Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Lowering His Head to Kiss Her
On a weekend morning, Wren Sutton woke up naturally. She opened her eyes to find the space beside her empty. Adrian Lancaster’s crisp, masculine scent lingered on the pillow, and her body was covered in the intimate kiss marks he’d left behind. A single glance was enough to make her blush.
She thought Adrian had gone out, and her mood soured a little. After all, last night was her first time.
Just then, she heard a faint noise coming from the kitchen.
Wren got out of bed, left the bedroom, and, her curiosity piqued, walked lightly toward the kitchen.
Through the glass door, she saw Adrian inside, busy making what looked like breakfast.
"..."
So he was here. He hadn’t left after all. A wave of warmth washed over Wren’s heart.
Adrian had his back to the kitchen door. Dressed in light gray loungewear, he was looking at a recipe on his phone, a serious expression on his face as he studied the sunny-side-up egg in the frying pan.
The morning light traced his trim figure in a golden silhouette. A few strands of black hair fell naturally across his forehead, adding a touch of languid charm.
The toaster beside him went DING! as it ejected the finished toast. He fumbled to grab it, clumsily spreading butter, adding cheese and the fried egg, and finally cutting the sandwich into neat triangles.
His focused yet somewhat clumsy demeanor made him look like a completely different person from the decisive President Lancaster of the business world.
Wren leaned against the doorframe, watching him in silence. Her heart completely melted at the sight.
Besides her parents, Adrian was the third person who had ever made breakfast for her.
As if sensing her gaze, Adrian suddenly turned around.
Upon seeing her, his stern expression instantly softened. His ears grew faintly red, but he forced himself to remain composed.
"You’re awake? Come try the breakfast I made. This is my first time cooking."
His tone held a hint of pride and anticipation.
Wren smiled and walked over, gently wrapping her arms around Adrian’s waist from behind. She pressed her face against his broad back, feeling an immense sense of security.
"Honey, thank you for making me breakfast."
"The thought you put into it means more than any gourmet meal."
Adrian turned and pulled her into his arms. He nuzzled his chin against the top of her head, his voice full of contented bliss.
"You haven’t even tasted it yet. What if it’s terrible...?"
"I’m sure it’s delicious," Wren said confidently, tilting her head up to look into Adrian’s eyes.
Adrian affectionately tapped her nose with his fingertip. "Mrs. Lancaster certainly knows how to be encouraging. I’ll have to make breakfast for you every day from now on."
Her heart felt sweeter than honey. With a bashful smile, she said, "That would make me the happiest girl in the world."
Adrian rested his forehead against hers, a low, magnetic chuckle in his voice. "You’re my woman. Of course you’re going to be happy."
...
The scene shifted, dreamlike, to the terrace on an early summer evening.
Wren was cozily curled up in a wicker hanging chair, scrolling through an app on her phone.
As she scrolled, she suddenly sat bolt upright and turned her phone screen toward Adrian, who was reading a book beside her.
"Honey, look! This influencer’s mint plant is so pretty. It purifies the air, you can make tea with it, use it in cocktails... Can we plant one, too? We could put it right in this corner."
She pointed to a small, empty patch of floor near the terrace railing, bathed in the light of the setting sun. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Adrian closed his book. He glanced at Wren’s excited expression, and a small smile played on his lips. "You want to go right now?"
"Let’s go!" Wren hopped down from the hanging chair, her bare feet landing on the wooden floor. "Before the flower market closes!"
They drove to the largest flower market on the outskirts of the city.
It was evening, so the market wasn’t crowded. The air was filled with the heady fragrance of flowers and the damp scent of soil.
Adrian and Wren walked hand in hand, strolling past the various stalls. They were a striking couple, handsome and beautiful, with an elegant air that drew the attention of many passersby.
Wren carefully examined the pots of lush, green mint seedlings. Every so often, she would pluck a small leaf, rub it between her fingertips to release its cool, invigorating aroma, and then turn to ask Adrian.
"Does this one look a bit healthier?"
"The scent of that variety is more distinct."
Adrian answered patiently, following behind her while carrying a bag of specially prepared potting soil.
After carefully comparing the plants from several stalls, he finally chose a pot of spearmint with plump leaves and healthy roots. He also picked out an elegant, cream-colored earthenware pot with a hand-painted, blue-green wave pattern around the rim.
Wren loved it and praised Adrian for his excellent choice.
Back home, Wren couldn’t wait to plant the mint.
She lined up the new pot, the potting soil, the mint seedling, a small trowel, and a spray bottle in the empty spot on the terrace.
She pulled out her phone and carefully watched a planting tutorial three times.
"First, a layer of clay pebbles at the bottom for drainage. Then fill it with soil and dig a little hole in the center."
She sat cross-legged on the floor, muttering the instructions to herself as she worked, completely lost in the task.
Adrian rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing strong forearms, and sat down on the floor right beside Wren.
For the most part, he just watched quietly, not interfering, only handing her the trowel when she needed it or helping steady the wobbly pot.
Wren was full of enthusiasm and completely focused on her task. She was oblivious to the few strands of hair that escaped from behind her ears, and she’d even managed to get a smudge of dirt on the tip of her nose.
She carefully eased the mint seedling out of its temporary plastic pot, keeping the root ball intact, and gently placed it in the hole in its new home. Then she meticulously filled in the surrounding soil and patted it down.
Since it was her first time, her movements were a bit clumsy, and specks of dark brown soil splattered her hands and the hem of her skirt. But she paid them no mind, not feeling the least bit dirty.
The final step was to water the plant to help it set roots.
Wren picked up the small spray bottle and gently misted the soil.
Cool droplets of water splashed up, a few landing on the back of her hand. She looked down at her own soil-stained hands, and a sly, mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
Taking advantage of Adrian’s inattention, Wren reached out. Quick as a flash, she gently swiped her index finger, damp with cool soil, across his cheek.
A faint streak of dirt was left on his handsome cheek.
Adrian clearly hadn’t expected that. He froze for a moment, his gaze darkening.
His reflexes were lightning-fast. Just as Wren was about to pull her hand back, he caught her wrist.
His palm was warm and strong, enveloping her cool, soil-stained fingers.
"Mischievous," Adrian said in a low voice. There was no hint of reprimand in his tone, only fond exasperation.
Ignoring the dirt on his face, he used his free hand to pick up the spray bottle Wren had set down and continued to slowly water the newly planted mint.
A fine mist of water fell, seeping into the soil. A few droplets splashed onto their clasped hands.
As Adrian held her wrist, Wren could feel the steady beat of his pulse.
Watching him calmly water the plant, completely unfazed by the streak of dirt on his face, she first felt a small thrill of triumph from her prank. Then, her heart completely melted.
"Let me get that for you."
Only then did Adrian put down the spray bottle and release her hand, angling his face slightly toward her.
Wren used a relatively clean spot on the back of her hand to gently wipe the smudge from Adrian’s face.
They were so close they could hear each other breathe.
Adrian reached out as well, his movements gentle as he used the pad of his thumb to wipe away the smudge of dirt on the tip of Wren’s nose.
The warmth of his thumb lingered on the tip of her nose. Wren’s eyelashes fluttered as she gazed into his deep eyes.
In them, she saw the reflection of the starry night sky, and of herself—her hair slightly messy, but her face wreathed in a smile.
The air seemed to thicken, time slowing down as a gentle evening breeze swept past.
Adrian’s gaze slowly slid from Wren’s eyes down to her lips—smudged with dirt, but still soft.
The softness in his gaze gradually gave way to something deeper and more intent, like an undercurrent flowing far beneath a calm sea.
The hand cradling the back of her head tightened slightly. His other arm wrapped around her waist, and she could clearly feel the warmth from his calloused fingertips through the thin, soil-specked cotton of her skirt.
Wren’s heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously gripped the front of Adrian’s slightly wrinkled shirt, the damp dirt on her fingertips leaving faint smudges on the clean fabric.
Adrian lowered his head to kiss her.
At first, it was just a gentle press of their lips, carrying the cool scent of the evening breeze and fresh mint.
Then, the kiss grew warm and firm. He tilted his head slightly, taking her lower lip more fully between his and kissing it with lingering tenderness.
The air was filled with the sweet taste of happiness.
Wren closed her eyes, her senses filled with nothing but Adrian’s crisp, pleasant scent.
There was the soft, searing pressure on her lips, the burning heat of his hand on her waist.
She responded with a shy hesitation, rising onto her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck.
The moonlight was pristine.
The newly planted mint swayed gently at Adrian and Wren’s feet, the water droplets on its leaves refracting the brilliant moonlight.
The rest of the world seemed to fade into a blurry background, leaving only the sound of their mingled breaths and pounding hearts, infinitely amplified in the quiet night.
After what felt like an eternity, Adrian pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against Wren’s. His breathing was a little unsteady.
He looked at her flushed cheeks and her damp, glistening lips. His eyes were dark, his voice low and husky. "Now we’re even."
Wren’s cheeks were scorching. Her breathing was uneven, and she said nothing, simply burying her face in Adrian’s chest and nuzzling against him, her heart overflowing with bliss.
