The kiss was nothing short of spectacular.

Chat Noir's lips literally scorched hers as he kissed her deeply and passionately. His mouth moved so artfully against hers that her lips had no choice but to respond. Marinette melted against his firm, strong, body as her arms reached out an entwined themselves round his neck. Her fingers tugged at the soft, silky, locks that curled at his leather collar just as he nipped her bottom lip just so. She gasped slightly which allowed him to slip his tongue in her mouth and begin to explore while Marinette groaned almost obscenely as she felt her knees buckle.

This was fantastic, amazing, incredible, wonderful, mira-

Thump!

Marinette's eyes shot wide open as she felt something hit her thigh, hard. Her mind was utterly blank as all she could feel was the incredibly strange sensations that Chat Noir was causing within her body. her legs have lost all ability to keep her upright as she clung tightly to Chat's neck, her stomach was doing giddy somersaults, her heart raced, her skin tingled, and her lips were determined to keep up with Chat Noir's devouring kisses.

Thump!

Another hit against her thigh and then suddenly another thought finally entered her head – Tiki! Tiki was kicking her! Why would Tiki kick her? Then it occurred to her…

The Akuma!

Marinette gasped as she pushed Chat Noir away. Their mouths made a rather disgustingly comical squelching noise at being torn apart so forcefully and quickly. The lustful haze in his stunning green eyes gave way to hurt that made Marinette's heart squeeze painfully.

"Oh my God!" her voice came out ragged at that and Chat's lips quirked up a little smugly. "The Akuma!" Marinette hissed pointedly.

"Never fear, Purr-incess," Chat purred, "I will keep you safe from the big, mean, Akuma."

Marinette rolled her eyes at that but before she could actually say something Chat Noir suddenly scooped her up bridal style. "Meep!" Marinette squealed as her arms wrapped themselves round his neck again. "Chat! What are you doing?!"

"I'm escorting you to safety," Chat replied seriously, "there is an Akuma out there who had just targeted you. I will not leave you in the middle of the street like a sitting duck."

"Erm," Marinette mumbled, "I don't think the Akuma is going to come back. I think it's attacking everyone not just me."

"I refuse to take that risk," Chat said grimly as he tightened his hold on her, "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you."

"Meep!" Marinette squeaked as she felt her whole face heat up. She must look like a tomato in a wig she was blushing so hard! "You're so sweet," she managed to choke out, "but I don't think it's necessary for you to – EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

Marinette clung tightly to Chat as he suddenly sent them flying in the air with his baton. She buried her head into his shoulder and took several deep breaths to calm her heart from leaping out of her chest from the shock if it all. She couldn't deny it, the feel of his strong arms around her, and being cloaked in his comforting scent made it a great deal easier to calm down and start plotting. She needed to figure out a way to sort out this Akuma before this got way out of hand and Chat did something he'll regret later.

Unfortunately though she got nowhere on the whole figuring out a solution when Chat finally landed on her balcony.

"Here you go, Princess," Chat said gallantly as he placed Marinette gently back onto her feet, "safe and sound in your tower."

"Thank you, good sir," Marinette fluttered her eyelashes melodramatically, "I suppose now you shall go and slay that dragon too?"

Which would totally work in her favour because if he left she could transform as soon as he was out of view and then they could defeat the Akuma in the matter of hours.

"Nope!"

"N-no?!" Marinette faltered. Her plans shot down before they even had a chance to flourish in her mind. "W-w-why not?""

"Your safety is my purr-iority," Chat explained, "I am not letting you out of my sight until Ladybug purifies the Akuma."

Marinette gulped.

If Chat Noir didn't let her out of his sight then the Akuma would never get purified! And if the Akuma never gets purified then Chat Noir will be forever shadowing her! And that would mean she would never get a date with Adrien!

"Y-y-y-you can't!" Marinette stammered out. "Ladybug needs you!"

He shook his head at that. "Ladybug can manage without me," he said dismissively, "she'll defeat the Akuma in no time."

"But….but…but…"

"What's the matter, Princess?" Chat pouted. "Don't you want to spend time with meow?"

He then gave her the biggest kitty eyes ever known to man. They were just so wide, and huge, and innocent looking! If she could say no to that expression then she would be as heartless as Chloe!

"Of course I want to spend time with you!" she said quickly. "It's just that I don't want to be the girl that distracts you from your superhero duty. You know it could mean the destruction of Paris if you're not there to save the day and then I'll end up with an angry mob at my front door and then….and then….and then…."

Her insane babble of anxiety died a long, drawn, out death as Chat Noir cupped her cheek with one hand and leaned in close. He had the biggest, most manic, grin on his face that made his eyes lit up and her heart do palpations.

"You're so adorable!" he declared.

He then lowered his head slight and drew even closer towards her and Marinette had absolutely no doubt that he was going to kiss her. All of her insides twisted and did double flips at the very thought and Marinette strongly suspected that if he kissed her again then they'll never stop kissing and then the Akuma will destroy all of France and an angry mob will turn up at her front door to tar and feather her.

(She never wins in these hypothetical situations!)

"A-a-a-ah!" Marinette cried out as she backed away hastily. "Ouch!" she yelped as she promptly walked into the balcony railings and the clay plant pots. "I, erm, ah, think we should go inside," she managed to get out somewhat coherently, "the Akuma might see us if we stay out here."

"You're right," Chat agreed, "we shouldn't linger."

They slipped into the safety of Marinette's bedroom which suddenly didn't feel so safe when Marinette realised they were entirely alone (apart from Tiki) and there would be nothing to distract Chat from trying to kiss her. Though saying that he did seem a little distracted by her collection of Adrien Agreste posters which made her blush all over again as she hastily tugged at his hand and all but shoved him out of her room and downstairs.

She hoped (rather desperately) that her parents will be able to keep Chat distracted long enough that she could sneak into the bathroom, transform, and go out to fight the Akuma. She had no doubt that if Chat Noir saw Ladybug fighting on her own that he would run to her side like he always did, and then they can have this mess all sorted by dinner!

She hoped wrong.

"Oh Marinette!" Mum cried out as both she and Dad swept Marinette into their usual three way hug. "We were so worried! We saw the Akuma on the news!"

"I'm okay," Marinette croaked out as she returned the hug just as fiercely, "Chat Noir saved me."

There was a moment of silence as her parents realised that Chat Noir was in fact in the same room as them and then instantly they all broke away as her Mum threw her arms round a startled Chat and her Dad patted him on the back.

"Thank you," Mum said, "for saving our little girl."

Marinette cringed at the whole little girl thing. It was just so embarrassing!

"Any time," Chat said sincerely, "but I am afraid the danger isn't over yet. The Akuma targeted Marinette specifically I shall have to stay here in case the Akuma comes back."

Marinette groaned as her parents exchanged worried glances and Marinette could practically see her chances escaping to fight the Akuma dwindle down to zero. Now they were going to spend the next few hours fearing the worst and not letting Marinette out of their sight, thanks a lot Chat!

Not that Marinette didn't try. Her Dad attempted to distract her with a good few rounds of Ultimate Mecha Strike III which Chat Noir joined in as he pressed up as close to Marinette as humanly as possible. This did little to keep her focused when all she could feel was his body heat seep through her jeans but that didn't stop her from trying to achieve her goal.

"You know," she said nervously, "I really think Ladybug is going to need your help on this one. You should really go after her."

"Nah," Chat said, "Ladybug could defeat an Akuma like this with one hand tied behind her back."

Marinette barely suppressed a growl of frustration at that and with a few hard pushes on the buttons of her console she defeated both Chat Noir and her father with ease.

"Wow!" Chat said dreamily. "You're amazing Marinette!"

Marinette flushed as she sunk low into her seat and avoided Dad's raised eyebrow and Chat's ever sweet smile. They played in silence for a bit more until she tried again.

"What if Ladybug is stuck in her civilian form?" she asked anxiously. "And there is someone following her under the Akuma spell preventing her from transforming? You might be the only one that can fight the Akuma right now."

"As if Ladybug would let some creep prevent her from her duty," Chat said dismissively, "everything will be fine, Princess, I purr-omise."

Marinette has never before been so tempted to bash her head repeatedly against a wall until now.

Then, thankfully, Chat Noir's ring beeped loudly. "Oh," he looked almost sheepishly, "I'm almost out of power. I don't suppose you have any cheese so I can recharge, do you?"

"Of course," Dad said cheerfully, "help yourself."

As soon as Chat locked himself with the bathroom with a plate full of cheese, Marinette saw her chance and began to make a mad dash towards her bedroom.

"Oh no you don't, young lady!" Mum said sternly as she grabbed Marinette's arm. "I need your help in the kitchen to cook dinner."

"But-!"

"No buts," Mum interrupted firmly, "this is the first time during an Akuma attack where you haven't disappeared and Chat Noir said you were a target. I am not letting you out of my sight for one single second! You can help me chop the carrots. Is Chat Noir allergic to anything?"

With her head still spinning from the rapid change of topic, Marinette dutifully followed her mother into the kitchen as she tried to squish down the guilt that she has made her mother worry about her in previous attacks. Instead of trying to make a break for it, she mumbled something numbly about how she didn't know if Chat Noir was allergic to any sort of food, before she set out to chop the carrots like she was asked to.

Any other attempt of escape was horribly thwarted as a fully re-charged Chat decided to join them and spent the whole time resting his elbows on the kitchen counter so he could cup his own cheeks and gaze at Marinette the exact dazed way she tended to gaze at Adrien.

It was very embarrassing and distracting.

Especially since his tail swayed from side to side like a total smitten kitten.

His tail!

He, of course, joined them for dinner which made it a very awkward affair. Chat kept trying to hold her hand under the dinner table which made it difficult to actually eat as well as rather humiliating as she caught her parents watching them both very pointedly.

She was going to die with her cheeks permanently stained pink, she just knows it!

"You know," Marinette chewed her bottom lip anxiously, "Ladybug might be out of town. You could be Paris' only hope. You should really go out and check."

"Ladybug would never let Paris down," Chat Noir shook his head, "and you really shouldn't nibble your lip like that," he added in a conspiring whisper, "or I won't be able to resist the sweet temptation."

Marinette slammed her face against the table and groaned in defeat. She didn't even bother pulling her hand back when Chat slid his fingers between hers and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

He was actually an endearing help with the dishes and Marinette couldn't help but relax a little as she flicked bubbles into Chat's face. They would have a full on water fight but her mother coughed very pointedly as she held her hand out for the dry dish to put away.

The four of them all collapsed on the sofa feeling fat and full when the news started up and Marinette felt like an icy bucket of water had splashed over her as she saw the chaos the Akuma had been causing.

It didn't help that mere minutes into Nadja's report that Akuma promptly attacked the news station and all of Paris was subjected to the view of the talk show host Alec trying to paw at Nadja.

"Just one little kiss, my darling!" Alec cried out melodramatically. "Then you'll see we're meant to be!"

"Oh dear," Mum sighed, "I don't think Nadja's husband is going to be too happy about this."

Marinette nodded numbly in agreement.

Then she felt Chat's arm squeeze her tightly and she looked up to meet his warm, comforting, gaze. "Don't worry, Princess," he said reassuringly as he pressed a light kiss on her temple, "I won't let the Akuma get to you."

Marinette let out an internal scream of pure frustration at that.

And tried to ignore the tingles his lips caused on her skin.

Fortunately Chat Noir couldn't stay by her side forever. Perhaps sensing that Chat Noir was no longer in his right mind or just because there was only so much flirty Chat-ness they could take, her parents firmly put their foot down on the idea of Chat Noir staying the night.

"We appreciate all you have done," Mum said calmly, "but Marinette is safe now and I highly doubt the Akuma is going to attack her here."

"But-"

"It's time to go home, son," Dad said firmly as he led Chat to the front door gently by the shoulder, "I'm sure your own parents are worried about you too."

Chat looked a little sad at that but he didn't argue. "Furry well then," he smiled, "until the next time, Princess." He then suavely reached out and took Marinette's hand into his before he placed a light, lingering, kiss on her knuckles.

Her heart thumped so loudly that she was sure the whole street could hear it.

"Goodbye Chat Noir!" Mum called out firmly. "Do come again."

Marinette would have darted straight to her balcony and go out and stop the Akuma but first she had to make a show of showering and getting ready to bed to prevent her parents from checking in on her and finding her gone.

"Oh God, Tiki," Marinette groaned as she finally closed her bedroom door, "I must be the worst superhero ever!"

"There, there, Marinette," Tiki nuzzled Marinette comfortingly, "it's never easy juggling two lives, and today was a little unbalanced in favour of your civilian life."

"Still!" Marinette moaned. "The Akuma has been rampaging for almost seven hours!"

"It's not going to be easy either," Tiki said anxiously, "with Chat Noir not being particularly helpful this time round."

"Well I can change that!" Marinette said determinedly. "I'll just transform into Ladybug and give him another one of those true love kisses," she cringed a little at the words true love, not quite ready to admit what that had meant last year, "and he'll be back to normal."

"Oh Marinette!" Tiki giggled. "If breaking the spell was going to be that easy then we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with!"

"Huh?!" Marinette squeaked.

"Chat has already kissed you today," Tiki reminded her, "quite thoroughly if I remember correctly," Marinette squeaked incoherently as her cheeks burned brightly at the memory, "and the spell didn't wear off, did it?"

"Yes but he kissed Marinette!" Marinette blurted out. "Not Ladybug! That's not the same thing!"

"Marinette!" Tiki giggled. "The transformation doesn't change your lips! A kiss from Marinette is a kiss from Ladybug!"

"Gah!"

Determined to avoid continuing the subject of kissing Chat Noir any further, Marinette scrambled up the ladder to the balcony. "Tiki!" she called out. "Trans- EEK!" she immediately tripped over something lumpy on her balcony and flapped her arms round to try and keep herself upright.

She failed utterly.

But before she could land on the floor face first two arms caught her round the waist and pulled her back.

"Careful, Princess," a familiar voice murmured huskily in her ear, "we can't have you falling for me twice."

"Ch-Ch-Chat Noir?!" Marinette stammered out squeakily. She turned in Chat's arms and immediately flushed bright pink as she realised exactly how close his face was to hers. "W-w-what are you doing here?!"

"I'm keeping guard," Chat replied, "the Akuma might come back and catnap you in your sleep."

Oh Goddamnit!

Marinette was never going to purify this Akuma at this rate! People were going to be snogging lampposts before she'll get the chance to sort it out.

"I really don't think the Akuma is going to come back," she said pathetically, "Chat I don't think you're thinking straight."

"Of course I'm not," Chat agreed far too eagerly, "you have bamboozled my senses with your enchanting beauty and illuminating wit."

"Meep!"

Marinette might just die on the spot. Not only did Chat Noir's words had her completely flustered but he had to drag his dark, beautiful, green eyes all over her body. She knew rationally that she was modestly dressed in her tank top and long trousers but the way Chat's eyes lingered on her bare shoulders and collarbone made her feel utterly naked. She could literally feel the blush spreading all over.

And then he kissed her!

AGAIN!

Unlike their first kiss though it was a brief, soft, light brush on her lips before Chat rested his forehead against hers. He sighed dreamily as he nuzzled her ever so slightly. "You should go back to bed, Princess," he murmured, "I'll keep you safe."

But if she went to bed and he stuck around then she would never get away to purify the Akuma!

She had to get Chat Noir completely distracted from her long enough to make a getaway.

She had to get him to fall asleep.

Just for a little bit.

"Come inside with me!" she blurted out. "I can't stand the thought you out here in the cold!"

Chat grinned brightly at that which caused Marinette's treacherous heart to do another somersault.

"You want me to come in?" he asked eagerly.

"Uhuh!" Marinette hummed in reply, suddenly incapable of human speech again.

She was so flustered that it took what felt like an eternity to get Chat Noir into her bedroom and settled on her bed. Her face was probably as scarlet at her superhero suit when she realised she was laying right beside Chat on her bed of all things and they were so close that she could feel his body heat and smell him. It didn't help that he was gazing into her eyes with a look that she now knew was his kissing face!

He totally thought she had invited him in for a make out session!

Oh God!

She really hadn't thought this whole coaxing Chat to sleep plan through at all!

She was an idiot!

"God," Chat murmured adoringly, "you really are beautiful."

She gurgled something in reply.

She thinks.

Her brain is pretty much dead at this point as Chat leaned in closer and closer towards her. "Wouldn't you rather snuggle?!" she blurted out quickly. "I'm, erm, ah, tired! Yeah, tired, aren't you? We should get some rest and snuggle."

Other guys would probably be really put out at that (at least according to some of the other girls when they're gossiping about boys) but Chat Noir looked utterly delighted at the thought of snuggling instead of snogging. His eyes lit up like a little boy at Christmas.

"You want to cuddle?" he asked in wonderment. "With me?"

"Of course," Marinette smiled. "Why wouldn't – Meep!"

Suddenly all Marinette could see was the black leather suit that encased Chat's very finely carved chest as she was caged in by two strong arms that kept her locked close. She sighed as she melted into the embrace as she wrapped her own arms round his waist. Her cheek found the perfect spot on his shoulder to rest on so she could bury her face into the hollow where his neck met his shoulder and breath in his delicious –

No!

She was supposed to get him to relax enough to drift off into a deep enough sleep that would allow her to escape not enjoy the cuddling session!

Focus Marinette!

Chat Noir nuzzled her hair and sighed blissfully. She shivered at the feel of his warm breath against her forehead and nuzzled back as she tightened her own hold round his waist. Her legs had now tangled themselves with his. Every inch of their bodies fitted together perfectly it was almost as if they were made for each other….

"I love you."

Marinette stilled as she managed to make some sort of high pitched noise in reply. She couldn't say the words back. She just couldn't! She was madly, deeply, in love with Adrien and saying otherwise would be a complete lie, and she hated liars!

But she couldn't not say the words back either.

She loved him too.

Platonically or romantically….she wasn't sure. She simply didn't know. A few weeks ago she would have definitely said platonically but then that night on the rooftop happened and she had been questioning her feelings ever since and now this happened, and she had a really good picture how wonderful being with Chat Noir actually would be…

…God, she was so screwed!