Chapter 5 Claiming What's Mine

The Bentley rolled up the long driveway of the Blackwell estate, rain still streaking the windshield, each drop catching the lights from the towering gates. Elena's heels clicked sharply against the polished stone as she stepped out, the chill in the air mixing with the heat rising in her chest. After the whirlwind of the courthouse wedding, she thought she might finally catch her breath, but something told her the night wasn't done.

Adrian stepped out before her, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his perfectly tailored suit. "Watch your step," he said, voice calm, gray eyes scanning the driveway.

Elena smirked. "I don't need your warnings, Mr. Blackwell." She was about to step toward the door when her pulse spiked - a presence at the entrance had stopped her mid-step.

Standing there was a woman who radiated indignation. Perfectly dressed, arms crossed, lips tight in outrage. Adrian's ex. The popular model who Adrian embarrassed publicly before they broke up. And she was glaring at them both as if the world had just betrayed her personally.

"Adrian! Married?!" the woman screeched, voice dripping disbelief. "And to her? This can't be real! You're... you're going to leave her soon, right? You'll dump her like everyone else!"

Elena's jaw tightened, heat surging through her chest. She didn't even think; instinct took over. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, and she stepped forward. "Excuse me?" Her voice was sharp, brimming with steel. "What exactly is your problem? Are you seriously threatening him in front of me? In my house?"

The ex's eyes flicked to Elena, shock and irritation mixing in her expression. "Who... who are you to-?"

"I'm the woman he married," Elena interrupted, voice rising, sharp enough to cut through the rain and the ex's protest. "The woman who will not stand here and listen to you threaten him or me. So either you leave now, or I make you regret it."

The ex's lips twisted in a sneer. "You think you can keep him? He'll get bored. He'll leave you like everyone else!"

Elena felt a sharp rush of possessiveness, heat surging to her cheeks. She didn't care about subtlety. Without thinking, she reached up, grabbed Adrian's face, and kissed him - hard, possessively, fully claiming him in front of the ex. Every inch of her fire poured into that kiss.

Adrian froze, gray eyes wide, even as the kiss pressed urgency and ownership into him. He opened his mouth, clearly about to speak, but Elena pulled back just enough to shove him slightly toward the door and shouted, her voice echoing through the entryway: "Get out of here! Do you understand? Go!"

The ex blinked, momentarily stunned into silence, before starting to shout again. But the faint click of leather shoes and the rustle of dark suits interrupted her. Two of Adrian's bodyguards appeared, moving with precise authority. They stepped forward and, without hesitation, grabbed the ex under the arms, gently but firmly dragging her toward the driveway. She screamed, kicking and flailing, but it was useless. Within moments, she was pushed out into the rain, struggling against their grip, and finally silenced by the cold, disciplined force of Adrian's men.

Elena watched them go, chest heaving, eyes blazing. She finally turned to Adrian, hands on her hips, and snapped, "See? I told you - this is my life. My home. And no one comes in here to threaten me or what's mine."

Adrian's gray eyes followed her, a flicker of surprise crossing his usually unreadable features. "Elena..." he began, stepping closer.

"Don't," she said sharply, cutting him off. Without warning, she pressed herself against him again, lips brushing his in another possessive kiss, just enough to make him pause. She pulled back slightly, resting her forehead against his chest. "If you try to talk to me right now, I swear..." Her voice dropped into a low growl. "...I will not be gentle."

He blinked, caught off guard by her fierceness, the way she claimed him without hesitation. "You... you're jealous," he said quietly, gray eyes darkening with curiosity.

Elena stiffened, pulling back slightly but still holding his arm possessively. "I am not jealous," she said grumpily, a flush rising to her cheeks. "I am naturally protective. Of what's mine. So don't you dare twist it into something else."

He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his expression. "Naturally protective, huh? That was... quite the kiss."

She huffed, crossing her arms, cheeks burning. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for me. And to make sure she understood she can't come in here and talk nonsense!"

Adrian's smirk deepened. "I see. So, all fire and no fear. I like it."

Elena narrowed her eyes at him, though the corner of her mouth threatened a smirk despite her grumpy tone. "I told you. I make the rules. This is my house now. My husband, my life, and no one gets to threaten me or him. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Adrian murmured, voice low, gray eyes still locking onto hers. "I do."

Elena finally released his arm, though her gaze lingered possessively. Her pulse was still racing, heart hammering in her chest. She had surprised even herself - the fire inside her had driven her to act, to claim, to protect. And Adrian... he had noticed.

The tension between them didn't dissipate. The storm outside mirrored the one between them: electric, charged, impossible to ignore. He stepped closer again, lips barely brushing her ear. "You're going to make this... interesting, Elena. You don't hold back, do you?"

"I don't," she said grumpily, lifting her chin, trying to appear fierce. "And don't think this means I like it. I'm just... protecting what's mine."

His gray eyes darkened, a slow, predatory smile forming. "Protecting what's yours... and you didn't even realize how much I noticed?"

Elena flushed, pulling away slightly but keeping her guard up. "I said I'm not jealous. I'm grumpy. And I'm... protective. So stop twisting words, Mr. Blackwell."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and intimate, making her pulse quicken even more. "Feisty, stubborn, possessive... dangerous. Very interesting."

Elena rolled her eyes, trying to regain control. "Good. You better get used to it. I won't always be this agreeable. And I sure as hell won't let anyone threaten me or us."

Adrian's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The house grew silent again, save for the distant roll of thunder outside. Elena leaned against the doorway, still flushed, chest heaving, realizing that she hadn't just driven away his ex - she had asserted herself, claimed him, and shown him exactly how much fire and possessiveness she carried inside.

Adrian's gaze lingered on her, gray eyes full of something that made her stomach flutter and knees weak. "You know," he murmured, voice low, teasing, "this marriage is going to be... a challenge."

Elena smirked, grumpy yet victorious. "Good. I like a challenge."

He stepped closer again, brushing his hand against hers, heat radiating off him. "I think we're going to enjoy it... very much."

And in that charged, electric silence, Elena realized: she wasn't just protecting Adrian. She was protecting herself - and for the first time, she loved the fight.