Michele tapped absently on the steering wheel, trying to let the heavy beat pouring from the stereo drown out the distressing thoughts swirling angrily in her mind. She wanted the song to take her away; let herself be lost in the illusion that everything was okay. But she knew that wouldn't happen. She'd gone too far this time; twisted the strands of her life into jumbled knots she feared would never come undone. She'd spent the past few days working herself ragged, busying herself with any project she could find, doing anything to keep her mind off Taylor and Zac. But now that she was all alone, speeding down the highway towards her house, she was left vulnerable to her demons. She found herself unable to concentrate, her consciousness plagued by indecision and worry. Her tired eyes were red and puffy behind her sunglasses and her body fairly ached from lack of sleep. But she couldn't keep her thoughts from drifting to Taylor and Zac. She couldn't fight the feeling of Taylor's lips on her skin as he shuddered inside her, filling her with the heat she'd come to so graciously accept. She couldn't fight the remembrance of the tightness that swelled in her chest when she'd climbed quietly up the basement stairs and found Zac in the kitchen, a wide smile on his lips and his arms open to embrace her. And she couldn't fight the image of the confusion weighing his eyes when she'd shrugged away from his gentle advances as he kissed her goodnight. She couldn't fight the shame that stayed continuously lodged in her throat, threatening to spill over at any moment, or the disgust with herself that kept the excuses flowing, stalling any contact with either brother. She couldn't imagine ever facing them again, and she wasn't prepared for the consequences if she did.

And so, when she pulled slowly into her drive and caught sight of Zac's Jeep sitting soundly by the porch, she couldn't help the sweat that rushed to back of her neck or the audible gasp that escaped her lips. She rubbed her fingers over her eyes after she switched off the ignition, staving off any would-be tears and trying hurriedly to prepare herself for what she feared was about to take place. She'd been unwittingly putting off his advances for weeks, feigning tiredness and sickness to keep his roving lips and hands at bay. And he'd been so patient, so caring and loving and comforting. And it killed Michele to see the tenderness in his eyes, when she knew her own had to be glaring with betrayal. She was afraid to let him touch her, afraid he might sense that she was different, afraid he might know she'd been fucking his brother. And she wanted to cry at the thought of the disappointment she saw in his eyes every time she gently pushed him away, her hesitance leaving him confused and unfulfilled.

They hadn't spoken for a few days, so his presence surprised her. She assumed he was there to confront her. And she knew he had every right to be angry. Her behavior had been callous and selfish and she deserved every ounce of punishment he chose to weigh upon her. But she knew better. She knew Zac would never be anything but sympathetic. And knowing that he'd been the first to step over their invisible line of separation and come to her, sent her heart shattering into a million pieces.

She walked begrudgingly up the steps to the porch, her briefcase and purse seeming tons heavier than usual. She noticed that the flower pot beside the door was slightly skewed from it's usual position and figured Zac must've slipped her spare key from underneath. She pulled lazily at the screen door, her purse sliding obnoxiously down her arm as she twisted the doorknob. She kicked the door open and her breath caught in her throat when her eyes fell upon the scene before her. Zac was standing at the stove, his back to her, apron strings tied loosely around his waist. The table was set with her finest china and silverware and a bottle of champagne sat nestled between two goblets. A bouquet of long-stem red roses adorned the center of the table and she could barely hear the soft strains of Otis Redding coming from the living room.

Tears blurred her vision of him as he turned around, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. She vaguely saw him approaching, felt the weight of her bags being lifted from her shoulders, and the gentle brush of his lips against her cheek. She felt a lump of emotion rise thickly in her throat, touched by his thoughtfulness, especially since she knew she didn't deserve it. Her arms draped around his neck, a tear escaping at the feel of his warm body against hers as his arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

"Hey baby..." he whispered, his lips brushing her hair as his palms rubbed gentle circles on her back.

"Hi..." she whispered back, burying her face in his neck as another stream of tears slipped down her cheeks. She exhaled a deep breath, trying to gain control of her quickly diminishing composure and throw off any suspicion he might have.

"What is it, baby?" he asked, pulling from her desperate embrace, his fingers delicately swiping at her tears.

"Just...this..." she sniffled, her eyes gesturing over his shoulder to the table he'd laid out.

"Oh," he smiled, his lips gently branding her forehead. "I just wanted to do something special." He met her eyes, cupping her face in his hands. "I know things have been...tense...lately and I just thought we could have this special night...just the two of us."

Michele clenched her eyes shut when his lips met hers, inviting them to open to a gentle, sweet kiss. She could feel the tears began prickling behind her eyes again and she didn't know if they were provoked by his sweet gesture or the thought of spending the evening with him the way she knew he desired.

"Why don't you go change?" he suggested, brushing her hair out of her eyes as he broke their kiss. "Slip into something a little more comfortable and I'll finish up in here."

"Okay," she nodded, her voice a mere whisper captured by his lips briefly touching hers again. She offered him a small smile and slipped out of the kitchen, her breath returning in one large gulp once she reached the sanctity of her bedroom. She leaned back against the closed door, her hands clenching to stop their trembling. The secrets she kept taunted her, teased her, threatened to make her sick with dizziness. Her mind wrestled with itself, weighing the consequences of telling Zachary the truth against continuing to live with the daunting knowledge that she'd betrayed him. She sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, daring it's memories to come seeping to the forefront of her mind, and kicked her shoes off. Her dress slowly followed, her nervous hands reaching for her silken robe to hide her nakedness. She slipped into the bathroom, a splash of water on her face cooling her flushed skin and snapping back some semblance of reality. She met her own gaze in the mirror, suddenly wondering how long she'd looked so tired, so burdened, wondering if anyone could tell she was harboring such a secret, and wondering how long she could keep it up.

"Baby...?" Zac's soft voice floating from the bedroom drew her from her thoughts and she released a final breath before hitting the light switch and strolling out to meet him. He smiled when he saw her, that wide, infectious, Zac-grin, and Michele couldn't help but smile back. She noticed he'd removed his apron, leaving him in a t-shirt and jeans. He closed his hand around hers as he led her back down the hall, Michele sighing once they'd reached the kitchen. The room was illuminated by the soft glow of a couple of candles Zac had placed in the center of the table, a few more littered about the living room casting a soft, flickering light between the rooms. Her heart melted when Zac brought her hand to his lips, brushing gently over her knuckles.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling herself wanting to get choked up again. He only smiled and pulled a chair out for her, planting a tiny kiss on the top of her head before sitting down himself.

"I know it might not be the best..." he grinned, pouring them equally full glasses of champagne. "But I tried."

"It's perfect, Zac," she smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching when reality dawned again. "You are so sweet to me and I don't deserve any of it."

"Of course you do, baby," he said, assuredly squeezing her hand across the table. "You're everything to me. You make me so happy, Michele."

"Don't say that..." she breathed, riddled by guilt and shame she tried to disguise as embarrassment.

"Hey," His finger beneath her chin lifted her eyes to his. "It's true. I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

"Me neither, Zac," she whispered. "Me, neither."

--

"So, where'd you learn to cook like that?" Michele asked, absently twining her fingers between Zac's as she rested her head back against his shoulder. The nearly empty bottle of champagne they'd shared at dinner had drowned some of her insecurities and left her feeling quite comfortable as she snuggled up in Zac's embrace beneath a chenille throw on the couch. The TV was broadcasting a movie she'd already seen once, so she focused her hazing attention on how good it felt to have Zac's arms around her again.

"I dunno," he shrugged, his lips brushing mindlessly over her forehead. "Guess I've just been paying attention."

"Well, you did good," she said, her mouth tilting up to place a tiny kiss on the tip of chin. "I'm impressed."

"Thank you," he smiled, taking advantage of her receptive position and deliberately licking his lips before placing them on hers. Michele closed her eyes, trying to push all conscious thought out of her mind as his mouth captured hers. She let his lips work softly against hers for a few moments, but when she felt her body began to respond, she forced herself to gently slip away, letting her lips trail down his neck before coming to a stop. She rested her head back in the crook of his neck, silently praying he wouldn't press any further. She sighed contentedly when he only tightened his arm around her, letting his lips brush lightly across her forehead before turning his attention back to the movie.

They'd gotten nearly halfway through the movie when Michele realized that Zac had begun to smooth one hand along the length of her thigh, her skin warming even beneath the silk of her robe. She tried to shift away enough as a hint for him to stop, but he remained oblivious, his motions remaining steady and continuing to weaken her resolve. She sighed heavily when she felt his lips against the flushed skin at her temple and swallowed when they began to trail down to her ear. She instinctively arched her neck, his mouth relishing in the new skin he found and the ease with which she seemed to be giving in. He couldn't deny that the past few weeks without her touch had left his body aching and desperate and only managed to fuel his desire as his mouth suckled below her collarbone.

"Lay back..." he breathed, his lips falling between her breasts. Michele whimpered as she complied, her heart torn between pounding with anticipation of his warm touch and constricting with the urge to shove him away. Her eyes rolled back in her head as he crawled between her splayed legs, his urgency pressing into her stomach as his mouth continued it's assault. She swallowed thickly as her mind suddenly flashed with unbidden images of Taylor; his mouth on her, bringing heat to her skin the same way Zac's supple lips were as they closed over one nipple. She clenched her eyes, trying to clear her head, trying to concentrate on the delicate feel of Zac's tender, insistent touch. When his hand crept between her legs and began rubbing her gently over the thin fabric of her panties, her body surged with the sudden need to run, to get as far away from him as she could. But when the memories of Taylor began to infiltrate her mind again, she became awash with the willingness to do anything to make them go away.

So, she cupped her hands around Zac's head and pulled his lips to hers, harshly separating them with her tongue. Zac groaned into her mouth at the desperate workings of her tongue, his body beginning to instinctively rock against hers. Michele's hands tangled tightly in his hair, Zac's breath growing ragged as he mistook her sudden fervor as desire for him. His hand left the dampness between her thighs and Michele's eyes popped open when she felt him fumbling at the button on his jeans and heard the whisk of his zipper as it came undone. He raised his head from the crook of her neck, resting his sweaty forehead against hers as Michele looked between their bodies, her pulse fluttering when he reached beneath the waistband of his boxers and grasped himself, beginning a slow, torturous stroking. "Oh....ungh..." his grunts left hot whispers of breath against her neck and she shivered, her palm sliding slowly down his stomach until the heat from his sex became undeniable. She cautiously wrapped her fingers around him, his intense throbbing causing her breath to catch in her throat.

Zac released a shaky breath against the racing pulse beneath her jaw at the slide of her fingers over his length. "That's it baby..." he moaned when she became more deliberate in her motions, her attentions drawing him ever closer to the release he'd been fairly aching for for weeks. "Oh...yeah...fuck...I needed this so fucking much, baby..."

The instant his hot breath left those words below her ear, Michele froze, her mind instantly filling with shattering sounds of Taylor's raspy voice repeating those same words. Her hand flew from his hardness, pushing desperately at his chest. "Zac...stop..."

"Wha....?" He raised to his knees, his eyes flashing with confusion. Michele met his disappointed eyes and her tears finally broke free, streaming down her flushed cheeks as she jumped from the couch. She stood before the window, wrapping her robe tighter around her frame after she swiped the tears from her face. Zac lifted himself off the couch, tucking his erection back into his open fly, his mind racing with confusion. Michele felt him approach her from behind and couldn't stop herself from shivering away when she felt his hand lightly graze her shoulder. "Baby...? Honey, what's wrong...?"

"I just...I just can't, Zac," she choked. "I'm sorry..."

"Did I do something wrong...?" The fear and vulnerability in his voice tugged at her heartstrings, but Michele couldn't force herself to turn to him.

"No, Zac..." she said, begging her voice to calm, wanting him to know that he'd done absolutely nothing wrong, wanting him somehow to know that she'd been the one to fuck everything up. "It's not you. It's just...I don't know..." She ran her hands through her hair, her mind racing with exasperation and frustration.

"If it's something I did...or if we're moving too fast...honey..." he stepped closer to her, his heart aching for some sort of understanding.

"It's not that, Zac..." she began again. "I just...can't...do this..."

"So tell me why, baby..." he pled, searching for some semblance of reason through all the confusion he was feeling. "Help me understand. If I didn't do anything, then what is it? Is it Taylor? Has he been..."

"No..." Michele whipped around, her eyes wide with adamantance, her skin flushed by the mere mention of his name. She searched his eyes for suspicion, slightly relieved when she only found confusion. "Why would you think...?"

"I don't know, Chely," he said, his eyes boring into hers, becoming more demanding than beseeching. "I don't know what to think. A few weeks ago you were all over me and now you won't even let me touch you. I don't get it."

Michele felt the tears welling behind her eyes again, upset by the disappointment and anger she saw building in his eyes. "I don't get it either, Zac..." she trailed off, her mind searching for something she could say to fend off his probing questions. "Maybe I'm just tired or..."

"Don't give me those bullshit excuses, Michele," he seethed, suddenly angered by her behavior. She'd been acting distant and withdrawn for weeks and her actions tonight proved to be the final straw. Michele flinched from the volume and intensity of his voice, her eyes widening with disbelief. "If you don't wanna do this...if you don't wanna be with me, then just fucking tell me cause I'm tired of all this fucking teasing..."

Michele's eyes narrowed at him, unable to comprehend the words that were flowing so effortlessly from his lips. "So that's what this is about, huh?" she growled, her eyes flashing as her blood began to run hot. "That's all you want isn't it?" Zac stood obliviously, his hands on his hips, his shoulders heaving and eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and fear. He flinched a little when Michele stepped forward, her intense gaze never leaving his and audibly gasped when she closed her hand over the hardness straining through his pants. "Is this what you want, Zac?" She asked, her voice mocking and condescending as she pulled his erection free and began a fast, furious stroking. Zac couldn't stop his groan as his body responded to her touch, his knees weakening as the pressure rose in his groin. "Is this what you fucking want...?" she breathed, dropping to her knees in front of him.

"Michele....no..." he choked, his protest cut off by the overwhelming warmth of her mouth enveloping the head of his dick. His hands went to the sides of her head, torn between tugging her back up to him and holding on for dear life as his body surged with alternating waves of fire and lust and pain and tingles. His knees grew weak when she closed her mouth over him, drawing in his length and beginning a deep, hard suction. Her hand pumped hard at his base as she took him deeper, forcing him into the warm confines of her mouth. "Ungh...fuck..." he released a gravelly groan when he touched the back of her throat, his hips bucking against her. Michele clenched her eyes shut, tears stinging her lashes when she felt him tense and his hot seed coated the back of her throat. She accepted his pulsings, letting him slip from her mouth as she stood on shaky legs. Her trembling fingers wiped shakily at her lips, tears rolling over her flushed cheeks. Zac stood panting, stomach clenching, blood pounding wildly through his veins as he tried to recover from the shudders that wracked his body. "Baby..." He reached out for her, his arms aching to embrace her, his fingers yearning to brush away her tears.

Michele angrily slapped his hands away and gazed up at him with angry, disgusted, red eyes. "You're just like your fucking brother," she spat, spinning away from him, leaving him standing in the center of the living room bewildered, tears prickling behind his own eyes.

Zac flinched when he heard the bedroom door slam, his heart rising up into his throat. He swallowed thickly as he tucked himself back into his jeans, languidly pulling up the zipper. He forced his heavy feet to move and trudged slowly down the hall, his body welling with a hurt he'd never known. He stopped in front of the closed door, his forehead resting wearily against the cool wood. "Baby....I'm sorry..." he whispered, his fingertips resting lightly against the door, a solitary tear slipping down one cheek. "And I'm not like Taylor..." he swallowed. "I love you..."

--

Michele anxiously tapped her fingernails on the hard wood of her kitchen table, the cordless phone perched at her ear. The ringing sounded cold and harsh in her ears as she waited for someone to pick up on the other end. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks stained from the tears that hadn't let up since she'd heard the tires of Zac's Jeep squeal as they tore out of her driveway. She hadn't spoken to him in the three days since she'd locked herself in her bedroom, her stomach churning with anger and disgust, her heart aching at the thought of what she'd done. She knew that none of the events that had taken place that night were Zac's fault. She knew all the blame rested on her shoulders, but she couldn't find a way to apologize and explain without revealing the entire truth. And she knew she could never tell Zac the truth. She knew he'd never forgive her.

So, she sat anxiously awaiting for Alexis to answer her cell phone. She'd realized over the course of the past few days that her life had been completely turned upside down and she was ready for some sort of resolution. She knew that lightening her heart and finally being truthful about her relationships with both Taylor and Zac was something that she had to do and she knew Alexis was the perfect listener.

"Hello?" Lexi's voice on the other end of the receiver broke Michele from her thoughts.

"Hey, Lexi. It's me," Michele sighed. "You busy?"

"Not really. Why?"

"I need to talk to you," she said. "Can I come over?"

"Yeah, but I'm not home," Alexis said, the confusion and concern evident in her voice. "I'm over at the Hanson's baby-sitting."

"Oh, God," Michele sighed, clenching her eyes when she felt tears began to prickle behind them. The mere mention of the Hanson name had suddenly sucked all of her resolve and set her emotions on high. But she knew she *had* to talk to someone. "Are the guys around?"

"Ike's upstairs sleeping," Lexi said. "but Tay and Zac went out."

Michele exhaled a huge sigh of relief. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Michele...wha...?" Michele hung up the phone before Alexis could finish, suddenly anxious to get on her way to the Hanson's before she changed her mind.

--

Alexis flung the door open the instant she heard Michele approaching the back door. Her eyes widened when she saw her best friend, recognizing instantly that something was wrong. "Michele...what's wrong?"

Michele took one look at the concern in her friend's eyes and burst into tears. Lexi's arms went around her shoulders, leading her into the living room where they sat on the couch, Alexis waiting as Michele composed herself enough to talk.

"Tell me what's wrong, Michele," she pled, resting a comforting hand on Michele's shoulder.

"Everything," Michele said, unable to meet Alexis' confused eyes. "Everything is all fucked up."

"Is it Zac?" Lexi cautiously asked, wondering could possibly have Michele in such a state.

"Yeah, it's Zac," she said. "It's Zac and it's Taylor and it's just...everything..." She could feel the tears beginning to come again and she rested her head in her hands, balancing her elbows on shaky knees.

"What happened, honey?" Alexis cooed, brushing her hair off her forehead.

"Taylor..." she sniffled, sitting up and almost smiling in spite of herself. "Taylor and I...we've been...together..."

"Together?" Alexis furrowed her brow.

"Fucking..." she said suddenly, spitting the word as if it left a bitter taste in her mouth. "We've been fucking. Nearly every night since I've been back, he's been sneaking over and..." She trailed off, unable to continue as her body threatened to wrack with sobs.

"Oh, God..." Alexis said, her mind barely able to comprehend what she'd heard. Her gaze washed over Michele's hunched form, her eyes widening when she was struck with the fear of a sudden realization. "You're not...?"

Michele met Lexi's eyes as they drifted down to her stomach. "Oh, no..." she said, Alexis instantly sighing in relief. "It's nothing like that."

"So, what's the problem?"

"We promised, Alexis," she said, her face mired in disappointment. "We said we weren't gonna do this again. We promised."

"But you couldn't help it...?"

"I don't know," she exasperated, running her hands through her hair. "And it makes me so fucking sick that he still gets to me like this...that he has this control over me and I can't stop wanting him...and I can't stop letting myself give in to him..."

"You still love him...?" Lexi asked cautiously. Michele could only shrug as she languidly swiped at her tears. "So, maybe it's a sign, you know? Maybe you guys are meant to be together?"

"I don't think so..." Michele trailed off, her eyes raising skyward as she blinked away her tears.

"Why not?"

Michele slowly shifted her eyes to Lexi's, a deep breath calming her emotions, the beginnings of a smile working to the corners of her mouth. "I can't be with Taylor, Lexi..." she said, biting her bottom lip. "...because I'm falling in love with Zac..."

--

Taylor slammed the door to his truck, punching in the security numbers that allowed the garage door to slide open. He slipped inside once it was raised and flipped on the lights, his hands resting on his hips as he contemplated where to start looking for the sleeping bags he knew were stashed somewhere. After rummaging around in the far corner, he finally found them, tugging them out in preparation for the camping trip he and a few friends had planned for that night. He chunked the bags in the bed of his truck, deciding to go pilfer in the house for a few snacks to take on the road.

He slipped quietly into the kitchen, not wanting to chance disturbing Isaac since he knew he was suffering from the beginnings of a cold. He paused when he passed by the dining table and he heard the gentle mumblings of voices floating from the living room.

--

"What!? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me? Chely!!" Alexis all but screamed, her eyes wide with surprise and excitement.

"I don't know..." Michele said, unable to hide the smile that was stretching across her lips. "I can't explain it. It just...happened..." She sat back on the couch, her voice becoming dreamy as her eyes glistened with moisture. "And he's so amazing, Alexis. When we're together, it's like nothing else matters and everything that's right in the world is right there between us." She paused, biting her lower lip as her mind searched for the right words. "And it's more than a feeling, you know? It's real. It's so perfectly real."

Alexis smiled at her friend, thrilled by the contentment she seemed to be experiencing, but daunted by the knowledge of her betrayal. She bit her lip as she cautiously spoke. "But you've been sleeping with Tay...?"

"I know," Michele said, her face instantly falling as the disgust filled her eyes again. "And I can't...I don't know what to do..."

"So, I'm guessing they don't know about each other...?" Alexis stated the obvious.

"No," Michele stated. "And it has to stay that way. Zac can never know. He'd never forgive me."

"So, what about Taylor?"

"It's over between us," she stated confidently. "And I mean it this time. I can't keep being with him when I really want to be with Zac."

"And that's what you want..." Lexi asked unsurely, "...to be with Zac?"

"I love him so much, Alexis..." Michele breathed, tears of emotion brimming her eyes. "And I'll do anything to keep him with me."

--

Taylor stood bewildered in the kitchen, his eyes wide and shining, his fists unconsciously clenching as his brain spun to process what he'd just heard. He couldn't comprehend that Michele, the woman that he loved, the woman he'd been sleeping with for the better part of the past two years, had fallen in love with his little brother. It all seemed too unbelievably absurd to be true. And he couldn't imagine how it all could've been transpiring right under his nose. His mind kept flashing back, desperately searching for anything he could've taken as a sign, anything that might've led him to believe he was being betrayed.

But then again, he reasoned, *he* was always the one who'd done the betraying. He supposed he deserved the empty feeling that had settled into his stomach. He knew it had always been Zac who loved Michele and he guessed she'd always loved him, too. As he stood there, Michele's voice echoing through his head, he was struck with the sudden realization that he'd never really had a chance. And any relationship he might've had with her had been sabotaged by his carnal need to have her. The love he'd held for her had been drained by their illicit affair, melting it into nothing more than a hot, primal lust.

But Zac loved her. And with the kind of love she deserved - strong and true and comforting. So, it was really no surprise that she'd fallen for him, no surprise that his own love for her wasn't enough. Perhaps if he'd obeyed her wishes and not pressured her into sleeping with him again, things would be different. But now he knew he'd have to suffer the consequences and live with the misery of his own making.

--

The day after Taylor's camping trip dawned bright and clear and he woke up with a newly invigorated peace of mind. His dreams the previous night had been filled with visions of Michele, images of her lips on his skin and her breathy voice at his ear, and his first thought when he opened his eyes was how much he wanted her back.

He'd spent a sufficient amount of time wallowing in self-pity and decided to take matters into his own hands. So after pulling out of the camp site, he turned his truck in the direction of Michele's house, his mind spinning with thoughts the entire time. He knew he had a slight advantage because she didn't know that he knew of her indiscretions. And while blackmail had always been a dirty word in his book, he was willing to do just about anything to change her mind.

Michele was just stepping in the back door when he pulled into her drive. He felt a pull at his heart at the sight of her, and he realized his so-called plan was going to be harder to initiate than he thought. He crept quietly up onto the porch, stopping at the screen door when he saw her in the kitchen. She was stretched across the table, wiping it down with a wash cloth. His eyes drifted over her form, the gentle curves and lean lines, the body he'd come to love and worship. But when his eyes reached her sweet face, tears prickled behind his eyes and he felt all his resolve fly out of the window. She looked so delicate and innocent and he felt his heart wanting to break at the thought of what he'd came there to do.

He unconsciously cleared his throat and Michele suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. He flinched slightly when she saw him and swallowed around the thick lump that had suddenly formed in his throat.

"Tay..." She threw the washcloth down on the table and sauntered over to the door, meeting his eyes through the mesh of the door.

"Can I come in?" He asked cautiously, his eyes searching hers until she gently pushed at the screen, silently signaling her approval.

Taylor stood awkwardly in the kitchen, trying to muster the courage to do something. Michele turned and headed into the living room, Taylor taking the hint and following. She sat timidly on the edge of the couch and he stood tensely beside the coffee table. "So...what's up..."

"Just wanted to talk..." he shrugged. "...about us..."

"What about us?" she asked casually, Taylor taking offense to the seemingly flippant way she was addressing their relationship. That, coupled with his knowledge that she'd technically cheated on him with Zac, was enough to bring back his anger.

"What I mean.." he began, his voice taking on an unnaturally icy tone. "...is why have you been avoiding me lately?"

"What do you mean *avoiding*?" Michele narrowed her eyes at him, not appreciating the tone in which he was speaking to her.

"Well, since we fucked in the laundry room..." he began, Michele rolling her eyes when she realized what he was doing. She looked at him disgustedly, but he remained stoically crude. "...you haven't even let me so much as touch you. What gives?" He crossed his arms over his chest, awaiting the excuse she would provide as an answer.

"Taylor, you know I've been busy with work," she said, standing to boost her courage against his degrading words. "With the transfer and all, I haven't had time for..."

"But you always make time for Zac, don't you?" he sneered, his eyes flashing as they bored into hers.

"Don't start with the Zac shit," Michele yelled. "You do this all the fucking time, Taylor. Don't make this into a competition between you two."

"Yeah, cause we both know who would win, don't we?" he smirked.

"Fuck you," she spat, spinning on her heel and stalking down the hall. Taylor followed, determined to make his point.

"But why should I be surprised?" he bellowed, turning into the bedroom. "Zac's always been first for you, hasn't he?"

Michele turned around, hands on hips. "He's my friend, Taylor," she said adamantly, making sure to bite her tongue and not reveal too much.

"And that's bullshit," he countered. "You don't give up on your relationships for just a friend," he mocked, stressing the word with the traditional quote marks. "And yet, you were willing to do it. You're *still* doing it: giving up everything we had just to make him happy."

"You don't know what you're talking about..." she said through forced assurance.

"I know you Michele," he pointed an accusing finger at her, his icy eyes shattering her resolve. Her eyes started to water, a thick lump of emotion forming in her throat. She noticed his own chin begin to waver as his voice escaped through clenched teeth. "I can see it in your eyes. Every time we make love, you feel like you're betraying him."

"I do, Taylor," she admitted, his eyes startling with surprise as a tear rolled over her cheek. "I hate keeping things from him."

"So, tell him the fucking truth," he raised his voice, his brain reminding him of a similar conversation they'd already had.

"I can't..."

"Why not?"

"Why is this such a big deal to you, huh?" she threw her arms up in exasperation, her own voice rising to a louder timbre. "Why can't you just let us be friends? Why are you making me choose?"

"Because I love you," he screamed suddenly, Michele flinching at his outburst. "I love you so much it fucking hurts..." he fell to his knees, tears suddenly streaming down his flushed cheeks. His fists clenched at his sides as his chest heaved with his ragged pants.

Michele instinctively went to him, dropping to her knees before him, her hands cupping his face, bringing his eyes to hers. Her heart fell at the emotion pouring from his eyes, his vulnerability and desperation shining clear. "I just need to hear you say it, Chely," he pled, his lips shivering as they ached for the touch of hers.

"You know I care about you, Taylor..." she whispered, pushing his sweaty hair away from his face.

"That's not good enough," he choked. "Tell me you love me. Tell me you don't love him."

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at him through apologetic eyes. "I can't..." she breathed. "I'm sorry, Taylor..."

"Baby, please..." he cried, his arms wrapping around her, his forehead mere inches from hers. "I need you so much, Michele," he sobbed, his breath falling in hard pants against her lips. He attempted to kiss her, his mouth falling sloppily upon hers. He cupped his hands around her head, forcing his tongue into her mouth. Michele clenched her eyes shut as her body instinctively responded to his attentions. She let him kiss her for a moment before she tore herself away.

"Taylor...no..." she said, hoping she sounded as unyielding as she felt.

"Please..." he begged, one hand dropping between her legs, desperate to change her mind. "Please baby, just one more time. Make love to me..."

"No, Taylor..." she stated again, grabbing his wrist, his pleading eyes raising to hers. "No...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

His tears broke free in earnest and he wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head in her lap as his shoulders heaved. Michele smoothed her hands down his back as he cried, her own tears rolling begrudgingly down her cheeks.

"So he knows?" Alexis asked as she maneuvered her car onto the street leading up to the Hanson's spread.

"Yep," Michele said simply, her attention turned out the passenger side window. Her eyes aimlessly focused on tracing the tiny remainders of raindrops that rivuleted down the window.

"Everything...?" Lexi cast a curious glance over at her friend.

"He knows enough..." Michele trailed off, a lump of emotion rising into her throat. "How is he?" she whispered, blinking rapidly to stave off any would-be tears.

"Okay, I guess," Alexis shrugged. "Ike says he's kinda mopey and withdrawn, but he thinks he's gonna be okay."

"I'm glad," Michele whispered, finally turning her pleading gaze to Lexi. "I never meant to hurt him, you know."

"I know," Lexi smiled sympathetically. "And he knows that, too. I mean, you can't help who you fall in love with."

Michele only sighed and turned her attention back to the window. She knew Alexis was right: she couldn't stop herself from falling in love with Zac. But that didn't make it any easier to tell Taylor the truth. Especially not when his icy blue eyes were red and puffy from crying and his shaky lips were repeating a mantra of breathy I love you's. She couldn't get that image out of her head: the vulnerability that was so untypically Taylor seeping from his every pore as he cried in her arms. She could only managed to be comforted by the conversation they had later, the hours they spent reminiscing and sharing and the defeated resolution he'd finally accepted. Michele knew it took all the courage and willpower he had, but he'd plaintively agreed to respect her wishes. Still, she could barely stand the look in his eyes when he'd told her he only wanted her happiness and he was sorry he'd been such a failure at that. She'd done her best to assure him that her times with him had been some of the happiest of her life, but that she couldn't help the fact that she'd fallen in love with Zac. He'd nodded mutely, swiped at the drying trails of tears on his cheeks and kissed her gently on the lips. He then touched his fingertips to her cheek, whispered a quiet goodbye and turned and strolled silently out of her back door. The crunch of his tires on the gravel in her driveway was the last she'd heard of him.

"Do you know if he's here or not?" Michele asked suddenly as Lexi pulled her car through the open gate at the end of the Hanson's driveway.

"I dunno," Lexi said. "But I'll only be a minute if you wanna wait in the car or something."

"No, I'll be okay," she said, unbuckling her seat belt as the car ground to a halt. "I need to talk to Zac anyway. I have some more apologizing I need to do."

The girls walked slowly up to the front stoop, Michele noting with a sigh of relief that Taylor's truck didn't appear to be present. Mackenzie greeted them at the door with a wide smile and they slipped inside the foyer, Mackie informing Michele that Zac was in the living room watching television.

"I'll be upstairs if you need me," Lexi offered with a sincere smile, Michele returning it before heading in the direction of the living room.

Her breath caught in her throat when her gaze fell upon Zac. He lay slumped in the center of the couch, remote in hand and feet propped on the coffee table. She watched as his eyes lit up with reflections of the TV and the gentle way his chest rose and fell with each even breath. She softly cleared her throat and he raised his eyes to the distraction, suddenly sitting up straight when he realized it was her.

"Hey," he said softly, sliding the remote onto the coffee table after flicking the TV off.

"Hi," she whispered, taking a few cautious steps forward. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah...of course..." he said, sliding over and making room for her on the couch. She sat down carefully beside him, nervously wringing her hands as he leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. They sat in silence for a few moments with only their breathing filling the still air, each dying to touch the other, desperate to hold and comfort and make everything better.

"I'm sorry," they breathed simultaneously, their eyes instantly flying to the other.

"I didn't mean what I said..." she began, her mind anxiously spinning to explain herself.

"I know. Me neither..." he said, his eyes intently searching hers.

"...and I shouldn't have..."

"...I should've stopped you..."

"I'm so sorry, Zac..." she breathed, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Me, too, baby..." he whispered, his breath leaving in one large sigh when she threw her arms around his shoulders, hugging him desperately to her. His arms circled tightly around her, burying his face in her neck, his hands splaying beneath her shoulder blades. Michele held him tightly, not daring to let go until the knot in her stomach had loosened and his warmth had begun to seep through her skin.

She finally pulled away, resting her forehead against his as she sniffled her tears away. "I hate fighting with you, Zac..." she said, her fingers tucking his hair behind one ear. "...especially over something so stupid."

"I know, baby..." he said, closing his eyes to savor her touch. "...and I'm sorry. I just missed you so much..."

"I missed you, too..." she whispered, smoothing his hair back before clasping her hands around the back of his neck. She wet her lips before placing them on his, inviting them to open in a gentle, sweet kiss that had been days in the making. He kissed her back, his fervor growing when she slipped her tongue past his lips. He shifted around on the couch and pulled her into him, suddenly desperate for the feel of her body melded against his. Michele melted beneath his touch and sighed lazily into his mouth, content to spend the rest of the day wrapped up in his arms and his warmth. But the threat of Taylor, or any other family member, walking in at any moment was enough to drag her from his depths and she reluctantly pulled away. "Are we okay...?" she asked, her eyes trailing over his flushed face.

"We're okay..." he amended, his lips finding hers once more, sealing his answer into the heat between them. He pulled her into his arms, Michele resting her heat against his shoulder as she snuggled into his embrace. He reached for the remote and flicked the TV back on, Michele draping her arm over his stomach. They watched TV in silence for a few moments until their closeness became too much for Michele to stand. She slipped her hand beneath his t-shirt, Zac's stomach clenching as her palm smoothed over the taut muscles. Her fingertips danced up to circle one nipple, Zac sighing beneath her gentle attentions. "Mmm...that feels nice, baby..." His throaty voice only managed to encourage her and she raised her lips to his neck, sucking gently and tracing her tongue along the curve of his jaw. He turned his mouth to hers, his tongue instantly plundering it's warm depths as her hand drifted back down his stomach, resting just above the waistband of his sweat pants. "I miss your touch..." he breathed, nipping at her lips.

"Mmm...I miss you, too..." she whispered, allowing him a quick taste of her tongue before raising to her knees and swinging one across his thighs, settling herself to straddle his lap. His hands immediately went beneath her shirt at the small of her back as her mouth covered his, her fingers tangling in the hair behind his neck. His lips melded hotly into hers, their tongues swirling fiercely as his hands drifted down to cup her ass, pulling her pelvis to grind into his. "I need you, Zac...God, I need you so much..." she groaned above his mouth, her tongue snaking out to draw an indulgent lick against his bottom lip.

"Mmm..." he moaned, his hands sliding down her thighs, warming the skin left bare by her shorts. "This weekend..." he mumbled, his lips distracted by the attentions of hers. "...there's a festival in Oklahoma City..." he swallowed as his voice faltered, weakened by the motions of her hands when she moved them back beneath his shirt. "...Ike was talking about it. We could go..." Michele ground her hips harder against his when his fingers crept underneath the short hem of her shorts. "...and be alone and...stuff..."

Michele smiled against his lips, ready to give in to his offer, when a sudden realization dampened her spirits. She reluctantly pulled away, Zac sucking on her bottom lip as she separated her mouth from his. "I can't go this weekend," she said, frowning when she saw the excitement slip from his eyes. "I've got to go back to Atlanta to finish up some stuff about the transfer..."

"Damn," he cursed, his disappointment obvious.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, touching her lips to his in consolation. She couldn't hide her own disappointment and the torch of desire that flashed through her when she saw the lust in his eyes. Butterflies swarmed in her stomach when her eyes lit up with another idea. "Maybe you could come with me...?"

"Really?" he swallowed, his voice hopeful and doubtful at the same time, Michele not oblivious to the shred of fear she saw pass through his eyes.

"Yeah..." she whispered, biting her lower lip, unable to keep the coyness from seeping into her voice. She grinned when she saw Zac's cheeks burn with the makings of a blush. "So, what do you say...?" she said, trailing her fingertips lightly over his lips, her eyes pleadingly searching his. "Come with me...?"

"Yeah..." he smiled slowly, Michele grinning when his lips reaching up to hers, capturing them between his own.

--

Michele gently squeezed Zac's hand as her eyes flitted over the illuminated numbers in the elevators, her heart jumping farther into her throat each time the red light signaled another floor had been reached. Zac squeezed back reassuringly, but Michele was sure he was feeling the same sense of anxiousness that she was. It had begun the instant their plane had touched down in Atlanta and had been building ever since. The prospect of spending the entire weekend alone with him, in a city far enough away to discount any distractions, was both exhilarating and overwhelmingly frightening at the same time. She'd long ago come to the conclusion that she and Zac would be intimate, but now that the situation was seemingly perfect for the occasion, she had to admit that she was more nervous than excited. Her mind kept swirling with images of Taylor and remembrances of how sex had all but ruined their relationship. And she knew if push came to shove, she'd much rather remain Zac's friend than become his lover.

But that didn't stop the heated tingles that began where their hands were clasped and spread throughout her entire body, igniting a passion she could barely remember ever feeling before. That didn't stop the realization that one touch of his lips to hers might send her body into a frenzy she'd never be able to control. That didn't stop the knowledge that she loved him more than she'd ever loved anything and the insatiable need to prove it.

Her heart fell into her stomach when the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival on the penthouse floor. She and Zac each grabbed their respective bags from their resting place at their feet and exited the elevator, making their way down the hall. Zac took Michele's bag as she fumbled around in her purse for her key, inserting it in the lock once she'd found the correct one. Michele smiled as she stepped into her apartment, the cool air tinged with the slightest hint of jasmine providing a warm sense of familiarity.

"Just leave those here," she gestured to Zac. "I'm too tired to even think about unpacking right now." Zac obliged, the luggage hitting the foyer floor in a series of thumps, as Michele made her way into the kitchen. Zac followed, his eyes roaming around the room, taking in his surroundings, thinking that the apartment looked unmistakably like Michele.

"You want something to drink?" Michele asked, kicking off her shoes before swinging the refrigerator door open, Zac admiring the view as she bent over to peruse it's contents. She popped back up before he could answer, holding two wine coolers between her fingers. He accepted one with raised eyebrows, Michele grinning as she twisted the top on hers.

"Oh, now I see why you invited me..." he teased, unscrewing the cap from his drink. "You're just trying to corrupt me."

"Gonna do my best..." she grinned, her lips lingering just above the rim of her bottle, her eyes flitting sexily over the length of his body.

"Can't wait," he countered, his voice dropping as it became laden with lust. His eyes met hers, glistening with images and thoughts too delicate to be expressed with words. He knew words didn't exist that could parallel the desire he felt for her at that very moment. And the mere thought of the implications of spending a night alone with her away from home was enough to elicit a familiar tightening in his jeans. But as he stood there, their eyes relaying previously unspoken intentions, the reality of the situation kicked in and he became overwhelmed with insecurity. He saw the playful flirtiness drop from Michele's eyes as well and a nervous tension enveloped the room, heightened by an all-consuming desire.

"So, what do you wanna do for supper?" Michele asked, hastily turning away from his steely gaze. She braced her hands on the counter, taking a few composing breaths before moving to sift through the pantry.

"Dunno," he called as he made his way back into the living room, slightly surprised when he realized how weak his knees actually felt. "...but I'm starved." He relieved his shaky legs by sinking down into the sofa, a light blue sheet of paper catching his eye as he placed his drink on the coffee table. "Hey, your cousin's name is Amanda, right?"

"Yeah," Michele called, her voice muffled from her position behind the pantry doors. "Why?"

"Cause she left a note..." he said, picking himself off the couch and handing the paper to Michele once she'd turned around. He watched as her eyes drifted over the short note, going back to read the sloppily scrawled words more than once. "Something wrong...?"

"No...no..." she nodded, swallowing around the sudden lump that had formed in her throat. "Looks like she's not gonna be home tonight..." Her eyes raised slowly to his, that unspoken connection rising to the surface once again. Michele also felt her apprehension start to build again. Her only consolation had been the thought that Amanda would be there for the night. That little piece of knowledge had been enough to keep most of her fears at bay, but now that her proverbial conscience was out of the picture, she felt the nervousness begin to creep in. And apparently so had Zac. She could see the indecision in his eyes, sparkling within a mixture of desire and lust. She felt her pulse begin to rise as their eyes remained locked, her body beginning to fairly ache for the touch of his. She had the sudden urge to push him to the floor and crawl atop him, letting her mouth and her body close over his until she couldn't manage to take his perfection any longer. But that tiny amount of fear sitting in the bottom of her stomach kept her feet planted to the spot. "...and, um..." she visibly shook her head, erasing their connection. "...she left Chinese in the oven. Is that okay...?"

He nodded as their eyes met again, threatening to melt Michele's resolve into a puddle at her feet. "It's fine..." he whispered, his voice trailing into the oblivion he felt his emotions drifting into.

"Are you ready to eat now?" she asked, her heart pounding so heavily she was sure he was able to hear it.

"Yeah," he swallowed. "I'm ready."

--

The Chinese dinner Amanda had so graciously provided was consumed in complete and utter silence. Michele and Zac sat on opposite sides of the glass coffee table in the living room, their eyes barely meeting. A tension hung between them that neither could explain, a heaviness that their relationship had never before experienced and it left a knot in the pit of Michele's stomach. But she had to admit she knew the origin of the tension. She could feel it in the tingles that were bubbling in her belly and see it in the way Zac continuously shifted in his seat, attempting to hide his growing discomfort. She tried to keep her mind off the event that she half-feared and half-anticipated would occur later that night. But the heat she could practically feel radiating from his body made that feat nearly impossible.

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, by the ringing of the telephone. She picked the cordless from it's position on the couch and answered, initiating a brief conversation with Amanda, who was on the other end. Zac finally found the courage to raise his eyes to her once she was sufficiently distracted by the phone call. He couldn't get over how different she seemed to him all of a sudden: how her eyes seemed to be bluer and her face happier than he'd ever seen her. But most of all he couldn't fathom the immense proportion of love he suddenly felt. It seemed to be seeping from his every pore, dying to express itself to her. The emotion welled up into a lump in his throat and a wetness behind his eyes he had to hastily blink away.

"So.." he coughed, once she'd hung up the phone, trying to divert her attention from any moisture that might have been shining in his eyes. "You have to work tomorrow?"

"Yeah," she said, taking a sip of her drink, glad some of the tension was beginning to melt away. "I'll probably go in around 9 and work till about 2 maybe."

Zac nodded, his gaze still not courageous enough to meet hers. "So, I'll just hang out here...if that's okay...?"

"Yeah, of course," she said, their eyes meeting for less than seconds. "Just make yourself at home. There's piles of stuff in the fridge and my computer's in my room if you wanna do that..." she trailed off, inwardly cursing as the weirdness crept back in. "I guess we should get this stuff cleaned up..." she said, standing and gathering some of the empty cartons and plates.

"Here...let me help..." he stood and helped her carry the things into the kitchen. They silently moved about, disposing of the trash and lightly brushing elbows as they rinsed off the few dishes they'd used. She wordlessly instructed Zac where to put the plates after he'd dried them and she busied herself preparing a pitcher of iced tea. They finished their duties simultaneously and turned to each to her, Michele slowly wiping her hands on the back of her jeans as they stood facing each other in the kitchen.

Michele's eyes flitted over to the short hallway that led to her bedroom. "I'm..um..gonna go get ready for bed..." His voice caught her as she started to turn.

"Should I sleep on the couch...?"

She turned to him, her eyes fully meeting his for the first time that night, the words spilling from her lips before she even had time to register them. "You don't have to..." she swallowed. "...you can stay in my room..."

"Are you sure...?" he asked, Michele shivering at the ragged breath he released.

"Yeah..." she breathed, even though she was anything but. She couldn't remember a time when she'd felt so nervous in Zac's presence; so intimidated and exhilarated. Because she knew that once they made their way into the bedroom, he'd politely ask to sleep on the floor and she'd say there was plenty of room on the bed and mention that they'd slept together tons of time, even though her mind kept screaming that sleeping with him now entailed something entirely different than it did a mere six months ago.

But still, she hit the light switch, dousing the room in a darkness broken only by the moonlight streaming through the living room window. Her eyes beckoned before she turned around, her heart clenching until she heard his footsteps behind her. He stood in the open threshold of the door, waiting as she felt around in the darkness, the flick of a lamp bathing the room in a soft yellow glow.

"Nice room..." he whispered, his eyes adjusting to the semi-darkness as he glanced about at her furnishings. He felt somewhat comforted by being in this room, knowing that Taylor had never had that experience. He couldn't help but recall the sinking feeling he got every time he stepped foot into her room at home, knowing that it was the very same room - the very same bed - where she'd been with his brother. But standing here in this lavish room that seemed so perfectly 'Michele', this room that had been untouched by the essence Taylor seems to leave wherever he goes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride that she'd invited *him* in.

"Thanks..." she whispered, not daring to disturb the sereneness of the moment. "You want the shower...?" she gestured behind her to the adjoining bathroom.

"I think I'll just wait till morning..." he jammed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "...I'm kinda beat."

"Yeah, me, too..." she said, wringing her hands nervously. She chewed on her bottom lip as they stood tensely, each silently waiting for the other to make the first move. Michele halfheartedly contemplated reconsidering and telling Zac he probably should sleep on the couch. Zac fought with his inner emotions, trying desperately to keep from crushing his lips to hers and finally letting all of his love and need for her come spilling out. He felt the blood rushing back into his groin and was suddenly thankful the room was mostly dark.

"Um...I'm gonna go get my stuff..." he thumbed towards the door, referring to the bags they'd dropped in the foyer. After he slipped from her bedroom, Michele headed into the bathroom, meeting her reflection in the mirror with a long, heavy sigh. She ran her hands through her hair before washing her face, the water cooling her suddenly flushed skin. She quickly stripped from her t-shirt and jeans, sliding a cool pink gown over her warm skin, suddenly becoming aware of how aroused and needy she actually was. She knew that lately Zac's mere voice was able to elicit such a reaction, but the fact that the feelings were present on a night when they might actually be brought to fruition thrilled her and scared her more than she could've ever imagined.

Her pulse suddenly sped up when she heard him reenter the bedroom, the door clicking shut softly behind him. She turned around when he appeared at the bathroom door, wearing only his boxers, his eyes glistening with that familiar need she'd grown to crave from him. His eyes held hers, relaying weeks worth of pent up emotions, fears, and desires. He realized he wanted to be with her more than he could fathom; so much he could feel the need burning hotly through his veins.

"I need you so much, baby..." he breathed, his breath falling hotly into the space between them. Michele went to him, driven by blind desire, her arms circling tightly around his neck. He sucked in a deep breath as he wrapped his arms beneath her shoulder blades, pulling her body desperately into his.

"God...I need you, too..." she breathed against the sweaty skin of his neck, her lips trailing up until they found his. His mouth covered hers, devouring in the way only he could - desperate and tender at the same time. Michele groaned into his mouth as his hands traveled the length of her back, warming her skin beneath her gown. She drew her own hands along his shoulders, reveling in the soft feel of his skin and the pressure of his taut muscles as he tightened his arms around her.

Zac trailed his lips to the crook of her neck, allowing himself to pull her ever closer to his body, wanting to soak up her warmth and relish in the softness of the skin he'd been missing for weeks. Michele tangled her hands in his hair, aching to feel him, wanting to drown in him.

"Come on..." she whispered at his ear, her hands sliding down his bare chest once they'd separated. She felt tears prickle behind her eyes as their eyes met, each laden with a mixture of desire and love.

His mouth found hers again as they fell into the plushness of her bed, Michele opening to him, desperate for the weight of his body against hers. He rested atop her, their lips dancing in a languid kiss that was dying to become ardent. Michele finally released all the emotion she'd been holding back all night, letting it pour into his mouth as they kissed, enticing him to draw closer, to give everything to her as she gave everything to him. Zac groaned as she tightened herself against him, the desire to take things further lingering just beneath the surface.

Michele steepled her knees at his sides as she shifted beneath him, working their way beneath the down comforter and cool cotton sheets. Zac closed his mind to the fears and apprehensions that had been plaguing him and just concentrated on the feel of her beneath him - the feel of this woman that was opening herself up to him in a way no one had, this woman that he loved so inexplicably and so completely. He gently separated his lips from hers, letting his mouth suckle down her throat into the deep V of her gown, his teeth gently nipping at the sensitive skin between her breasts. Michele tangled her fingers through his hair as he cupped his palm beneath one breast, his mouth finding it's center and sucking until she responded to his liking. His mouth then traveled to the other, his tongue singeing her sensitive skin even through the flimsy fabric of her gown. Michele tightened her knees at his ribs when he brought his mouth back to the salty skin beneath her jaw, his breath hot beneath her ear. "I love you, Michele..." he whispered, his lips quivering against her racing pulse.

"God, Zac...I love you, too..." she choked, her arms enclosing around his neck, her eyes prickling with tears. She felt a surge of emotion building in her belly, traveling up and blossoming into a fierce heat that spread through her entire body. She ached for the feel of him, for the desire she could feel waiting behind his insistent touch, for the love she felt fairly pouring from his skin.

Zac closed his mouth around hers once more, his need passing to her as their tongues swirled furiously, trying to soak up every ounce of that passion that flowed between them. He felt the burning begin in his groin again and with her warm body so close, he couldn't help but press his pelvis into hers, aching for the part of her that fit to him, needing to quell the desire he feared was building out of control. Michele arched her back when she felt him pulsing against her, his heat scorching her skin even through the layers of fabric that separated them, Zac unable to stop his hips from instinctively grinding against hers. "I can't hide it, baby..." he whimpered against her lips, his length pressing hotly into her stomach.

"Don't..." she breathed, her voice weakened by his weight and his heat. "I don't want you to....I want to feel you, Zac..."

"Oh...God..." he groaned, his resolve shattered by her breathy words and her hands roving to his hips to pull him into her. His mouth fell into the hollow of her throat, his eyes rolling back in his head as she tightened herself against him, her hips moving in insanely torturous circles. She drew her hands along his sweaty back, desperate to pull him ever closer. He felt her swallow thickly against his lips and he kissed his way up the underside of her throat, licking his lips as his eyes found hers, searching for the approval he could already feel in her touch. "Do you want to...?"

Michele wasn't blind to the trace of fear she heard shivering through his breathy voice, so she nodded gently, her heavy gaze never leaving his.

"Are you sure..." his voice faltered as the first remnants of realization began to set in, his heart forcing a faster rhythm in order to keep up with the blood that was rushing so hotly into the most sensitive parts of his body.

"I'm sure..." she breathed, raising her lips to hers in a kiss so gently sweet he thought he would die from it's perfection, but so hot and passion-filled he feared he'd barely be able to control the pressure straining against his boxers. His mouth accepted hers and then thoroughly claimed it as his own, his hands roving down to where the short hem of her gown rested at her hips. She felt her breath go ragged as his trembling hands slid along her stomach, pushing the gown into a bunch below her breasts.

"Lift up..." he whispered, raising to his knees as his fingers delicately grasped the edges of her gown. She raised her back off the bed, her eyes fluttering when the silky material whisked gently over her head. His eyes washed over her as she feel back to the bed, her hair fanning out behind her, her chest heaving with ragged breath. His fingertips grazed over the hard peaks of her breasts, his gaze never leaving hers until his mouth dipped to taste them. Michele bit her lip as he suckled at her, her fingertips gently brushing his hair from his forehead. He raised his eyes to hers, leaving her nipples swollen and aching, his mouth closing down on hers as his hands began their tentative journey across her ribs down to the ridges of her hipbone. Michele felt his fingers flinch when they brushed the lacy fabric of her panties but when she moaned in anticipation, his thumbs bravely hooked in the waistband, tugging gently until she lifted her hips, his hands following the path of the flimsy material as it slid down her legs.

Zac raised on his knees again, his eyes tracing the path of her naked body, dipping in the gentle curves and slopes his body ached to know. Michele licked her lips, one palm reaching to settle in the center of his chest, fingertips drifting down to his navel, tickling at the waistband of his tented boxers. She slipped a crooked finger beneath the elastic, playfully tugging him back down to her. He grinned through the darkness as his mouth found hers, her hands covering his as his boxers were slid off his hips, Zac kicking them off once they slipped to his knees.

Michele gasped into his mouth when she felt his hardness pressing against her lower stomach, her body flooding with desire for him. He rested his body atop hers, his elbows propping beside her shoulders as his mouth continued it's furious battle with hers. Michele slipped her hands down his back, over the contours of his ass, trying to subtly tug him into her. He suddenly broke their kiss, his breath falling in hot gasps against her lips. "What's wrong...?" she gasped, her eyes searching his beneath her furrowed brow, her chest rising against his with each sharp intake of breath.

"I..." he began breathlessly, his lips curling into a smile in spite of himself. "I'm...nervous..."

Michele smiled at the blush that darkened his cheeks, her own eyes lowering as a touch of crimson flushed onto her face. She bit her lower lip, her warm eyes raising to his. "It's okay..." she whispered, her lips touching his when he gently nodded, tiny traces of apprehension still tainting his features. She met his eyes again, holding them steadily to hers as she reached between their bodies, her fingers closing around his hardness. His eyes fluttered when she touched him, the breath leaving his lungs in a shaky gasp when she gently brushed his head against her wetness, guiding him to the part of her that seemed to have been waiting for him all her life.

Zac released a whimpering groan when he slipped fully inside her, her tightness sucking him in, creating a tension and completeness like he'd never known. He buried his face in her neck as he grew accustomed to the feeling, Michele tightening her knees at his ribs when he began to gently rock his pelvis into hers. She felt the fire building each time he pushed into her, heightened by the newfound perfection of his body inside hers for the first time. She felt weakened by the little whimpering grunts he released against her ear every time his hips met hers, her body arching into his, desperate to have all of him.

"I'm gonna cum, baby..." he growled at her ear, Michele groaning at the raspiness of his hot breath against her sweaty skin. She attached her lips to his shoulder, muffling her cry as she tightened herself around him, her body shuddering when she felt his hot seed shoot into her, Zac's quivering body resting damply against hers as he released.

They lay in the darkness, enshrouded in a contented silence marred only by the rasps of their calming breaths. Michele absently sifted her fingers through Zac's hair, her mind and her heart filled with nothing but absolute serenity and the overwhelming thought that this very moment, in this sweaty bedroom in an apartment in downtown Atlanta with the weight of her lover pressing solidly atop her, was where she was meant to be.

Zac's fingertips drew random designs on the sweat-dampened skin of her stomach, his head nestled perfectly between her breasts. His heart surged with memories of the act they'd just completed, the absolution of the love he'd held for her for so long, the love that had lay unbidden in the farthest depths of his heart until tonight. "Michele..." he whispered, the first cool tear slipping over his cheek, singeing her warm skin. "I love you..."

"I love you, too, Zac."

Four months later...

"Zac...stop it..." Michele squealed, ducking behind the hood of her car to escape his threatening water shower. She held a soap-soaked sponge in her left hand waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch it.

"You started it, babe..." he taunted, Michele watching his shadow move about the other side of the car. "You should know better than to mess with me."

Michele rolled her eyes at his cockiness, but couldn't stop her grin. She snuck stealthily to the end of the car, hoping to catch him off guard. She jumped up suddenly, her grin falling when he saw him standing before her, a smirk on his face, the water hose pointed menacingly at her.

"You wouldn't..." she dared, suddenly turning and sprinting towards the house, the stream of water hitting her square in the back. Zac laughed maniacally when she turned around, her white t-shirt clinging to her soaked frame. She halfheartedly threw the sponge at him, Zac easily stepping out of it's path. She playfully sulked, then slowly began backing away when he began advancing on her, hose aimed and ready. ''Zachary!" she screamed, her protest tainted by giggles. He waggled his eyebrows, playfully squirting the hose just lightly enough to keep it from hitting her. Michele retaliated by sticking her tongue out at him and bounding into the house.

Zac grinned and took off after her, dropping the hose at his feet, the nozzle hitting the ground first and dousing him with water. He shook the water droplets from his long hair once he reached the porch, then swung the screen door open, running through the house, cackling like a madman.

His grin grew wider when he found her in the bedroom standing coyly at the foot of the bed, fiddling with the hem of her damp t-shirt. "Oh, I see how you're gonna play..."

Michele grinned and squealed when Zac tackled her, playfully climbing atop her as he pushed her back onto the bed. His mouth dropped onto hers, fusing tightly as he began pulling at her clothes, dropping first her wet t-shirt, then shorts, to the floor. She wrangled her way out from under him, her lips only leaving his briefly to divest him of his t-shirt, Zac kicking off his own shorts and boxers.

Michele lay back on the bed, pulling him between her splayed legs. Zac obliged, but quickly flipped them over, tugging Michele to straddle him. "I won the water war...so you have to be on top..." he explained with a cheeky grin when she looked at him strangely.

"What!?" she exclaimed. "What kind of logic is that?"

"Zac-logic..." he countered, pressing his straining erection against her stomach.

"Oh really?" she smirked, wiping the cheeky grin from his face when she fit herself over him, sinking slowly down onto his hardness. She dropped her head back and sighed, Zac releasing a shuddering groan as he filled her to the hilt. His hands went to her hips, guiding them to move against his in deliberate circles that nearly pushed him to the brink. Michele clasped her hands with his, interlacing their fingers to steady herself as she began to lift herself up and down his length. His hips bucked up to meet hers, Michele's furious pumping and contracting driving him to a fierce release.

She collapsed her sweaty body atop his, draping her limbs over him as he slipped from her folds. He kissed her forehead, his pants finally reducing to contented sighs. Michele closed her eyes against his chest, her lips curling at the sense of complete satiation making love to Zac always seemed to provide.

"I don't ever wanna live without this..." he whispered suddenly, tightening his arm around her. "I don't wanna know what it feels like to be without you..."

"I'm not going anywhere, baby..." she said, placing a tender kiss in the center of his chest.

"I know..." he swallowed thickly. "...but I am..."

"What...?" Michele raised her eyes to his, her brow furrowing at the look of distress tainting his features. "What do you mean...?"

"We were talking last night...me and Ike and Tay..." he said, his heart beginning to constrict in his throat. "...next month we're gonna start working on the new record...in LA..."

Michele's eyes instantly began to glisten with tears, her heart aching at the thought of spending months without him. "I...I..." she trailed off when she felt her chin begin to quiver, Zac's stomach clenching at the hurt in her eyes.

"Come with me...?" he suggested, Michele's surprised eyes raising to his.

"What...?" she asked, a tear rolling over her flushed cheek, Zac's fingertips delicately moving to swipe it away.

"I love you, Michele and I don't wanna lose you again..." he said, his voice choking with emotion as their heavy gazes met. "Come to LA with me."

The End