Adrian had heard the knock on his front door, and the sound made his heart leap with joy. She'd finally arrived, a bit later than he had expected, but she had arrived. Calmly he approached the door, trying to suppress his excitement to no avail. His hand wrapped around the door knob, and with a swift movement, he was staring into the sapphire blue eyes he'd grown to love. She wore a figure-hugging turtleneck dress in her favorite shade of blue, a silver bangle on her wrist gave the outfit a sophisticated touch. He smiled, "Giada."
The grin that crossed her face made his body warm, "I'm free Adrian, I'm free and I'm never going back."
At those words he could not stop his jaw from dropping, the unbelievable wave of shock crashed over him, "Oh Giada, come here!" he took her in his arms and brought his lips hurriedly to hers, shutting the door behind them. Giada moaned helplessly into his mouth, winding her slender arms around his neck. She never wanted to leave this place, never wanted to leave him, however she knew Tony would come after her, but Adrian could, would, protect her. The kiss lasted a few moments, Adrian unable to quell the emotions overflowing him, but when he broke their embrace, he rested his forehead gently against hers, "I love you so much."
She smiled, "I love you too, Adrian."
He sighed, curling a tendril of her hair around his finger, "I'll never let anything happen to you."
"I know," Giada kissed the tip of his nose, "I know."
Adrian smirked, wrapping his arms around her, "Now, let's get you settled in," he led her further into the apartment, most of which she was familiar with, but there were rooms she had yet to see. Like his bedroom, for instance, which is exactly where he was taking her.
"Adrian I just got here," she teased, seeing the mischievous glint in his eye, but the arm around her waist tightened.
"Nothing like that, darling, just showing you where you will keep your things," he opened the door, taking her by the hand into his bedroom. The walls were adorned lightly with one or two paintings of Ancient Egypt, the furniture was carved of dark woods, and the fabrics were shades of his favorite purple and gold. Giada caught her breath lightly, her Caribbean blue orbs scanning the area.
"This closet is all yours my dear, the bathroom is to your left, which there is more than enough room for us to share," he smiled opening the french-door closet for her, turning to see the wonderment on her face. This is how he wanted her, in his home, by his side, forever.
The young woman just beamed, "Adrian, thank you."
He shook his head, walking over and taking the suitcase from her hand, placing it on the floor, "No need," he took her hands in his, "this is where you belong."
Giada nodded, "As long as I'm with you, I'll go anywhere."
Adrian pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, "You can hang your costume in the back of the closet, let me get your gloves and mask," he kissed her forehead before leaving the room, allowing her to start unpacking. Giada noticed that in her rush, all of her clothes had gotten a tad disheveled, but nothing an iron couldn't fix. Piece by piece she hung her clothes, admiring the room a tad more as she did so. The painting she was looking at was of the God Horus, descending upon one of the many pharaohs of that age. It was beautifully painted on limestone, the glinting gold paint and dark, black ink contrasted nicely. It wasn't until she felt his strong arms around her waist that she snapped out of her trance.
She smiled as his lips found the crook of her neck, "You know, if you want to keep this under the radar, you're going to have to try and keep your hands off of me around the others."
"How can I when you always look so ravishing?" he breathed huskily in her ear, his warm breath against her skin sent chills down her spine.
"You're the smartest man on the planet, you tell me," the young woman countered, turning in his arms to face him, kissing beneath his jaw, "I left some things back in Little Italy."
Adrian looked down at her, "I'll send someone to fetch the rest of your things later, but now I think we should kill some time, hmm?"
Giada smirked, "What did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking of a nice lunch, stroll through Central Park, how does that sound?"
"Sounds wonderful."
The man grinned, "Excellent, just give me a moment to change, and then we'll go."
It was then that she noticed he'd been wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and matching sweatshirt, quite unlike anything she'd ever seen him in. Even Ozymandias knows how to be casual, she mused, sitting down on the plush bed to wait for him. Her eyes followed his every move, watching him gather his attire for the afternoon: a pair of black slacks, a deep purple polo shirt, and a pair of black, leather dress shoes. Adrian shot a glance her way, giving her a loving smile, one which she returned greatly. Giada then watched his hands move to the hem of his sweatshirt, his slender fingers pulling the fabric upward, revealing a well-defined torso. It took quite a good amount of control not to blush as she examined the specimen before her. His abdomen and pectorals were chiseled to perfection, the sleek lines of his arms explained simply how he trained his body to be so fit. It was when her eyes fell to his lower abdomen that she studied the sculpted 'V' that dipped beneath the waistband of his sweatpants, a soft blush creeping across her cheeks as she thought back to the night in the restaurant.
Adrian looked over at her, noting the color that had crossed her face, "Everything alright, love?"
Giada nodded, "Fine."
He smirked, pushing the waistband of his sweatpants down, leaving him in nothing but a pair of white briefs. His eyes wandered to her once more, watching her glance around the room appreciatively, "There's something you're not telling me, G."
She stared at him as he walked over, taking the slacks off the bed and putting them on, "Nothing. Everything is fine."
Adrian nodded, "Mm, always so secretive," he walked back over to his dresser and rummaging through the drawer for a belt. When he found one that suited his attire, he turned back around, lacing it through the belt loops as he noted her movement to her suitcase, pushing it to the far corner of the closet, "your gloves and mask are on the dresser."
Giada turned, seeing the two articles of her costume lying on the dark wood of the dresser where he was standing. She smiled, picking his shirt up off of the bed and bringing it to him, "Thank you for keeping them safe."
He smirked, "Absolutely," he took the shirt from her, "thank you."
The young woman grinned, inhaling his subtle cologne, "You're welcome."
Adrian's eyes followed her back to the edge of the bed, pulling the shirt on before tucking it into the waistband of his slacks, buckling the belt closed, "How do I look?"
She chuckled, "Very handsome."
He laughed softly, walking over to sit beside her, putting on his shoes. Giada placed a hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles, "Are you alright?"
The man stopped as he finished, not expecting the random question, he brought his eyes to meet hers, "Never better, why do you ask?"
"No reason," she shrugged, standing up and putting her gloves and mask in the closet with the rest of her costume.
"G, no more secrets," he took her slender waist in his hands, turning her to face him, "what's bothering you?"
Giada sighed, placing a hand on his cheek, "I don't want you to get angry and storm off to Little Italy with a vendetta to kill Tony."
Adrian chuckled, "I've wanted to kill him since you told me you were engaged to him," his eyes lingered to her left hand, taking note of the ring that was no longer on her finger, "however I will do nothing without your approval." He kissed her forehead, wrapping her in his arms, "Now, let's get something to eat."
She looked up at him, straightening his collar that had been standing up, "Let's."
The sun shone brightly above Central Park, the soft cooing of pigeons and the clop of horse and buggies a nice reprieve from the whiz of taxi cabs and buses. Giada sighed contently, Adrian's arm around her waist as they walked; this was how her life was meant to be. She brought her gaze to look up at the man by her side, his gold hair glinting in the afternoon sunlight. Yes, she was madly in love with him now, and nothing could hold her back from saying so. The young woman rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his arm pull her closer to his large frame.
Adrian loved the feeling of having her in his arms like that, so peaceful and relaxed. His eyes wandered downward, admiring her tan skin glowing beneath her golden curls. She was his to cherish, his to adore, and his to worship; like the great goddess Hathor, Egypt's epitome of love. He looked up as they came to a fork in the path, tugging on her waist slightly to lead her to the right.
"Where are you taking me?" she questioned, like a young child being held in suspense during a family outing.
"It's a surprise," he chided, leading her down towards the lake.
Giada huffed, wrapping her arm around his chest, "I hate surprises, Adrian."
His laugh rumbled against her ear, "Well then I shan't keep you in the dark much longer, my darling," he stood behind her, bringing his hands over her eyes, "now let me guide."
She growled, "Adrian!"
"I apologize but it is a surprise after all," he chuckled, listening to her rebuttal in her fluent tongue. Adrian could make out a few words, such as "crazy" and "ridiculous" but other than that his Italian needed much work.
Giada let him lead her onward, the black abyss her eyes were trapped beneath only made her more impatient. It wasn't until a few minutes later that he stopped moving, allowing her to hear the soft sloshing of water, the quiet chatter of people, and other such sounds.
"Alright, here we are," he removed his hands, and a gasp fell from the blonde woman's lips: is was magnificent. The sun was positioned perfectly above the trees, the lake glittering like a sea of diamonds and sapphires, a few rowboats scattering its surface. A small, al fresco restaurant was where he'd taken her, hidden away from the main drag of Central Park. The small, cozy two-top tables covered in white linen were idyllic, warmth spread through her body at the scent of fresh rosemary and garlic, wafting off of the many plates of food being rushed out of the kitchen.
"Adrian it's amazing," she breathed, her eyes shining brightly.
He smiled, pressing his lips to the crown of her head, "I'm glad you like it," he spoke into her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of coconut emanating from her beautiful locks. He walked with her over to the hostess, who smiled at them brightly.
"Hello, welcome to Bistro Fleur de Lys, table for two?" her bright green eyes stared at the two of them happily.
Adrian nodded, "Yes, please."
She grinned, "This way," gesturing for the two of them to follow her into the dining space.
Giada kept a soft hold on Adrian's hand as he walked with her through the slight crowd of tables, each filled with Wall Street bankers and magazine editors, all catching their daily lunch or business meeting. The hostess had led them to a table right along the edge of the lake, placing their menus down on the table, "Your server will be with you shortly, joiur."
Adrian stepped behind her to pull out her chair, "Madame."
She smirked, "Taking an Italian girl to a French bistro, how creative."
He chuckled, kissing her cheek as she sat, "I thought you'd like something different for a change," he sat down across from her, immediately taking her hand, "I cannot tell you how happy I am that you're here."
"Neither can I," she traipsed her thumb across the top of his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin comforted her, "now what are we having?"
Adrian sat back, picking up the menu, "Whatever you want."
Giada chuckled, "You order, might as well keep up your veil of surprise."
The man's eyebrow arched in interest, "Not very well trained in the art of French cuisine are we?"
She glared at him playfully, "I haven't ventured out of the realm of Italian food much, no."
He smirked, gazing back down at the menu, "Very well then."
As the waiter came and took their order, Giada merely watched the scenery around them, the sun shining through the leaves on the trees above them, dancing off of the surface of the water, children's laughter coming from a distant area on the other side of the lake. She could feel Adrian's hand still holding hers, the entrancing texture of smooth skin and rough callouses on his palm.
"Tell me what you're thinking," he urged, leaning back in his chair to take a sip of ice water.
Her eyes found his, soft and questioning, "I'm thinking about how perfect this is."
His lips pressed against the top of her hand, "Almost too perfect to be real."
Giada felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth, leaning back as their food was placed before them, "What on earth did you order me?" she giggled, staring down at the plate before her.
Adrian grinned, "Pan seared foie gras with mustard seed and Bordeaux au jus."
She stared down at the dish awkwardly, foie gras was not a common ingredient that she'd seen before, but she knew what it was, and was not looking forward to trying it, "Adrian..."
"You'll like it, and if you don't we'll order you something else, I promise."
Giada took a tentative bite, trying to accustom her mouth to the flavor, but the texture caught her gag reflexes first, No, she thought, bringing her napkin to her mouth politely, spitting it out quietly and quickly.
The notion didn't go unnoticed by her lover, who merely smiled understandingly and gestured for their waiter, quickly ordering her a different meal, "It's an acquired taste, darling, don't worry."
"Do you like it?" she questioned, moving the plate to the center of the table.
Adrian shook his head, "No, I'm a vegetarian."
Her eyes grew wide as her mouth fell open, "You ordered me something without even knowing what it tasted like!" she laughed, tapping his ankle with her foot, seeing him feign hurt.
"Ow!" he teased, tapping her ankle in return, "I ordered you roast chicken if that makes you feel any better."
Giada smiled triumphantly, "Yes it does. What time is it?"
The man's eyes flitted to his watch, "We have two hours before we have to get to the meeting, we'll be done in plenty of time."
The couple finished their meal, conversing lightly and laughing amongst themselves, drawing soft attention from the nosy upper class around them. Neither one could have cared, however, and soon they left and were heading back to Adrian's apartment, the sun setting slowly as they changed into their other personas.
Nighttime was when she felt the most free now, especially if the night was a quiet one. She and Ozymandias had been patrolling for the past four hours, and nothing had alerted them to trouble. The two vigilantes now stood watch on their usual rooftop, the wind rushing through her hair and billowing his cape. It was during times like this that they would normally banter back and forth at one another, the innocent flirtation between the two of them keeping them busy, but that was over now, no use flirting with someone you love.
Ozymandias watched as she leaned against the ledge, looking down at the street below them. The dim lights from the street lamps gave her an unnatural glow, "You're so beautiful," he whispered, just loud enough so she could hear.
Mirage turned, her eyes shining bright beneath her mask, "You flatter, Ozzy."
"I mean it," he strode forward, taking her small frame in his arms, "you're perfect in every sense of the word."
His voice was low and husky, sending chills down Mirage's spine as his supple lips pressed against hers, her knees growing weak. She moaned against the kiss, parting his lips with her tongue, plunging into the wet warmth of his mouth. Ozymandias pulled her tighter against his chest, groaning in pleasure as his tongue dueled with hers for dominance. Some time during their passionate embrace, he pinned her against the wall of the rooftop entrance, her legs wrapped around his waist. They broke the kiss, each panting heavily before he brought his mouth to her neck, kissing a trail down to her collarbone, her moans of delight making his blood run hot, his erection straining uncomfortably against his costume, "Mirage," he husked against her skin, tasting the soft saltiness of perspiration.
The young woman gasped, sliding her gloved fingers through his hair, "Wh-What time is it?" she questioned quickly, wanting nothing more than to return to his apartment for the night.
Ozymandias kissed her once more, "Come, there's nothing going on tonight," he took her hand and they rushed out of the cold night air, back uptown where they could be alone. The two of them burst through the door, a tangle of thrashing limbs and hurried kisses. He knew Jon would be furious that they left their post early, but at the moment the man could care less. Swiftly he removed her mask, wanting so much to take her as her normal self.
Giada pulled his mask from his face, feeling his hands slide down beneath the curve of her ass, lifting her up to pin her back against the wall. She moaned loudly, arching her back as he kissed the exposed curvature of her breasts, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly. "Adrian," she sighed, pulling at the back of his costume, wanting to feel his skin against hers.
Adrian carried her into the darkness of his bedroom, each piece of their armor hitting the floor with a soft thud until there was nothing between them. It was only then that he turned on a light, and he had to catch his breath at what he saw: she was a vision. Her birthmark detailed the entire left side of her body, like an ancient tattoo, her breasts her pert and supple, her legs long and lean. Giada's eyes took in every inch of his body; his sculpted muscles, his soft skin, and as her eyes traveled lower, a smile curled across her lips: she'd gotten very lucky. Adrian stepped forward slowly, taking her in his arms, "You're beautiful."
The young woman merely brought her lips to his, kissing him passionately as she felt the backs of her shins against the edge of the bed. The point of no return, she chuckled inwardly. Adrian gently pushed her back against the plush bedding, his body covering her small frame. He slowly ghosted his lips against her skin, placing soft kisses along her body until he reached her breasts, taking one pert nipple in the warmth of his mouth. Giada's body immediately arched against his, her head falling back with a soft moan. Adrian then brought his hand to the other, massaging it painfully slow, before switching, making sure to give both breasts equal treatment. He could feel her body arching against his, wriggling with delight, and he then decided to abandon his current motive and move downward. Giada opened her eyes slightly to see why he'd stopped, only to watch him spread her legs apart, nestling his face between the apex of her thighs.
"Adrian," she hastened, causing him to look up at her, but as he did, he slid his tongue up along her clit, causing her body to shiver furiously, "oh God," she gasped her head falling back again. Adrian smirked, parting her dripping folds and thrusting his tongue inside of her, listening to her quickened gasps and heavy moans. He hummed against her, replacing his tongue with two fingers, pumping in and out of her at a steady pace.
Giada moaned loudly, tangling her fingers in his hair, urging him onward, "Oh yes! Oh fuck yes!"
He grinned as he felt her inner walls clamp down on his fingers, her hot juices coating the digits. He watched as her body heaved as she came down from her first high of the night, but he knew it wouldn't be the last. Quickly he crawled back over her, kissing her lips hard as he pushed into her, feeling her nails dig into his arms, causing him to growl.
She wrapped her legs wantonly around his waist, feeling him move. With each buck of his hips she cried out in pleasure, his hot breath on her face as they found a fast-paced rhythm. Adrian watched her expression contort with each thrust, hearing her moans and gasps only gave him more energy to continue, "Look at me," he gasped, wanting to look into her eyes.
With a bit of difficulty, she opened her eyes wide, staring up at him as he continued to thrust, listening to his loud grunts.
"Adrian, Adrian, Adrian," she continued to cry his name over and over as white lights flashed behind her eyes, his body shaking furiously against hers. Giada could feel the warmth spreading through her veins as he rested his body weight momentarily against hers, kissing the crook of her neck.
He smirked against the soft, slick skin, "Tired?"
Her eyes glanced downward, a flash of mischief in her Caribbean orbs. Without hesitation, Adrian felt her palm against his chest, pushing hard so that his back was flat against the mattress. His eyes examined her as she crawled on top of him, her hips straddling his, "What are you up to you little minx?"
Giada did not answer him, but instead rewarded him with a slow, passionate kiss, her mouth sucking on his lower lip before beginning a hot trail along his neck, biting gently at his collar bone. Adrian hissed, his hands gripping the tight curvature of her ass as she bent lower, kissing and sucking at his chest, tracing her nimble fingers along the sculpted muscles. Her bright eyes found his ever-darkening ones as she slid lower, removing his hands from her derriere as her mouth was at his navel, the strain of his returned erection between the swell of her breasts, "G..." he gasped, feeling the sensitive skin sliding between the perfect orbs that adorned her chest.
She grinned placing a kiss on the well-defined pubic bone of her lover before reaching the source of his prominent desire. Her slender fingers wrapped around his length, squeezing an ever-so-soft pressure when she slid her grasp downward, then upward, repeating the motion several times. Giada watched as his head fell back against the plush bedding, his chest heaving rapidly, the sound of his gasps filling the air.
Adrian groaned as she squeezed hard at the base of his cock, her slick tongue flicking out to swipe across his head, "Fuck," he growled, trying to arch his head to watch her, but it was a futile attempt. He felt her warm mouth begin to envelope his throbbing manhood, bobbing her head up and down, swirling her torturous tongue against the flesh as she did so. "Good God Giada," he groaned, his eyes rolling back into his head as she sucked harder, his fingers winding into her golden tresses, guiding her faster.
She moaned against his dick, her hands sliding along his smooth, built thighs, feeling his tight grip on her hair. Giada wanted to laugh at the thought of being able to turn the world's smartest man into your average male, enjoying the carnal pleasures of life. Suddenly she felt him begin to throb harder inside of her mouth, signaling her to stop, which annoyed him greatly.
His eyes opened wide as he stared at his lover, watching her lips retract from his manhood quickly, "Wh-What are you do-doing? Why'd you stop?" he panted, watching as she crawled back on top of him, bringing her hips down on his, swiftly pushing him into her wet sheath, almost made him lose control, "Shit!" he groaned, his fingers digging into her thighs with a vice-like grip.
Giada moaned loudly, her head falling back as she bucked her hips against his, feeling the knot in her stomach grow once more, fast and burning as he thrust upward, meeting her hips with the slap of skin. Her hands found his knees, giving her the leverage she needed to raise and lower her hips, riding him harder. The young woman felt her inner walls spread wide, accompanying his girth swiftly; with each passing minute it felt as if his cock was growing inside of her. Indeed it was, for soon he was moaning in unison with her, feeling their climax nearing, "Oh God! Fuck! Adrian! Adrian! ADRIAN!" she cried, her body convugling harshly.
Adrian thrust upward one last time, feeling his seed empty into her, his cries entwining with hers like two threads of melody. He heaved for breath as she collapsed on his chest, his strong arms pulling her close, "That...that was..."
"Amazing," she finished pushing a strand of hair out of his face, "I'm happy to know that it wasn't my dress that night that caused your actions."
He chuckled, pulling her with him beneath the comfort of his quilt and bed sheets, "No my dear, everything about you caused what happened that night, and tonight," he kissed her forehead, "and every night after this."
Giada smiled teasingly, "I'm going to be a busy girl."
The two of them laughed softly, Giada softly stroking his shins with her foot, "I love you, Adrian."
He nodded, "I know my goddess, and I love you, now rest, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," he brought his mouth to her kiss-swollen lips, placing a gentle peck upon them before feeling her head find its place against his shoulder, her slow breathing alerting him that she was indeed fast asleep. For the first time in his life, Adrian was content and happy all at once, and that thought eased him into slumber faster than any night he'd ever had.
AN: SORRY this took so long, I got preoccupied with work and everything else going on but I finally got this chapter out! Reviews are much appreciated! :D