Stolen by Fate

Chapter 9: The Morning After

Chapter 9: The Morning After

I woke up to the soft light of the morning filtering through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room. My body felt different—sore, but in a good way. I stretched slightly, wincing at the tenderness between my legs, but a soft smile tugged at my lips. I wasn't used to this feeling.

Turning my head, I found Adrian lying beside me, his arm draped loosely around my waist, his face relaxed in sleep. He looked peaceful, more so than I had ever seen him. His normally intense expression had softened, and for a moment, I just watched him, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

The night before had been... overwhelming. Beautiful, yes, but intense in a way I hadn't expected. Adrian had been so careful with me, so attentive, making sure I was okay every step of the way. And now, lying here next to him, I couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth for how much he had cared for me.

My thoughts wandered back to everything that led to this point, the confusion, the tension, and how, for once, I didn't feel trapped. I felt... free.

As if sensing I was awake, Adrian stirred beside me, his arm tightening around my waist before his eyes fluttered open. When his gaze met mine, his lips curved into a lazy, satisfied smile.

"Good morning, Ma," he said, his voice husky from sleep. "How are you feeling?"

I shifted a little, wincing at the soreness, but I smiled at him. "A little sore," I admitted, "but... good. Really good."

Adrian propped himself up on his elbow, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was gentle, and there was a softness in his eyes that made my heart race. "I'll take care of you," he murmured, leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead. "I've got you."

And he did. Adrian was attentive, helping me sit up and making sure I was comfortable. He even went as far as bringing me water and a warm towel, his focus entirely on making sure I felt better. I had never experienced anything like this before—someone who cared so deeply about my well-being, who didn't just leave after everything was said and done.

After I had freshened up and he'd made sure I was comfortable, Adrian came back into the room, sitting beside me on the bed. He reached into his pocket and handed me my phone, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Here," he said, his voice soft. "I disabled the parental controls."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

He nodded. "I trust you. You're free to do what you want now, Ni. You always were. I just didn't want you getting hurt."

I stared at him for a moment, trying to process the change. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was free. Completely free.

I unlocked my phone, my heart pounding as I opened up my messages. The first person I thought of was my best friend, Alyssa. I hadn't talked to her in what felt like forever, and I missed her like crazy. My fingers moved quickly, typing out a message.

Hey, girl! Guess who's finally back and has a crazy story to tell?

Within seconds, my phone buzzed with Alyssa's reply. OMG, Ni! Where have you been? I've been freaking out! What's the story?

I couldn't help but smile as I texted her back. I've missed you too, but everything's okay now. I'll explain more later, but... I did it, Lys. I finally lost my virginity.

There was a long pause before her next message came through. NO WAY! Girl, you're kidding! Finally!! Who was it? I need details!

I hesitated for a moment, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I wasn't ready to tell her about Adrian. It was too complicated, too raw, and I didn't even know how to explain it to myself, let alone my best friend. So, I kept it vague.

It just kind of happened, Lys. But it was... amazing. He was so good to me.

Alyssa responded with a string of excited emojis and exclamation marks, but I couldn't focus on the rest of her message. My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened. I glanced over at Adrian, who was watching me with a small smile, as if he knew what I was thinking.

He stood up from the bed, stretching before turning to face me. "You really are free now, Ni," he said softly, his voice full of sincerity. "You don't owe me anything. You can live your life how you want."

His words hit me hard. There was a part of me that wanted to take them at face value, to believe that I could just walk out the door and go back to my old life. But another part of me, the part that had been through everything with him, wasn't so sure.

Because I didn't want to leave.

For better or worse, I had grown attached to Adrian, and last night had changed everything. I wasn't sure where we stood, or what would happen next, but I knew one thing: I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

I looked up at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know," I whispered. "But I'm not going anywhere."