CHAPTER 44: HOW YOU SEDUCED ME

Bianca had no idea that her actions earlier had left a man feeling utterly miserable. Thankfully, Adrian had a high alcohol tolerance, so he wasn’t as drunk as the woman he was now watching. He couldn’t even imagine what would’ve happened between them if he had been as out of it as Bianca.

"From now on, you’re not allowed to get drunk in front of anyone but me," Adrian said softly, not realizing how possessive he sounded.

He smiled a little when he saw Bianca’s brows pull together, her face scrunching slightly in her sleep. "What are you dreaming about, huh?" he murmured, his voice gentler now. He wanted to reach out and touch her cheek—but stopped. For a moment, he just looked at her.

The red wine she drank made her lips look even redder and more tempting. Adrian had to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment, afraid he might lose control and kiss her.

Suddenly, as a soft little moan escaped her lips, Bianca shifted around, looking for warmth. When she found it—Adrian’s body—she hugged it tightly. Once she settled into a comfortable position, a small smile appeared on her lips.

Adrian, now frozen stiff from her sudden movement, could only curse silently, his heartbeat quickening. It seemed like he wasn’t going to get any decent sleep tonight.

Resigned to his fate, Adrian lowered his head, a helpless smile forming as he looked at Bianca’s peaceful sleeping face. A strange warmth spread in his chest.

"Woman, you drive me crazy."

***

The next morning, the moment Bianca opened her eyes, she let out a scream that startled Adrian, who had only just fallen asleep after staying up all night.

"What are you doing sleeping here?" Bianca asked, quickly pulling herself away from him, her heart pounding like crazy.

She was beyond shocked. The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Adrian’s handsome face—and even more shocking, she’d apparently fallen asleep in his arms. Her cheeks burned as the realization sank in.

She hurriedly checked her body and clothes. When she saw everything was still intact, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Adrian, still half-asleep, rubbed his eyes before turning to face her with a groggy frown. "You forgot, didn’t you?" he asked with a hoarse voice, his lips curling into a faint smirk as if he found her panic amusing.

"Forgot? Forgot what? What happened?" Bianca shot him a suspicious look, her eyes narrowing slightly as confusion and panic flashed across her face.

Her defensive reaction triggered that familiar teasing side of Adrian, a side of him that never came out with anyone else.

"You forgot that you asked me to sleep with you?"

He gave her his signature smirk and stared at her closely, clearly enjoying her flustered state.

"W-what? When?" Bianca stammered, completely flustered, her cheeks instantly turning red.

That killer smile of his completely messed with her head. His husky morning voice and messy hair made it impossible for her soft heart not to appreciate the ridiculously attractive human in front of her, even as she tried her best to maintain a glare.

"Last night."

Bianca was stunned.

"Yesterday?" she repeated slowly, trying to recall.

"Mm. Yesterday, you felt bad seeing me on the couch... and let me sleep next to you."

Adrian’s voice is low, almost teasing. His eyes glance at her, catching the slight pause in her movement.

Bianca remembers that. She remembers offering Adrian the bed out of guilt for making him sleep on the couch. But what confused her was—how did she wake up in his arms? What happened last night? A wave of questions fills her mind.

"I remember that. But how did I end up... mm... how did I... I..." The words she wants to say get stuck in her throat, and her cheeks start turning red. She lowers her gaze, embarrassed and unsure.

Adrian shifts to his side, propping his head up with his left hand, and shoots her a teasing smile. His eyes gleam with mischief.

"Are you trying to ask why you were hugging me, or why you woke up in my arms?"

Bianca’s eyes widen. Her heart skips a beat, and Adrian’s comment makes her want to bury her face in embarrassment. She clutches the blanket tighter.

"We didn’t do anything... inappropriate, did we?" she asks, almost in a whisper.

"Not we. You," he replies, his smile getting wider.

"What? Me? What did I do? I didn’t do anything weird to you, did I?"

She vaguely remembered Adrian suggesting they play some kind of game that involved drinking wine. But—damn it. Alcohol was her worst enemy. When she got drunk, she couldn’t remember a thing. Her stomach turned slightly at the thought.

Bianca’s reaction made Adrian chuckle, amused by her growing panic. "Well, if you don’t think touching my face and trying to kiss me is weird, then no... you didn’t do anything weird."

Bianca’s eyes widened in shock. Her jaw dropped, and she let out a small gasp. "What?! There’s no way I did that!" she denied, completely horrified, her hands flying up to cover her burning face.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, lowering his left hand from where it had been propping up his head.

"Should I remind you how exactly you were trying to seduce me last night?" he said with a playful tone, inching closer to her. He pushed himself up slightly, partially leaning over Bianca.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked nervously, crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes went a little wide as tension crept up her back.

Their bodies were so close now, Bianca could feel the heat of Adrian’s breath on her face. Her heart started racing wildly, so loud, she was afraid he might hear it. Her cheeks began to flush, and she stiffened, not daring to move an inch.

"What are you trying to do?" she asked nervously, her voice barely a whisper.

"Just trying to help you remember how you were seducing me last night." Adrian’s gaze locked onto hers—intense. It was the kind of look that made Bianca feel like he could devour her whole. She swallowed hard, her breath catching in her throat as the air between them grew heavier.

Without realizing it, Bianca swallowed hard.

***