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Adam’s gloved claw fingers settled on Lute’s lower back like a verdict.
Not a grab, not a gentle touch. Just pure possessiveness, deliberate and inescapable.
She didn’t flinch, didn’t move, too afraid that any movement, any reaction could give them away.
There were way too many eyes on them, and thankfully Adam had picked a secluded spot for this. The claws on her bare skin sent shivers down her spine and the exorcist had to take a long sip of her drink to try and calm her nerves.
She trusted him, she really did and Adam knew that. He knew exactly how much force it would have taken to make her bend and yet he was choosing not to use it.
Yet.
They stood among angels and Seraphims, their presence needed as Commander and Lieutenant of the Exorcist army. Laughter rose and fell around them, it felt hollow and rehearsed. The world kept moving but Adam’s hand stood still on her back, grounding her.
“You’re too tense.” he murmured, close enough now that she could feel his breath against her ear, making the hair on the back of her neck rise. “You’re making it obvious, Lute.”
“I am not, stop it, someone could see.” Lute replied, trying to keep her voice even and gaze pointed forward, the grip on her glass was almost strong enough to snap it in half.
His thumb shifted slightly, tracing the line where her shoulder blade met her wing, slow, teasing and infuriating.
“Your wings say otherwise.”
Her jaw tightened, she put the glass down, she didn’t want to risk breaking it and attracting the attention of any of the waiters. Of course he would notice, as always Adam noticed everything he shouldn’t and ignored anything else. Lute wished he’d put that much attention during work hours too and not just when it was time to tease and irritate her.
“Remove your hand,” Lute said, although part of her didn’t actually want his hands to leave her back.
He hummed softly, this whole thing amused him beyond measure, he loved having that much power over her. “You didn’t say please.”
Lute’s breath stuttered just barely, she could feel heat pooling between her legs, how irritating and annoying, thankfully he couldn’t notice her thighs clenching slightly.
“I am not asking,” she snapped, finally turning to face him. Her eyes bright with restrained fury. But he noticed something else, her pupils were dilated, the freak was enjoying this. He smirked as she hissed “We are in public.”
Adam raised an eyebrow, unbothered. His hand remained exactly where it was, pulling her closer to him, she now could feel the effect this little game had on him too. “So what? You are clearly enjoying it.” he said with a grin. “You are so obvious, ‘tits. And I don’t want people getting the wrong idea.”
“And what would that be? Enlighten me.” she asked, eyebrows raised.
“That you’re not mine.”
The words shouldn’t have made her smirk the way they did.
They shouldn’t have made her as wet as she was, Lute forced herself to keep her voice still and not give him any satisfaction.
“I am not yours,” Lute said, each word measured. “I serve Heaven, not you.”
Something flickered in his expression then in a second it was gone, too fast to name. He was not angry, he was not hurt.
He was taking it as a challenge.
And Lute was glad that they stood in semi-darkness so that he couldn’t see the blush spreading on her cheeks, turning around quickly to regain some of her composure.
“Keep telling yourself that, Lute.” Adam replied. “But we both know it’s not true..”
His fingers pressed more firmly now, just for a second, leaving tiny dents in her porcelain skin. Enough to remind her how close he was.
Enough to remind her that if she leaned back even an inch, she would feel how the entire thing is making him feel.
Lute took notice of it and decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.
Adam noticed too late to move back and Lute grinding her ass against his crotch almost made him whimper.
“You’re a bitch,” he said, choking slightly on his own spit. “All is fair in love and war.” She replied, he could hear her grinning.
Her pulse was loud in her ears and between her legs. Lute hated the heat that creeped up to her ears, hated the way pleasure coiled low in her stomach, sharp and hard to ignore.
She was not going to lose this little game they had started playing.
“If you leave any marks you will pay for it.” The Lieutenant growled.
For a long moment, Adam simply stood still, claws lingering against her porcelain skin, he enjoyed the warmth of it, the way that the lack of fabric on her back showed some of her battle scars which he found incredibly hot and sexy, he’d spend hours just worshipping the woman in front of him.
Then, slowly and almost agonizingly Adam dragged his fingers down her back, hard enough to leave golden tracks. He smirked, noticing the way her head lolled back in pleasure just a little bit..
“Ooops.” he chirped, his mocking barely hidden by the smugness in his voice..
Lute took a few steps forward, trying to regain some of her composure as she folded her wings tighter, trying to hide the marks left by him.
But her back still ached where he touched her.
She loved how that felt.
It felt like ages, but after a few hours the hall emptied, she watched as some angels started to clean up after the guests and Lute started walking towards the door. She needed to get back to her apartment, she needed to put some distance between her and Adam. She was almost at the doors before she sensed him.
“What’s wrong, Dangertits, having lady problems?” Adam asked from behind, making her stop in her tracks, looking around to make sure no one could hear them.
“I have to wake up early tomorrow, I need to finish your paperwork.”
“Liar.”
Her hands clenched into fists and his face looked like the perfect target.
Adam smiled, that smile that made her want to both kiss him and punch him until nothing but bone remained. “You can’t lie to me, Lute, I know you better than anyone.”
The words hit harder than any of her battle wounds.
He was right.
And she hated it.
“I am not going to be just another one of your hook ups.” Her voice broke, just barely, and she hated herself for it. To show weakness was to allow him to hurt her, and she knew how good he was at it, she had seen many heartbroken women leaving his apartment. “I don’t want to be just another notch in your belt.”
He stepped closer, she took a step back, not allowing him to touch her. Not yet. He was close enough that she could feel his warmth. “You think so lowly of me?” he asked quietly. Lute wanted to say yes, but no sound came out. “You are not like any of the others, Lute.”
“You are just saying that, Adam.”
Adam shook his head, and there was no teasing in his tone, it was calm and serious, which surprised Lute, it was rare to see him like that.
“I am not, let me prove it to you.”
For once, she didn’t move away from him, if anything she only got close.
“Why? Why now, Adam?” She didn’t mean to sound so fragile, so small, and yet she did.
“Because,” he said finally, “I’m tired Lute, I’m tired of pretending we both don’t feel something towards each other.”
She swallowed, why was her throat closing up all of a sudden? She was meant to be the level headed one. “It’s unprofessional.”
Adam scoffed, taking her hand and pulling her close to him, he watched as she looked around to check if anyone could see them and rolled his eyes.
“So what? Are you going to report me to Heaven HR when you were grinding your pretty ass against my crotch?”
“No, they already have two file cabinets dedicated to you, poor Rachel is gonna cry if she gets another report of your misbehaviour.”
He chuckled, he knew, but he didn’t care, all he cared about was that Lute was not fighting him while he was holding her, he bent down to kiss her, giving her time to stop him.
She didn’t.
His gloved fingers settled at her back once more, not pressing this time, he simply held her gently and kissed her lips, and that kiss tasted like fresh spring water in the desert. It felt completely different from his previous kisses, this one felt right.
Lute stood still. Just for a second.
And in that moment, she allowed herself to feel it: the pull he spoke about, the dangerous comfort of finally allowing herself to enjoy the kiss and reciprocate it, pulling him as close as they could get.
When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see him offering the softest smile she had ever seen him do.
“My place.” she breathed, taking his hand and leading him out of the room.
Adam watched their joined hands following her, the soft smile replaced by the stupidest grin ever seen, he looked like a teen boy going to bed with his crush.
“Wait until Rachel from HR hears about this.” he mused, making Lute mildly regret all of her choices for the evening.
“Shut up, Adam.” She replied, dragging him to her flat and closing the door behind them.