I Want A Life That Keeps You In It
After that night, something shifted between them again.
Not in the obvious ways.
Adrian was already possessive.
Already obsessed.
Already terrifyingly devoted.
No—
this change was quieter.
More dangerous.
Because Adrian stopped loving Lia like someone waiting to lose her.
And started loving her like someone slowly building a future around her instead.
—
Saturday morning arrived softly.
Sunlight spilled warm gold across the penthouse for the first time in days while the city stretched lazily awake beneath clear skies.
Lia woke slowly tangled in expensive sheets and warmth.
Warmth that moved.
Her eyes opened carefully.
Adrian already watched her.
Of course he did.
Dark hair messy from sleep.
One arm wrapped securely around her waist beneath the blankets.
Expression soft enough to physically hurt.
"You stare at me while I sleep," Lia murmured sleepily.
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"You're pretty."
"That's not a valid defense."
"It works every time."
Unfortunately—
he wasn't wrong.
Lia shifted slightly closer without thinking.
Immediate reaction.
Adrian's arm tightened instinctively around her waist while something warm flickered behind his eyes.
Like every unconscious act of affection from her still emotionally destroyed him.
The realization wrapped tightly around her chest.
Morning sunlight painted softly across his face while silence settled comfortably between them.
Not heavy anymore.
Not fragile.
Just intimate.
Lived in.
Adrian brushed his thumb slowly against her waist beneath the blanket.
"You drooled on my shoulder."
Lia physically froze.
"Oh my god."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Warm.
Real.
"You looked peaceful."
"That is so humiliating."
"You're cute when embarrassed."
God.
Morning Adrian genuinely had no survival instinct.
Lia hid part of her face against his chest immediately.
Mistake.
Adrian's breathing softened.
Then his fingers slid gently into her hair.
Comforting her.
Like he physically couldn't resist soothing her embarrassment.
"You're laughing at me," she accused softly.
"I'm in love with you."
The confession came so naturally it nearly stopped her breathing.
No hesitation.
No dramatic pause.
Just truth.
Like Adrian no longer even noticed how often love slipped into his voice now.
Lia looked up at him slowly.
And immediately regretted it.
Because he looked devastating.
Completely awake now.
Eyes fixed entirely on her like nothing else in the world existed.
Gone.
Absolutely gone for her.
His hand moved slowly from her hair to her cheek.
Warm fingers brushing softly against her skin.
"You know what I realized last night?"
Lia's heartbeat stumbled slightly.
"What?"
Adrian studied her quietly for several seconds before answering.
"I don't think about surviving you leaving anymore."
The confession settled softly into the morning silence.
Different from before.
Less fearful.
More certain somehow.
Lia's chest tightened.
"You don't?"
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"No."
His thumb brushed lightly beneath her cheekbone.
"Now I think about how to keep you forever."
The words shattered straight through her heart.
Because Adrian sounded calm saying them.
Not obsessive.
Not frantic.
Certain.
Like building permanence around her had already become instinct.
Lia stared at him quietly.
Sunlight spilled gold across the bed while the city glowed softly beyond the windows.
Everything felt warm.
Safe.
Dangerously real.
Adrian's gaze lowered briefly toward the ring still resting against her hand against his chest.
Then back to her face again.
"You left your toothbrush here yesterday."
Lia blinked.
"What?"
"You brought another one from your apartment."
Heat rushed instantly into her cheeks.
"That is not emotionally significant."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"It is to me."
God.
Everything meant something to him.
Every tiny piece of her existence inside his life mattered too much.
Adrian shifted slightly closer beneath the blankets until their legs tangled together naturally.
Comfortable.
Domestic.
The intimacy nearly ruined her emotionally.
"You know what's terrifying?" Lia whispered softly.
His eyes softened immediately.
"What?"
"You make permanent things sound easy."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"They're easy with you."
The honesty wrapped tightly around her chest.
Because Adrian genuinely meant it.
Loving her wasn't complicated for him.
Terrifying?
Yes.
Overwhelming?
Absolutely.
But difficult?
Never.
His hand slid slowly along her waist beneath the blanket while he watched her too carefully again.
"You're thinking."
"You say life-changing things casually."
"That's because they feel obvious to me now."
The room fell quiet after that.
Soft morning light.
Warm sheets.
His heartbeat beneath her cheek.
Lia realized suddenly that she no longer remembered the last time she slept at her own apartment.
And strangely—
the thought no longer scared her.
Adrian noticed the exact moment the realization crossed her face.
Of course he did.
His expression softened instantly.
"There you are."
Her pulse stumbled.
"What?"
"That look." His fingers brushed lightly against her waist again. "The one where you realize you belong here."
Heat spread painfully through her chest.
Because maybe—
maybe she did.
Adrian leaned forward slowly before pressing a soft kiss against her forehead.
Then quieter—
almost thoughtful—
"I used to think love would ruin my life."
The confession caught her off guard immediately.
Lia lifted her head slightly.
"And now?"
His gaze held hers steadily.
Warm.
Certain.
Nowhere near afraid anymore.
"Now I want a life that keeps you in it."