Chapter 175.

Emilia pressed a hand against her chest. "That was fun."

"You call that fun?"

"Yes."

Adrian shook his head.

Rain poured down in front of them.

The street had transformed.

Lights reflected against the wet pavement.

The whole city seemed to have paused.

Emilia watched it. Her smile slowly faded into something softer. Then she looked down at herself.

Her dress was damp, and her hair was wet.

She looked back at the rain.

Then suddenly stepped out from under the shelter.

Adrian’s brows pulled together. "Sweetheart."

She turned around.

The rain immediately soaked her.

She laughed. "Come here."

Adrian stared at her. "You’re already wet."

"I know."

"Come back."

"No." She opened her arms. "Come here."

He didn’t move.

Emilia smiled at him.

Not the teasing smile, or the mischievous one. This smile was brighter, and almost childlike. Fearless.

"Adrian."

He looked at her. The rain ran down her face. Her hair clung to her cheeks, and she didn’t care.

She looked happy. Completely happy.

Adrian stepped forward.

The rain hit him immediately. His shirt darkened, and his hair became damp.

The flower was still in his hand.

Emilia laughed when he reached her. "You came."

"You wouldn’t stop."

"I knew you would."

His expression softened further as the rain dropped on him. She reached for his hand again.

Their fingers intertwined, and the rain fell harder.

Emilia tilted her face toward the sky.

She closed her eyes.

Adrian watched her.

For once, he didn’t think about what might happen tomorrow. He didn’t think about Blackwood. He didn’t think about Dante.

He only saw Emilia, standing in the rain, and smiling like she had finally been given permission to breathe.

She opened her eyes, and then she started moving.

At first, it was barely anything.

She did a small sway. Her shoulders moved with the rhythm of the distant music still drifting through the street.

She stepped to one side, then the other.

Her wet dress moved around her legs.

"What are you doing?" Adrian asked.

"Dancing."

"Here?"

"Yes."

"In the rain?"

"Yes."

She reached for both his hands. "Come on."

She released one of his hands and spun beneath the rain.

Adrian watched her. The city lights reflected in the puddles around her. Her face was glowing. She looked completely free. And everything inside him loosened.

He stepped forward.

Emilia’s smile widened. "There."

Adrian looked down at his feet, then at her. "That’s not dancing."

"It is now." She took his hands again. "Just follow me."

He sighed. "You enjoy this far too much."

"I enjoy you."

He stopped.

She smiled, and then she moved again.

Adrian followed.

At first awkwardly, then less so. He didn’t know when it happened. One moment, he was simply standing there because Emilia had dragged him into the rain.

The next, he was moving with her.

His feet followed her rhythm.

She swayed, and he swayed. She stepped closer, and he followed.

She laughed, and he smiled.

Emilia stared at him.

She touched his cheek. "I like that one."

He caught her hand, and kissed her wrist with the taste of the rain. She leaned her forehead against his.

The rain continued falling around them.

For a moment, everything was quiet.

Not literally. The city was still alive, cars passed, music played, rain struck the pavement, and people laughed beneath shelter.

But between them, there was quiet.

The kind that didn’t need to be filled.

Emilia slowly lifted her head. "Do you know what I love about tonight?"

"Tell me about it."

"Nobody knows us here."

Adrian watched her.

"We could be anyone."

"Who would you be?"

She thought for a second. "Just Emilia."

His expression softened. "And me?"

She smiled. "Just Adrian."

He nodded. "I think I like that."

"Me too." She took his hand. "Come on."

She pulled him farther into the rain.

Adrian followed. He didn’t know when he stopped caring how ridiculous it looked.

He didn’t care if someone saw him. He didn’t care that his expensive shirt was soaked. He didn’t care that the flower in his hand was getting wet.

He didn’t care about anything except the woman in front of him.

Emilia spun, and he caught her hand. She turned back into him, and they both laughed out loud.

She stepped backward, and he followed. She stepped forward, and he stepped forward too.

She placed both hands against his chest.

"You’re getting better."

"I’ve had a good teacher."

She smiled. "That was almost romantic."

"Almost?"

"Very almost."

He leaned closer. "Should I try again?"

"Maybe." She teased.

"Maybe?"

She nodded. "Maybe."

He kissed her softly.

In the rain.

It wasn’t rushed, or hungry. It was simply there. The kiss was quiet, and soft. It ended after a few seconds.

When they pulled apart, Emilia smiled. Her eyes were bright. "Again."

Adrian smiled. "You’re demanding."

"You love it."

"I do."

He kissed her again.

The rain poured around them.

Emilia laughed against his lips.

He pulled away softly. "What?"

She touched his face. "I don’t remember the last time I felt this free."

Adrian’s hand moved to her waist. "Then remember this one."

She smiled. "I will."

He pulled her closer, and she rested her head against his chest. They swayed beneath the rain.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

The storm grew heavier, but neither left.

Eventually, Emilia looked up. "Adrian?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Do you ever wish things were simpler from the start?"

He thought about it. "Sometimes."

"Me too." She looked around. She squeezed his hand.

Adrian’s expression softened.

She leaned into him.

The rain continued.

Her hair was completely soaked, his shirt clung to him, and her sandals were muddy. His flower was bent slightly from the rain.

Adrian looked down at the flower.

Emilia noticed. "Is it ruined?"

He shook his head. "No."

"It’s completely wet."

"So are you."

She laughed. "That’s different."

"How?"

"I’m more durable."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"

"Absolutely."

She reached for the flower.

He stopped her. "Don’t."

She looked at him. "I was going to fix it."

"I know." He looked down at it. "It’s fine."

She smiled. "You really want to keep it?"

"Yes."

"Even though it’s wet?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He looked at her. "Because you gave it to me." He said bluntly.

She smiled, and stepped closer. "I love you."

Adrian’s eyes softened. "I love you too."

She kissed his cheek, and then the rain came harder.

Emilia laughed. "Okay."

"What?"

"I think we should probably find shelter now."

Adrian nodded.

She grabbed his hand. "We’re running."

"Of course we are."

They ran, laughing through the rain, hand in hand, and back toward the shelter they’d left behind.

Emilia nearly slipped.

Adrian caught her around the waist.

She burst into laughter.

"You almost fell."

"But I didn’t." She wrapped her arms around his neck for a second. "Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

They finally reached the shelter, and both of them stood there breathing hard.

They were soaked. Completely soaked.

She started laughing again.

He shook his head.