“Let’s get a move on here, Kinsey...” Taylor said, pacing back and forth outside the bathroom door. I slid some sheer lip gloss across my lips and stood back to look at myself in the mirror. Perfect. I quickly fixed the twisted strap of my dress and left the bathroom, almost running right into Taylor.

“All done.” I announced

He stopped pacing and gave me the once over. “You look amazing.” He said, leaning forward to give me a hug. “Zac’s gonna love it.”

“Hey!” I swatted at him after backing away, “I’m not trying to impress him.”

“Uh huh...”

“Seriously!”

“Okay, fine. I believe you.” The way he said it told me he really didn’t believe me. I didn’t let it get to me though.

We left mine and Zac’s room and headed down to the lobby to meet up with Isaac and Zac. As soon as Isaac saw me approaching he stood up and nodded his approval.

“You look great, Kins.” He said, giving me a quick hug.

“Thanks, so do you.” I glanced at Zac, who had yet to voice his opinion. “Well?” I asked, holding my arms out to the side and turning in a circle. “What do you think?”

He reached out and grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “You look beautiful.” He leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Absolutely beautiful.”

I could feel my cheeks turn a dark shade of red out of embarrassment. “Thank you.”

“We should get going otherwise we’re gonna be late.” Taylor said, breaking the silence that had fallen between us.

I followed the three guys into the dimly lit restaurant of the hotel. There was a black baby grand piano being played from somewhere inside. I found it to be very elegant and I liked it... mainly because it was something I wasn’t quite used to. We were seated at a small table in the corner and given our menus. The four of us were silent as we read over the choices.

I found the pasta section and began to look at the different types they had to offer. My eyes wandered over to the prices and my jaw just about hit the floor. “Good lord...”

“What?” Zac asked quietly, leaning over to me. His own eyes scanned my menu, trying to figure out my reasoning for saying what I did.

“Look at these prices.” I said, “Thirty-six dollars for shrimp alfredo? Oh here,” I pointed, “Fourty-three dollars for this one.”

“Yeah, not exactly the cheapest place to eat, is it?”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

After deciding on the shrimp alfredo, I closed my menu and set it on the table. The three of them were still looking over their menus, so I took some time to glance around the restaurant.

“Kins,” Taylor called

“Huh?” I turned back around and looked at Taylor. “What?”

“Are we gonna be switching rooms tonight?”

I couldn’t believe he had just asked me that in front of Zac. I shot him a ‘what the hell?’ look before responding. “Uh, no.” I fidgeted with my silverware and napkin as I felt my cheeks turn a light shade of pink. I could feel Zac’s eyes on me and I hated that. I prayed someone would change the subject... fast.

The waiter suddenly appeared at the table. “Are we all set to order here?”

I breathed a small sigh of relief. Thank god for waiters.

* * *

I fell back on the bed and sprawled my arms out to the side. “Ugh. I’m so full.”

Zac un-did his tie and threw it across the back of the desk chair. “Well, you DID eat almost the whole plate of pasta, which looked more like two servings than one.” He sat down next to me on the bed and bent over, taking off his shoes and socks.

“You know what sounds nice right now?”

“What?”

“A hot tub.”

“The bathtub has jets in it. Will that do?”

“I guess.” I slowly sat up and looked around the room. “Wanna join me?”

He gave me a shocked look. “W-what do you mean?”

I laughed. “I mean, would you like to get your swimming trunks on and join me?”

“Oh...” He nodded, “Now I get it.”

“Do you?” I asked playfully

“Shut up.”

I stood up and went over to my suitcase, grabbing my tropical print bikini from the side pouch. “Are you coming or what?”

He stared at me for a moment before coming to his senses. “Oh, yeah,” He said, jumping up, “Let me just change quick. I’ll meet you in there.”

I smiled as I retreated to the bathroom. “Okay...”

I shut and locked the door once I got in there. I turned on the water and jets in the bathtub, then reached over and picked up the complimentary bottle of bubble bath, pouring some in. After I was satisfied with the amount of bubbles, I left that to go change into my swimming suit.

Zac knocked on the door not a minute later. I checked myself out in the mirror before unlocking the door and opening it. We both looked each other up and down before I backed up and let him in. I closed the door again and when I turned around and looked at him, I was amazed at his body. It was like I had never seen him without a shirt before, except I have. I was amazed every time though at how tan he always was, and not to mention how built.

“Is it ready?” He asked, breaking through my thoughts.

I glanced over at the bathtub. “Yeah, looks like it.”

We both climbed in and sat down. I have no idea why, but I opted to sit on the other side of the tub. He gave me a funny look.

“Something wrong?” He asked

“No.” That was obviously a lie. Ever since he came into the bathroom, I was beginning to think that this was a mistake. I mean, asking him to join me like this, it was like I was asking for trouble to smack me right in the face.

“You’re not self-conscious are you?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Five minutes ago you were all gun-ho about doing this, and now you’re acting completely opposite.”

People’s moods can change, right? “I’m fine.” As I sat there looking at him across from me, I was starting to lose trust in myself. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to restrain myself if I was sitting next to him.

“Nervous?”

“No, I’m not nervous.”

“Then come sit over here. I promise I won’t bite.” He smiled one of those smiles and I silently cursed him. He knew that I couldn’t resist that smile.

I sighed and got up, crawling over to the other side of the bathtub. I sat next to him and I felt my body tense up. Why was I acting like this all of a sudden?

“Relax, Kins.” Zac slid his arm around my shoulders and pulled me tight against him. “I don’t know what you’re so worked up over all of a sudden, but just let it go.” His quiet voice was soothing... so soothing that I felt my whole body finally relax. I leaned my head on his shoulder and turned my head so my nose was touching the side of his neck. I took a deep breath and let it out, feeling the affect of the jets and warm water on my body.

“Better?” He asked

“Mm-hmm.” I mumbled

He leaned his head on top of mine as we sat there, just listening to the jets and enjoying the feeling. Zac shifted slightly, but kept his arm around me. I turned my head a little, my lips just barely touching the side of his neck, right below his ear. In the back of my mind I knew my lips were touching him, but at the same time, I didn’t care.

I knew Zac could feel my lips on him, yet he didn’t do anything to get me to move either. Then, without even giving it a second thought, I tilted my head up and lightly kissed right behind his ear, trailing my lips down towards his collarbone. I snaked my tongue out for a taste of his salty skin before pulling back just slightly. He didn’t say a word, but I knew he was fighting with himself to stop me. Funny thing was, I was doing the same thing. I knew better than to be doing this, but I couldn’t stop myself.

Slowly, I reached my hand over and rested it on his chest as I leaned over and started kissing his neck again. I heard him sigh when my tongue ran that same trail down his neck.

“Kinsey...” He whispered, “Hey, Kins...”

“Hmm?” I mumbled

“I think we should go to bed. I have a long day tomorrow.”

I backed away and looked up at him, his face flushed. “Okay...” I said slowly, “If that’s what you think we should do...”

He quickly got up and made a bee-line for the door. I stared after him, confused. What had just happened? Did I really kiss him? The realization dawned on me suddenly. “Oh, shit...” I quickly got out of the bathtub and dried myself off. I wrapped a towel around myself before going out into the main room to get my pajamas. He was already in bed, all covered up. I grabbed a tank top and shorts from my suitcase, then headed back to the bathroom to change and drain out the tub.

When I left the bathroom, I noticed that Zac had turned out all of the lights, except for the one next to the bed. I crawled into bed next to him and reached over to turn out the light. I laid there on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I wasn’t sure if he was still awake or not, and I wasn’t about to strike up a conversation with him for fear that he’d bring up what had happened in the bathroom. Then he’d ask me questions and I wouldn’t know how to answer them, because in all reality, I never do. I’m not good when it comes to confrontation, that’s why I always end up mumbling something about wanting to talk about it later, hoping that he’ll forget about it.

“Come here.” Zac reached over, slid his arm under my head and around my shoulders, pulling me up against him. I wasn’t about to protest, even though I thought he was slightly mad at me for earlier. I rested my head on his chest and draped my arm across his middle. I felt his fingers push some of the hair away from my face, and then I felt something that stopped my heart. His lips. He brushed them ever-so-lightly against my temple it sent chills up my spine. Just as he started to pull away I turned my head and kissed his lips. I felt his whole body freeze for a moment out of shock. He pulled away slightly and we laid there, our faces only centimeters apart. When he didn’t turn away I took that as a sign and moved in, gently touching my lips to his again. This time he responded, moving his lips against mine. I pulled his bottom lip between my teeth and sucked on it as his hands began roaming over my body. He attached them to my hips for awhile, his fingers digging into my sides whenever I did something he liked. He broke the kiss and moved his lips to my neck. I closed my eyes and breathed out a small sigh as his lips traveled over my skin so softly. His hands reached up and cupped my breasts over my tank top.

This was all happening so fast. The little voice in my head screamed at me to stop before it got any more out of hand, but just like earlier, I couldn’t. I’ve wanted this for too long to even try to stop. His lips, his hands, his bare chest... it all felt too good.

I could feel the start of an erection pressing into my thigh as I pulled him over on top of me. I let out a small moan as his strong hands slid down the length of my body. When they stopped on my inner thigh I wanted to scream. I was beginning to think that this was all a dream. Any minute now someone would pinch me and I’d wake up.

Zac pressed his middle finger against me, over my shorts. My eyes fluttered closed and I sighed. “That feels so good.” I said, reaching down and pushing my shorts aside. He began to thrust against my leg, and that’s when everything dawned on me.

“Shit.” I cursed, pushing him off of me and sitting up. I smoothed my hair back behind my ears and pulled my knees up to my chest. I felt all exposed and vulnerable.

Zac laid there on his back, staring up at the ceiling. “Wha...” He began, his breathing still very heavy. “What... the hell?” He looked at me, his eyebrows knit in confusion.

I glanced over at him, then averted my eyes to the other side of the room. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” He didn’t respond, which left the room silent. This was one of the most awkward moments of my life. “I’m just gonna... sleep on the couch tonight.” I grabbed a pillow and blanket, heading over to the couch. I laid down and curled up with the blanket, closing my eyes and trying not to let the silence and Zac’s heavy breathing affect me.

back

** Thanks to Sheila for the ideas!! **