Lena pushed open the heavy glass door of the restaurant, her heels clicking sharply against the polished tile floor. The soft hum of conversations, clinking cutlery, and light jazz music filled the space, but her attention was immediately drawn to you at the bar.
You were seated casually on a high stool, one arm resting on the sleek countertop, your easy smile lighting up your face as you spoke to a group clustered around you. There were three women and two men, all leaning in, their expressions a little too animated. One of the women tossed her hair and laughed a touch too loudly at something you said, while a man beside her gestured dramatically, clearly trying to hold your attention.
Lena felt a flicker of irritation, her lips pressing into a thin line. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust you—she trusted you completely—but the sight of strangers fawning over you sparked a possessive edge in her. She paused, inhaling deeply, her fingers smoothing the hem of her fitted blazer. ‘They don’t know you’re mine. That’s all it is.’
She let out a quiet sigh and started toward you. The tailored suit she wore hugged her figure impeccably, her presence commanding without effort. Heads turned as she passed, but her sharp green eyes were locked solely on you.
As she approached, she couldn’t help but notice your obliviousness to the attention you were receiving. You were always like that—kind, warm, approachable. It was part of what drew her to you in the first place, but it was also what attracted everyone else. One of the women leaned closer, resting her elbow on the bar and lightly brushing her fingers against your forearm. Lena’s jaw tightened, though she quickly masked her annoyance with a practiced composure.
Sliding smoothly between you and the nearest admirer, Lena wrapped an arm around your waist, the touch firm but unmistakably possessive. “Hey,” she greeted, her voice low and warm, but carrying an edge of jealousy.
You looked up, your eyes widening in surprise before lighting up with delight. “Lena! I didn’t see you come in.”
You turned to the group, gesturing casually. “Everyone, this is Lena, my girlfriend.”
The shift in atmosphere was immediate. The air of casual flirtation evaporated as the group took in the striking woman standing beside you. Lena’s presence was magnetic, it was hard to pretend that they could ever compete against her. Polite nods and awkward murmurs of acknowledgment followed, but the energy in the group had distinctly changed.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Lena said, her smile polite as her eyes swept over the group. There was no malice in her tone, but there was no missing her edge to it. “I’m just here to steal her away for a bit. I hope you don’t mind.”
The woman closest to you stiffened slightly, her fingers retracting from your arm as if burned. One of the men glanced at Lena, then quickly looked away, clearing his throat. The others exchanged uncertain glances, shuffling back slightly to give you both space.
As Lena turned you away from the bar, you leaned into her touch, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I didn’t realize they were flirting,” you admitted sheepishly, your voice soft as you saw the look that she always gave you when she saw someone flirting with you.
Lena stopped, turning to face you, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised. The corners of her mouth quirked in a wry smile, though her emerald eyes still held a glimmer of residual annoyance. “You never do,” she replied, her tone teasing. “It’s part of your charm.”
You tilted your head, watching her with an apologetic grin. “But you don’t get to be mad at me.”
Lena’s expression softened as she reached up to adjust the collar of your jacket, a habit she’d developed when she was trying to keep herself calm. “I’m not mad at you,” she said smoothly, though the faintest edge of defensiveness lingered in her voice.
You couldn’t help but push, your grin turning impish. “Okay, you’re not mad at me, but I’m definitely still mad that James flirted with you.” It was the reason you had gone to the bar, you and Lena had a little ‘fight’, which was mostly you pouting.
Lena rolled her eyes, exhaling through her nose in mock exasperation. “Darling,” she began, her voice low and deliberate, “he was talking about a photograph he took of me.”
You leaned closer, your grin widening. “Of course, he was! But why did he have to say it? Isn’t it obvious? Any photo you’re in is going to be stunning. It’s like starting a new game and setting it to beginner.”
Your playful tone finally broke through Lena’s composure, and she chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re impossible,” she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to your cheek.
As you walked toward a quieter corner of the restaurant, Lena’s hand never left your waist, a subtle but unmistakable signal to anyone watching: you were hers, and she was yours.
As Lena guided you to a cozy booth tucked in the corner, the noise of the bar seemed to fade, leaving just the two of you in a bubble of warmth and familiarity. The plush seats welcomed you as your fingers naturally intertwined on the table.
“James really wasn’t flirting,” Lena insisted with a playful smile, her tone carrying the faintest edge of defensiveness.
You raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with an amused glint in your eye. “Sure, because men usually gush about a photo they took to people they’re not interested in.”
Lena chuckled, her laugh soft and melodic as she leaned back in her seat, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on the tablecloth. “Okay, fine. Maybe he was a little flirty. But you know he’s not my type.”
“Oh, really?” you teased, your voice dripping with mock skepticism. “Do I? You two literally dated.”
Lena tilted her head, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “And we broke up more than once for a reason. Clearly, he wasn’t the right type.”She paused, her emerald eyes meeting yours with a teasing spark. “Do you want to know my type?”
You leaned back, crossing your arms with a grin. “I think I have an idea, but let’s hear it.”
Lena rested her chin in her hand, her gaze softening as she began, “Well, she’s got this energy about her—this warmth that draws people in. She’s kind, sometimes to a fault, and she’s got this way of lighting up a room without even trying. She’s funny, too, even if her jokes are occasionally ridiculous.”
“Occasionally?” you interrupted, feigning offense. “My jokes are gold.”
Lena laughed, her expression brightening. “Sure they are, darling. But, most importantly, she’s brave, stubborn in the best way, and she has this knack for making me feel like I’m the only person in the world. Oh, and she happens to look incredible in just about anything.”
You rolled your eyes with a grin, your cheeks warming under her gaze. “Well, I guess that narrows it down.”
Lena smirked, leaning forward slightly. “Oh, I’m not done. She’s got this way of looking at me that makes me feel invincible and vulnerable all at once….”
You opened your mouth to reply but hesitated, feeling the weight of her words settle warmly over you. A small, shy smile crept across your lips as you countered, “You know, it’s funny, because my type is pretty specific too.”
Lena arched a brow, her curiosity piqued. “Oh? Do tell.”
You gestured toward her with a smirk. “She’s brilliant—like, intimidatingly so. She’s strong, not just in the obvious ways but in the way she carries herself, the way she handles everything life throws at her. She’s got this habit of wearing power suits that should honestly be illegal, and don’t even get me started on the way she commands a room.”
Lena’s smirk deepened, but a faint blush dusted her cheeks. “Go on.”
You leaned closer, your voice softening. “She’s also fiercely protective, a little bossy—not that I’m complaining since I’m into it—and she’s got this smile that makes me forget how to breathe. Oh, and she’s stunning in just about everything…including pajamas.”
Lena let out a surprised laugh, her hand reaching across the table to squeeze yours. “Well, aren’t we a perfect match?” she said, her voice warm with affection.
“Clearly,” you replied, your tone light but your gaze steady.
“Now, where were we? I’m not letting you derail the conversation so easily” she said with a smile as she twined her fingers with yours. “Ah, yes—your inexplicable ability to attract attention.”
“I do not”
“Remember the heiress?”
“Oh yeah…you were glaring daggers at her during the gala last year. Her security team had their eyes on you all night from the intensity of that glare”
Lena tilted her head, feigning innocence. “She couldn’t stop complimenting your dress, she was basically asking for it….besides it was obvious she had a type”
You grinned, leaning back against the seat. “you mean someone with great fashion sense and jealous girlfriends?”
Lena huffed, though the corner of her mouth twitched with suppressed laughter. “She was practically drooling over you,” she muttered, her tone colored with mock indignation.
“Well, you didn’t have to worry,” you reassured her with a fond smile. “I only had eyes for the stunning CEO”
Lena’s smirk softened into something gentler, her green eyes sparkling. “You mean the one who couldn’t take her eyes off her date all night?”
“Exactly,” you replied, your voice warm as the memory played between you.
You rested your chin in your hand, a playful grin tugging at your lips. “What about the time we went to the beach? That lifeguard wouldn’t stop offering to teach me how to surf.”
Lena groaned, covering her face with her hand for a moment before looking at you with a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Don’t remind me. I thought I was going to have to drag you out of the water just to get him to back off.”
“Hey,” you said, feigning innocence, “I wasn’t going to say no to free lessons. To be fair, I wanted you to be the one that offered to teach me how to swim better, he just got there before you. But don’t worry, I think he got the hint”
Lena leaned forward, her voice low and teasing. “ Do you think that was before or after we left him in the middle of the water for half an hour?”
You burst out laughing, clutching your stomach as the memory replayed in vivid detail of the poor guy waiting for your return to him. Lena’s smirk grew into a full smile, and soon, her laugh joined yours.
Settling back against the booth, you rested comfortably in the warm glow of her presence, a mischievous glint sparking in your eye as a memory surfaced. “Alright, Miss Luthor, your turn” you began, your grin widening, “let’s talk about that time we went to the tech conference in Silicon Valley.”
Lena groaned, but her smile betrayed her amusement. “Oh, no. Here we go.”
“Yes, here we go,” you teased, your voice taking on an exaggerated tone of mock seriousness. “Do you remember that tech mogul who wouldn’t stop trying to charm you with his latest app? What was it called again?”
“‘MindSync,’” Lena replied, the name rolling off her tongue with a wry chuckle. “He couldn’t stop talking about how it would ‘revolutionize’ the way people connect.”
You arched a brow, leaning forward with a smirk. “And he kept trying to connect with you, didn’t he?”
Lena laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained, her head tilting slightly as she remembered. “He was persistent, I’ll give him that. But I think he got the message when you talking about how we ‘connected’ so perfectly.”
You winced slightly, your grin turning sheepish. “I might have gotten a little carried away. But to be fair, he started with all that awfully disguised innuendos, so I figured I’d finish it for him.”
“Oh, you finished it alright,” Lena said, squeezing your hand and shaking her head fondly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that red that quickly”
The two of you burst into laughter. “What can I say?” you added with a playful shrug. “I have a way with words”
Lena’s gaze softened, her laughter fading into a tender smile. “Trust me, I appreciate when you keep such…interesting people away” she said warmly.
Still smiling, you gave her hand a light squeeze before leaning back, your expression growing mischievous again. “Yes…you do have quite a list of those. Like that charity event last winter,” you began, your tone laced with playful exasperation.
Lena groaned again, this time rolling her eyes dramatically. “Oh, the one with the overly enthusiastic entrepreneur?”
“Yes!” you exclaimed, snapping your fingers as the memory crystallized. “The one with the start-up in renewable energy who wouldn’t stop raving about how much he ‘admired’ your work and wanted to ‘learn’ from you… ‘privately,’ no less.”
Lena raised a brow, her lips twitching as she fought back a laugh. “He was just passionate about the industry,” she offered, though the faint amusement in her voice betrayed her attempt at diplomacy.
“Passionate?” you repeated, your tone dripping with mock incredulity. You leaned forward, placing your elbows on the table for dramatic effect. “Lena, the guy was practically drooling. And don’t even get me started on the big fancy words he kept dropping to impress you—half of which didn’t even make sense. I’m pretty sure he made a small puddle on the floor by the end of the night.”
Lena clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. “Oh, come on,” she managed between giggles. “He wasn’t that bad.”
“Oh, he was,” you shot back, grinning as you relived the sheer absurdity of it all. “Which is why I had to swoop in with my incredibly well-researched—if hastily Googled—business jargon to save the day.”
Lena’s laughter turned into a full-blown giggle, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “Is that what that was? Here I was thinking you were secretly an expert in renewable energy.”
“Google deserves half the credit,” you admitted with a sheepish smile. Then your grin turned sly as a memory resurfaced. “Besides, let’s not forget his… creative take on nuclear energy. What was it he said? Something about turning your bedroom into Chernobyl?”
Lena groaned, her laughter returning in full force. “Oh, yes. He said I’d ‘melt’ for him.” She shook her head fondly, her hand brushing against yours.
You chuckled, warmth spreading through your chest at the affection in her voice. “I guess it’s a good thing we both have a knack for handling admirers. And by ‘knack,’ I mean I make a complete fool of myself and somehow, it still works out.”
“It works out perfectly,” Lena corrected softly. Her fingers brushed lightly against yours, a small but tender gesture that drove you crazy..
Then her expression shifted, a playful glint in her eyes. “But I think I have a better idea to deter any… potential admirers,” she said, her hand slipping into her jacket pocket.
You tilted your head suspiciously, narrowing your eyes. “Lena, no,” you said firmly, reaching out to grab her hand before she could pull anything out.
Lena blinked, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “No?” Her lips parted slightly, her expression faltering for just a moment. it hit you that she might have misinterpreted your reaction.
You hastily explained, your voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “We can’t just use guns to scare people off. Especially here—it’ll cause a panic.”
Her brows lifted in surprise, and then, to your relief, her lips quirked into an amused smile. “Don’t worry,” she said, her tone light and teasing. “It’s not a gun.”
“It’s not?” you echoed, your curiosity growing.
With a soft chuckle, she withdrew her hand, revealing a small velvet box in her palm. The moment your eyes landed on it, time seemed to slow. Your heart stopped for a moment, and you could only stare, your mind racing to catch up with the situation.
“Lena?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.
She held your gaze, her expression steady but her green eyes gave away her nervousness. “I was going to wait for a more… romantic occasion,” she admitted, her voice softer now, “but I just… I can’t go one more minute without knowing you’ll be mine.”
Your breath caught in your throat, and the world around you seemed to melt away. It was just you and Lena, her presence grounding you even as your thoughts swirled. Is this really happening?
The box clicked open, and inside was a ring so beautiful it took your breath away. The delicate band sparkled with diamonds, and the center stone—elegant yet bold—seemed to catch the light in a way that felt almost otherworldly.
“Lena,” you began, your voice shaky as you fought to find the words, but she pressed on.
“I know this is sudden,” she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly, “but I couldn’t go one more minute without knowing if you’ll be mine, forever.”
It took you a moment to process her words, and then a flood of warmth spread through your chest, radiating outward until it filled every corner of your being. You smiled, a mixture of awe and disbelief coloring your expression. “That’s silly,” you murmured. “I’ve always been yours.”
Lena’s breath hitched, and the relief that washed over her face made your heart ache. “Then… should we make it official?” she asked, her voice stronger now. “Will you marry me?”
“You didn’t even have to ask,” you whispered, your voice breaking slightly as tears prickled at the corners of your eyes. You leaned forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and fervent, pouring every ounce of your love into it.
When you finally pulled back, you were both breathless. “I’m going to need a yes or a no here,” Lena teased, though her voice wavered with emotion.
You laughed, brushing your thumb across her cheek. “Of course I’m going to marry you.”
Then, with a grin, you reached into your own pocket and pulled out a small dark green velvet box, holding it up for her to see. Lena’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly in surprise.
“Or did you think I’d ever let you get away from me?” you asked with a loving smile as Lena leaned forward to kiss you again. You were hers and she was yours, nothing was going to change that.