Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 59: Complicated

Adrian's breath caught in his throat as Clara stood before him, radiant and ethereal, her beauty seeming almost otherworldly in the soft light of the room. The delicate lace and silk clung to her body in a way that made his pulse quicken, and for a moment, he felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He could see her pregnant belly, still discreet, slightly showing. She was breathtaking-more beautiful than anything he had ever seen in his life-and yet, the very sight of her filled him with a strange mix of desire and dread.

She walked toward him, her steps slow, deliberate. His eyes followed her, unable to look away even though every fiber of him wished he could. He had been avoiding her for days, hiding behind meetings and business arrangements, keeping his distance, but now there was nowhere to retreat. Clara, standing inches away, her fingers reaching for his face, her eyes searching his, asked the question he had been dreading. "Why are you avoiding me, Adrian?"

Adrian couldn't answer. His mind was a storm of thoughts, none of which he could organize into a response. How could he explain to her the complexity of what he felt? This situation-finding out she was pregnant, ending her arranged engagement, marrying her-it was all too much. He had never seen himself as the kind of man capable of the life she deserved. He wasn't the loving husband she needed, nor the doting father he knew she would expect him to be. His life had been too erratic, his ways too unpredictable, and the last thing he wanted was for her to hope for a future he wasn't sure he could give her. He could give her all the luxury, money and power in the world... But Clara was not the kind of girl who would settle for this only. And he knew.

"It's complicated," he finally muttered, his voice rough and distant. He kept his eyes down, knowing that if he looked directly at her, he would lose all sense of reason.

Clara's fingers traced the line of his jaw, bringing his face back up so their eyes met. "It doesn't have to be complicated," she whispered, her touch gentle but insistent.

Adrian shook his head, stepping back slightly, as though the space between them could somehow untangle the mess he felt. "Of course it's complicated," he said, his tone harsher than he intended. "You're my niece, Clara, and I... I took your virginity and I got you pregnant. And now we're married. How can that not be complicated?"

Clara closed the gap between them, her lips inches from his, her eyes soft with understanding. She tilted her head and whispered, "I'm not your niece anymore, Adrian. I'm your wife."

Clara approached him quietly, her delicate figure casting a shadow over his tense form. Without saying another word, she slipped onto his lap, straddling him, her arms winding around his neck. He stiffened, but didn't pull away. Her warmth seeped into him, her scent enveloping him, and for a moment, Adrian allowed himself to be consumed by her presence. Clara's lips hovered inches from his, and despite every warning going off in his mind, he couldn't stop himself from leaning in, closing the distance between them. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepened as all the pent-up emotions and longing between them spilled out.

Her fingers ran through his hair, pulling him closer, her body pressing against his. She felt so perfect in his arms, like she was made to fit against him, and his resolve wavered. Adrian's hands slid to her hips and slid down, gripping her ass tightly, his instincts fighting against the logical voice in his head that kept telling him to stop.

But just as quickly as he gave in, the fear surged back-fear of hurting her, of leading her into something she wasn't prepared for. Something he wasn't prepared for. Panic gripped him, and in one abrupt motion, Adrian pushed her to the side, his breath ragged. Clara gasped in shock as she tumbled onto the bed, her eyes wide with confusion and hurt.

Adrian stood up, pacing a few steps away from her, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "This... I can't do this," he muttered, his voice tight. He could feel Clara's gaze on him, the silence in the room deafening.

She propped herself up on her elbows, staring at him, her expression torn between confusion and pain. "Adrian, what's going on? Why are you doing this?"

He stopped pacing, turning to face her, his jaw clenched. "You don't get it, Clara," he said, his voice hoarse. "This... everything about this is wrong. I'm not the man you think I am. I can't be what you need."

Clara pushed herself off the bed, standing in front of him, her brow furrowed in frustration. "You keep saying that, but you're not giving me a chance to decide for myself. I'm not asking for some perfect fairy tale, Adrian. I just want you." Adrian shook his head, his eyes dark with conflict. "You're asking for something I can't give. I don't know how to be a husband or a father. I wasn't meant for this." He let out a shaky breath, his walls starting to crumble under her persistence. "I got you pregnant," he whispered, his voice filled with guilt. "I've put you in this mess. How can I not feel like I've ruined everything for you?"

Clara placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. "You didn't ruin my life, Adrian. You saved me. You're the reason I'm here, not trapped in that horrible situation with the Caldwells. I don't need you to be perfect. I just need you to try."

His eyes softened, and for the first time, he allowed himself to feel the weight of her words. She wasn't asking for a grand gesture or an idealized version of him. She just wanted him-flaws and all.

She leaned back slightly, her eyes locking with his, filled with desire and something more something deeper. Adrian couldn't look away, couldn't think of anything else but her, the way her body felt against his, the way she tasted, the way she looked at him like he was the only thing in the world she wanted. He couldn't resist anymore.

Clara's lips found his, soft and patient, kissing him with a tenderness that melted away his doubts, at least for that moment. His restraint shattered as he kissed her back, deeply, hungrily, his hands tangling in her hair, his heart pounding against hers.

As the kiss deepened, Adrian's hands slid to her waist, gripping her gently yet possessively, pulling her against him. His mind screamed that this was too much, that he was stepping into something dangerous, something he couldn't control. But his body betrayed him, driven by instinct and years of suppressed emotions. He didn't want to want her like this, but there was no stopping the flood of feeling that overtook him.

Clara responded with the same hunger, her hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. Her touch was electric, and the way she leaned into him, as though he was the only thing tethering her to this earth, ignited something feral in him. In one swift movement, Adrian lifted her from the floor and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently, his hands never leaving her body as he joined her. His lips found hers again, hungry and demanding, as his hands explored her, memorizing every curve, every soft gasp she made beneath his touch.

Clara's fingers dug into his back, urging him closer, deeper, and Adrian surrendered completely. The world outside didn't matter anymore; there was only this moment, this feeling, this woman beneath him. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had found something he didn't want to lose, something worth holding on to.

Their bodies moved together, in sync, as if they had been made for each other. Each touch, each kiss was filled with a raw passion, a need that neither of them could control anymore. Clara's breath quickened, her nails raking gently across his skin as she wrapped herself around him, pulling him deeper into her world, and Adrian followed without question.