You didn’t want to be scared of him.

You tried not to be.

You really did.

But every time Adrian Chase walked into a room, something in you went tight—like your body knew before your brain did that danger might follow.

He was charming.

He was intense.

He was brilliant.

He was terrifying.

And you loved him anyway.

It wasn’t that he threatened you on purpose.

It was that he lived in a world where threats were normal.

He carried violence like it was a second skin.

You’d watched him do things you couldn’t unsee.

You’d watched him walk away from people who deserved help.

You’d watched him smile after saying things that should’ve made your stomach drop.

And still, when he looked at you, it felt like the world made sense.

Tonight was one of those nights.

You were sitting on his couch, the lights dim, the city noise far away.

Adrian was sitting beside you, close enough that his shoulder touched yours.

His hand hovered near yours, unsure.

You didn’t move.

You didn’t pull away.

But you didn’t reach for him either.

He glanced at you. “You’re quiet.”

You swallowed. “I’m thinking.”

He nodded. “About what?”

You looked down at your hands. “About how you’re… dangerous.”

Adrian’s face didn’t change.

You hated how calm he was.

“Dangerous is a word people use when they don’t understand something,” he said softly.

You met his eyes. “I understand you.”

He blinked. “You do?”

You nodded slowly. “I understand you’re not a good man. But I also understand you’re not a bad man.”

Adrian stared at you.

Then he leaned in, voice low. “You’re scared of me.”