adrian-ivashkov

You know," he said, "under normal circumstances, you inviting me to the bedroom would be the highlight of my

Really, Sage? A date?"I sighed. "Yes, Adrian. A date."A real date. Not, like, doing homework together," he added. "I mean like where you go out to a movie or something. And a movie that's not part of a school assignment. Or about something boring.""A real date." I figured I wouldn't give him the specifics on the Shakespheare play."What's the lucky guy's name?""Brayden."There was a pause. "Brayden? That his real name?""Why are you asking if everything's real? You think I'd make any of this up?""No, no," Adrian assured me. "That what's so ynbelievable about it. Is he cute?"I glanced at the clock. It was time for me to meet my study group. "Gee, maybe I should just send you a picture to review?""Yes, please. And a full background check and life history.""I have to go. Why do you care so much anyway?" I finally asked in exasperation.His answer took a long time, which was uncharacteristic.

So many details came into focus. The shape of his lips, the line of his neck. ____ not dangerous,_ I breathed.He brought his face toward mine. __ou are to me.__nd somehow, against all reason, we were kissing. I closed my eyes, and the world around me faded.

Do you really want him to get over you?

I nearly dropped the plate I held. "You've asked me out tons of times.""Not really. I've made inapproprite suggestions and frequently pushed for nudity. But I've never asked you out on a real date. And, if memory serves, you did say you'd give me a fair chance once I let you clean out my trust fund.""I didn't clean it out," I scoffed.

Hey, he's awesome. A little unstable, but awesome. We got along great." Adrian opened the door to the building we were seeking. "And he's a badass in his way too. I mean, any other guy who wore scarves like that? He'd be laughed out of this school. Not Abe. He'd beat someone almost as badly as you would. In fact..." Adrian's voice turned nervous. I gave him a surprised look."In fact what?""Well...Abe said he liked me. But he also made it clear what he'd do to me if I ever hurt you or did anything bad." Adrian grimaced. "In fact, he described what he'd do in very graphic detail. Then, just like that, he switched to some random, happy topic. I like the guy, but he's scary.

If I keep loving you, maybe you'll crack and love me too.

Everything's about my personal entertainment. The world is my stage. Keep it up- you're becoming a star performer in the show.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. I didn't care that we were out in public. I didn't care that he was Moroi. All that mattered was that he was Adrian, my Adrian. My match. My partner in crime.

My nails dug into his back, and he trailed his lips down the edge of my chin, down the center of my neck. He kept going until he reached the bottom of the dress__ V-neck. I let out a small gasp, and he kissed all around the neckline, just enough to tease.

I wanted him. I arched my back, fully aware of how vulnerable that made me and that I was giving him an invitation. He accepted it and laid me back against the table, bringing his body down on top of mine. That crushing kiss of his moved from my mouth to the nape of my neck. He pushed down the edge of my dress and the bra strap underneath, exposing my shoulder and giving his lips more skin to conquer.

While I'm fine with you two dating and being happy, please try not to break his heart too much when the time comes.

I see how it is,_ I snapped. __ou were all in favor of me breaking the tattoo and thinking on my own__ut that__ only okay if it__ convenient for you, huh? Just like your __oving from afar_ only works if you don__ have an opportunity to get your hands all over me. And your lips. And_._._. stuff.__drian rarely got mad, and I wouldn__ quite say he was now. But he was definitely exasperated. __re you seriously in this much self-denial, Sydney? Like do you actually believe yourself when you say you don__ feel anything? Especially after what__ been happening between us?___othing__ happening between us,_ I said automatically. __hysical attraction isn__ the same as love. You of all people should know that.___uch,_ he said. His expression hadn__ changed, but I saw hurt in his eyes. I__ wounded him. __s that what bothers you? My past? That maybe I__ an expert in an area you aren__?___ne I__ sure you__ just love to educate me in. One more girl to add to your list of conquests.__e was speechless for a few moments and then held up one finger. __irst, I don__ have a list._ Another finger, __econd, if I did have a list, I could find someone a hell of lot less frustrating to add to it._ For the third finger, he leaned toward me. __nd finally, I know that you know you__e no conquest, so don__ act like you seriously think that. You and I have been through too much together. We__e too close, too connected. I wasn__ that crazy on spirit when I said you__e my flame in the dark. We chase away the shadows around each other. Our backgrounds don__ matter. What we have is bigger than that. I love you, and beneath all that logic, calculation, and superstition, I know you love me too. Running away and fleeing all your problems isn__ going to change that. You__e just going to end up scared and confused.___ already feel that way,_ I said quietly.Adrian moved back and leaned into his seat, looking tired. __ell, that__ the most accurate thing you__e said so far.__ grabbed the basket and jerked open the car door. Without another word, I stormed off, refusing to look back in case he saw the tears that had inexplicably appeared in my eyes. Only, I wasn__ sure exactly which part of our conversation I was most upset about.

Do you know what I see in you now? The usual aura. A steady golden yellow, healthy and strong, with spikes of purple here and there. But when I do this. . . .__e rested a hand on my hip, and my whole body tensed up. That hand moved around my hip, slipping under my shirt to rest on the small of my back. My skin burned where he touched me, and the places that were untouched longed for that heat.. The colors deepen, it burns more intensely, the purple increases. Why? Why, Sydney?_ He used that hand on me to pull me closer. __hy do you react that way if I don__ mean anything to you?_ There was a desperation in his voice, and it was legitimate.

Those words, that voice, had more power over me than any phantom ever could.

Sydney, don't leave Adrian because of me.""It's more complicated than that," I said automatically."It's really not," she said. "From everything I've seen and heard, you're just afraid. You've always controlled every detail of your life. When you couldn't-like with the Alchemists-you found a way to seize back that control.""There is nothing wrong with wanting control," I snapped."Except that we can't always have it, and sometimes that is a good thing. A great thing, even," she added. "And that's how it is with Adrian. No matter how hard you try, you aren't going to be able to control your feelings for him. You can't help loving him, and so you're running away. I'm just an excuse.

What were you thinking?" I demanded once we were moving to the music. I was trying to ignore his hands. "Do you know how much trouble you may have gotten me in?"Adrian grinned. "Nah. They all feel bad for you. You'll achieve martyrdom after dancing with a mean, wicked vampire. Job security with the Alchemists.

She sat up, cheeks flushed and golden hair tousled. She was so beautiful that it made my soul ache. I always wished desperately that I could paint her in these moments and immortalize that look in her eyes. There was a softness in them that I rarely saw at other times, a total and complete vulnerability in someone who was normally so guarded and analytical in the rest of her life. But although I was a decent painter, capturing her on canvas was beyond my skill. She collected her brown blouse and buttoned it up, hiding the brightness of turquoise lace with the conservative attire she liked to armor herself in. She__ done an overhaul of her bras in the last month, and though I was always sad to see them disappear, it made me happy to know they were there, those secret spots of color in her life.