Work Text:
"Have a good day, I'll see you in a few hours."
Luka caught her lips in a quick kiss, which she happily returned before he strode out the door with his guitar case slung over his back.
Marinette's easy smile slipped as the door clicked shut. He'd actually left. Pecked her on the lips like they had been together for ages, and stopped.
She sank into the nearest chair and took in their new apartment. They had both taken a week off work to get moved in and figure out how to merge their lives and belongings into one space. It had been the best week of her life. Moving was supposed to be stressful—everybody said so—but living with Luka had been a dream come true. No parents or siblings around to interrupt them. No reason to depart at night. Every reason to get carried away when the mood struck.
The apartment looked good. Her drafting table was placed near a large window that had the prettiest view and amazing light. She was excited to be able to work from home when she could—like today. Luka had been noodling a lot in between unpacking and kissing… and more… and he was excited to have a few hours of studio time to record his new ideas.
Moving in together had made them so happy, and that joy had turned into little celebratory kisses whenever they finished a room or got a box unpacked… and those kisses turned into more than kisses. Not that they had always ended up in the bedroom, but they'd usually ended up celebrating for a lot longer than necessary. This was the first time since moving in together that a kiss was just a kiss. There hadn't been time for much more, Luka's time in the studio was limited, and she had some sketches to get to. But only one kiss? He hadn't even grabbed her ass. Luka loved her ass.
Wasn't comfortable familiarity supposed to take longer to get to? Was a week all Luka needed to get his fill of her? Marinette shook her head. That was ridiculous. This melancholy was probably a result of being separated from Luka for the first time in days, not to mention having to get back to work. Even though she loved what she did and her fingers had been itching for her sketchbook, the end of a vacation (even an unpacking vacation) was still jarring.
With a deep sigh, she dragged herself up and to the drafting table that Luka had lovingly set up for her. He had put so much thought into how everything was arranged so she would be comfortable no matter how the light shifted throughout the day. The least she could do was enjoy getting lost in her art for a while.
Marinette stretched slowly, working out the kinks from her shoulders before rolling them slowly. She ambled to the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee before stepping out on the little balcony with a sigh. It was preposterous that she still felt bereft because Luka had kissed her goodbye. It would have been so much worse if he hadn't.
The sound of the door opening behind her made her smile. It was just like Luka to come back when she was finished with work and missing him.
"Hey there, beautiful." Luka's arms slipped around her and he rested his head on her shoulder. "God, I missed you." He nuzzled her with his chin before pressing a kiss to her neck. A second later he'd tugged her oversized shirt aside just enough to add kisses to her shoulder.
His attention was like balm to the worries that had plagued her all day… but at the same time, it tickled, "Luka! What are you doing?"
"I feel like an addict, Melody. All I wanted while I was gone was to be back here with you. Coming home to you might be my favorite thing ever."
Marinette leaned into him as he pressed kiss after kiss against her neck. Suddenly, he straightened behind her and pecked a kiss against her temple. "Go ahead and finish your coffee—I'll get dinner started."
The cool evening air suddenly felt cold against her back when Luka pulled away, leaving her feeling exposed and empty. How could he just stop?! She wasn't done with him yet! How was he done with her?
Marinette took a few breaths, sipping her coffee slowly. The last thing she wanted was to display her sudden lack of confidence. She glanced behind her through the glass door where Luka was busy in the kitchen. As wonderful as he was, Luka wasn't exactly a great cook, so it was doubly sweet that he was always willing to share in that particular chore. Once her coffee was finished she decided to see how he was doing.
Luka was surrounded by perfectly diced and chopped vegetables and bite-sized chicken pieces. Marinette grinned at the bewildered look on his face. "Now that you've got it started, what's your plan?"
"Well, we both know I wasn't going to finish dinner—not to your satisfaction anyway." He smiled a little sheepishly, "I was kind of hoping to be rescued."
Shoving her worries down, Marinette made quick work of seasoning everything and sliding it into the oven to roast. Luka started the rice cooker and suddenly she had twenty minutes on her hands. She also had Luka's undivided attention.
"Okay. I know something's bothering you. Care to share?" Luka captured her face with his hands, kissing her forehead, and she sighed. But Luka waited, his hands gently caressing her neck before coming to rest on her shoulders—he was always so patient. Patience was not her strong suit. Obviously.
She took a deep breath. "This last week has been…perfect. Unpacking together, shopping together, making dinner together…sleeping together every night. And I know we won't always be able to do everything together—we both have our own things."
Luka nodded, "But?"
She hated that there was a but. "But this morning you kissed me and left. Just like that. Just one kiss."
She could see the wheels turning in his head, trying to translate Marinette into something that made sense. He glanced at the bedroom and she knew he'd found it. Or part of it anyway.
His hands slipped off her shoulders to tenderly grip her arms. "Mari, are you saying that I left you wanting this morning?"
Yes, and no. "Not exactly. I just… we… all week there was never just a kiss. And maybe I felt sort of…not unwanted, Luka. Not that, just surprised, I guess."
Luka took a deep breath before smiling. Which was not the reaction she expected. But she liked it when he smiled, so maybe it was the one she needed.
"And here I was all excited about being able to do life and love with you slowly, without having to rush through or to anything." He hesitated, finding his words, "Not lazy… but casual affection. You know?"
Maybe? Marinette chewed on her bottom lip, trying to see through Luka's eyes. They didn't have housemates or parents around anymore. There was no race against the clock for something to happen in a predetermined amount of time. It was them together—as far out as she could plan—maybe further. She smiled and met Luka's eyes with a blush.
He kissed her quickly, chuckling softly. "We don't have to rush anymore. Don't you like being able to take each moment slowly, knowing we get another one, and another one? Don't get me wrong—I like it when you're passionate and impatient." His voice dropped to a husky whisper that made her insides curl delightedly, "God knows, I love it. But I want the little in-between times too, Mari. I want to kiss you on the way out of the door, and I want to wrap my arms around you while we wait for the timer to go off. I want you to pinch my ass when my arms are full of laundry and I can't do anything about it….yet."
Marinette smiled at the picture he painted. "I guess there is something to be said for anticipation."
The next kiss was deeper, and his hands swiftly reminded her exactly how he felt about her ass. It was not the kind of kiss that should happen while food was in the oven. It was perfect.
Luka pulled back, leaving her gasping for breath. "Do you know what I've been anticipating all day?"
She grinned, suddenly feeling ready to tease again. "Roasted vegetables?"
Shaking his head, Luka turned off both the oven and the timer before scooping her up and hauling her away to their room. In their apartment. Where they could live and love in their own time.