Author's note: Merry Christmas! I hope you have all had a lovely time and got all you wanted! And if this was one of the things you wanted, you're welcome. lol

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Happy reading!

Chapter Three

I pushed Adrian down on the bed and leaned over him. I kissed his mouth softly again and again as I ran my hands over his bare torso. I trailed kisses down his neck and across his shoulder. His hands slid under my shirt and rested on my back as I worked my way back to his mouth.

He pulled my shirt off over my head and then rolled me over onto my back. He kissed down my chest, brushing his fingers over my covered breasts as he kissed just below the band of my bra.

"Hold on." I pushed him up and reached behind my back.

"What are you doing?"

"Something you've been asking me to do for a while." I unhooked the garment and let it slide down my arms. I dropped it on the floor beside the bed and caught my lip between my teeth as Adrian took me in.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine as he wrapped his arms around me and lowered me to the bed once more. He once again moved his mouth lower on my body. He kissed the valley between my now-exposed breasts. As he moved over the mounds, his teeth scraped over them.

My breath caught sharply and he jerked his head up.

"I'll try not to do that again." He promised, lowering his head once more and brushing his lips over my skin. His tongue flicked out as he moved back up to my mouth.

I scraped my nails lightly over his skin and he moaned into my mouth. His hips bucked and I could feel the bulge in his pants. I broke my mouth away.

"Time to stop, then?" He panted.

"I…I think so." I replied. "That's usually the point."

He nodded, but didn't move. "How much longer?"

"I don't know. Just not yet. I'm sorry."

He sighed and rolled away.

"I really am sorry." I reiterated.

"Don't apologize. It's fine." But I could tell by his tone it really wasn't.

"I don't want you to leave after it happens." I admitted softly.

He turned his head sharply. "And what makes you think I'd do that?"

"It's just this fear I have. I have a lot of those."

He rolled to his side and draped an arm over me. "I know. But you'll be okay. I love you, Sydney. I asked you to marry me. I'm not going to run after we have sex. I'm wouldn't be a good man if I did that. And I want to be a great man. I want to be someone our kids, should we ever have them, can look to and respect. Unlike my father. Unlike your father. I want better for you than some guy who just wants you for your body. I mean, this is great." He started moving his hands slowly over my body. "And I can wait to see the rest of it. It took you over a year to let me see your boobs. I can wait another year or more to experience the rest."

"Adrian, you cannot be real. But I've never been with anyone else really, so I don't have any way to compare."

"I'm real, Syd. And you are too. You make it okay for me to be like this because you deserve it." He kissed me softly and then rolled out of the bed. "Now if you will excuse me, I need some time alone."

I watched as he left the room and then dressed for bed while he was gone. I turned out the light, leaving on the bedside lamp. I leaned against my headboard and picked up my book.

Adrian came back in and I watched over my book as he changed. He flexed when he noticed me watching, turning this way and that, showing his body off. I put the book down and watched unhindered.

"I need some music or something." He said as he started to dance around the room in his underwear.

I laughed. "You need to get some clothes on. You're ruining my delicate sensibilities."

He chuckled and pulled on the rest of his clothes. "Sure, we'll say that."

I laughed again and went back to reading.

Adrian got into the bed and kissed my shoulder. "Good night." He rolled away and promptly fell asleep.

A short time later, I put the book away and rolled behind him. He shifted in his sleep and grabbed my hand. He clumsily kissed my palm and then held it to his chest.

"I love you." I whispered as I settled in.

The alarm blared far too soon the next morning. I reached over and turned it off before turning over and reaching for Adrian. But he wasn't there. I got out of bed and went in search of him.

"Adrian?"

"In the kitchen." He called.

"Why are you awake?"

"I've been awake most of the night. You know, vampire. Not used to sleeping at night. I'm probably going to go back to sleep once you're at work." He pulled a pan of biscuits out of the oven. "But I wanted to make breakfast for you."

"I need to shower." I walked around the small island that separated the kitchen from the living room and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and kissed his neck. "I'll be right out."

"No rush. Fried or scrambled eggs?"

"Scrambled. Eggs whites only, please."

He sighed. "Okay."

"Thank you." I patted his back as I stepped away.

"Have I told you how hot you look lately?" He asked as I walked out of the room.

"Stop it." I blushed.

"Hey, can I join you in the shower?" he called.

I stepped back into my bedroom. "What happened to waiting a year to see the rest of me?"

"Just because I said I would doesn't mean I'm not going to try to see it sooner, baby."

"Don't call me baby." I gathered my clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

I showered quickly, not wanting to be away from Adrian for too long.

He placed a cup of coffee in my hands as I walked to the table.

"You are a saint." I said before I took a sip. I sighed. "Perfect."

"You're welcome. May I have a kiss for my efforts?"

I gathered a handful of his t-shirt and pulled him down for the requested kiss.

"Good morning." He kissed me again and then straightened up. He returned to the stove and worked for a few minutes in silence.

I took another sip of my coffee and asked, "When we're married, how are we going to work out our sleep schedule?"

"I don't know. We'll have to figure that out. I guess I can get some of my sleep in while you're working. I want to be awake when you're around. Otherwise, what's the point in being married?"

"Well, once the new wears off, I'm sure we'll both need our time." I sipped a little more on my coffee. "I don't want to go to bed alone."

"I can fix my sleep schedule if I have to. I just get uncomfortable if I go into the sun."

"Like you said, we'll figure it out."

He put a plate in front of me and then refilled my coffee cup. "You really are pretty today."

"Before all the grease, right?"

"Yeah." He sat down with his own plate. "And then you're going to be so smoking hot that I'm going to want to rip all your clothes off. But of course you won't let me."

"I'll let you rip about half of them off." I teased.

He laughed and went about eating his breakfast.

"You can come by and see me sometime today if you want. Maybe take me to lunch or something." I smiled.

"I might." He looked at my plate. "I slaved over that."

"I know." I said, looking at the bacon, biscuit, and eggs still on my plate. I took another bite of eggs out of courtesy and then sat back with my coffee and sipped it thoughtfully. "Other than sleeping, do you have other plans for today?"

"I might go in search of some art supplies."

"There's a store in Salt Lake City."

"Yeah? I might go drive around and see what's there."

"A little more than here, I assure you." I finished the last of my coffee and stood. "I need to head out." I kissed his cheek and then headed toward the spot in the living room where I kept my shoes and sat down to put them on.

"Take an apple with you, please." He handed one over.

I took it as I straightened up. "Thank you." I took a bite for his benefit. I stood and rested my head on his shoulder for a moment. "I'll see you tonight."

"Okay. Want me to make something?"

"I'll bring something back." I kissed him. "Bye."

"Bye."

I was just finishing a standard oil change when my mother came through the shop and called my name.

"Yeah?" I looked up.

"Adrian is in the lobby."

I felt the smile stretching across my lips. "I'll be out in a minute." I finished up and hurried into the lobby, wiping my hands on an old, stained cloth.

Adrian stood looking at a rack of tires. I walked up behind him and blew on the back of his neck.

He jumped and then turned with a seductive grin on his face. "Hey, pretty lady." He bent down and kissed me.

I accepted the kiss and remained close. "You know I was only joking about coming to see me."

"I know. But I wanted to bring you lunch." He held up a paper bag.

"You didn't have to do that." I took the bag from him and looked inside.

"Turkey, tomato, and lettuce on whole wheat bread. Just a smear of mustard. And a banana. Lunch of champions. And I figured it would be better for you than you not eating because you left the house without food and you have said several times that you have skipped lunch. And you really didn't eat breakfast."

"You need to stop worrying about that."

"I can't. And I won't. We're going to be married, Sydney."

I let out a deep breath. "Did you happen to bring anything for yourself?"

He held up his own bag from a fast food place. "Burger and fries dripping with grease."

I shook my head. "Come on." I led him toward the back of the lobby through a door behind the counter. "I'm taking my break, Mom." I called before stepping through.

"Okay, sweetie." She called back.

Adrian started telling me about his plans for the afternoon. "I looked up directions for that art store in Salt Lake City. I'm going to head up there after this."

"Should be fun. Did you get enough sleep?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." He smiled as he brought a fry to his mouth. "I'll get more sleep when you get home."

My mother cleared her throat at the door.

We turned slowly, I know I felt guilty but I doubted Adrian did.

"I just got a call from your father. He and Zoe are going away for a few days. And I was just kind of wondering if I could cook for you two tonight."

"I have an idea." Adrian said. "What if I cook? You are both working your asses off. You shouldn't have to do anything. Mrs. Sage, you just come over this evening and relax. Let me handle it. Is that okay with you, honey?" The last was directed at me.

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks. I liked the new endearment. "I like that idea. Come on over, Mom. About six-thirty?"

"Yeah, six-thirty." Adrian said. "I'll get everything I need while I'm running around. And we'll crack open that wine I brought."

"Okay." My mom said. "I need to get back to work. Have a good lunch."

After she left, Adrian decided he would take a look around the grocery store before he made a menu decision. I told him Mom wasn't picky and he knew my dietary wishes. We talked a little after we finished eating. I didn't want him to leave, but I had a lot lined up and Mom needed her own lunch break.

I kissed him again and again, not wanting him to go. It hit me then that he would soon be heading back to Court. "I miss you already."

He smiled and rested his forehead against mine. "I'm only going twenty minutes away. I'll see you tonight."

"And tomorrow. But not the next."

"No, I have to drive back." He brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.

"How soon until you move here?"

"I have to sort out some things, honey. But it won't be long." He kissed me again. "Get back to work."

I walked him out the front door and then went in to the garage to rotate some tires.