that he wanted her.

And somehow, that answer was far more intimate.

Adrian’s hand remained at her waist.

He looked at her for a long moment.

He had already revealed too much tonight.

But there was still something he needed from her.

His gaze held hers.

"Tell me you’re mine."

Marian’s breath caught.

She understood what he was asking.

Not merely possession.

A choice.

Reassurance.

Something he could believe.

She lifted her hand and touched his cheek.

"I am yours, Adrian."

His eyes remained on hers.

"Only mine?"

She swallowed.

"Yes."

Something in his expression eased.

He leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers.

"Then prove it to me."

His voice dropped.

"Show me."

Marian’s face warmed.

She understood immediately.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

"Here?"

Adrian didn’t look away.

"Yes."

Marian glanced toward the garden beyond the pavilion.

"Right here?"

"Right here."

Her cheeks grew warmer.

"Right now?"

Adrian’s gaze remained fixed on hers.

"Now."

Marian swallowed.

There was no one else in the pavilion.

No one was watching them.

And Adrian had chosen this secluded place precisely because no servant or courtier would enter without his permission.

That wasn’t what made her hesitate.

It was the fact that he was looking at her as though he expected her to decide what came next.

He wasn’t going to tell her how.

He wanted her to choose.

Marian lowered her eyes for a moment.

She could feel the warmth in her face.

Adrian noticed.

Of course he did.

"You were much braver earlier."

Marian looked up sharply.

"That was different."

"How?"

She opened her mouth, then stopped.

She wasn’t going to explain that.

Not when he was looking at her like that.

Adrian’s expression remained unreadable.

He was waiting.

Not comforting her.

Not helping her.

Waiting to see what she would do.

Marian drew a quiet breath.

She had said she would prove herself.

She had chosen him.

Now he was giving her another opportunity to show it.

Slowly, she stepped closer.

Her heart was beating faster than it should have.

She lifted her eyes to his.

For a moment, she nearly lost her nerve.

Then she reached up, slipped her arms around his neck, and pulled him closer.

This time, she kissed him.

The kiss began tentatively.

Then his arms closed around her.

He drew her closer, slowly at first, until the space between them disappeared.

Marian felt the warmth of him through their clothes.

Her breath caught.

Adrian kissed her again, deeper this time, and she felt herself responding despite the nervous flutter in her chest.

His hand moved along her back.

Then paused at the fastening of her dress.

His fingers caught lightly against the edge of her corset.

Marian went still for half a heartbeat.

She looked up at him.

Adrian’s eyes were already on hers.

He didn’t say anything.

He didn’t need to.

The gesture was enough.

He wanted more.

And this time, Marian understood exactly what he was asking without needing him to tell her.

Her cheeks warmed.

But she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she tightened her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

Adrian returned the kiss for a moment.

Then he pulled away.

Marian blinked, her breath still uneven.

Adrian said nothing.

He simply looked at her.

Then he stepped back.

He turned and walked toward the bench built into the pavilion.

Marian watched as he sat down, one arm resting along the back of the seat.

He looked at her for a moment.

Waiting.

Marian’s heart began to beat faster again.

He had told her to show him.

And now he was making it clear that he meant more than another kiss.

Adrian said nothing.

He didn’t need to.

His gaze remained on her, calm and expectant.

Marian stood where she was for a moment, suddenly very aware of herself.

"Adrian..."

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

Marian lowered her eyes.

"You asked me to... show you."

Her cheeks warmed.

Adrian said nothing for a moment.

Then he leaned back against the bench.

"Then show me."

Marian looked at him.

He simply waited.

--

Tbc

AN: you know it, the next Chapter will be pure smut. I feel like I have a lot of pent up smuttiness writing spree in this. Well, it’s not that necessary to write all those but... hehehe...also it’s important for the plot! I mean this volume!