Author's note: New chapter, not much to say other than check out what happens in the shower when it switches to Adrian's perspective. ;)

Happy reading!

Chapter Fifteen

My phone buzzed with a text just after lunch. "Rose will be here in a few days."

I stared in shock. "Rose? As in your ex-girlfriend?" I replied.

"One and the same. Got a min for call?"

"I'll call. Oil change."

I went through the easy motions of the simple oil change. I checked filters and gauges. When it was done, I drove the car outside and then walked back into the building. I called to my mom, "I need to make a quick call while we're down."

"Go for it." She said, not looking up from the engine she was rebuilding.

I punched in Adrian's number and he answered on the first ring. "I really need a cigarette. And a drink."

"Why is Rose coming?"

"To get Jill. And I think she's expecting to stay the night here."

"You're not driving her back?" I walked into the break room and poured myself a cup of coffee.

"No, we're going to try seeing what will happen when there's a flight between us." He took in a deep breath. "Lissa is sending the private jet. And her most trusted guardian."

"When will she be here?" I sipped my coffee.

"Saturday."

"Hm."

"'Hm' what?"

"Do you think it would be easier if you stayed with me while she's in town?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I just wanted to tell you. As my fiancée, you need to know when my ex will be in my house."

I smiled. "Thank you for your consideration." I took a sip from my coffee. "Do you think you can hold on until I get home?"

"Home?" he asked expectantly.

I chuckled in embarrassment. "To your place, I mean."

"Sure. And just for the record, and it's cheesy as hell, I think you're home. Wherever I am with you is home."

I felt my heart clench. I didn't realize just how much I loved him until he said something so free of sarcasm. "Yeah, that is cheesy. But I like the cheesiness even more than I like the flippancy. I love it, actually."

"I love you, Sydney."

Mom stuck her head in the door. "The phone is ringing off the hook and I need your help with some stuff."

"Be right there." I told her. "I'll see you in a few hours, Adrian."

"Okay."

"I feel like you all think I need babysitters." Jill was complaining when I walked into Adrian's house after work.

"Not babysitters." Adrian argued. "But you are the only adult Dragomir other than Lissa. And you are my bound to me, Jill. I want to make sure you stay safe just as much as your sister does."

"My sister only cares about her title." She looked sideways at Eddie. "Are you going to back me up?"

"Why should I when I agree?" He said softly.

She stood with a groan. "I wish they'd never found me." She stomped out of the room.

"What's going on?" I asked, stepping toward Adrian.

He ran his fingers through his hair and explained, "Lissa is sending, not only Rose, but an entire guard to bring Jill back to Court."

"Not just Rose?"

He shook his head. "I guess it was a last-minute decision." He reached out and touched my cheek. "I think she's just not ready to leave."

"That could be a big part of it."

Eddie slipped out of the room while we talked.

"What's going on with that?" I mumbled, nodding in the direction he went.

"He's been keeping his distance."

I smiled. "And you think that's good?"

"Right." He leaned forward and brushed his lips across mine. "Hi."

"Hi." I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back for a longer kiss. I murmured against his lips, "I like coming home to you. And I like it even more when there's no extra drama. Just us." I kissed him again.

He pulled me to him, holding me securely to his chest as he took charge of the kiss. He moved his mouth away from mine, across my jaw, and down my neck, nipping lightly at my skin.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair. I let out a sigh.

"On the other hand, I think I'm ready to get out of here so you two can have some privacy." Jill said.

I froze, completely embarrassed.

Adrian just chuckled against my neck and kissed it softly. He lifted his head, but still held on to me. "Completely agree."

Jill laughed. "I think we need to have a family night out. One last hurrah before I have to leave."

"I could go for that." Adrian looked at me, "What do you say?"

"I say I need a shower. But I'm up for it."

"Would you like company?" He asked, nuzzling my neck.

I pushed him away. "No, I would not."

He laughed. "I'll make reservations."

"I can't believe they didn't pronounce my name right." Adrian said for the fifth time.

"Your name is Ivashkov. Salt Lake folk don't do well with Russian names, sweetheart." I pointed out.

"Are you going to keep your last name, Sydney?" Jill asked, looking up from her menu.

"I hadn't put a whole lot of thought into it." I admitted. "Sydney Ivashkov." I pondered aloud. "Hmm. Interesting."

Adrian looked at me with unabashed male pride. "I like it. I've liked the thought of it from the moment I met you."

"Are you secretly a thirteen year old girl?" Eddie teased.

Adrian laughed. Then he looked at me seriously. "Sydney, there's something I need to tell you." He broke into another laugh.

We all joined in.

I leaned into him, resting my hand on his arm. "If that's the case, then we have to break it off because I don't date teenagers. Or girls."

"What if I were a girl, but the same age I am now, would you reconsider that second one?"

"I don't know…"

"Because that would be so hot."

I slapped his arm at the same time Jill said his name scandalously. The look on her face told me he was having a very vivid thought that she was privy to.

He smiled sheepishly and picked up his menu as the waiter came back to take our order. Adrian turned to me and grasped my hand on top of the table and looked at me like I was the only one in the room.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I removed my hand from his and rested it on his knee under the table and turned to the rest of the group.

Adrian pulled my chair closer and draped his arm over my shoulders. He kissed my temple. He played with my hair as Jill went off with whatever tangent she was currently on. Eddie very nonchalantly kept an eye on our surroundings. Leah, on the other hand, looked around like she was paranoid about what would happen next.

"Leah." I said softly.

She turned and looked at me. "Yes?"

"How has this all been?" I moved away from Adrian, squeezing his knee slightly under the table.

"It's been wild. But Eddie has been a big help." She smiled reassuringly and then looked around the room again.

"Good." I smiled back. "I hope this crazy situation has helped in your training."

"Oh, it has." She leaned forward. "Rose was one of the people everyone idolized. Still do. And the chance to work for her in this way…" She trailed off and looked down in embarrassment.

"I'm sure she's proud of the work you've done so far."

Our food arrived and Leah visibly relaxed. She took cues from Eddie and more subtly surveyed the room for the rest of the meal.

"I could really use a cigarette." Adrian said longingly as we walked past a man leaning against the wall outside with a cigarette between his lips.

I sighed and reached into his pocket.

"Well, hello." He said, thrusting his hip toward me.

I wrapped my hands around the pack he kept there. "Then smoke one before we get in my car."

He stared at me for a moment before he took the pack from my hand and shook one out. He kissed me hard before he lit up and blew the smoke away from us. He sighed and leaned against the car.

Jill and Leah followed suit. Eddie paced back and forth, keeping his eyes out. I balled a fist in Adrian's shirt and pressed my eyes into his neck for a moment. I stepped away and moved farther form the stench of Adrian's smoke.

When we were home and alone in my room, I pulled Sydney to me.

She immediately moved away and made a face. "Please wash that stench off."

I nodded. I needed a few minutes alone anyway. Being in Sydney's presence was a challenge in control. I don't know how she did it. Well, being a girl, it was probably a little easier to hide it when she was aroused. No need to worry about anyone catching the tell-tale signs of arousal.

Of course when she was, her skin flushed and her breathing grew heavier.

God, I was bad at this. How was I going to survive another year of this? Especially when she was waiting in my bed almost every night? Yeah, I was done for.

I leaned against the wall in the shower, letting the cold water splash over me. I tried to think of anything but Sydney, but it was no use. I reached down and wrapped my hand around myself. My mind went to her.

"Sydney." I sighed.

The cool water was suddenly a balm to my warm skin. I grew nearer my release. I closed my eyes tight and imagined what it would be like if she was doing this to me. But I had at least another fifteen months until I figured that one out. If she could resist my charms that long.

I let myself have a minute to relax and regain my composure. Then I stepped back and quickly washed the rest of the cigarette smoke from my body and hair.

Sydney breathed me in deep when I pulled her to me a few minutes later.

"Much better." She sighed.

"Me too."

She looked up at me and studied me for a while.

I kissed her forehead. "We're fine, aren't we?"

"Of course. As long as…"

I kissed her once more. "I think I can do this."

"You think?" she gave me an incredulous look.

I laughed. "I'll keep myself in check."

"If you ever need…I mean, I think I could figure out a way to help."

"No, honey. Not until you're ready."

She nodded and brushed her lips across mine. She rolled onto her back and pulled my arm across her stomach.

I rested my head against hers and felt her body relax step by step. Her breathing slowed and she was asleep. I watched for several hours as Sydney dozed in my arms. She moved away and I felt lost. I moved up behind her and held her close, tighter than before. She wasn't getting away so easily.