I Bought You A Key
Lia should've realized Adrian was planning something the second he became unusually quiet.
Not cold quiet.
Worse.
Thoughtful quiet.
The kind where he watched her too carefully and looked like he was debating something inside his head.
Which honestly never ended well for her emotional stability.
—
Rain poured steadily outside the penthouse while soft jazz played somewhere in the background from Adrian's speakers.
The city beyond the windows blurred silver beneath the storm.
Lia sat curled into the corner of the couch wearing—unsurprisingly—another one of Adrian's hoodies while pretending to focus on her laptop.
Pretending being the important word.
Because Adrian had been staring at her for at least ten minutes straight.
"You're doing it again."
A faint flicker crossed his face from where he sat beside her.
"Doing what?"
"Watching me like you're planning a crime."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Warm.
Low.
"You're dramatic."
Lia slowly lowered her laptop.
"You once memorized my coffee order after hearing it one time."
"You looked happy drinking it."
"That is not a normal response."
Adrian's mouth twitched slightly.
No denial.
Of course not.
He reached toward the coffee table calmly before picking up the glass of water she'd forgotten to drink.
Then he handed it to her without even looking away from the document on his tablet.
"Hydrate."
Lia stared at him.
"You are actually insane."
"You're dehydrated."
"The fact you KNOW that is the problem."
A quiet smile appeared briefly.
God.
He looked far too pleased with himself lately.
And honestly?
That should concern her more.
Lia took the glass anyway, muttering under her breath while Adrian returned to his work like monitoring her water intake was perfectly reasonable behavior.
The silence between them felt comfortable now.
Dangerously comfortable.
Rain tapping softly against the windows.
The faint sound of typing.
Her feet resting unconsciously against Adrian's thigh while she studied.
Domestic.
The realization hit her suddenly and hard.
Domestic.
God.
She was doomed.
Adrian looked up immediately.
"You're thinking too loudly."
"That sentence does not make sense."
"It does with you."
Heat rushed lightly into her cheeks.
Because somehow—
he really could read her expressions frighteningly well now.
Lia sighed dramatically before setting her laptop aside completely.
"I'm taking a break before my brain explodes."
"Come here."
Again.
Always that.
Like Adrian genuinely expected closeness now.
And somehow—
she always gave it to him.
Lia shifted across the couch until Adrian immediately pulled her sideways against him.
Natural.
Instinctive.
His arm wrapped around her waist while she settled against his chest comfortably.
No hesitation anymore.
That realization scared her sometimes.
Adrian pressed a soft kiss against the top of her head absentmindedly while continuing to read something on his tablet.
Affection from him had become constant.
Small touches.
Kisses against her hair.
Hands always finding her somewhere.
Like loving her physically manifested through contact.
Lia tilted her head slightly to look at him.
"You're suspiciously affectionate tonight."
His gaze lowered immediately.
Softening the second it landed on her.
"I'm always affectionate with you."
"Yeah but tonight feels..." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Calculated."
A low laugh escaped him.
"You make me sound evil."
"You bought me an ergonomic desk chair because I complained once."
"You study for hours."
"That is not the point."
The smile returned briefly.
Gone just as quickly.
Then Adrian went quiet again.
Thoughtful quiet.
There it was.
Lia immediately sat up straighter.
"No."
Adrian blinked slowly.
"No what?"
"You're definitely planning something."
"I already planned it."
Her heartbeat stumbled instantly.
"That is deeply concerning wording."
A faint flicker crossed his face before he reached into the pocket of his slacks calmly.
Lia froze immediately.
"Oh my god."
"It's not another ring."
"That somehow makes me MORE nervous."
Adrian laughed softly under his breath before placing something small into her hand.
Cold metal.
Lia looked down.
Then stopped breathing for a second.
A key.
Her pulse turned uneven instantly.
Not just any key.
A sleek black keycard with the penthouse logo engraved into the corner.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Lia looked back up at him slowly.
"Adrian."
His expression softened immediately.
Too soft.
"You should be able to come and go without waiting for me."
The quietness in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Because suddenly—
this wasn't just about convenience.
This meant something.
Something permanent.
Lia stared down at the key again.
"You bought me a key."
"I had one made."
"That is not helping."
A faint smile touched his mouth.
Then disappeared when he noticed she still looked overwhelmed.
Adrian's hand settled gently against her waist again.
Careful.
Grounding.
"You practically live here already."
The honesty hit harder than expected.
Because he didn't sound joking.
He sounded relieved.
Like giving her access to his home physically settled something possessive inside him.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"You really thought this through."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Never hesitation.
God.
He genuinely wanted her here all the time.
The realization made warmth spread painfully through her chest.
Adrian watched her quietly for several long seconds before speaking again.
"You left your books here."
His thumb brushed lightly against her waist.
"Your clothes."
Another slow stroke.
"Your skincare."
Heat rushed into her face.
"You sound emotionally attached to my moisturizer."
"I am emotionally attached to everything that belongs to you."
The confession shattered straight through her composure.
Because Adrian said things like that so naturally now.
Like loving her too much had simply become part of him.
Lia looked down at the key resting in her palm.
Small object.
Massive meaning.
This wasn't just a spare key.
This was trust.
Permanence.
A place beside him.
Adrian noticed her overthinking immediately.
"You don't have to use it yet."
Her eyes lifted quickly back to his.
And suddenly—
beneath all the confidence and possessiveness—
she saw it again.
Fear.
Tiny.
Hidden carefully.
But there.
Like part of him worried she'd reject this level of closeness.
The realization hurt.
Without thinking, Lia leaned forward and kissed him softly.
Immediate reaction.
Adrian's hand tightened gently at her waist while a quiet breath escaped him.
When she pulled back, his eyes looked darker.
Softer.
Completely ruined for her.
"You overthink too much," she whispered softly.
A faint smile appeared.
"You say that while holding the key to my apartment like it might explode."
Heat spread through her chest.
Then slowly—
carefully—
Lia curled her fingers around the key.
And Adrian physically relaxed.