Riley bent down to gather the blanket, only for a pair of arms to suddenly wrap around her from behind.
The sudden heat of his body startled her. He was burning up, a sharp contrast to the coolness of her skin. Riley jolted and tried to pull away, but his arms tightened around her, holding her firmly in place.
"Adrian, i-if you have a fever, I can treat it," Riley said quickly. "I'll get you some medicine, okay?"
A low laugh brushed against her ear.
"I do have a fever," he murmured. "But only you can cure it."
His voice dropped even lower, slower this time, almost teasing.
"Riley, let's not waste Grandpa's good intentions."
Her heart nearly stopped.
They were nowhere near on the same page.
"N-no, we can't."
The refusal came out instantly.
She had agreed to marry in Felicia's place, not to lose herself in the process. This was too fast, too far beyond anything she had planned, and completely off track.
"Why?"
He did not force her. He simply held her there, steady and warm, with genuine confusion in his voice.
Before this, I have to restrain myself because she is not fully aware of what she was doing. But now, she is no longer "foolish". We could live like any normal married couple. So why is she still refusing me?
Riley swallowed hard. There was no way she could admit that she still planned to divorce him later.
Her eyes darted for an excuse. Then, forcing herself to turn around in his arms, she looked up at him with slightly misty eyes and put on a pitiful expression.
"That's because I'm… on my period."
Silence.
"You're what?"
His brows drew together.
Her heart pounded even harder. "Well, yeah. I mean, it's bad timing, but what can I do? It's not like I can control it..."
Her gaze shifted nervously.
He studied her for a moment, and then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're saying you're disappointed?"
So it was not rejection.
Relief flickered in his eyes.
"Of course I am," she blurted out. "Very disappointed. So... Adrian..."
She froze.
"I mean, Hubby. Let's just... pick a better time next time?"
What is wrong with me? Why is my mouth betraying me now, of all times?
Adrian's smile deepened, but instead of answering, he moved. In one swift motion, he lifted her and set her down on the bed.
Before she could react, his hand slid behind her.
Riley went completely still.
Then realization struck.
"Ah! Adrian, you pervert. What are you doing?"
Her face turned bright red.
"I'm checking," he said calmly. "You're not on your period."
"You checked?!"
Her mind short-circuited on the spot.
He actually checked?
She had never been this embarrassed in her life.
Without thinking, she turned her head and bit down hard on his arm.
He flinched and let out a low groan before looking at her with a mixture of pain and disbelief.
"Are you a dog?"
Riley released him and bared her teeth. "Not just a dog. I'm a tiger too. Want to test it?"
She kicked him away, then dove straight under the blanket and wrapped herself up so tightly she looked like a cocoon, with only her head sticking out.
"Stay away from me. Leave or sleep on the couch. Don't touch me. If you do, I'll tear this place apart."
Adrian let out a soft laugh. The heat in his eyes gradually faded. Watching her curled up there, defensive and fierce, he finally stepped back.
"Alright," he said gently. "I'll sleep on the couch. I won't touch you. Go to sleep."
And just like that, he did.
Riley did not relax. She kept staring at him, eyes locked on him in wary silence, and stayed on guard until sleep eventually dragged her under.
Sometime in the middle of the night, while she was still half asleep, she was suddenly pulled into a burning embrace.
"Adrian, are you out of your mind?"
She snapped awake at once, furious.
His deep voice came from behind her. "Shh, Grandpa is just next door."
She struggled against his hold. "Then let go."
He loosened one arm, only to slide his hand lower.
Her whole body stiffened.
"Damn it!"
Riley's eyes flew open. She twisted around and kicked him hard. In the darkness, she had no idea where she hit him, but he let out a muffled grunt.
She seized the chance and scrambled upright.
Click.
The lights came on.
There he was, lying far too comfortably on her bed.
Riley glared at him. "Get out."
She marched over and grabbed his arm, trying to drag him up, but he did not budge.
"Sleepy," he said lazily. "Come back to bed. I won't touch you."
Riley gave a sharp laugh. "Yeah, right. If I believe that, I'm the idiot."
Her eyes narrowed. "Weren't we supposed to keep our distance? What exactly are you doing right now?"
Adrian tilted his head slightly. "When did we ever agree on that?"
Riley nearly choked.
I agreed in my head, okay? That still counts.
"I don't care," she shot back. "Get out. I'm not ready. We've barely known each other that long. We're not even that close."
"Not close?"
He sat up slowly.
His eyes darkened, and a faint, self-mocking smile touched his lips.
"I thought we were getting there."
After a brief pause, he added quietly, "Guess I was wrong."
He stood. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
Then he turned and started toward the door.
Riley opened her mouth, but no words came out.
The lonely look on his face hurt in a way she had not expected.
Before she could think, her hand shot out and caught his arm.
Both of them froze.
What am I doing?
She cursed herself inwardly.
I already rejected him. He's leaving. Why am I stopping him now?
What she did not notice was the faint flicker in his eyes, the brief spark of relief.
So she had not rejected me completely. Not entirely.
Riley cleared her throat awkwardly. "That's not what I meant," she said quietly. "I just... need time."
Her voice softened.
"Adrian, can you give me some time?"
Everything was moving too fast, too intensely. She could not keep up. She wanted something slower, something that could grow naturally instead of rushing past before she even understood what it was.
That was why she had pushed him away.
But seeing him walk off like that had twisted something inside her, sharp and impossible to ignore.
Maybe I could try. After all, we are married. It's not impossible to learn to love him.
Her thoughts tangled together, and conflict tightened her expression.
"Alright," he said gently. "We'll take it slow."
Then his hand turned in hers and held on instead.
He led her back to the bed.
Riley stiffened at once, folding her arms protectively over herself, her eyes wide with alarm.
He laughed softly. "I'm not touching you. I'm just sleeping."
He guided her down and pulled the blanket over both of them. His arm settled around her, firm but restrained.
Then the lights went out, and the room fell silent again.
Riley lay there for a long moment, waiting and listening, until she was finally sure he was not going to do anything else. Only then did she close her eyes.