Author's Note/ Chapter 34

Author's note:

So, as you guys noticed, I haven't updated this in a while. Part of the reason for this is that I've been busy with other things. The other reason is that, for some reason, this chapter just... wouldn't go. It's not that I didn't know what would happen in it. I saw all that clearly. It's just that I couldn't get the words out in an order that made sense and was interesting. I'd write a page, delete it, write a page, delete it... It all was oddly boring to read even though by rights it shouldn't have been boring in the slightest. Who doesn't like Sydrian fluff? Nobody doesn't like Sydrian fluff. So yeah, I was in a bind. I really like the scenes I envisioned and don't want to get rid of them, but I couldn't get them out on paper. But I came up with a plan – I'm putting a brief summary here, and I hope that someday I can come back and write it. This way, there's still space to add it in later without ruining the order or having to repost every single chapter, but for now I can still go on to the rest of the story and, it can be hoped, finish it before the next darn book in the series comes out. And then I can FINALLY go back to DITT!

Basically, the chapter was going to be about Adrian and Sydney on their honeymoon. Adrian wears the ring that Jill made for him and it protects him from the sun, so they can go outside during the day. They go for a hike in the Volcano National Park, they drive around in their convertible, they go swimming, they see sea turtles, they rent a jeep with open tops and sides and drive it to the top of the mountain to see the stars at night. It's all very cute. They also miss the heck out of the girls and end up going home a day early. And yes, they have sex. Lots of it. But this is a rated T story so it wasn't going to get super graphic.

Except for the little scene below that I liked, I guess that'll have to do for now. I'm sorry that I couldn't actually write it for whatever reason. But at least now I'm unstuck and as you see there are more chapters to read!

If I end up adding this chapter in again before the story is completely done, I'll mention it in an author's note. If I add it after the story is complete, I'll add an author's note at the end, so that anyone who subscribes will get a note via email. I'll also mention it on tumblr. Thanks for your understanding, lovelies! :) xo

So here's the one snippet I decided to keep.

In the morning, I woke up to sunlight streaming in through the curtains. My first thought was concern for Adrian – was he in the path of the light? My second thought was – where is Adrian? I felt the space next to me, and while the sheets were still warm, he was gone.

A few moments later, he appeared in the doorway with a tray in his hands. "You're awake," he said, grinning. He set the tray down on the table by the bed, saying, "Good morning, wife. Or am I allowed to call you that?"

"Considering that the word 'wife' is etymologically related to the word 'woman,' you're essentially calling me your 'woman' when you call me that," I said, rubbing the sleep dust out of my eyes. I could smell coffee, and I smiled to myself. I had chosen wisely when I'd chosen Adrian.

"Hmm," he said, getting into bed with me. He took a small plate of sliced fruit from the tray and then held it out to me, and I saw that he was wearing the ring that Jill had given him, the one that protected him from the sun. "Where does the word husband come from?" he asked, and ate a strawberry.

"Hmm," I said, taking a few slices of mango from the plate. "Well, as I recall, 'husband' is etymologically linked to the idea of guarding resources and taking care of the things around you," I said, and popped the fruit into my mouth. It was delicious.

"Perfect," he said, putting the plate back down on the tray. "From now on, I'll call you my female husband."

"Please don't," I said, laughing. "We get enough weird looks as it is." I ate the other slice of mango, and moved to lick a little of the juice off my fingers.

Adrian grabbed my hand before I could get it all the way to my mouth. "People just stare at you because you're so pretty," he said, and licked the mango juice off my fingers.

"I thought they were staring at you," I said, starting to to lose my train of thought.

"We've been over this," he said.

"Over what, exactly?" I said, and rolled on top of him. I maneuvered my hips just a little, and Adrian took a deep breath. "Over... that?" I asked.

"Something... like... that..." Adrian said, obviously distracted. I trailed my lips down his neck, and he murmured, "You don't want any of the coffee? I brewed it just for you."

"Do you have anything else for me?" I asked, my hands going lower.

"It's all for you," he said. "If you... want it."

"I do," I said.