Ann couldn't sleep. The ceiling of the luxurious bedroom stared back at her like an empty canvas mocking her confusion. She could still feel Adrian's presence beside her, even though he had left the room hours ago.
She rolled onto her side, clutching the silk sheets tighter around her body. His scent lingered on the pillow—a mix of expensive cologne and something darker, more primal. The same scent that both comforted her and made her question her sanity.
What was she doing here? Loving a man like him? A man whose hands were drenched in secrets and blood? Yet her heart, stubborn as always, refused to listen to reason.
A soft knock echoed at the door, pulling her out of her storm of thoughts.
She sat up immediately. "Who's there?"
No answer. Just silence that seemed to breathe.
Ann slipped out of bed, the cold marble floor biting at her bare feet as she walked to the door. She hesitated, hand hovering over the knob. Then she turned it.
Standing there was Adrian. The Deadly CEO himself—shirt unbuttoned halfway, sleeves rolled up, eyes dark as midnight yet shimmering with something she couldn't quite name.
"Adrian…" Her voice was a fragile whisper.
He didn't speak. He stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and locked it with a soft click that made her heart skip a beat.
"I thought you left," she said, taking a small step back. He followed, shortening the distance again.
"I couldn't," he replied simply, his voice low, carrying an exhaustion she hadn't heard before.
"Couldn't what?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
"Couldn't leave you. Not tonight."
Ann swallowed hard. She wanted to touch him, push him away, kiss him—she didn't know which desire was stronger.
"Adrian, what is this?" Her voice trembled. "One moment you shut me out, the next you hold me like I'm your last breath. I can't keep doing this."
His eyes flickered with pain. "I know."
"Then tell me!" she pressed on, voice growing louder. "Tell me what you're hiding. Who you really are."
For a moment, she thought he would lie again. But he didn't. Instead, Adrian stepped closer until she could feel the warmth radiating from his chest.
He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. "If I tell you, you'll hate me."
"I'd rather hate you for the truth than love you for a lie," Ann shot back, surprising herself with her own words.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips, sad and beautiful. He leaned his forehead against hers. "You're braver than I am."
"Then be brave with me," she whispered.
Adrian pulled away slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "Do you know why my rivals fear me? Why even my allies hesitate to cross me?"
Ann's heart thudded wildly. She shook her head.
"It's not because I'm ruthless in boardrooms," he began, his fingers now resting on her neck, feeling her pulse. "It's because I know where every secret is buried. Every sin my father left behind, I cleaned it with my own hands. Every threat, I silenced it."
Ann flinched but didn't move away.
"I've killed for my family. I've lied for them. I've destroyed people who would destroy me first. And if anyone dares to touch you—" His eyes darkened into something feral. "I'll do worse."
Silence. Only their ragged breaths filled the room.
Ann felt the weight of his confession settle into her bones. It terrified her. It thrilled her. It made her understand him in a way she hadn't before.
"And me?" she asked softly. "What am I in all this?"
Adrian's hands moved to her shoulders, steady yet trembling. "You're the only thing that's not corrupted in my life. The only thing I haven't destroyed."
His words broke something in her. She pressed her palm against his chest, feeling the frantic beat of his heart.
"You think you're protecting me, but you're destroying me anyway. Piece by piece," she said, her voice cracking.
He kissed her then—hard and desperate. It wasn't gentle; it was a confession, an apology, a promise all tangled in one.
When he pulled back, they were both gasping.
"I'm sorry, Ann. I'm so damn sorry," he murmured against her lips.
She shook her head, her hands tangled in his hair. "Don't apologize. Just don't leave me in the dark anymore."
He nodded once, then scooped her up into his arms, carrying her to the bed like she weighed nothing. He laid her down, hovering over her, eyes searching hers for permission.
She gave it with a single nod.
His mouth found hers again, slower this time—like he was savoring every taste, every sound she made. His hands roamed her body with reverence and hunger mixed into one.
The past few weeks of tension, secrets, and unspoken truths melted away between heated kisses and whispered names. He was no longer the cold, deadly CEO in that moment. He was just a man—broken, desperate, and hopelessly in love.
Ann felt herself falling all over again, deeper this time, into the darkness he carried. And strangely, she wasn't afraid.
Their bodies moved together in a dance that was both familiar and brand new. She clung to him as if letting go would mean losing him to the shadows that always lurked behind his eyes.
Afterward, they lay tangled in each other, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound between them.
Adrian brushed her hair off her forehead, pressing a kiss there. "Sleep," he whispered. "I'm here."
Ann closed her eyes, but her mind refused to rest. She knew this was only the beginning. Now that she had demanded the truth, she would have to carry its weight.
She had no idea if she was strong enough for that.
But as Adrian's steady heartbeat lulled her closer to sleep, she decided she would try. For him. For them.