A.N: Hey guys,

I know you lost hope and I have no excuses so anyways ENJOY! And I promise it wont take as long to get next one.

Chapter 16:

While we drove from the airport, I had my face almost locked with the window trying to have a good look to the dark streets.

"Don't try so hard to see everything Sage, it's night…we have all the time we want to see Rome by day, by night, by dawn and dusk" Adrian said with a chuckle.

I quickly turned toward him and saw his wide smile, I grabbed his hand before turning toward the city again. "I…I just can't believe you took me to Rome." I said, and I could hear the awe in my own voice. "How long do we have?"

"As long as you want us to stay…..or until my father figures it out." He added more seriously.

"Did…Will it get you into trouble?" I asked, concentrating on him again. Rome has always been a dream of mine but it was not worth getting Adrian into trouble…nothing was.

Adrian laughed. "Come on Sage don't look so worried" he brought his hand to my face and lift the corner of my mouth into a smile. "I've been getting into trouble with my father ever since I could speak! Believe me it's a full time job."

"But.."

"But nothing" he said shutting me up with a quick kiss. "Please just enjoy it okay?"

I nodded. "Thank you, really Adrian…from the bottom of my heart."

He grinned, "Wait Sage….it's only the start."

The car stopped in front of the St Regis Grand Hotel just across from the Trevi fountain, I had never been to Rome but I loved the town so much that I studied everything, and it felt like I had been born here. I also knew perfectly well that this hotel was outrageously expensive.

"The St Regis?" I asked when Adrian took my hand pulling me in the lobby. "Don't you think it's a bit too much?"

He shook his head "Nothing is too much for you and lets face it I planned to burn the platinum card to the fullest."

"I don't need all that" I whispered as we stopped in front of the reception desk. "I like you just the way you are."

"Like?" He pouted.

"Love" I looked down it was still so hard for me to admit I loved him.

He sighed dreamily. "It's good to hear and I know you don't need all that but I want to give you everything."

Adrian had booked the presidential suite on the top floor, it was like an apartment with two bedrooms full of luxury.

When we finally settled in, I found Adrian on the balcony looking at the dawn.

I stood beside him. "I can't believe that yesterday I was in an apartment in California and that I'm standing right now in the heart of Rome watching the sunrise."

Adrian came to stand behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist before resting his chin on top of my head. "I wouldn't want to watch it with anyone else" he said tightening his hold so our bodies were almost one.

I couldn't help but let the idea that he would prefer to be with Rose right now and I hated myself for thinking that.

It was hard for me to keep my eyes open, but I didn't want to miss a minute with Adrian and Rome, I would have liked to stop time right now and live in this moment forever.

When did I became so cheesy? It was not me…I didn't believe in romance and yet feeling Adrian soft heartbeat against my back made everything worthwhile.

I muffled a yawn making Adrian laughed and I realized that what I loved more than his heartbeat against my back, was feeling his chest rumble with laugher.

"Go to bed Sage, I have big plans for us tomorrow." He kissed the top of my head. "I'll be here….Well probably in there" he said pointing to his room "but not far."

I nodded giving him a quick peck and fell asleep before my head touched the pillow. I was awaken by Adrian bringing me a tray with food.

I blushed, having him in the room while I was in bed was making me uncomfortable, old habits died hard.

"I didn't want to wake you up but-"

"What time is it?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"Almost twelve."

"What?" I looked around, almost knocking down my tray. "I haven't sleep that long since….since forever."

"Don't worry." Adrian kissed my forehead. "Just eat and get ready; I have lots of plans for us today."

The day was fantastic and I knew that even with his cap and sunglasses, the sun was taking a toll on Adrian but he didn't complained…..not once. He listened to my boring lectures in every church we visited, he joked a couple of time telling me I was like Wikipedia but a lot sexier.

When we got back to the hotel, after dinner, I noticed how dark were the shadows under his eyes.

"Do you need to….you know" I said uncomfortably. The idea of feeding was still taboo for me.

Adrian smiled, seeing my discomfort and brushed my cheek gently with the back of his hand. "Why don't you go back to the room? I will find what I need here and I'll meet you in a bit."

"What do you mean by 'find'?" As much as I loved him I really didn't like the idea of him using a poor innocent person.

"This hotel has what I need they are used to my kind of clientele."

"Oooohhh" I realized what he meant, they probably had a couple of feeders on site. "I'll…I'll wait for you here, I'll check the hotel shops."

"Okay, lets meet here in 20 minutes" he said pointing to the leather sofa by the reception desk. "Here, if you want to buy yourself a little something" he said extending me a credit card. "The pin code is-"

"No!" I raised my hand to shush him. "No thanks."

"Why?" He asked completely puzzled.

"It makes me feel dirty like I'm a gold digger or something." I shook my head when I saw his mouth open. "Please just drop it Adrian, I know it's not rational it's just how I feel okay? You have to respect that."

He nodded. "See you in a bit."

I walked into the first shop that was selling a bit everything and stopped in front of a very scandalous and see-through lacy camisole with matching tiny thong. Just thinking about ever wearing that made me blush, and I knew that, in my family, it would have been seen as a sacrilege just to consider wearing it.

"Do you want to try it"" asked the sale assistant with a very strong Italian accent, running her hand on the camisole.

"I..what? No! I…no." My cheeks were burning.

The woman smile. "Are you sure? I think it would make your fiancé or husband very happy."

"You think?" I asked before being able to stop myself.

She nodded, "you have all the right curves to all the right places to wear it. I tell you what, if he doesn't fall on his knees praying the Madonna after seeing you in that I'll give you a refund, no question asked."

I reached for the camisole and ran my hand on it, I never even considered wearing something like that, especially not now…when I was not married but Adrian was Adrian, he meant the world to me.

I had been raised to believe that sex before marriage would be getting me a one way ticket to Hell, but I also knew that Adrian and I would never get married, there was too many things against us, too many rules and traditions. I was going to lose him sooner rather than later and there was that little voice in my head that kept repeating me that I would never love anyone as much as I loved him now.

I had been braved until now, I had broken all the rules, one more wouldn't make a big difference.

"I'll take it" I said getting my credit card out knowing that this little buy would max out my small balance.

"What did you buy?" asked Adrian curiously when I met him in the lobby.

I waved my hand dismissively. "Just a little present."

"Can I see?"

"Maybe later" I replied looking away.

Adrian chuckled, but didn't comment he simply took my hand. "Come on lets go."

When we made it back to the room, I gave him a good look. The shadow under his eyes were not so dark anymore but he still looked exhausted, the sun drained all his energy.

"You look tired"

He shrugged dismissively. "Not really, want to do something?"

He really wanted to entertained me, just thinking about how caring he was made my heart tighten in my chest. "I'm tired too actually" I lied. "Why Don't you go to bed and I'll come and tuck you in."

He laughed. "Nobody did that since I was like 4."

"Don't you want me too?" I felt foolish to even consider that for a grown man.

"I would love that, really."

I smiled. "I'll be right over."

I took my shower and looked at the bag containing the camisole….

Should I? but I chickened out like I knew I would and settled for my big and warm flannel PJ. You're such a baby! I chastised myself.

When I made it in Adrian's bedroom he was already asleep. I smiled looking at him sleep for a while, he looked so at peace and I knew I was part of the reason why.

"I'm sorry I didn't fight for us. I wish I wasn't scared all the time but….I am" I whispered. before kissing his forehead.

I woke up a few hours later. mouth dry. The spicy pizza I had for dinner was just too spicy. I tiptoed as quietly as I could in the main room and stopped seeing light coming from under Adrian's door.

"Come on Sage you can do it. You know you want to, you know you want him." I whispered retracting in my room, I quickly changed in the camisole and thong before I could chicken out again, I brushed my hair and slid in the hotel robe. I stopped to drink a glass of water before knocking at his door.

"Come in."

My heart was beating so fast I could hear it.

"Are you alright?" Asked Adrian sitting on the bed, startled. He has discarded his tee shirt during the night and was only wearing his boxers.

"Yeah…" I couldn't help but look at his perfectly sculpted chest. He was lean compared to David and yet a real work of art.

"Sydney?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?"

"I didn't fight for us, we're doomed. I was not brave enough."

Adrian stayed silent for a second. "It's hard to turn your back to all you are, to everything you believe in."

I was glad he didn't say it was alright, or that he understood because it wasn't right and he couldn't understand, Adrian was fighting for us he would have gone against everything for us.

"I really love you, I might not show it how I should but I do"

"I know you do" he replied softly. "I love you too…..so much" he smiled. "And we'll figure something, I don't know what just yet but we will."

And right at this moment I was not scared anymore, he was right I just had to fight too. I would not go back to the alchemists, they couldn't force me.

I looked down before opening the robe and letting it slide on the floor. I was not looking at Adrian but I didn't miss his sharp intake of air.

I looked up, Adrian was frozen eyes like saucers.

"That's the present I bought it….it was for you."

When he didn't say anything, I started to feel very uncomfortable and bent down to retrieve the robe.

"Don't even think about it" he said with a voice so husky I barely recognized it. "You are magnificent."

"Really?"

Adrian stood up and came to stand in front of me. So close I could feel his body warmth.

"Now that I've seen you like that I don't want you to wear cloth again…ever."

I laughed. "I'm glad you like it. I want you to…..make love to me Adrian."

"Are you sure Sydney?" He asked resting his hands on my cheeks keeping his eyes locked with mine.

"Yes, I've never been more sure of anything in my life." And it was the last thing I managed to say before his lips crushed on mine hungrily.