Wear Something Warm
Lia realized living with Adrian came with one very specific problem.
He worried constantly.
Not in loud ways.
Not controlling ways.
Quiet ways.
The kind that slipped into daily life so naturally she sometimes didn't notice until afterward.
Like extra blankets appearing beside her while studying.
Or tea already waiting when she looked tired.
Or—
apparently—
weather-related emotional distress.
—
Friday afternoon arrived cold and gray.
Rain clouds crowded the skyline while strong wind rattled softly against the penthouse windows.
Lia stood near the kitchen island packing her tote bag for class while Adrian leaned beside the counter drinking coffee and watching her with far too much focus for someone pretending to casually exist.
"You're staring again."
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"You're wearing thin sleeves."
Lia blinked.
"What?"
"The sweater." Adrian's gaze moved slowly over her outfit. "It's cold outside."
Heat spread lightly through her chest.
Because somehow—
that concern sounded ridiculously intimate coming from him.
Lia zipped her bag shut carefully.
"I'm going from the car to campus."
"It's raining."
"You own umbrellas."
"You forget umbrellas."
Unfortunately—
also true.
Adrian set his coffee mug down before walking toward her slowly.
Focused entirely on her.
Immediate reaction.
Lia's pulse stumbled automatically.
Because Adrian always looked at her like this now.
Like she was the center of every room no matter where they stood.
His fingers brushed lightly along her arm.
Warm skin against cool skin.
"You're cold already."
The rough concern in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Lia smiled faintly.
"You sound personally offended by weather."
"The weather is making you cold." His thumb moved softly against her sleeve. "So yes."
God.
How was she supposed to survive someone loving her this openly forever?
Adrian turned suddenly toward the hallway.
"Wait here."
Lia laughed softly.
"That sounded aggressive."
"You'll survive."
He disappeared toward the bedroom while Lia leaned against the kitchen counter smiling helplessly to herself.
Living with Adrian meant being loved constantly.
Not dramatically all the time.
Just relentlessly.
In tiny moments.
Tiny observations.
Tiny acts of care.
And honestly?
That terrified her more than grand gestures ever could.
Because it felt permanent.
Adrian returned moments later holding one of his dark cashmere coats.
Lia immediately narrowed her eyes.
"No."
"Yes."
"That thing costs more than my tuition."
"You're exaggerating."
"You bought a watch worth an apartment."
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"That's unrelated."
Lia physically laughed.
Adrian stepped directly in front of her before carefully holding the coat open.
Patient.
Certain.
Like he already knew she would give in eventually.
"You're impossible."
"You live with me now." His gaze softened slightly. "That means I get to worry about you properly."
The honesty hit hard.
Because Adrian sounded sincere.
Not possessive.
Just deeply, deeply caring.
Lia slipped her arms reluctantly into the coat sleeves while Adrian adjusted the fabric carefully around her shoulders afterward.
Warmth surrounded her instantly.
So did his scent.
Cedarwood.
Rain.
Home.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Adrian noticed immediately.
"You're thinking."
"You make normal things emotionally devastating."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
Then his hands settled lightly against the collar of the coat, fixing it more securely around her.
The gesture felt absurdly intimate.
Like he couldn't stop taking care of her even in tiny ways.
His fingers brushed softly beneath her hair while his gaze stayed fixed entirely on her face.
"You look too pretty in my clothes."
Heat rushed instantly into her cheeks.
"You say that every day."
"I mean it every day."
God.
The sincerity again.
Always the unbearable sincerity.
Lia reached up slowly and straightened his loosened tie absentmindedly.
Immediate reaction.
Adrian went still.
Completely still.
Like simple affection from her still emotionally wrecked him every single time.
His eyes darkened softly while his hands tightened slightly against the coat wrapped around her.
"You do things like that without realizing what it does to me."
Lia smiled faintly.
"You complain a lot for someone who likes it."
A rough laugh escaped him quietly.
"Fair."
The rain outside intensified softly against the windows while silence settled warmly between them.
Comfortable silence.
Domestic silence.
The kind Lia never realized she could crave this badly.
Adrian's gaze drifted slowly across her face again.
Checking.
Noticing.
Memorizing.
Then quietly—
"You've looked happier lately."
The confession caught her off guard.
Lia blinked softly.
"What?"
A faint flicker crossed his face.
"You smile more."
The words wrapped painfully around her chest.
Because Adrian sounded relieved by that.
Like her happiness mattered to him in terrifyingly deep ways.
Lia looked up at him carefully.
"I am happier."
Silence.
Then Adrian's composure visibly cracked.
Not dramatically.
Just enough for her to see how deeply those words affected him.
His thumb brushed lightly beneath her jaw.
"You have no idea," he murmured softly, "what hearing that does to me."
The honesty nearly ruined her emotionally.
Because Adrian genuinely loved like her happiness physically sustained him.
Lia slid her hands slowly up his chest before wrapping them loosely around his neck.
Immediate reaction.
His arms wrapped instinctively around her waist beneath the coat.
Warm.
Protective.
Certain.
"You know what your problem is?" she whispered softly.
His eyes stayed fixed completely on hers.
"What?"
"You act surprised every time love works."
Silence crashed softly between them.
Heavy.
Tender.
Adrian stared at her like she'd touched something fragile inside him again.
Then slowly—
his forehead rested lightly against hers.
And for several seconds—
he simply breathed her in.
Rain echoed quietly around the apartment.
The city blurred silver beyond the windows.
Home surrounded them from every direction now.
Then finally—
with enough softness in his voice to ruin her permanently—
"Wear something warm," he whispered, "because I need you for the rest of my life."