Isabella

Chapter 6

Isabella woke up later than usual, the warmth of the sun streaming through the window onto her skin. She stretched lazily in bed, a satisfied ache settling in her muscles as memories of the previous night washed over her. A flush crept up her cheeks as she thought about how relentless Adrian had been, his touch pushing her to the edge of pleasure, over and over again. He had always been attentive, but there had been something different in his intensity last night. The way his hands explored her body, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. The blush deepened as she buried her face into the pillow, reliving the way he’d whispered her name like a prayer.

With a soft sigh, she sat up, brushing her hair from her face, and glanced to the empty space beside her in bed. Adrian wasn’t there. The faint ache in her body told her exactly how thoroughly he’d exhausted her, but she chalked his absence up to his usual morning run. He was disciplined like that—no matter how late they had stayed up, he always made time for his routine.

She slipped out of bed and padded downstairs, the house peaceful and quiet in the early morning. Wrapping herself in her favorite robe, Isabella moved into the kitchen, deciding to make breakfast. The familiar ritual of cooking calmed her, the smell of eggs and coffee filling the air as she hummed softly to herself. It felt good to be home, to slip back into these mundane routines that made her feel grounded after so much time away.

By the time she set the table, she heard the door open, and Adrian stepped inside. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him—hair slightly damp from the run, his shirt clinging to the muscles of his chest, a sheen of sweat making him look ruggedly handsome. Even after all these years, the sight of him still made her breath catch.

“Morning,” she said with a smile, turning to face him.

Adrian smiled back, crossing the room in a few strides to pull her into his arms. “Morning, love,” he murmured against her hair, kissing her temple softly. “You’ve been busy,” he added, glancing at the food.

She shrugged, feeling a warmth spread through her as his arms stayed wrapped around her. “I figured you’d be hungry after your run.”

They sat down to eat, the conversation light and filled with laughter. Every now and then, Isabella couldn’t help but reach across the table, brushing a lock of his hair aside or letting her hand linger on his arm as she passed him something. Each time, Adrian gave her this look—soft, adoring, like he couldn’t believe she was real. It made her heart swell with affection. She’d seen that look before, but somehow today it felt even more intense, like there was a depth to it that she hadn’t noticed before. She found herself thinking about their wedding day, wondering if he had looked at her like this, with so much love and reverence in his eyes.

After breakfast, Adrian convinced her to join him for a shower. At first, she laughed, playfully swatting at his arm, but he was persistent. With a roll of her eyes, she let him lead her upstairs, where they stripped down and stepped into the steamy warmth of the shower. The moment the water hit their skin, Adrian’s hands were on her, his touch firm yet tender. It was overwhelming, the way he touched her—like he was trying to memorize every inch of her all over again. She leaned into him, her breath hitching as his hands slid over her wet skin, the intimacy between them undeniable. It was as though he couldn’t get enough, like he needed her closer, always closer.

The rest of the day passed in comfortable ease. They spent it together, cleaning the house and rearranging furniture. It was the kind of quiet routine that made Isabella appreciate how much she had missed these simple moments. Every now and then, she found excuses to touch him—a brush of her lips against his cheek as she passed by, or a light touch on his arm as she handed him something. She felt a constant pull toward him, a desire to be close, to feel him near. And each time she touched him, Adrian would give her that look again—like she was the most important thing in the world to him.

Later in the evening, as Isabella curled up with a book in the living room, she glanced up and saw Adrian pacing in the garden. He had his phone pressed to his ear, his expression unreadable as he spoke in low tones. She watched him for a moment, his silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the porch light, before shrugging it off. It must have been something work-related—he rarely talked about his missions, but she understood that sometimes, things followed him home. Turning her attention back to her book, she let the peacefulness of the evening wrap around her.

The timer dinged in the kitchen, signaling her cookies were ready. She smiled to herself, setting the book down as she headed into the kitchen to check on the batch. As she pulled the tray from the oven, the sweet scent of baked goods filled the air, and her mind wandered to Adrian again. She contemplated asking him if he’d have to leave again soon, but when she saw him later, any thought of that slipped away.

That night, when they went to bed, Adrian’s touch was so gentle, so reverent, that any worry she might have had melted under the heat of his affection. He kissed her with a tenderness that made her heart ache, his hands skimming over her skin like he was rediscovering her all over again. She let herself sink into him, her body responding to every caress, every whisper of his name.

Afterward, as they lay tangled together beneath the sheets, she whispered, “I love you.”

Adrian didn’t answer with words. Instead, he pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple, his breath warm against her skin as he held her tight, almost like he was afraid to let go. She felt him breathe in her scent, his grip tightening just slightly, as though he needed her in a way that went beyond simple affection.

Isabella smiled to herself, feeling a deep sense of peace settle over her. Whatever lay ahead, tonight she had him beside her. And in this moment, that was all she needed.