Off Guard (2 page)

“Tell me you believe me. Tell me you’ll stop blaming yourself.”

“Hadrian—”

      “Tell me,” he commanded.
 

      When he used that tone, there was something about it that made her unable to resist. She said tremulously, “I’ll try.”

      He wanted to argue and tell her trying wasn’t enough, that she had to understand the asshole wasn’t worth one drop of her tears. But this was Gabby – a girl who had such a big heart she almost gave herself heart pains for crying so hard when she was young and had visited a retirement home for the first time. It had appalled her when she realized that the majority of its residents had no loved ones visiting them.

      That was the kind of girl Phillip Blakely had thrown away.

      Fucking asshole.

****

She watched him drive, the sight of Hadrian so confident and graceful in the way he handled the wheel somewhat soothing. She remembered how furious and hurt he had been when she had gone against his wishes and taken driving lessons. Hadrian never admitted it, but she knew he was frightened he would lose her the same way he had lost his parents.

      She had thought he would eventually get over his fear, but he had not – and he also didn’t speak to her for a long time. In the end, they had reached a compromise – for as long as he would be able to drive her, then he would. She could only get behind the wheel if he was unavailable.

      And being his usual sneaky self, Hadrian had made sure he would always be available.

      “Stop staring at me,” Hadrian muttered. He didn’t care if the whole world stared at him. He was used to that and he knew half the reason wasn’t even because he wasn’t so terrible looking. Virtually everyone knew he was the sole heir to the billion-dollar fortune his parents left him with, and
that
was the primary reason everyone gave a shit about him.

      Well – almost everyone.

      Gabby was different, had always been so, and he wished to God there was a way he could make her realize he was
the
one for her. Every time she looked at him for longer than a second, Hadrian would feel unnerved – he did not want her to accidentally realize how much he wanted her.

      Gabby blinked, realizing belatedly that she
was
staring at him. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking about…well, driving,” she confessed.

      “I won’t let you back out of our deal.”

      The growl made her smile a little. “I’m not, don’t get mad,” she said soothingly.

      “Then what exactly were you thinking about?”

      “Just that…you drive well,” she said lamely. She just couldn’t make herself say the truth, and that was how she had absent-mindedly admired the way the muscles in his arms became well-defined as he turned the wheel or how beautiful his profile was when she was looking at him from the side.

      He frowned at her.

      She hurriedly changed the subject. “Where are we going?”

      “I figured you’d want to go home.”

      She thought about it then shook her head. “No. I want to go to your dorm.” She couldn’t bear it if her parents saw her now. One look at her face and they’d know. One look at their faces and she’d break down again.

****

When they reached his dorm room, he locked the door without a word, swept her up in his arms, and dumped her on the bed.
 

“Hey!” Gabby protested.

He followed her on the bed and still without saying anything, he hauled her close then pulled the covers over them. “Don’t think.”

Oh.

Slowly, she relaxed against him. This was how he had comforted her all those nights when she had been alone at home, her parents away on a business trip and the storm raging outside her bedroom.       She snuggled close to Hadrian. “Thank you,” she whispered. Again, the tears started to fall. “What’s wrong with me? Why couldn’t he like me?”

“Because he was an ass.”

He tipped her chin up. “Any guy in his right mind would want you, Gabby.”

“He didn’t.”

“He was an ass.”

She suddenly pulled away from him. Lifting herself up somewhat and staring down at him, she said, “You don’t.”

He blinked.

She blinked too, as if only realizing what she had just said.

He could not believe she had said that. She had
never
said anything like that to him – never anything that could lead to anything outside their friendship.

When she opened her mouth to speak, he knew she would take it back, would do something – anything – to prevent it from getting awkward.

Hadrian heard himself saying, “How do you know I don’t?”

Her lips parted in shock at Hadrian’s words, and the dark driven tone of his voice made her shiver involuntarily. The way he was looking at her now was…disturbing, making her body extra aware of how close they were, how hard he was, and how hot she was feeling.

Oh God, what was happening?

His eyes were partially hooded, but they were gleaming in a way that made her swallow. What was happening? The question played in her mind over and over. But even as it did, she could feel herself bending towards him, reaching out to touch his cheek with one shaky hand.

She didn’t know why she was touching him.

She just…wanted to. She just suddenly felt that she had to touch him and so…she did.

He captured her hand, his body shaking as well but only because he was doing his best to hold himself back and not frighten her away. His cock ached. His balls ached. His entire body fucking ached at the way she was staring so entrancedly at him – like she was really seeing him for the first time.

Her hand moved again and then she was tracing his lips. It was her first time to touch this part of his face, and it was softer and firmer than she imagined. It was…perfect.

Hadrian nipped her fingers.

“Oh.” She almost drew back in surprise, but the challenge in his gaze made her change her mind.

Locking his gaze with hers, he sucked on her fingers.

This time her ‘
oh’
was longer and filled with so much more longing.

And when her eyes closed, Hadrian became bolder. He wanted – needed – to kiss her. He pulled her down to him.

She landed on him with a soft gasp, every inch of their bodies touching each other. “Hadrian.” It came out as a breathless whisper.

He sank his fingers into her hair and pulled her down.

For a second, she could not believe it was really Hadrian’s lips covering hers. But the surprise faded, the pleasure devoured her, and she melted, literally, her body molding to his. He twisted them around and suddenly she was on her back, Hadrian on top of her. Her eyes opened in shock.

Their gazes met, and then he was kissing her more deeply.

Oh. Oh, oh, oh God, oh.

Her lips fluttered closed again, her arms went around his neck, and there was nothing to do but kiss him back. Her lips parted. His tongue dove in. And the kiss became even hotter, so much so that she just forgot to think, to breathe – she just wanted more of this.

He kissed her hungrily even as his hands roamed around her body. He wanted to groan at how utterly soft and perfect she felt under him. He made short work of her clothes and his, and she was whimpering so sexily against his mouth that he wondered if she realized they were both down to their underwear.

He lifted his head, knowing she needed to breathe.

Her eyes fluttered open and a second later, reality kicked in.
 

She gasped.

He didn’t say anything, just looked at her challengingly.
 

Gabby swallowed and bit her lip.

Dammit – it was time she learned what that little act of hers did to him.

With a low growl, he bent his head down again and sucked her lower lip – hard.

She gasped again, her body bucking against him.
 

Releasing her lower lip, he ravaged her mouth with another devouring kiss, swallowing her whimpers of surprised pleasure. He exerted force on her legs until they fell open and he settled on top of her, groaning against her lips as her mound nestled her cock.

“Hadrian.” It was the sexiest thing he had ever heard.

“Yes, baby,” he gritted out, looking down as he cupped her perfect little breasts. He slowly pulled the cups down, exposing her breasts inch by inch.

“Hadrian!”

“It’s as perfect as I’ve always imagined.”

“Hadrian!”

Ignoring her shocked cry, he bent down and nuzzled his face against her breasts.

She trembled hard, unable to believe how aroused she was. This was Hadrian. What was happening? But there was no time to follow that line of thought, not when Hadrian was cupping her breast, making her swallow, and then his head was moving towards her nipple—

She let out a shriek, body arching as a lightning bolt of pleasure struck her body at the feel of his mouth around her nipple. He laved it with his tongue, played with the tip, and nipped it gently between his teeth before sucking on it hard.

Oh…my.

She dug her nails into his shoulders, unable to stop herself from lifting herself towards him, wanting more of his kiss.
 

He obeyed the silent command, suckling on her nipple, loving the taste of it, before moving on to worship her other breast.
 

His fingers were moving down, tracing her belly, and making her squirm. She tried to pull away when she realized where his fingers were heading but it was no use, not with her legs spread eagled and Hadrian’s powerfully muscular body between them.

His fingers dipped inside her lacy underwear. Before she could draw another breath, he was tracing her folds sweetly and gently.

Her breath caught in a strangled choking sound.
 

Never…never had she imagined it would feel this heavenly. Hadrian was moving his fingers rhythmically now, stroking her like a pet. And then he was dipping one finger in.

“HADRIAN!” She could not stop herself from screaming. She didn’t care if everyone on the same floor heard her. It was unbelievable, the way just that one finger filled her to satisfaction. And then he started to move his finger, thrusting it in and out slowly. She moaned, gripping his shoulders tightly.

“Let go, baby,” he urged her as he moved his finger more rapidly inside her. When he felt her inner muscles contracting, her walls stretching to accommodate him, he slipped another finger inside her.

“Oh God!”

“Yes,” he hissed in satisfaction, staring down at her enraptured face and loving every moment. He moved his fingers even faster.

She began to move, matching his thrusts, lifting herself up as he drove his fingers in.

“Please…”

He slipped his third finger in.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah.”

He did not give her time to adjust. He thrust his fingers hard in and out of her, fucking her like it was his cock. Her cries became wilder, almost incoherent, telling him she was close.

“Hadrian.”

“Yes, baby, let go.”

“Please, Hadrian!”

“Now, baby, now.”

And because it was
that
tone, she could not help responding and submitting, could not stop herself from doing what she could to please him. And like always, what pleased him pleased her even more and she cried out as her orgasm took her over the cliff, her body shaking and pouring out her release, drenching his fingers.
 

All the while he held her, gazed at her, and God he wanted her even more now.

When she opened her eyes, they were confused, with just the hint of fear.

No. Fuck no! He would not let her retreat to a safe distance and use their friendship as a barrier again. Hadrian withdrew his fingers, the loud popping sound making her blush. He touched her clitoris very gently.