CHAPTER 224: THE SYMPHONY OF US [IV]

"I want us to dance," I whispered.

He didn’t even hesitate. A slow, achingly beautiful smile spread across his lips, transforming his face in the golden light. "We don’t have any music."

"We do," I said and took my phone from my gown’s pocket, and scrolled through a playlist until my finger found it. I queued a song— a slow, aching melody filled the space — tender, yearning, the kind of song that felt like a heartbeat set to music.

I placed one hand on his shoulder, the other in his, and began to sway, leading with small, playful steps. "See? Easy," I teased, my voice still thick with leftover tears. Adrien let me, lips curved faintly, eyes locked on my face as I led.

He followed my clumsy lead for a few beats, a low, contented hum vibrating in his chest. His gaze was so intense, that I felt it in my bones. The world outside our small circle ceased to exist. There was only the soft light, the tender music from my phone, and the man holding my heart in his hands.

But Adrien’s hand slid confidently to my waist, his other enclosing mine with practiced certainty. He shifted, guiding me back with smooth precision, and I blinked up at him in surprise. "Wait. You can actually dance?"

He leaned down just enough for his low voice to graze my ear. "I can do many things you don’t know about, princess."

My laugh was breathless, caught between awe and want. I let him take the lead, let muself be steered in slow circles, lost in the rhythmic sway of his body against mine. He moved with a grace, a silent strength that belied his usual reserved demeanor. His hand on my waist was firm, dictating every turn, every dip, and every gentle step around the scattered petals. It was a waltz, or something close to it, ancient and timeless, under the twinkling branches of the weeping willow.

My head rested against his chest, the scent of his cologne filling my senses—a mix of cedar, spice, and something uniquely him

. I could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm, a counterpoint to the music that now felt less like a song and more like the pulse of the world around us. He leaned his cheek against the top of my head, and I felt the gentle brush of his stubble, a fleeting, tender caress.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he murmured, his voice a warm vibration against my temple. "More beautiful than anything I have laid my eyes on."

Then his mouth brushed my temple, then my jawline, and then lingered just behind my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I tilted my head back instinctively, my eyelids fluttering closed as his warm breath ghosted over my skin. His lips traced a gentle path down my neck, each touch igniting a trail of warmth that spread through me like wildfire. I could feel my heartbeat quicken, pulsating in my ears, as the world around us seemed to fade into a blur of sensation. His hands, warm and strong, rested on my hips, pulling me closer, bridging the space between us.

He found my lips then, a feather-light touch at first, a hesitant question, before deepening into a kiss that stole my breath and scattered my thoughts. It was slow, tender, filled with all the unspoken promises of the night, a silent confirmation of everything we had just committed to.

My fingers threaded through his hair. His hands drew me closer, until there was no space left to bridge.

We danced until the music faded, holding each other as if we could make this moment last forever. When we finally pulled apart, it was with hesitation, as if every inch between us was a precious thing to be savored. Adrien’s gaze was intense, his eyes reflecting the starlight and the fireworks of emotion inside him.

"I love you, Bella," he said, his voice steady and unyielding, as solid as the ground beneath us. "More than words can say."

Tears stung my eyes again, but this time they were tears of pure joy. "I love you too," I replied, my voice a barely-there whisper. "So much it scares me."

He reached up, gently wiping away a tear with his thumb, and smiled. "No need to be scared, my love. We’re in this together, always."

"Come on," he said softly, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me. "Let’s go home."

I nodded, too full of emotion to speak. But as I took a step to follow him, he simply scooped me up into his arms. I let out a surprised gasp, my arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.

"Adrien!" I laughed, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

"The ground is for mortals tonight," he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument as he began to carry me out of the enchanted garden and toward the grand entrance of the mansion. "My fiancée only flies."

The world blurred past in candlelight and moonlight as Adrien carried me through the garden and into the house. My head was tucked into the curve of his neck, his stride unhurried but unrelenting, as if nothing could touch us, nothing could stop him.

I should have insisted on walking, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to. Wrapped in his arms, I felt weightless, untouchable, like he had built this entire night only to cradle me like this.

The moment the door to his room closed behind us, a hush fell. It wasn’t silence—it was the charged quiet of expectation, of a storm gathering. Adrien set me gently on my feet, but his hands lingered, sliding down my arms as if reluctant to let me go. His gaze held mine, burning and soft all at once.

He lifted a hand to my cheek, thumb brushing away the remnants of my earlier tears. "You’re trembling," he murmured.

"Not from fear," I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.

Something in his expression shifted—an almost imperceptible loosening of restraint. His fingers slid into the soft fabric of my dress, curling against my hip as his other hand moved to my zipper. He paused, his eyes locking on mine.

I gave the smallest nod, my breath caught in my throat.

The sound of the zipper lowering was a quiet unraveling, a promise being undone stitch by stitch. The chiffon slid from my shoulders, pooling at my feet like spilled light. I stood there, suddenly bare in a way that went beyond skin, clutching nothing but the ring that still glittered on my finger.

Adrien’s gaze swept over me, reverent and hungry all at once. His jaw flexed, as if holding himself back from something primal. "You’re... breathtaking," he said, like he hadn’t seen me like this a hundred times before.

I looked away, cheeks flaring with a mix of shyness and desire, as his eyes roamed my body. His hands hovered at his sides, the need to touch me written plainly on his face. The air between us seemed charged, heavy with the promise of what was to come.

Slowly, deliberately, I reached out and tugged at the hem of his tuxedo jacket. He let me, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. I pulled the jacket off his broad shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a sleek heap. His white dress shirt was the next to go, unbuttoned with deliberate slowness as his heated gaze followed my every move.

Adrien tossed the shirt aside, and I gasped at the sight of him──all chiseled muscle and honed physique like I am still not used to seeing him this way. He was a work of art, every dip and curve of his body a testament to his strength and dedication. But it was his eyes, never leaving mine, that undid me most of all.

When he finally closed the distance, my skin met his in a rush of heat. His chest pressed to mine, his hands sliding down my back, over the curve of my waist, anchoring me. His mouth claimed mine in a kiss that was no longer careful, no longer questioning—it was deep, demanding, tasting of possession and devotion in equal measure.

I gasped against him, my hands tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. His tongue swept against mine, coaxing, consuming, until I was drowning in him. Is it okay for me to do this? Would it hurt the baby?