Page 70 of Undisputed Chaos
"Beautiful? Magnificent? A testament to my impeccable taste?" Adrian supplied, fishing keys from his pocket. The fob had a small knife charm dangling from it, because obviously.
I rolled my eyes, stifling laughter. “I was thinking… subtle.”
He grinned, opening the passenger door for me with a flourish. "That's half the fun, angel. Besides—" he leaned in, lips brushing my ear, "—they’ll know exactly what they're dealing with."
The interior was all black leather and carbon fiber, somehow both luxurious and violent—Adrian in car form.
I couldn't help but think how perfectly the car represented Adrian himself. Outrageous and attention-grabbing on the outside, but meticulously crafted beneath the surface.
His hand immediately clamped around my thigh when he sat, thumb tracing slow, possessive circles.
The machine beneath us roared to life, all raw power; I barely managed to take in the interior before we took off, a neon blur cutting through the city.
"Ready to see my nest?" he asked, those green eyes dancing with mischief.
I placed my hand over his, feeling his veins under my palm. "As I'll ever be."
The Lamborghini shot forward, the acceleration pressing me back into my seat as Adrian navigated through the city streets, the lime green blur reflecting in windows as we passed.
The drive to his place was a blur of anticipation. I watched the city transform around us, moving from my comfortable neighborhood to a more remote upscale area.
"Home sweet home," he announced as we pulled into a private garage beside a massive brick building. "Don't worry, I cleaned up the blood stains last night.”
My head whipped toward him, eyes wide, and he burst into laughter. "Kidding, angel. Mostly."
The connecting door required a code and a fingerprint scan, which seemed excessive until the doors opened directly into his place. I stepped out and froze, momentarily overwhelmed by the space before me.
It was enormous with soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls, and industrial windows that offered a panoramic view of the city.
But it was the contents that truly took my breath away.
To my right, a multi-monitor setup dominated a sleek desk, screens displaying things like stock tickers, and lines of code I couldn't begin to understand.
To my left, a kitchen gleamed with stainless steel appliances and a marble island big enough to prepare a feast.
Straight ahead, a living area centered around an obscenely large leather sectional, flanked by filled bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling.
Everywhere, the juxtaposition of luxury and craziness seemed to define Adrian himself. Priceless-looking art hung alongside brick walls, including the storm one from last time.
A vintage arcade machine blinked in one corner, while a glass case displaying what had to be antique knives stood in another.
The whole space was immaculate yet somehow untamed, just like its owner.
"What do you think?" Adrian asked, watching my reaction with that intense focus that made me feel like the only person in the world.
"It's... you," I said finally, unable to find better words. "It's so perfectly you."
He beamed. "Best compliment you could give me, angel. Take a look around while I shower.” He leaned on the door, eyes twinkling. "Unless you'd like to join me?"
I felt heat rush to my cheeks, and his grin widened at my reaction.
"Just offering," he added with a playful wink before disappearing down a hallway.
I wandered the space for a while, drawn to different elements like a butterfly to flowers.
The art was exceptional—a mix of highly coveted pieces I recognized from galleries and older works that looked museum-quality.
I paused in front of the familiar canvas, dark blues and violent reds, reminiscent of a storm at sea or a battlefield.
