Page 111 of Undisputed Chaos
“Do you think she knows he’s… you know… insane?”
“She’s got a literal psychopath as her boyfriend. Lucky.”
The truth flickered in all their eyes, and I glowed with it. My relationship was anything but boring.
Adrian grinned when I pointed it out, flashing that wolfish smile that said he’d heard every word and palmed my curves.
“They’re just jealous you’ve got a psycho who’d light the whole city on fire if you asked.”
I swatted his chest. “And you wore that hideous hat for my benefit?”
“Keeping you incognito, angel.” He tugged me close, sunglasses halfway down his nose, his energy feral. “The car’s for me. The hat was for you.”
He’d been impossible all day. If I so much as looked at a handbag for more than two seconds, he’d have it behind the counter before I could even protest, with a smirk and a casual, “You wandered. That’s punishment.”
If I drifted from his orbit, he’d anchor me with a hand tangled in my hair or around my throat, gentle but unmistakably “Adrian.”
“Ready to see what damage we did?” I teased as we finally made it back to his kitchen, eyeing the Everest of shopping bags.
He hoisted me up onto the island—like I weighed nothing, as always—and leaned in with that predatory smile.
“Show me. And don’t give me that guilty look. This is just Round One.”
Unpacking felt like a fever dream. There were sundresses in every shade, sweaters softer than silk, shoes hand-stitched by artisans, floral dresses like they’d been made for me and me alone.
I touched a cashmere skirt, nearly shivering at the price tag.
“This is way too much,” I groaned, but my fingers didn’t stop caressing the expensive softness.
“I’m the definition of too much, angel.” Adrian surveyed me like a predator guarding his kill, green eyes burning. “What’s mine gets the best. Every time.”
“You even let me get the stuffed elephant and turtle,” I taunted, holding them up in the air.
He just shrugged. “They’re adorable. The best things are the ones you want for no reason at all.”
I caught a glimpse of a certain bag holding delicate white lace, whisper-thin silk, and soft cotton lingerie that looked more angelic than seductive.
Just touching them made my cheeks burn.
“Those are my favorites.”
I stuck my tongue out. “You would say that.”
He just grinned, crazy and humorous all at once, and my heart raced at the memory of him selecting them, large tattooed hands looking obscene against the innocent white fabrics.
The jewelry box at the bottom stopped me cold, though.
He’d insisted, wanting to replaceeverything. I opened the velvet box, blinking at the delicate white gold tri-chain bracelet, three strands woven together with light-catching links.
“This is so…” Unnecessary. Over the top. Gorgeous.
He pressed against my back, fastening it around my wrist, his lips brushing my ear.
“Now you’ve got something better than he ever gave you. Something permanent. Something beautiful. Like you.”
I looked at the bracelet, feeling like I’d slipped on armor, or a collar, or both.
“Thank you,” I managed. My voice was soft, but I meant every syllable.
