Kian sat stiffly in the chair, the silence between him and Adrian stretching into an oppressive weight. He hated this—being vulnerable, being seen as weak, and worst of all, being at the mercy of someone like Adrian Blackwell. The Alpha's words lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of just how precarious his situation was.
Adrian moved to the small bar cart in the corner of his office, the quiet clink of glass breaking the tension. Kian watched as he poured a measure of water into a tumbler, his movements deliberate, controlled. He brought the glass over and placed it on the desk in front of Kian, his piercing gray eyes locking onto Kian's with a level of intensity that made his skin prickle.
"Drink," Adrian said simply, his voice devoid of its usual sharpness.
Kian hesitated, glaring at the glass as though it had personally offended him. "I'm not dehydrated."
Adrian raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Humor me."
With a low growl of frustration, Kian grabbed the glass and took a sip, the cool liquid soothing his parched throat. He hated how smug Adrian looked when he set the glass back down.
"Better?" Adrian asked, folding his arms across his chest.
Kian shot him a glare. "Don't act like you care."
Adrian smirked faintly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You say that a lot. You think I don't care, that I'm just some cold, unfeeling bastard." He leaned forward, placing his hands on the desk. "And yet, here we are."
Kian's jaw tightened. He didn't have the energy for Adrian's mind games. "If you're expecting gratitude, you're going to be disappointed."
"I don't want your gratitude," Adrian replied evenly. "What I want is for you to stop acting like you have something to prove. You're an Omega, Kian. That's not a weakness, no matter how much you pretend it is."
The words struck a nerve, and Kian's fists clenched in his lap. "You don't know anything about me," he snapped.
Adrian's smirk faded, replaced by a look of quiet intensity. "I know more than you think," he said softly, almost too softly.
Kian opened his mouth to retort, but the words died in his throat. The heat was creeping back in, a slow, insidious burn that sapped his strength and clouded his thoughts. He leaned back in the chair, his breathing uneven, his hands gripping the armrests tightly.
Adrian's gaze sharpened, and he moved around the desk with predatory grace. Kian tensed as the Alpha crouched in front of him, his presence overwhelming in the confined space.
"Kian," Adrian said, his voice low and firm. "You're burning up. This is getting worse."
"I can handle it," Kian ground out, though even he could hear the weakness in his voice.
Adrian's hand shot out, capturing Kian's chin and forcing him to meet his gaze. The touch was firm but not painful, and it sent an unwelcome shiver down Kian's spine.
"Stop lying to yourself," Adrian said, his tone cold and commanding. "You're one breath away from passing out, and you know it."
Kian's throat tightened, his body betraying him as his vision blurred at the edges. He wanted to fight, to argue, to push Adrian away, but the words wouldn't come.
Adrian released him, standing to his full height and looming over Kian like a storm cloud. "I can make this easier for you, but only if you let me."
Kian's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. The rational part of him screamed that this was a bad idea, that Adrian's offer was nothing more than a trap. But the primal part of him—the part drowning in heat and desperation—whispered that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to do this alone.
"What do you mean, 'make it easier'?" Kian asked warily.
Adrian's lips quirked into a faint smirk. "I mean exactly what I said. I'll help you through this. No strings, no expectations. Just relief."
Kian stared at him, his mind spinning. The idea of surrendering to Adrian, of letting him take control, was both terrifying and strangely alluring. But could he really trust him?
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Kian said bitterly. "The power trip, the control."
Adrian's smirk vanished, his expression turning serious. "This isn't about power. This is about keeping you from hurting yourself."
Kian's breath hitched, his body trembling as another wave of heat rolled through him. He closed his eyes, trying to steady himself, but it was no use. He was losing the battle, and he knew it.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do whatever you want."
Adrian's eyes softened, though his expression remained guarded. "This isn't about what I want, Kian. It's about what you need."
Kian didn't respond, his head falling back against the chair as he struggled to catch his breath. Adrian stepped closer, his presence calming and suffocating all at once.
"Look at me," Adrian said softly.
Kian opened his eyes, meeting Adrian's steady gaze. For a moment, the world seemed to still, the heat and tension fading into the background.
"You're safe," Adrian said, his voice low and soothing. "Just trust me."
Kian wanted to scoff, to argue, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he closed his eyes and let himself fall into the Alpha's presence, the last remnants of his resistance crumbling away.
Adrian's hands were firm and steady as he guided Kian through the worst of it, his touch grounding and strangely reassuring. Kian hated how much he needed it, how much he needed him.
When it was over, Kian slumped in the chair, utterly spent. Adrian stood nearby, watching him with a mix of concern and something else—something Kian couldn't quite place.
"You did good," Adrian said finally, his voice soft.
Kian scoffed weakly. "Don't patronize me."
Adrian's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Kian closed his eyes, exhaustion washing over him. He didn't have the strength to argue anymore. All he wanted was to sleep and forget this day ever happened.
"Get some rest," Adrian said, his tone unusually gentle. "We'll talk later."
Kian didn't respond, too tired to care. As he drifted off, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd just made a deal with the devil—or if Adrian Blackwell was something else entirely.