Footfalls sounded on the balcony, alerting Marinette of Chat's arrival. She watched him slip through while she cleaned dishes at the sink. She didn't turn around to greet him but a soft smile played on her lips.

"Princess," he purred as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He nuzzled her neck with his face and breathed in deeply. "I missed you."

Marinette slid her gloves off and turned the faucet off. She turned in his arms and looped hers around his neck. "Minou, I missed you too." She sighed into the embrace and they held each other tightly.

Moments like this were one of a kind and fleeting. A relationship with Chat Noir was only ever going to be just that...fleeting. His visits were unpredictable…. as was the length of them. Therefore, they were precious.

"Can you stay, Minou?" she dared to ask.

His hold tightened. "For the night."

Marinette gripped the back of his neck and pulled him down to meet his lips. "Do...you need...to eat?" she asked between kisses like she always did.

"Yes, but not what you may have in mind," he chuckled, gripping her hips and lifting her off the ground. Her legs looped around his waist and he carried her to the bedroom.

He gently set her on the bed, breaking their kiss as he lifted her shirt over her head. He kneaded her breasts and kissed the exposed skin of her chest. He purred as she ran her nails through his hair. Marinette gasped softly as he trailed down to her stomach and slid his fingers under the rim of her pants. He unbuttoned them and slid the rest down her legs. Once off, he worked his lips up from her calves to her thighs. Spreading them apart, he blew cool air over her core. She gasped at the pleasant feeling and gripped his hair tighter.

Chat looked up at her and smiled at the flushed beauty. He couldn't imagine life without her. He felt the pang of guilt every time he looked at her. This wasn't what she wanted. This wasn't what he wanted. But in that moment, with her hands in his hair and his mouth between her legs, he was too selfish to care.

Quickly, he slipped her underwear off her legs. He kissed her on her center again and reached his hands under her behind to grasp her cheeks firmly. Breathing in her scent, he flicked her clit with his tongue, loving the gasps she wantonly allowed to escape her lips. When they were like this together, with his suit still on and her legs quivering over his shoulders, he felt the closest to her. It was when the suit came off that he regretfully had to hide himself.

It was Marinette who deemed it necessary. It was Marinette who reminded him of the dangers. Not just to her, but him as well. It killed him each time to wrap the cloth over her blue-bell eyes in order to transform back to his civilian self. With her eyes covered, she couldn't see the hurt on his face.

"Minou," she reached for him. He pulled himself up against her body and let her hand rest on his face gently. She smiled behind the mask and he smiled back, knowing she could feel his cheeks lift with the movement of his mouth. He pulled his shirt over his head and unbuttoned his pants, freeing his erection and letting it rest on her stomach as his lips found hers again.

These moments together were what had him keeping this up. He longed for more. He longed for a family that he never had and never will have. Not when he couldn't give all of himself to the woman he loved in order to protect her. He would not bring children into this world who would be fatherless without him. He ached for her touch and her love. She was the reason he continued to fight when he felt his resolve slipping. When he was with her, the anguish disappeared for a moment. As they rocked together and their breaths mingled, he could forget everything and just be.

The akuma alert from their phones was an awful wake-up call and came just as they did.

Marinette's giggle cut through as he reached over to pick up his phone. "I'm glad you came, Chat."

He smirked as he jumped off her and pulled his clothes swiftly back on. Kissing her quickly on the lips before looking for his hidden kwami, he sighed. "I love you, Marinette."

"I love you too, Chaton," he heard as he transformed and jumped out the window.

"Tikki," Marinette called out, ripping off the ribbon tied around her eyes, and jumping out of bed. "Spots on!"

And that's how it's been for three years.

AHHH! It's been so long since I've published anything. I feel so inspired by this fandom. You crazy, cool chats are such amazing writers and creative artists. I just wanted to be a part of your world~

The next chapter will be out soon! Please stay tuned and enjoy. I'm a sucker for a happy ending so don't worry!