I Think Loving You Healed Something In Me
The terrifying thing about being loved by Adrian wasn't the intensity anymore.
It was the consistency.The way he loved her every single day like it was the most natural thing in the world.
No conditions.No hesitation.No moments where he pulled away after seeing too much.
And slowly—without Lia even realizing it—that kind of love started healing parts of her she thought would stay damaged forever.
—
Sunday evening settled softly over the city.
The rain finally stopped after days of storms, leaving the skyline glowing gold and silver beneath fading sunset light.
Lia stood barefoot in the kitchen cutting strawberries while soft music drifted through the penthouse.
Adrian sat nearby at the island reading through documents with his glasses low against his nose.
Or pretending to.Because every few minutes she caught him looking at her instead of working.
"You missed another paragraph."
Adrian glanced down briefly.
Then calmly—
"You're wearing my sweater."
Lia stared at him.
"That is not a response."
"It's distracting."
A faint laugh escaped her before she could stop it.God.At this point she genuinely didn't know how he still affected her this easily.
Adrian looked up again immediately the second she laughed.Everything in his expression softened.Always that.Always the immediate softness.Like her happiness physically altered the atmosphere around him.The realization wrapped tightly around her chest.
"You know what's concerning?" she whispered softly.
His thumb brushed absently against the edge of the paper in front of him.
"What?"
"You look happier lately."
Silence.
Then Adrian slowly closed the folder in front of him completely.His attention shifted fully toward her.Focused.Warm.Gone around the edges immediately.
"That concerns you?"
"A little."
A faint smile touched his mouth.
"You're the reason."
The sincerity shattered straight through her heart.Because Adrian sounded so sure about it.Like there wasn't even a question anymore.Lia looked back down at the strawberries to hide the sudden warmth rushing into her cheeks.
"You say devastating things very casually."
"You moved into my apartment and healed my attachment to loneliness." His gaze stayed fixed completely on her. "I think we're past casual."
God.This man truly had no mercy anymore.
Lia carried the bowl toward the island carefully before setting it between them.Adrian immediately reached for one absentmindedly.Then paused halfway.His eyes lifted toward her instead.And suddenly—his expression changed.Softer somehow.More thoughtful.
"What?" Lia asked quietly.
A slow breath escaped him.
"You don't flinch anymore."
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"What?"
"When I touch you." His fingers brushed lightly against her wrist now. "You used to tense up sometimes."
The observation caught her completely off guard.Because Adrian was right.Before him—affection often felt uncertain.Temporary.Like something she had to earn carefully.
But now?
Now her body relaxed automatically around him.The realization hit hard.Adrian's thumb moved softly against her pulse.
"You trust me."
The roughness in his voice wrapped painfully around her chest.Because Adrian sounded affected by that realization too.Almost overwhelmed by it.
Lia swallowed carefully.
"I do."
Silence filled the kitchen afterward.
Warm light.
Soft music.
The city glowing beyond the windows.Then Adrian stood slowly from the stool before walking around the island toward her.Immediate reaction.Her heartbeat stumbled automatically.Because Adrian always looked at her like this now.Like love physically lived inside his bones.
He stopped directly in front of her before gently taking the knife from her hand and setting it aside.Then both hands settled carefully against her waist.
Warm.
Protective.
Home.
"You know what scares me?" he murmured softly.
Lia looked up at him carefully.
"What?"
His gaze moved slowly across her face.
Memorizing.
Reverent almost.
"That loving you healed parts of me I thought were permanent."
The confession shattered straight through her chest.Because Adrian sounded almost stunned by it himself.Like happiness still felt unfamiliar sometimes.His forehead rested lightly against hers afterward.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Certain.
"I used to wake up every day feeling..." He paused briefly. "Detached from everything."
The honesty settled heavily into the room.Adrian's fingers tightened slightly against her waist.
"Now the first thing I do every morning is look for you."
Tears nearly burned unexpectedly behind Lia's eyes.Because he sounded so sincere.So emotionally open.Like she'd become stitched into every quiet part of his life without either of them noticing when it happened.
"You know what I think?" Lia whispered softly.
His eyes stayed fixed entirely on hers.
"What?"
Lia reached up slowly, brushing her fingers gently through his dark hair.Immediate reaction.Always immediate.His breathing softened instantly.
"I think loving you healed something in me too."
Everything in Adrian went still.Completely still.
Then slowly—his composure cracked open in the most devastating way.Not dramatic.Just visibly emotional.Like those words physically reached somewhere fragile inside him.A quiet breath escaped him while his hands slid carefully higher along her waist.
Then softly—rough enough to ruin her permanently—
"Come here."
Lia barely had time to smile before Adrian pulled her fully against his chest and held her like he never wanted loneliness touching either of them again.