And yes, congratulations the title is coming from a song from the movie "Purple Heart". The song "I hate the way" inspired the whole mood of the story.

I hope you'll enjoy the ride as much as I do whole writing it.

Chapter One : First rule - Keep it a secret.

Marinette and Adrien's little 'science' activities had been going on for weeks. The rules were clear, thanks to Marinette's control freak tendencies. On the plus side she hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. Rules had messed up her (love) life ever since she got her Miraculous. Not this time, though. Or, at least, she didn't want to let it mess her up.

This was the best agreement ever.

It had to be.

She took the little umbrella out of her cocktail, pinching the wooden stick and rolling it between her fingers as she remembered how she had fallen in love with Adrien—underneath the shelter of an umbrella, on a cold and rainy day… It now seemed so far away and, at the same time, so close.

How had they come to end up like this? How could they have sworn not to let their feelings interfere in what they had (whatever that was?) Why, oh why, had she agreed with the idea of being friends with benefits? She was still revealing in the mystery of her own stupidity.

She looked up, drinking in Adrien's muscled silhouette in the distance… She had to admit that he was quite a catch. If he had been cute in Collège… Now he was handsome and… very sexy.

"Do you want a tissue? You're drooling." Alya whispered in her ear, startling her. Her knees abruptly hit the table, her virgin Mojito spilling on her blouse. Alya hissed and hastily turned around, recovering tissues from her handbag and handing them to Marinette.

"I didn't need those, but now that you mention it…" Marinette muttered through gritted teeth, glaring at her best friend as she snatched the tissues from her hand. "Great. Now I have no drink and my top is soaked."

"Don't worry, Hot Stuff, will get you another drink." As she said that, Alya whistled in the direction of the boys standing at the bar, quickly getting their attention—and the attention of the people around them. She tilted her head toward the mess Marinette made on the table and took hold of the empty glass, shaking it not-so-subtly.

It didn't take long for Nino and Adrien to start laughing, the former going in full throttle, while the latter turned to the waitress, ordering another drink.

"What the guy wouldn't do for you seriously…" Alya huffed as she took a sip of her own cocktail. "Maybe he could even offer to take off your blouse and put on his shirt instead," Alya said with a smirk.

"Alya, I already told you more than once that I was over Adrien."

"It doesn't mean that Hot Stuff is over you," Alya teased. Her best friend shrugged as her tongue darted out, fidgeting with her straw as her brows twitched with mischief.

"We're just friends..." Marinette made sure to emphasize the last word as though she was painstakingly sharpening a knife. "...nothing more."

"Yeah, right! You're just drooling over his gorgeous and caring personality, just as much as he's just drinking in your wonderful designs… not your cute little tush," Alya snorted. "Your lecherous glances for each other aren't innocent at all."

"I'm 19, not the not innocent, clumsy, stuttering girl from collège anymore. I can totally get an eyeful if I want, like any other sane girl would."

"That's more amouthful when you two spent 15 minutes in the restroom together right after you got here."

"Simple coincidence."

"Is that so?" Alya motioned to a random spot underneath her chin—and it wasn't because her blouse was still soaked wet from the earlier spilling accident. "Your buttons are messed up, but your blouse was fine before you went to the restroom."

Marinette cursed under her breath as she hastily put the right buttons in the right buttonholes. At this point, the boys were back to their table, and Adrien couldn't prevent his eyes from flickering down her busy hands as he handed her her glass.

A helpless smile was all she could give him back as her lips hastily dived first to catch her straw, her face and shame drowning in her virgin Mojito.

This wasn't going according to their first rule.

Not at all.

"Want a ride?" Adrien's hot breath ghosted over Marinette's neck as he handed her her jacket and helped her put it on—perfect gentleman as usual. Perfect tease as usual.

"No, it's—" She was about to decline his offer but fate seemed to be conspiring against her.

"Adrien, can you take Marinette home? Nino and I need to babysit the twins tonight."

Or maybe it was just Alya conspiring against her. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last.

Marinette didn't know if her best friend talked about her twins, or Nino's, but one thing was sure, Alya wasn't talking about Ella and Etta. Her eyes flashed with so much mischief, Marinette almost felt sorry for Nino's family jewels. The poor guy was obviously going to get some tonight, possibly more than he could handle since Alya looked ready to take the bull by the horn.

"No problem; the boulangerie is on my way home."Adrien smiled brightly; he was always ready to offer his help to a damsel in distress.

"Well, that's good for everyone, isn't it Marinette?" Alya was grinning so enthusiastically that Marinette could've sworn the girl's jaw could drop any moment.

"Very good," Marinette muttered as she forced a smile before she turned around and grabbed Adrien's elbow. "Let's go." She dragged Adrien out of the bar, turning left to go straight home before he stopped her in her tracks. She lifted an inquisitive brow, not getting why he was so suddenly preventing her from going back home.

"This way." He pulled her around the corner, walking a few steps before stopping in front of a black motorcycle and reaching to open the seat of it.

"You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not. I may have blown what was left of my father's money to buy this beautiful baby." He took out a red helmet from under the flap seat and handed it to Marinette. "This one's yours," he whispered as he pulled out a black helmet for himself.

"Mine? Like… you bought me one?"

"There aren't many girls I plan to let ride it, so yes; yours." He put on his own helmet and hopped on the horse. He watched her stare at the helmet. "Coming soon, I hope?"

Pursing her lips, Marinette nodded before sitting behind him and putting on her red helmet.

Red.

"Why did you choose a red one?"

"I thought it would suit you." As he said that he peered over his shoulder, taking her in with a soft smile.

His intense gaze riveted her, sending shivers down her spine.

"And I was right; it's perfect. Besides, red's my favorite color." He shrugged as he turned away from her (not without another good look at her) and grabbed the handlebars, giving her a last warning, "Hold tight," before starting the motor.

Her hands slipped under his leather jacket, circling his waist and balling into fists in the smooth fabric of his shirt.

They stayed silent for a short while, until Adrien's voice echoed in her ears."There's a mic and mini-speakers built into the helmet," he said. It was surprising to hear him so distinctly.

"I can hear you pretty well," she said, definitely surprised to hear him so well in the helmet.

"I need to ask you; Alya… she knows, right?"

Marinette shifted on the seat, unease churning in her stomach. Her mouth was dry as she tried to get the words out; she really dreaded answering him but reluctantly took the plunge anyway.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she lowered her head, the visor of her helmet coming to rest between his shoulder blades.

"It's okay. Don't worry."

Marinette raised her head so abruptly that she almost knocked her helmet against Adrien's in her shocked momentum.

"You're not mad?"

"Mad? Are you kidding? With Alya, it was going to happen sooner or later." Adrien stopped at a red light and flashed her a glance over his shoulder.

"So you're not mad," Marinette repeated, astonished. She hadn't seen it coming.

"I'm not mad."

"Great."

"Great," he repeated and she could see a smile popping behind the visor of his helmet, as well as some mischief shining deep in his mesmerizing green eyes. "Now that's clear, and since Alya and Nino are my apartment neighbors, should I take you to your place anyway or… mine?"

She stared flabbergasted at him only for a fraction of second before the answer rolled over her lips, and out of her mouth without second thoughts. "Yours."

Stepping on the gas at the green light and turning right instead of left, Adrien headed for his place.

And that's Adrien somehow accepted that they broke the first rule: keep it a secret.

Updated each Friday or Saturday (depending of my schedules at work).

If you're reading this, don't forget to leave a review. Miraculous kisses!