Adrian turned, about to warn her to stop, that he would throw her out if she didn't.
But before he could speak, she moved quickly, pushing him back onto the bed and leaning in, pressing her lips against his, determined and unyielding.
For a second, Adrian didn't resist.
He tried to respond, tried to convince himself to feel something, to accept it, to move on, to forget Matteo.
He closed his eyes, searching for a spark, a reason to stay. He tried, but there was nothing, no fire, no pull, only the hollow realization that he was forcing a lie.
He broke the kiss abruptly, pushing Iris away with a frantic strength. He didn't say a word as he scrambled out of the bed and bolted for the door.
"Adrian! Where are you going?" Iris screamed, her voice shrill with frustration, but he didn't look back.
He spent the rest of the night in another room, staring at the ceiling as the silence pressed down on him.
