Dont Look At Rings Like That
Lia should have known mentioning marriage would permanently alter Adrian's behavior.Not in dramatic ways.Worse.Subtle ways.The kind impossible to defend against emotionally.
—
Three days after the midnight conversation, Lia made the mistake of walking into a jewelry store with Adrian.Technically—it wasn't even intentional.They were supposed to meet Sienna for lunch downtown.Then it started raining.
Then Adrian pulled her into the nearest luxury shopping center because apparently billionaires considered weather a personal inconvenience.And somehow—now they stood inside a quiet designer boutique surrounded by diamonds and emotional instability.
Lia stared at a necklace displayed beneath soft lights while Adrian stood beside her with one hand resting naturally against her lower back.Warm.Possessive.Comforting.Always touching her somehow.The sales associate smiled politely nearby before stepping away to give them space.
Lia exhaled softly.
"This place smells expensive."
Adrian glanced around once.
"It is expensive."
"That was not comforting."
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"You're wearing my coat."
"That's also unrelated."
Unfortunately—the coat in question probably cost more than her monthly rent before moving in.
Adrian's thumb brushed absently against the small of her back while she continued looking through the displays.Quiet afternoon light spilled through tall windows.Soft piano music drifted through the boutique.Everything felt warm.Elegant.Dangerously intimate.
Then—Lia stopped.A ring rested beneath the glass display near the corner.Simple.Beautiful.Not massive or overwhelming.Just elegant in a quiet way.The kind that looked permanent instead of flashy.Her breath caught softly before she could stop it.
And immediately—she felt Adrian notice.Of course he noticed.He noticed everything.His hand stilled briefly against her back.
"You like that one."
Heat rushed instantly into her cheeks.Lia looked away from the display immediately.
"I was literally just looking."
"You stared at it for twelve seconds."
"That is psychotic information to know."
A quiet laugh escaped him.Low.Warm.Completely unashamed.
Then Adrian stepped closer behind her until warmth surrounded her completely.His chin rested lightly near her temple while his gaze lowered toward the ring too.Silence stretched softly between them.
Then quietly—
"You looked at it like it meant something."
The roughness in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.Because Adrian sounded affected already.Just from watching her look at a ring.
God.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You're making this weird."
"I'm trying very hard not to."
That made her laugh softly despite herself.
But when she glanced up at him again—big mistake.
Because Adrian looked devastating.Not teasing.
Not playful.Gone.Completely emotionally compromised over something as small as her pausing in front of a ring display.
The realization nearly ruined her instantly.
"You're thinking too hard again."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"I'm imagining things."
Lia's heartbeat stumbled.
"What things?"
His gaze stayed fixed entirely on her face now.Not the jewelry.Not the store.
Her.
A slow breath escaped him.
"You wearing my last name."
The confession shattered straight through her chest.Because he said it so quietly.Like the thought still overwhelmed him too much to say louder.Lia physically forgot how to breathe for a second.Adrian's fingers curled slightly against her waist before he looked down briefly at the ring again.
Then softer—
"You'd look beautiful married to me."
The sincerity nearly destroyed her emotionally on impact.Because Adrian didn't sound arrogant.He sounded awed by the idea.Like forever with her still felt unbelievable somehow.
Lia stared at him silently while soft music drifted through the boutique around them.And suddenly—she realized Adrian no longer imagined marriage like an abstract possibility.He imagined it specifically with her.Their apartment.Their mornings.Her books beside his.His coffee beside hers.
A whole life built slowly around shared existence.The realization overwhelmed her instantly.
"You cannot say things like that in public," she whispered weakly.
A faint smile appeared.
"You moved in with me." His thumb brushed lightly against her back again. "You should've expected emotional consequences."
God.
This man truly had no mercy anymore.Lia looked back toward the ring display briefly.Mistake.Because Adrian noticed again immediately.His expression softened impossibly more.
Dangerously soft.
"You're doing it again."
"What?"
"You're looking at rings like you already belong to me forever."
The words wrapped tightly around her heart.Because Adrian sounded almost breathless saying it.Like the thought physically affected him.
Lia turned toward him fully before she could emotionally combust.
"You're unbelievable."
"And you still love me."
Unfortunately—also true.
Adrian smiled faintly afterward before leaning down slightly.Close enough for only her to hear.
"You know what the terrifying part is?"
Lia swallowed carefully.
"What?"
His forehead brushed lightly against hers for one fleeting second.
Warm.
Certain.
Home.
Then quietly—with enough love in his voice to ruin her permanently—
"I don't even think marriage would change how devoted I already am to you."