Author's note: I didn't plan on updating this today, but I sat down to read and wasn't feeling it. So here this is.

Happy reading!

Chapter Thirteen

My phone rang as I was settling into my car at the end of the day. I looked at the screen and felt a smile spread across my face. I answered and put it to my ear.

"Hi." I breathed out.

"Hi. How was work?" He asked.

"Fine." I pulled out of the parking lot. "My mom asked me if I was still a virgin."

He laughed. "Oh, wow. Was that a shock to her when you said yes?"

"She didn't seem like it was. I sure was shocked at the question. I scraped up my knuckles. They still kind of sting. Are you going to kiss them and make them better?"

"Just get here and I'll kiss every bit of you until you feel better." He purred into the phone.

"I have to go to my place first."

"It's even more private there." He pointed out.

"If you come here, you can't keep an eye on Jill and Eddie. I think they're more important than you getting lucky."

"I've been with you for over two years. I haven't had sex at all in that time. This is one thing, honey, where you may be wrong."

"So you're pitting Jill's virtue and Eddie's conscience on the fact that you haven't gotten any in over two years? Knowing that I might not give you much?"

"You're a tough egg to crack, Sydney, but you will. I'll see to it."

"Maybe on our wedding night."

He groaned, "You're going to be then end of me."

"Well, if you play your cards right, I may let you see my boobs tonight."

"Oh, well, I guess I'll just sit tight and wait for you."

"Take a cold shower, sweetheart. It'll do wonders."

"Easy for you to say." He grumbled into the phone. "You should just come on over, I have clothes here. And Leah did my laundry. I told her she didn't have to, but she did anyway."

I sighed and turned my car toward his house. "This better be worth it."

"You know it is." He said seductively into the phone. "And I think I might implement an open door policy on the bathroom."

"If you do, I will never come to your house again."

"Okay, forget I said that last thing."

I laughed. "You know you could be the super sweet fiancé and get my clothes out for me."

"Could that be sexy lingerie that I may or may not have purchased for you in the hope that you would wear it for me?"

"You better not have bought me lingerie." I warned.

"And if I did? I've seen you half naked. Lingerie is basically just fancy underwear."

"We'll just have to see. You don't even know my size."

"I've held you against me enough to know your size." He paused. "Shouldn't you be here by now?"

"I'm turning down your road right now."

"Drive faster. I'm all alone."

"Alone?"

"Just get here."

A few minutes later, I walked into Adrian's house. He gathered me into his arms and kissed me hard on the mouth.

"God, I missed you." He said against my lips, kissing me again.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed back just as vehemently. He lifted me by my waist and I wrapped my legs around him. He walked us into the bedroom, our mouths still locked. He kicked the door closed behind him. He sat me on the bed and stood beside it, my legs still wrapped around him.

He lifted his mouth from mine and smoothed his hands over my face, shoulders, and back lovingly. He rested his forehead against mine.

"Well, hello, there." I panted.

"Hi."

"I could have a very happy life with you if that's how you greet me after a long day."

"It could be even better. You know that, right?"

"I do. But we're not ready. I'm not ready." I kissed him softly. "Let me up so I can shower."

"I drew you a bath."

I looked at him critically. "You did?"

He took my hands and threaded our fingers together. "I was being the sweet fiancé. I sent Jill out with Eddie and Leah to get stuff for supper. I told them to stay gone as long as possible and call when they were headed back. You don't have to be naked in front of me, that's fine. Just go in there and relax."

I smiled. "I could probably be comfortable with being naked in front of you if you wanted to paint me."

He grinned. "I've wanted to do that for a while, but I didn't think you'd agree."

"How long does it take?"

"I'd kind of just like to take pictures from a few different angles. Then pick one. Transfer itto canvass."

"Of me in the bath?"

He kissed my hand. "Would that be all right?"

"Okay. Get your camera. Give me a few minutes to get settled in and covered a little. And you have to promise me that you won't sneak a peek anywhere lower than my navel."

"I promise." He kissed me hard. "I promise."

He stepped away and I scooted off the bed.

"Clothes and a fresh towel are waiting for you in there." He kissed me once more.

I was shaking with excitement as I stood outside the bathroom, camera in hand.

"Okay." Sydney called nervously through the door.

I turned the knob and hesitated. I took a deep breath and pushed it open. Sydney peeked at me from behind the shower curtain. I snapped a picture.

She blushed slightly and pushed the curtain away. "What do you want me to do?"

"Relax." I said, only partially to myself. "I'm going to come closer and move some tuff around. I'll do my best not to look where you asked me not to."

She nodded.

I pushed the curtain back a little more, keeping my eyes locked with hers. I leaned down and moved some of her hair away from her face. "Put your arms on the sides." I stepped back. "Bend that back leg a little." I watched as she did what I asked. "Perfect."

I took shots of her from different angles. I directed her to move to a few different positions, mostly involving her hands. "Now you can relax. And wait in anticipation for our wedding because I am taking my sweet time with this to make it perfect."

"What are you going to do with the pictures you don't pick?"

I gave her a wry grin. "Well, I have to have some fantasies fulfilled, don't I?" I left the room before she could throw something at me.

I sat on my bed and scrolled through the pictures. I was able to get a few when she was moving and felt particularly ridiculous. She was laughing through her discomfort.

And as I looked through them, I was struck by the fact that I was marrying an amazingly beautiful woman.

I was just getting ready to drain the tub when I heard the front door open in a flurry of voices. They had returned and ended my solitude and only slightly veiled wish that Adrian would come back in and join me.

I took a quick shower and wrapped myself in the towel Adrian had left for me. I looked in the mirror. I was a mess. I finished dressing, simply brushing my hair out of my face.

I joined the others in the kitchen as Leah and Jill worked together at the counter. "Is this a good idea?"

Adrian pulled me onto his lap and chuckled. "That's what I thought. But Jill is teaching her an easy recipe." He kissed me. "Feeling relaxed?"

"Very. Thank you." I pressed my lips to his and then stood. I took a diet pop from the refrigerator. "What have you all been doing all day?"

"Sleeping mostly." Jill said. "I'm not used to being up and around during the day. We should look over venues for your wedding. You need to book one now that you have a date."

"May I use your computer? I have a couple I've been looking at."

"Yeah, it's on the coffee table."

I retrieved it and sat back on Adrian's lap. I typed in my email and opened some links I'd sent to myself. "I don't think I'd mind a reception at Court. Adrian already has an apartment there and all of you live there. It would also be safer and less conspicuous for a party within those walls. My family will be okay, I think. As long as it's okay with Lissa and the rest of the council."

"I like that." Adrian said, pointing to a picture I'd just pulled up.

"St. John's." I navigated to the page. "It's a Catholic church."

"I'm sort of Catholic. What are you?"

"Alchemist." I said wryly. "Is it going to be this easy?"

"We need to call and see if our date is even available." He said, wrapping his arms tighter around me. "Jill and I can go have a look when I escort her back. I'll take my own pictures and let you know if it feels right." He kissed my neck. "Or you could come back with us. I'll sweet talk your mom."

"I hope you mean real sweet talk and not compulsion." I warned, shifting slightly in his arms.

"Of course, honey." He kissed me. "We should see about these other ones, though."

I nodded and turned back to the computer. "Did you see this, Jill?"

"I did. I like it." She smiled. "Did Adrian tell you I decided on a title for my role?"

"No, because I don't know if I like it." He said.

"Best lady." She announced. "It sounds sophisticated. Best woman sounds too old. Best maid sounds too young. But best lady sounds like someone who's going somewhere."

"I like it." I turned to Adrian again. "Why don't you like it?"

"I'm just trying to decide."

"I like it too." Eddie said from across the table.

I happened to notice a grateful look pass between him and Jill.

"What do you think, Leah?" I asked.

"I like it." She said with a shrug.

"Hm, four to one." I looked to Adrian. "I think you're outvoted, sweetheart."

He narrowed his eyes. "I didn't realize we were making decisions for our wedding by popular vote."

I smiled. "Well, there will be some things that will be between you and me."

"Like what?"

"Like the honeymoon."

"Hm. I have some ideas. I see sun and beaches."

"And where's the fun in that for you?"

He pressed his mouth close to my ear and whispered, "The taste of sun on every blessed inch of your gorgeous skin."

I felt myself blush.

"Other people in the room." Jill announced. "Including one who gets enough of it from being connected to your mind."

"Sorry." Adrian said in a very unapologetic voice. "So what else is on the wedding planning agenda?"

I pulled up the checklist Jill had found. "Photographer. Do we know any?"

"The guy who did Lissa and Christian's wedding was pretty good. Don't you think, Jill?"

"Yeah. And he works well with everyone involved, Lissa said."

After a phone call to the Moroi queen to get the name of the photographer, we spent the rest of the evening looking over his website.

Eddie and I washed the dishes as the other three went to the living room to find a movie to watch.

"So what's going on?" I asked after an excruciating silence.

"What do you mean?"

"With you and Jill."

"I'm going to call Angeline tonight and have a talk with her. Figure it all out."

"And?"

"I'm not going to break up with her over the phone, if that's what you're asking."

"No, I expect you to be more decent than that. And what about Jill?"

"We're going to remain friends until Angeline and I are no longer together."

"I hope you'll wait a couple weeks so it doesn't look bad."

"Yeah. I don't want to have Angeline mad at me, but I sure as hell don't want her mad at Jill for thinking she took her man."

I laughed. "Yeah, that wouldn't be good at all."

"Eddie, don't move in on my fiancée." Adrian called from the living room. "You've already got enough to make a decent harem."

"Don't want to make him angry either." I patted Eddie's back as I handed him the last dish to rinse.