The love dare

Day 24 (chapter-17-)

Day 24

Adrien was at least up and moving the next day, even if he was walking like an old man. He would count that as a win.

His next win was that his wife was back at his side, like the partners they were. They shared the bed last night. First time in month. Sadly, he didn’t know how many. But waking up beside her, that petite little firecracker sprawled out over his chest, hair a fluffy mess and expression serene and happy, that was what he lived for.

She even stayed in bed a little later than normal today. It made him extremely happy.

Yet, he was still a little disappointed that she had to leave for work.

“I do have to go just check in on things today. And then I have an interview.”

“Oh?” he said, raising a brow. “What position?”

“Nathalie’s.”

Adrien’s eyes widened. He stood there frozen, looking stiffer than he actually was.

A soft blush rose to her cheeks. “You were right,” she admitted. “You and Tikki. I let the company take priority over you, over Tikki, over my health; I let it consume me. I haven’t even been designing anything lately because I’ve been so worked up over micromanaging the company. But that’s going to change. I swear. I’m not going to let it consume me anymore, and if I need to hire people so that that all happens, then I hire people.” She rounded the counter so that she was standing directly in front of Adrien. “I swear,” she began, looking him in the eye and placing her hand over his heart. “I will not make you feel like you have to compete with the company for me.”

He could feel the tears coming on. Even though he was smiling, he bit his lower lip to keep it from quivering. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered, his voice unable to be any louder.

“A ladybug always needs her kitty,” she returned just as softly.

He sniffed, and those tears poured over his cheeks. “Again,” he said, reaching out to hold her hips and pull her close. “I don’t deserve you.”

By now, they were chest to chest, his hands holding her hips and her hands on his sides. Their eyes locked for a moment, but then he found his gaze drifting southward to her lips.

When their gazes met again, he could see that her expression had shifted. Her breathing was picking up, as was his. Slowly, he began lowering his head.

She shifted, slowly pushing herself up on her tip-toes while one of her hands came up to cup his cheek. His gaze fell to her lips again. He was close now, but he hesitated a moment, letting her back out now if she wanted.

But she was still there, and so he lowered his lips the rest of the way to meet hers.

They were soft. The kiss itself was gentle and tentative and testing. It was him pressing his lips to hers, lingering a good second, then pulling away. But only barely.

He had to take a step to widen his stance. He was so dizzy he could fall over at any given second.

And then that was all forgotten because her lips were back on his. Firmer, this time. They moved on his, and he eventually had the bright idea to respond.