"What are you doing?" Melanie asked as she stepped out of the dressing room, rubbing her wet hair as her gaze fell on the discarded suit jacket lying carelessly on the bed.
Adam, in the middle of unbuttoning his cuffs, paused and looked up at her. His eyes flickered over her, taking in the simple dress that she has slipped on, before he raised a brow and replied smoothly, "I'm undressing, of course. You don't expect me to sleep in that suit, do you? I mean I wouldn't wear it if I could so sleeping it is out of the question."
His voice was full of challenge and Melanie could not help but give a knowing smile. This man wanted to tease her. He wanted her to worry about what would happen tonight...But she knew the answer to that already... nothing. So, she tossed her hair over her shoulder, threw the towel onto the bed and walked towards him.
She watched his eyes darken and knew exactly what he was thinking. He'd expected her to stammer and ask him about his plans for tonight. Ask the sleeping arrangements. Well, she had a surprise for him. She stopped inches away from him, so close that she could even se the slight smattering of hair on his chest...
"I'm not talking about your disrobing. I'm talking about your constant agreement with Grandfather in everything. He says to celebrate the wedding, and you nod along. He tells you to stay the night, and you comply without hesitation. Weren't we supposed to move out tonight? Then how come we are here again, still in the Collins mansion?"
Adam let out a low chuckle as he closed the remaining distance between them, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "It is our wedding night, Melon and you want to talk about Grandfather? How disappointing. I think your focus should be on... me."
Instead of answering immediately, she reached out, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of his dress shirt as she slowly, deliberately, undid the first button. Her gaze never wavered from his as she leaned in just a fraction closer.
"It's our wedding night, hmm? Then we should do this?"
As she continued speaking, her fingers worked deftly, slipping open the second button, then the third. The fabric parted slightly, revealing the toned expanse of his chest beneath. Slowly, she looked down, ready to undo the next button... Just as she reached for the fourth button, his hand shot up and caught her wrist.
His dark eyes met hers and a silent question lingered between them as he spoke in a low voice, "What are you doing?"
Melanie smirked, tilting her chin up defiantly. "I'm helping you get comfortable," she said smoothly, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "That is my duty as a wife, is it not?"
They stared at each other, neither willing to back down, neither willing to be the first to break. Then, without warning, Adam tightened his grip on her wrist and pulled—just enough to throw her off balance.
Melanie gasped as she stumbled forwar and her body collided against his. Her free hand instinctively shot out, landing flat against his bare chest in an attempt to steady herself. When did his shirt fall off his shoulders, she had no idea...The heat of his skin burned through her palm, even as she pushed against him, trying to make him let go of her wrist.
He didn't let her go. Instead, he dipped his head as his lips brushed dangerously close to her ear, his breath warm. A shiver ran down her spine, and her fingers twitched against his chest making her nails press in just enough to leave marks, as she tried to push away.
But he didn't loosen his hold.
"Melon, I know exactly what you're doing. You think I won't touch you, hmm? That I only tease you, only play games. All that for the estate." He nuzzled the pulse at her throat and continued," I might have married you for the estate... But Melon... I am a man..."
"You really have no idea, do you?" He let go of her wrist then, his fingers slowly tracing her arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake, "You don't even realize how attractive you are. You think that wearing a simple dress, with no effort, no intention of seduction, will do nothing to me. That I won't react. That I'll keep my distance and you will be safe.
He chuckled then, a deep, knowing sound that made her breath catch.
"But you're wrong."
His gaze dropped lower, and his fingers traced over the damp fabric of the dress over her shoulder. "Your dress is wet—from your hair. And because of that, it's clinging to you... molding to your body, teasing me without you even realizing it."
He pressed a lingering kiss to her shoulder then, his lips warm against her skin. She shivered at the touch, feeling branded. "It makes me want to pull the cloth off you, to see how much of you it's trying to hide from me."
Adam moved away from her and she stared into his eyes. The desire that unfurled within her was reflected in his eyes. Melanie's heart thumped. He really did want her. She could see it.
She looked at his lips, barely away from her and moved closer. She wanted to feel them on her... Her fingers, still splayed across his chest, shifted slightly. That was when she felt it—the unexpected brush of something cool beneath her fingertips. Another piercing.
Melanie froze.
For a split second, she didn't react. But then the realization fully hit, and she jerked her hand back as if she had touched fire. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up at him, her breath uneven.
Adam's lips quirked, his gaze dark with amusement and something else—something far more dangerous. He had felt it. He knew exactly what had startled her and made her pull back. He leaned in close to her and their lips almost met...