Author's note: So I decided to go ahead and write another chapter even thought I have some reading I want to get done. lol. Thank you for all the reviews and favorites and alert adds. I appreciate them very much!

To the reviewer who claims Sydney is using Adrian, I personally think that it's kind of going both ways if there is any "using" going on.

There is a poem in here that is called "A Dream, a Dream" and it is written be Matthew Petranovich. I found it online. I don't own it in any way.

Happy reading!

Chapter Six

The weeks passed in pretty much the same manner. No more talk of sex came up, but Adrian's touches became more adventurous. I halted them as much as possible. I was actually starting to like them.

Adrian set up my flight to Utah to leave on the same day as their flight to Court for Sonya Karp and Mikhail Tanner's wedding.

"You're flying first class. Only the best for my…Sydney." He smiled at the near slip.

"It's too much, Adrian. I can fly coach."

"This is my first gift. I know the flight will only take a couple hours, but you deserve luxury."

I chuckled. "That makes me feel like you're my sugar daddy."

"Anything you want, baby." He said with a cocky grin.

I shoved him playfully. We were sitting on the couch and he pretended to lose his balance and pull me on top of him.

I kissed him as I giggled and then I sat back. I sobered. "Look, I really appreciate that you set this up, I don't want a first class ticket. I don't care that you think I deserve it. From all you say, you're barely getting by, even with your allowance back. Is there some way to change it?"

"Non-refundable. Enjoy it, Sydney."

"Adrian…I don't know what to say?"

"You don't have to say anything." He pulled me into his side and kissed my temple. "And anyway, I've got the money, it's just tied up."

"Tied up?"

"Yeah, investments. And I've been working on this for a while. You've helped me in so many ways. So that's why you deserve this trip."

"Do you know the price tag involved in this? Now I owe you." I felt distressed.

It must have sounded in my voice because he said, "Don't worry about it, Syd."

"Did you just call me 'Syd'?"

His cocky grin was back. "Yeah. Since I can't call you my girlfriend."

"I've never been called that. Either one."

His face fell slightly. "You don't like it."

"I don't know." I patted his knee. "We'll have to see." I kissed him. "Just a couple more days."

"Yep. So, let's make the best of it." He pulled me on top of him again.

I smiled as I pressed my lips to his. As our mouths moved together, I slid my hands down his sides and back up. His fingers played at the hem of my shirt and I slapped his hand away. "Stop that." I said against his lips and then continued to kiss him.

He smiled in the kiss and did it again.

I took his hands and pinned them above his head. I knew he would normally have been able to break out of it, but he didn't. I raised myself up a little and smiled down at him.

"You know, I've always wondered what it would be like to be tied up." He said, smirking up at me.

"You're deranged."

"I've never done it. We might like it."

"I'd like more than just an immobile plaything." I released his hands and lowered my mouth to his once again.

He put his hands on my hips and kept them there. I ran my hand down his chest.

And then there was a knock on the door.

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked, a little breathless.

He shook his head and got out from under me. I smoothed a hand over my hair and clothes and watched as he peeked out to see who was there.

"Rose?"

I shot to my feet. "Rose? Here? Why? Oh, my god." I hurried into the bathroom and locked myself in. I splashed water on my face and looked in the mirror. My lips were swollen and red. I couldn't cover it up with lipstick. I didn't wear any. I sat down on the toilet and fought hysteria.

After a while, there was a knock on the door. "Sage?" Adrian called. When I didn't say anything or open the door, he knocked again. "Come on, Sydney, open up or I break in."

I unlocked the door and opened it enough to invite him in. I sat back down.

He closed the door behind him and kneeled in front of me. "Hey, don't freak out." He put his hands on my knees and rubbed them gently. "I think that's my job."

I let out a nervous chuckle.

"They're going to be staying here. They'll escort us to the airport."

"So Rose is the head guardian with the transport?"

He nodded. "With Dimitri and another guardian. Since it's so late, they're crashing here. They're going to meet with Eddie and Angeline tomorrow to discuss particulars."

"They should have told me it was them. All I knew was three guardians."

"Yeah, same here. Seems Lissa wanted the best to escort her sister home."

"Well, she got them." I leaned my forehead against his. "Did you explain my presence?"

"Yeah, I told them I had you naked. I was pretending to paint you, but really just gearing up to ravish you."

I pushed at his shoulder. "Not funny."

"Then why are you smiling?" He rubbed his knuckled on my cheek. "I told them we were talking about the final particulars of the vacation Jill and I set up for you."

"Do they know? About us? Has Jill said anything?"

"She promises me she hasn't."

I nodded. "I need to make my excuses and leave."

"Don't leave me alone with them." He begged.

"You're not alone. The other guardian is here." I gave him a weak smile.

"I wish you were." He said softly.

"Me too." I leaned in and kissed him and then stood and left the bathroom.

"Hi, Sydney." Rose said kindly.

"Hello. Did you have a good trip?" I asked as I gathered my books.

"Pretty good, yes. Were you studying here?"

"Yeah. I like to get away from Amberwood sometimes. It's quiet here."

I could see she was thinking of asking about a library, but she had a bit more tact than that. She knew. I could tell. It was written all over her face, but not in an accusatory way. She smiled.

I smiled back. "I need to be going."

A man walked in. He was broad and had dark features, an odd contrast to his red hair. He seemed pretty young. "Everything looks in order, Guardian Belikov."

"Thank you, Branwell. I'll be taking first watch."

"Watch?" Adrian asked, indignant. "I live here without incident on my own. There is no need for a watch."

"Hey, calm down, Adrian." I said. "They're just doing their job."

"Weren't you leaving?" He asked uncomfortably.

"Yeah."

"I'll walk you out to your car. Knowing the perimeter is clear, it should be safe. But better just be sure." He took my arm and walked with me outside. He pulled out his cigarettes as soon as the door was closed. "I wish I could still drink." He took a long drag as soon as he lit up.

"Yeah." I looked around nervously and then headed toward my car.

He stopped me and pulled me back. "I'm sorry. I should have done this before lighting up." He said before he kissed me.

I sighed.

"Go back to your dorm and get to bed early. We'll finfish all this in your dreams." He smiled slyly.

"I look forward to it." I kissed him quickly once more and then got into my car.

I lay awake for a long time before I was finally able to drift off. As soon as I did, I was transported to another place: Adrian's. He sat on the couch with a book in his hand. He smiled and started reciting, "A dream, A dream,/another dream./A dream of you,/A dream of love,/A dream of you and me,/we had such chemistry,/If only you could see./A dream we danced in the moonlight,/A dream we made love til the mornings bright light,/A dream, A dream,/Where my true feeling burst,/A dream, A dream/Makes me feel more hurt./A dream, A dream,/of true love,/over and over,/over and over,/A dream, A dream/where we are together,/A dream, A dream,/why can't it be real,/A dream, A dream,/where really connect,/A dream, A dream/that I can't reject,/A dream, A dream,/and another dream,/Why can't it be real?/Why can't you love me?"

I stared at him for a while before I finally said, "Poetry? Really?"

"I can't be poetic?" he asked, placing the book on the kitchen table. He stretched his arms out on the back of the couch. "Come here often?"

I chuckled and sat down beside him. "I like the poem, by the way. But not the last line."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not that I can't."

"Of course it is." He draped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me close. "Because of how your life is. Your upbringing."

I didn't say anything. I leaned my head on his shoulder and relaxed into his side. I wrapped my arms around him and felt the realness of him in this world he fabricated. Finally I said, "I think I could."

The fingers that had been playing along my arm stopped suddenly. "What?"

I tensed. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No." His stroking resumed. "I think I could too."

"Lay back?" I asked.

He did, pulling me against him. He stroked my hair. "I'm going to miss you."

"Me too."

"Bring back some good stories."

"I will. My mom's really excited. I'm already planning on helping her in the shop for an afternoon."

"Get your hands dirty?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds hot."

"Not really. By the end of the day, my hair's a mess and my skin is grease stained. And I love it."

"Which is what makes it hot." He chuckled and kissed my hair. "Will you look under the hood of my car sometime?"

"Is it making funny noises?" I asked. That was usually what people said about their cars when they came in to see my mom. We usually made fun of the ones that went on and on trying to describe what they heard including sound effects. I'd told Adrian this before.

He laughed. "I think it's a belt issue. I know a little about cars, but not enough. And I'm a good assistant. I can pass you the scalpel."

I laughed. "I'll look at it when I get back."

He played with a strand of my hair for a while. I was getting used to the silence. I liked it with him.

But finally he broke it. "Our flights are supposed to get back at the same time. If not, I'll make arrangements."

"Okay." The magic broken, I looked up at him. "I kind of do need my actual rest. I have a giant conjuring project I have to work on with Ms. Terwilliger tomorrow. Not looking forward to it. I wish you and I could do this for real."

"Me too. Maybe on the other side of all this travel we can figure something out."

"I like that idea." I kissed him.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah." And then I drifted off to sleep.