Adrian Castle watches my every move as I untuck my feet out of the brown sandals, one after the other, before disposing of them aside. I can feel my blood thumping through the vessels at quite a speed, but it's neither from excitement nor from fear.

What is it then? My thoughts are easily interrupted by him when Adrian clears his throat. I glance briskly at him, and the subtlety of his impatient glare resembles a hungry predator waiting keenly for its prey to relax until he pounces on it.

Well... what a prey I am.

"Come here," he orders.

I suck in a sharp breath and do as he says. What next? Is this the part where he'll tell me to kneel before him and... No, Arabella. Stop! You're not Jane The Virgin so quit thinking!

"Closer, Arabella. I want you right here with me," he instructs upon my halted steps.

Right here with him? Inexplicable warmth spreads in me like fresh air in the lungs.

Seeing my hesitant stare, he grabs my hips and burrows me onto his lap. I fall in a soft thud, bulking my weight on his firm thighs. His one hand presses on my waist, and another rests across my knees. My breath quickens when our eyes meet.

"Bad day at campus?" he asks, easing me with the gentleness of his voice.

Will I ever catch up with the prominent flexibility of his moods?

I doubt so.

Nodding, I reply, "I have a lot on my mind lately. School, my brother, my..." My feelings that I don't understand and whatnot. I pause and his eyebrows knit together into a scowl. "I'm sorry. I don't want to throw my issues at you." I take a soft breath, glancing at him in a resigned manner.

"Does your brother give you more troubles?" he asks, seemingly so serious that a frown deepens on his forehead.

"I guess it's only natural at his age to be rebellious, right?" I release a nervous smile that fades instantly upon Adrian's non-verbal disagreement. "Yeah, I know it's just me wishing. I know. But seriously... I just hope he's not involved with anything that can put him in danger. That's all I'm worried about. It scares me a shit."

I feel his smooth pat on my thighs, but nothing intrusive to shift my emotions. When I look him in the eyes, a twinkle of concern regards me.

"Let me look into it," he says coolly. I part my lips slightly. "I know you don't want me to, Arabella, but if it disturbs you this much then I have to intervene however I see fit. You're supposed to focus on your studies. Exams are around the corner, and I imagine you have plenty of stuff to wind up academically. Correct me if I'm wrong."

Is he ever wrong? I just stare.

A sigh leaves his chest. "I have resources to know his every move: where he goes, whom he meets, and what he does daily. So let me help you with this." His voice turns more gentle as he says this, taking my breath away.

I nod my head, giving him my assent.

It's the first time someone has offered to share my responsibilities. It feels strange but in a good way; as if a slight burden is taken off my overloaded shoulder to the point of respite. My heart smiles at him, not knowing how long this bliss will last.

"I heard you're staying here for a little longer?" I blurt out about his phone conversation that I somehow eavesdropped on.

"Yeah." His hand resumes wandering on my skin, sliding teasingly on the junction of my knees as if they're searching for an entrance.

Unexpectedly, it sends a shrill through me.

"How long will you be staying here?" I ask him.

"Probably for another three weeks or so, depending on how fast the hotel bidding will take," he replies simply.

Well, our agreement will be invalid by then. He plans to only have me for three weeks and we're done. Maybe he needed a substitute for call girls that were to be changed from one night of pleasure to another. A thought crosses my mind.

"When you're done thinking, let me know so we can go out for dinner," Adrian mutters, derailing my train of thought. I give him a lame smile before dropping my head onto his shoulder and leaning to his side. His head drops rightward. "When you do that you're making it hard for me to let you go tonight; all I can think of is tearing your little dress apart, Arabella," he grumbles.

My heart rate increases. Why does that feel good and insane at the same time?

"When I do what exactly?" I whisper, taking in the warmth of his body and the smooth movement of his hand that's on my stomach right now, heading up to my breasts in a slow, agonizing motion.

I inhale his perfume, mingled with that unique scent of a man.

"Play the weak-and-depressed card," he answers. "It makes me want to do nothing but hold you tight until you beg to be released. You make me want to do so much, Arabella." He cups my one breast and squashes it with his big hand like ripened mango.

I suck in a breath, laughing at his blatant accusations.

"Why? You got a kink for damsels in distress?" I can't ignore the wrath of hormones sizzling within me at the feel of his caress and dirty connotations.

"Perhaps. A particular Damsel, however." He grins, tearing down the first front button of my dress with his fingers.

"What are you doing?" A thin whisper comes out, but I find no intention in denying him his pleasure.

Or my pleasure? Good Lord! I'm a goner.

"Trying not to tie and spank you tonight," he answers heavily and I feel his cock pulsating beneath me. "I still can't get out the image of you taking off your shoes as if you're heading for your death. Did you think I was gonna take you by force, Arabella? That I wouldn't understand that what you truly need right now is someone to talk to and not to fuck you?"

His words render a certain elation I can't quite name. He knows my needs. He wouldn't have me against my wishes. I should probably start differentiating between sadism and domination.

"I can't help feeling like I'm at your mercy all the time, Mister Castle," I say, and it's still difficult addressing him by first name. "I feel like–"

"Do I scare you, Arabella?" he deadpans.

Scare me? Maybe a little, but he's more intimidating than scary to me. He feels like fire—the same thing we need for warmth and light, even though it's very dangerous and deadly.

"Anyways, I believe you're tired after a long day. Now let's go for dinner so I can take you home," he says all of a sudden, ready to put me off his lap.

"No!" I recoil. His eyes crinkle, giving me a condescending look that's intriguing nonetheless. "I mean, I don't want to go yet. I want to..." My voice trails off and my breath quickens again.

I want him. Yes, I want him deep inside me just the way he did a few nights ago.

"You want what?" he urges patiently. I wet my lip, my cheeks warmer. "Say it. You want something from me, ask for it. It's a rule, Arabella, and I want you to remember it every time. I'll decide whether to give it to you or not, but you shouldn't hold it in."

Wow! He surely knows how to tame a lady—this kinky bastard!

"Okay. Fuck me," I say bluntly.

Just as I need it.

Amusement dances in his eyes, highly enticed by my plea. And why am I so horny all of a sudden, damn it? I was supposed to be feeling down and anxious. Not this!

"I'll give it to you, Arabella. I'm going to fuck you because you want it so badly right now," he says and attacks my lips instantly, laying a swift sadistic kiss that makes me yowl in pain, yet I grow addicted to it.

Grazing his hand over my breasts, he squeezes them together tightly, returning his mouth to mine at the same time. Excitement rushes inside me, flaming my carnal, turning my nipples itchy, and my clit engorged. The effect makes me want him even more, and I've never desired this strongly.

My lips soften in his mouth, and deeply he kisses me with passion. As his hand drops back to my knees, caressing my skin as if he possesses my whole body absolutely, he flaps my legs apart and similarly touches my inner thighs.

I feel my core wet, and even wetter when his hand clasps my underwear to slide in a finger. My ass grinds on his hardened erection, and he starts rubbing my center, sending arousal up to my brain. His mouth on mine, he aces both foul plays at once; kissing me while stroking me.

Damn! What is he doing to me?

"I want you to come this way, Arabella. I'm finger fucking you until I'm satisfied. And then I'll take you again in bed to my liking. Your pleasure will depend on mine only, are we clear?" he asks in that sexy dominant voice of his.

And I think I fucking love it. I don't care how he'll take me, as long as it's through the front door. I already told him about my preferences and he sanctioned it.

"Are we clear, Arabella?" he snaps this time, stroking me mercilessly with two fingers buried inside my arousal, until I start moaning repeatedly after muttering a yes to respond.

Fuck, it feels good! I close my eyes and crane my hand on his neck tightly. He wants me to come? Piece of cake! Like a tornado in the desert, I feel my world stirred around by the vortex of pleasure. This man is the end of me.