Cat Noir's mind was racing as fast as his legs. They were in hot pursuit of the latest akuma and all he could think about was Ladybug. She admitted they knew each other outside of the masks and he was trying to figure out who she could be. Given her interest in the launch he tossed a question her way, "Are you in the fashion industry?"
Ladybug groaned, "Now is not the time for this."
"Come on curiosity is killing this cat."
"This really doesn't seem like an appropriate subject when we're chasing an akuma named Prima Donna. I hope you're not implying something."
He laughed, "Hardly but I thought it might be coincidence. The fashion show today has created a number of interesting events."
"Keep your shorts on," Ladybug taunted with a cheeky smirk.
His grin widened, "I managed to before, although you seemed very interested in how low they'd slipped."
Ladybug's toe managed to clip her heel and her balance waivered. A muscle in her jaw twitched as she sensed her face betraying her embarrassment. She'd walked into that one, so he had noticed her ogling. "I was trying to keep you modest."
"Your eyes suggested otherwise. Had it been just you and me, well let's say there's all sorts of pawsibilities we could have explored," he wiggled his eyebrows.
She swallowed and felt the need to get back on safe ground. She answered his initial question, "Not in the fashion industry as yet."
He wasted no time in continuing the interrogation, "How about school?"
She glanced at him and didn't answer.
"That's it isn't it," he grinned.
"Duck!"
Cat Noir stared at her, "Wha-"
Ladybug cringed as he was hit in the head with a pair of red stilettos. Prima Donna was a temperamental akuma.
By the end of the pursuit Ladybug wondered which was more tiring, chasing Prima Donna or fielding Cat Noir's endless questions. When she eventually purified the akuma she lifted her fist to bump his but instead he scooped her into his arms and launched them over the rooftops via his baton.
"What are you doing?"
He grinned, "Making sure you don't run away."
Her heart raced, that particular smile was very Adrien. It suddenly registered that she was being carried in Adrien's arms and was pressed to Adrien's chest, after all he was Cat Noir. She'd been wanting to get to this close to Adrien for so very long, why was she resisting? She draped her arms around his shoulders and his fingers tighten their hold on her. A mischievous thought came to her and she slid her fingers to his nape and into his hair. He landed hard on the next roof, his balance seeming a bit off. He stopped moving as she ran a gloved finger to the tip of his cat ear and gently squeezed. He retracted the baton, "Are you trying to get my attention?"
She gave him a shy smile, "I have often wondered if you'd let me touch your cat ears."
He considered her with interest, "Have you now."
She looked at him innocently, "Was that distracting?"
His nostrils flared briefly, "I think you know the answer." Both their miraculous chirped. He glanced at her earrings, "Two minutes left. We better get off this roof."
Reality began to sink in for Ladybug, one she didn't feel ready to reveal her identity to Cat Noir and two in order to get home secretly she needed to stay in her current form and sneak in via the balcony entrance. If she transformed with Cat Noir she wouldn't be able to do that. A plan came to mind and she reacted on instinct. She captured Cat's chin between her fingers and his eyes met hers. She looked at him the way she secretly gazed at Adrien when he wasn't aware. There was an eagerness in his eyes and he moved his face towards hers. Her lips met his and his hold loosened as if he were shocked that she was actually kissing him. As he started to respond the last warning chirp sounded and she pulled away "See you tomorrow," she said as she dashed off. He stood there open mouthed with hands reaching towards her as he came back from the most amazing kiss he'd ever experienced.
Marinette couldn't sleep. Her mind continued to dwell on Cat Noir's stunned face. She'd panicked and now she was regretting it. Tikki's eyes were half closed, "You need to go to sleep Marinette."
"I can't Tikki, I keep thinking about what happened. I should have stayed."
The red kwami yawned, "You want to see him, don't you?"
She nodded, "It's late but I suspect he's still awake."
Tikki smiled, "Okay, let's go."
"Tikki, spots on."
Adrien's eyes lovingly traced the lines of Ladybug's face. He sighed wishing it were her rather than her image on the screen of his phone.
"Will you go to sleep already," Plagg grumbled from his cheese box as he lifted his head from his curled body.
"I can't get her out of my head Plagg, especially after that kiss."
Plagg shook his head, "So dream about it."
Adrien threw him an unimpressed glare, "I can't sleep."
"It's not so hard turn out the lights, lie in bed and close your eyes." Plagg suddenly grabbed the cheese box lid and covered himself, "You've got a visitor."
Adrien frowned, stood up and moved towards his bedroom door. His head pivoted when there was a knock at the window. His mouth dropped open as he spotted Ladybug waving at him from behind the glass. He rushed over to let her in, "Hi Ladybug."
She landed elegantly on the floor, "I'm sorry I rushed off. That wasn't fair on you. I kind of panicked."
He was elated that she'd come to him but he was also terrified that she'd leave like before. He studied her for a long moment considering things. In the past, she didn't seem to be interested in Cat Noir it was only when she discovered he was also Adrien that she'd warmed up to him. He knew he was attractive from the number of fan girls that chased after him but he'd never tried to use his looks to his advantage. There was one particular pose that seemed to drive his fans wild and he was going to put the full weight of his appeal behind it. He placed his hands in his jeans pockets, dipped his head and gazed at her through his fringe. "It's okay milady but to be honest all I can think about is kissing you again."
Her cheeks flamed almost as red as her mask and she dropped to sit on his lounge, "Really?"
Adrien nodded as hope surged through him and he sat beside her, "Really."
Her eyes drifted to his lips and he instinctively moved closer. "All you think about," she said as she processed his words.
He stretched his arm along the back of the lounge and curled his fingers around her bicep. He was encouraged when she didn't move away. His knee touched hers and her hand came to rest on his thigh. He lifted his free hand, his fingers stroked her jaw and gently hooked under her chin. Her eyelids fluttered closed and he watched her lips pucker. His breathing quickened as he brushed his lips against hers, silently asking permission and desperately hoping she wouldn't push him away. She whimpered as he broke contact and he knew the answer. His mouth returned to hers with a slow burning passion. He wasn't an experienced kisser so he took his time learning what she liked.
He groaned as her tongue dipped into his mouth and a shiver of anticipation ran through him. Her hands slid up his chest to his shoulders. His tongue met hers and his arms drew her closer. At some point, they sank down into the lounge and he was thrilled to be on top of Ladybug. There had been a number of occasions when they had rolled together out of danger and he often ended up over her. She was quick to push him away in those situations but now it was different. Her leg wrapped around his thigh and he moved his hand to her hip. Sensual need took over and he ground himself against her as she ran her tongue across his bottom lip.
Her hands rose to frame his face and her kisses left his lips trailing down his chin, along his jaw and to his earlobe. He let out a throaty moan as she exhaled in his ear. He decided to return the favour he kissed along her collarbone, up her throat and over to her earlobe. His teeth hit on her earring just as she clutched his butt. Caught by surprise he gave an involuntary jump which dislodged her earring. He blinked with astonishment as her transformation vanished and Marinette Dupain-Cheng stared up at him. Adrien smiled with her earring between his teeth. He removed it and held it out to her.
She fumbled for her earring and put it back on. He could see the panic in her eyes and he carefully pushed up on his hands so she remained between his arms. He wasn't about to let her slip away but nor did he want her to feel trapped, particularly when he realised she was in her lavender satin pyjamas. "I'm sorry Marinette, I didn't mean to do that but it's okay."
Her hands covered her face as she peered between her fingers. "I can't believe this is happening," she gasped.
He gently pried her fingers away, "I swear I won't tell anyone. It's kind of ironic that I discovered who you really are by accident too."
Marinette looked up at him, she'd expected him to jump off her the moment he realised his lady was his classmate but he continued to look at her the way Cat Noir always did. She couldn't help asking, "Are you disappointed?"
He sank down onto his elbows, "Of course not. I think it's incredible that it's you. You're always around me and strangely enough I kind of feel like part of me knew."
"So, you don't think it's weird?"
He chuckled, "No I don't." He pursed his lips as he cocked his head. "What is weird is your sudden enthusiasm for wanting to kiss me. Have you been secretly pining for my affection, bug-a-boo?"
She gave him a playful shove, "Oh I should never have kissed you."
He turned serious, "Oh yes you should." Then his eyebrows wiggled, "I think you should kiss me again and again and ag…"
She captured his face in her hands and pulled his mouth to hers. He lowered his body over hers and kissed her back. There was a knock at the door and he sat bolt upright.
His father's voice sounded through the door, "It's almost midnight Adrien, go to bed."
Adrien scooped Marinette into his arms and rushed to the bathroom, "I'm just going to take a shower and I'll go to bed."
"You should have done that ages ago."
"Sorry, got caught up doing homework." Adrien answered as he lowered her to the tiled floor and hid them both behind the bathroom door.
"Very well, goodnight Adrien."
"Goodnight father," he answered as he peered around the door and listened to his father's footsteps recede.
"Do you always use the shower as an excuse?"
He shrugged, "People tend to leave me alone when I do." A wicked grin spread across his face, "Although I'd be happy to have your company in the shower."
She shook her head and giggled, "You're such a flirt."
His eyes drifted down and up her figure. He loved her pyjamas, tiny shorts and tiny top with shoestring straps that would easily fall off her shoulders with a little push. His finger sank to her collarbone and smoothly trailed up to pushed one strap to the edge of her shoulder, "It's because I crave your attention."
"You need to go to bed," she said as she lifted the strap back into place.
He sighed, "Will you be my teddy bear?"
"Not tonight, I need to go home and get some sleep too."
He nodded with a look of acceptance, "Okay but I'll see you at school tomorrow."
She smiled as Tikki hovered over his head, she had no idea where the kwami had been hiding during their exchange. "Yes, you will. Tikki spots on."
Not to be outdone he called, "Plagg, claws out." The black kwami let out an unimpressed yelp as he was absorbed into Adrien's ring. Ladybug and Cat Noir stood admiring each other. He lifted her hand to his lips, "Until tomorrow milady."
Sorry this took a while to get up, I hope the longer chapter makes up for it. Thanks for reading, following, favouriting and reviewing. I really appreciate it. I'll be posting another chapter for "A Recipe for MariChat" in the next couple of days. Then I'll be aiming to do another update for this story. Cheers :)