Author's note: I really loved writing the last part of this chapter. There will soon be more. I'll jump ahead a bit in time to ensure it, I promise. Thank you for all the love in reviewing and favoriting and following. It is all very much appreciated.

Happy reading!

Chapter Four

I walked into my house that evening to find Adrian standing over the stove. I put my things away and then walked up behind him. I kissed the back of his neck, but touched him nowhere else.

"You don't know what you do to me, Sydney." He said softly, not turning or making any move to return my affection directly.

"I have a bit of an idea." I kissed him again and then stepped back. "I'm going to shower."

He looked over his shoulder at me and I saw the side of his mouth tilted up in that familiar way. "May I join you?"

"Not today." I hurried out of the room and locked myself in the bathroom.

When I stepped out, I heard my fiancé on the phone. By his tone, I knew it was Jill. He spoke with her differently than anyone else, especially me.

"I'm going to be heading back day after tomorrow…I know, you'll be okay. Go to Lissa if it gets too bad. She knows how to deal with it…Well, you can fly out here if you think that will help anything, but I swear, Jill, if you can last just a couple more days…Then go to Lissa. She's your sister as well as a powerful Spirit user…You guys can work it out…I've been trying really hard here. I got some art supplies today and you know how well that helps me these days. I'm sorry I didn't think of it until now. From now on it should be a little better…I love you too, kid. Go see your sister. Make her listen."

I put my hand on his shoulder. "Is she okay?"

"Getting a little erratic. She needs me to heal her. I did just before I came, but I guess it's not enough." He wrapped his arms around me. "I don't know how we're going to make this work."

"It was fine last time you came." I pointed out.

"I think a lot of it has to do with Eddie. She said he and Angeline been all over each other lately."

"Has she talked to him?"

"No. And I don't think she ever would because she's not a boyfriend stealer." He pushed wet hair out of my face. "I think Lissa can help her just as well as I can. I mean, we're the ones with the bond, but Lissa uses Spirit just as well as me now."

I felt myself shiver.

"Sorry." He kissed the tip of my nose.

"It's fine." I patted his chest. "If you need to go home, I understand."

"Sydney—"

I put my hands on the sides of his face. "Adrian, she is bound to you. You have to help her if you can."

"Let me call Lissa and see if she can help. If not, I'll leave after your mom goes."

"Okay." I pushed myself up and brushed my lips across his.

He stepped away with his phone pressed to his ear. "Hello, your majesty." He said as he sat down on the couch.

I walked over to the stove and stirred the sauce that was simmering there. A pan of water boiled on an adjacent burner. I didn't see any noodles. "Adrian, what goes in this boiling water?"

He walked over, still talking, and pulled a bag of tortellini out of the freezer. "I know it's not necessarily your place, but I'm not there right now and she needs help." He handed me the bag and started pacing in the small space of the living room and kitchen. "It's not going to take more than a few minutes. I thought you were over all this. She needs your help…Please, Lissa, I'll owe you big time…She's kind of my fiancé now, so I can't just up and leave…She needs help now and it will take hours for me to get there. I know you're busy, but please…Thank you. I'll make it up to you." He hung up and leaned against the counter. "It's like pulling teeth." He sighed and put his phone away.

"Her day is just starting. She probably has a lot lined up."

"She can take five minutes for her sister." He reached out and touched my arm. "Come here."

I folded myself against his chest and breathed him in. "You can leave if you need to. She's your biggest responsibility. Even more than me because of the bond. So go. I don't care. We're engaged and I feel like that's mainly what you came for this time."

"I came to get my fix of you. You're my addiction now, do you know that? You're the one that helps with the madness, not just the art. I only smoke when I'm in the car for a long time. I drink very little. It's you, Syd. You help so much. I just need more of you."

"Then why did you invite my mother to eat with us tonight?" I teased and kissed him under his jaw. "We could just stay in and make out." I kissed his neck.

"Or we could make love." He dropped his mouth to my neck and kissed it with an open mouth.

I felt his fangs and pushed him away with a gasp.

"Sorry." He pulled me back and rested his forehead against mine. "I lose control sometimes with you."

"I do too." I sighed and slid my hands up his back. "No fangs. Ever."

"They're part of me."

"I know. Just be a little more careful with them, especially around my neck."

There was a knock at the door then and my mom stuck her head inside. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mom, come on in." I said, stepping away from my fiancé. "I need to go deal with my hair."

He kissed my hand and mouthed, "Sorry."

I pressed a quick kiss to his lips and then left the room.

I heard my mom laughing in the kitchen. It felt good to know that they were getting along. I finished drying my hair quickly and brushed it down around my face. I stepped out of the bathroom and saw that Adrian was tipping some wine into a glass for my mother.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked nervously.

"A little doesn't hurt, Sydney." She assured me.

"I know that, but I'm worried about him."

"One glass, honey, I promise." He poured his own glass. "You want some?"

"No, thank you." I took a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. "So when do we eat? I'm a hard-working woman and I'm starved?"

He gave me an odd look.

"Don't start." I warned and went about setting the table.

Adrian kept Mom and me both laughing for most of the meal. He also engaged Mom in a great conversation about art and his plans for his craft.

"I've already had a few buyers interested. Mostly private sales. A lot of influential people in the upper circles at Court have at least one of my pieces. The ones that aren't of your beautiful daughter, anyway."

"Those exist?" I teased.

He chuckled, "Just a few." He kissed my hand.

Mom sat back with a grin. "You are so perfect for her. Just what she needs." She placed a hand on my fiancé's arm. "Thank you for pulling her out of all that. My gratitude for you is boundless, Adrian. You take good care of her, or so help me God, I will make you regret it."

He smiled at her and then stood, gathering her into his arms. "You have no idea what it means to me to have your approval." He kissed her cheek and then stepped back. I could see the tears glistening in his eyes. "I have desert, if anyone wants it." He walked over to the counter and picked up a pie plate. "Anyone want coffee?" He asked as he sat the desert down on the table.

"I do, but I'll make it." I stood and wrapped an arm around him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before walking away.

Adrian said, "I want to thank you for being so welcoming. I was nervous."

"Well, I liked you over the phone the few times we talked. And I like what I see when you two are together. Reminds me a little of Jared and me in the beginning."

"That doesn't sound very promising." I mumbled.

"I love your father very much, Sydney. He's not a good man all the time, but he does love us all. He only cares about keeping us safe. I'm sorry that he's not as kind as you would expect from your father, but he's only doing what he feels is right."

"I know." I took down three cups and filled them. I poured cream into two of them and handed them to my guests. I took the plain cup and sat down. "No pie for me."

"You look fine, honey." Adrian said softly as he cut through the pie.

"I'm full, dear." I sipped my coffee and sat back. I was glad the next day was a day off. I was determined to fill myself with caffeine and stay up with Adrian all night.

We changed the subject and I accepted a very small slice of pie from Adrian as he slid it across the table. I took one bite and then sat back and finished my coffee. I refilled my cup and sat back down. I stayed out of the conversation, watching as my fiancé continued to schmooze with my mom.

I was on my third cup of coffee when Mom left. It was a relief. I loved her, but I saw her every day. I was satisfied with her love of Adrian and wanted them to get to know each other, so it wasn't so hard for her to be there for the most part.

"Hey." Adrian said, wrapping his arms around me. He kissed me softly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just hate when we fight about my father. I usually try not to mention him around her."

He took my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. "I noticed you drank most of the pot of coffee." He kissed my nose. "Should I take that as a good sign?" He brushed a soft kiss across my lips.

"Yes. I don't have to work tomorrow. So I can stay up all night with you and sleep the day away and see you off right." I tugged at the hem of his shirt and slid my hands under it. I pressed my palms into his flat stomach. "Take me to bed. We can wash the dishes later."

He smiled and kissed me once more. He picked me up and carried me to my bed. He laid me down, kissing me softly. Our tongues slid together. He sighed into my mouth as his fingers brushed over my breasts.

I pushed him away slightly and combed my fingers through his hair. "Open your mouth." I requested.

"Why?"

"Just do it. Please?" I rested a hand on his jaw and stroke his cheek beside his mouth.

He parted his lips and teeth and waited for what I'd do. I pulled his upper lip back and examined his fangs. I touched one with the tip of my finger, testing the way it felt on the front and then the point. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"Do you need to drink?" I asked softly, a tremble in my voice.

"Not from you, Sydney." He brushed my hair away from my face. "Never from you." He kissed me, darting his tongue out to lick my lips.

I let my tongue mingle with his once more, a soft moan escaping my throat as I unbuttoned his shirt. I leaned down and kissed his collarbone. With every button I freed, I kissed more of his exposed flesh. I sat back and pulled the shirt over his head with a few more to go. I slowly ran my hands over his bare chest and stomach.

"You make me feel so…" He trailed off.

"What?"

"Wanted." He pulled my shirt over my head and lowered me to the bed once more. "I love you so much. I never loved anyone this much. I know I've said it before, but it's true. You healed me, Sydney. Of everything. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you to make up for it. Do you know that?"

I brushed my fingers down his cheek. He turned his head and caught my palm with his lips. "Kiss me slowly."

"Every inch I'm allowed." He lowered his mouth to mine once more. He kissed my lips again and again. He moved up and kissed my forehead. He kissed my eyes, my nose, my cheeks before returning once more to my mouth.

When he moved to my neck, I felt a long breath escape me as though I'd been holding it this entire time. I moved my hands over his back, taking in all the muscles as they moved beneath his skin. He hummed against my chest, flicking his tongue out and tasting me before brushing his lips over each spot. I felt his fangs pressed against his lips.

I threaded my fingers through his hair and held him close. "I want you so much."

"I want you too." He reached underneath me and unhooked my bra. He closed his mouth around my nipple. I felt the point of his fangs pressing into my flesh.

I heard myself whimper, but I pulled him closer. My body was humming all over. I rocked my hips up, wrapping my legs around his waist.

He moaned and brought his mouth to mine once more. "What do you want?" He panted against my lips. "I'll do anything."

"Let me kiss you."

He nodded and kissed me once more before rolling onto his back and pulling me on top of him.

I kissed his mouth hungrily, licking his fangs. He moaned and bucked underneath me. I surprised myself when I ground my hips down into him. I'd never felt his erections so fully. I tangled my fingers in his hair and kissed him harder, sucking on his tongue.

He grunted and broke the kiss. "You don't really want this, do you?" He asked.

"I want what you want, Adrian." I kissed him softly.

"I want to make love with you when the time is right. I don't think that's now. I don't want to just take that from you when you'll regret it later."

"How do you know I'll regret it?"

"Because you need to be more prepared. I know you do." He slid his hands over my body. "I don't have condoms and I know you're not on the pill. So we need to stop before it goes farther because I'm almost to a point where I can't."

I sighed and rolled onto my back. "I don't know what came over me."

His hand found mine and he brought it to his lips. "There are other things we can do if you want."

"This is why we can't live together before we're married." I rolled out of bed and pulled my shirt back on. "I need some air."

I sat on the front porch and put my face in my hands. There was a cool breeze and it ruffled my hair and cleared my head.

I felt Adrian's hand as it smoothed over my head. "Sydney?"

I looked up at him. "I don't know who I am anymore."

He sat down beside me. "Why? Because you lost yourself for a minute? It was hot. You're hot. And you have nothing to be ashamed of."

I leaned against him. "I don't want you to leave."

"I won't."

"I don't need a big wedding."

"What are you saying?"

"That we don't have to have a really long engagement. I mean, I want to hold off for a while longer. A year. And the next time you come visit, I think you should stay somewhere else."

"I'll find a place to rent before my next visit." He kissed my temple. "Come inside and watch a movie with me."

"I'd like another kiss."

He pressed his lips to mine for a moment. "How is that?"

I pulled him in for one more kiss. "Good. Let's see about that movie."