Page 54 of Sold to Her Enemy

He lifts his hand from my leg, brushes it along my side, over my breasts, then slides his palm between my jaw and shoulder.

“Back then, I wasn’t great at changing plans on the fly. When I saw you there, I was furious. All I could think of is that you wouldn’t be there if you had ever said yes to me. You’d be at home–”

“Barefoot and pregnant?” I spit out.

“No,” Adrian’s hand claps down on my neck.

“Ow! Sorry,” I mumble because the stare he is giving me makes me feel bad.

“You know I’ve always supported your dream, Mckenna," The steel in his voice sends chills up my spine. He looks hurt and I want to soothe it. Because he’s right, he’s always cheered me on, at least before that day.

He loosens his grip, twirling a strand of my hair around his finger. “You’d be at home, getting ready for your next riding lesson or studying for your exams. I could have kept you safe from all of this, Mckenna. Don’t you dare think that doesn’t bother me. But maybe you hate me that much, and I’m stupid for thinking it could have been any other way with us. I guess that’s what went through my mind when I saw you in the boardroom that day.”

I swallow, reach for the water, sip, and glare at Adrian. “And now?”

“Now, hellion? I don’t know. I guess you can say that I am coming to new revelations. But that doesn’t excuse how I am still going to take out my anger on your ass. I want you to pay for that article and what you said to that reporter.”

I close my eyes, resting my head on the back of the seat. That article wasn’t supposed to go to press that way.

My whole life, I’ve been surrounded by titans of industry, rich assholes who had scandals in the media.

I knew not to trust a journalist, but when she came to see me, somehow tracking me down, I desperately needed the money, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make life better for my mother.

But Jana Whitters took that quote out of context.

“She was sent to me, Adrian. I didn’t seek her out. I didn’t say all the things she said.”

He puts a hand in the air, palm up, as if stalling my speech. “I can’t digest that now, okay? I need to get through this dinner.”

“Do you think this guy is good enough for her?” I smirk as I say it.

Adrian laughs. The sound is so soothing that I want to make him laugh again. “I’m happy she found someone. Let’s put it that way.”

I stare straight ahead, wondering how I am going to get through this confrontation.

He doesn’t know it, but we are headed right towards the person who made it their mission to keep us apart.

12 ADRIAN

Irun my knuckles over the soft skin of her cheek. “It gives me so much satisfaction to know I adjusted your mood just by having my cock in your mouth. Maybe I’ll make you suck me under the table while we eat dinner.”

Her lips part, she trembles under my touch. “Not even you would risk Ava’s wrath.”

I brush my palm along the curve of her shoulder and trace her lips with my thumb.

“You wouldn’t…not in front of everyone,” she whispers. She shudders, and I smile.

“No. But I’ll be thinking about it the whole time.” I bring my hand down and hold it against her breasts, the nipple covers soft against my hand. “Are your nipples tight under these covers?”

Her lips tremble, she bites her bottom lip, as if she’s forcing herself to be civilized. She straightens her shoulder. “I’m fine. Where are we going?” Her tone is sultry. I grin, conceding the small victory.

“Some kind of private estate. It has gardens and an art gallery.”

“It must have a piano or Ava wouldn’t have chosen it.”

“You’re probably right,” I press my fingers into her thigh, just because I can, just to hear her gasp.

My sister is a snob, with a personality like spikes, but being a piano prodigy isn’t easy.

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