Page 31 of Protected By My Playboy Billionaire

“Breathe, Elana.” She releases the breath she’s been holding, and her chest starts moving faster and faster. I attempt to soften my gaze. “Your food’s getting cold.”With that, I will my legs to step away from her, away from what I was an inch away from doing to her. If she refuses to change, then I can’t stay here. I leave her to eat in the kitchen and take my stairs two at a time.

Chapter fourteen

~ELANA~

I step out of the main office building, the soft breeze sweeping over my face. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and look around, my eyes scanning for any signs of Adrian. It’s been a whole day since I last saw him, and the silence that followed his departure from the kitchen last night feels deafening. Apart from leaving a note thanking him for the sandwich I forced myself to finish, we haven’t said a word to each other. Not that it hadn’t been delicious, but after what had happened, I had trouble finding my appetite again. I’d woken up this morning to find him gone, leaving no traces of his presence.

Throughout the day, even Ryan couldn’t distract me from his absence, the conversation from last night replaying in my mind. When I finally mustered the courage to send him a text inviting him to lunch, the silence that followed was almost unbearable. He’s definitely ignoring me.

Lost in my thoughts, I make my way towards the waiting car, where Mac stands by the door.

“Good evening, Miss Elana.” His smile is comforting as he opens the door for me.

“Hey, Mac.” I offer him a smile in return as I climb into the backseat. I wait for him to circle the car and hop into the driver’s seat before clearing my throat. Maybe he knows something?

“I haven’t seen Adrian all day. I sent him a message, but…” I hesitate. “Do you think he might be ignoring me?”

Mac meets my gaze in the rearview mirror as he starts the car, tenderness in his eyes.

“No, Miss Elana,” he replies gently, his voice reassuring. “He’s been in quite the mood today.” A gentle chuckle escaped him as he shook hishead. “Mr. Morgan has just been really busy. It’s nothing personal, I’m sure.”

“Yeah.” I nod, feeling anything but assured. “Do you mind if we stop by my apartment on our way? I need some textbooks for school.” It was a half-lie. I needed those textbooks, but what I needed more was the scent of my home with the traces of Ethan’s presence here and there. I needed to be in a place that didn’t have Adrian’s name written all over it.

Two hours later, as I rummage through Adrian’s stocked fridge, my mind drifts back to him. I’d spent more than an hour at my apartment, and when Mac refused to drive back to Adrian’s penthouse without me, I invited him upstairs for tea.

As I retrieve a spoon from the drawer, I look up at the digital clock on the wall. Adrian should have been home a while ago, yet there’s no sign of him. His words from last night replay in my mind, gnawing at me as I reach for a yogurt container and a bowl of fresh fruit. It was definitely the reason for his absence today.

I would ask myself why if I didn’t already know the answer. He didn’t want to put me in the middle of his friendship with Ethan, and I understand that morethan anything. I know how much Ethan cherishes Adrian, and I would be stupid to think he would be happy with the way Adrian has been touching me and looking at me, and he definitely won’t be happy with the way Adrian talked to me last night.

I shouldn’t be either, but the fire that burned in his eyes as he spoke had pinned me in place. The only thing going through me was the sparks of electricity dancing in my lower tummy, the pool of desire making the place between my legs throb.

Just as I’m about to open the tub of yoghurt, my phone lights up with Lilly’s name flashing across the screen. A smile tugs at my lips as I answer the call, eager for a much-needed distraction.

“What’s up, Lil?” I greet her with cheer in my voice.

“Promise you won’t say no.”

“If it’s about taking that road trip to Vegas, then it’s a no,” I tease, spooning some yogurt into a bowl.

“You know I’m dying to see Elvis.” Her giggle echoes through the kitchen as I put her on speaker and place my phone onthe counter.

“In that case, I have some very bad news for you, Lil.” I laugh and grab a strawberry from the bowl. “So, what’s up?”

“Same old, same old,” Lilly replies, her tone dripping with faux nonchalance. “Except for the fact that there’s a party tonight at Jason’s, and we’re going.”

“Who’s Jason?” I furrow my brows at the unfamiliar name.

“Who cares? There’s a party at the frat house he’s in.”

“You want me to go to a frat party?” My eyebrows shoot up in surprise as I stir the yogurt. “No.”

“Elana.” Her whine sounds like a fork sliding down a plate. “Don’t be dull. You’re in college. Do you need me to explain what being in college means?”

“I have an exam tomorrow, Lil. We both do,” I say as if that will make her reconsider.

“Do I seriously have to beg you every time I want to do something together? You know I would gladly do it, but let’s just save ourselves the time and skip the begging and convincing since we both know I’m not hanging up without you saying yes.”

“Can I think about it?” I scoop some blueberries into my hand and sprinkle them over the yogurt.