Chapter 6
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Ally�s POV I groaned as a pounding head-ache infiltrated my slumber clogged mind. Cautiously, I cracked open one eyelid and squinted briefly at my surroundings. White walls, filmy white drapes, a balcony and no snow� I wasn�t at home� Where was I and what had I done last night? That question acquired a whole new dimension when I realized there was an arm draped over my waist. Shit! I screwed my eyes shut again and attempted to remember something � anything! I decided to start with the easier facts. Name� Allison Monroe. 23 years old. In� Mexico! Right. Came with Dominic. Sleeping with either a stranger� or with Dominic. Which would be worse? I was attempting to slip out of the protective embrace without waking the man behind me and thus avoid my last question when I heard a startled gasp. The arm jerked off of me and a shock voice whispered, �Allison? What did we do last night?� I knew that accent. Oh, double shit. Still refusing to look at him, I mumbled my response to the floorboards, �I don�t remember.� It was true. All I really knew was I had one hell of a hangover and from what I could see from my position on the couch, my clothes were scattered all over the living room. This was not good. Not only had totally blown my plan to slowly seduce my partner, but I couldn�t even remember doing so! What a waste of a good seduction�. Now, all I could do was wait to see how he�d react. I didn�t have to wait long. It only took Dominic seconds to gather his thoughts enough to leap to his feet and disappear. Well, apparently he wasn�t as receptive to my advances as I�d hoped. I sat up slowly, trying to keep my head from spinning and my stomach from rebelling. I gathered up my clothes and retreated to my own bedroom. Yet another man I�d succeeded in driving away. This was really starting to hurt my ego. Of course, this man I could track down and kill� Dominic finally caught up to me at the buffet table, where I was stuffing myself with every single item that appeared on the restricted diet list Elizaveta had given me. Despite the awkwardness, we managed to get a conversation going over our food. It wasn�t pleasant, and it wasn�t easy, and there were uncomfortable silences on both sides, but we did it. Eventually I realized I could eat no more and I would have to confront Dominic about our plans for the day. I didn�t want to spend it alone, and was totally willing to forget about revenge for awhile, if it meant he�d agree to join me. �So, are you planning on hitting the beach again this morning?� I asked Dominic hesitantly, hoping that he�d say no. As much as I enjoy tanning, there were other things in Mexico I�d like to experience in the four days of vacation that remained. I didn�t really expect Nick to agree � the man was practically fish-like in his love of water � but what he did say shocked the hell out of me. �Actually,� he muttered, looking sheepish, �I�d like to go shopping.� Whoopee! Best idea he�d come up with yet� but voluntarily being dragged through malls was not normal behaviour for Dominic. I wondered briefly if he felt guilty about what had happened between us. It was more my fault of course, since not only had I chosen the game, but I�d planned the whole trip in the hopes of seducing him. However, if these were the results of Nick�s little guilt trip, I wasn�t about to listen to my conscience and assure him that he wasn�t to blame- especially after his eagerness to escape this morning. I didn�t want to push my luck but I could resist asking, �Why do you suddenly want to go shopping? You NEVER come with me.� �Well� I need to buy a bathing suit.� �What? Why?� �I didn�t exactly bring one.� He hedged. My curiosity piqued, I pressed further, �What did you wear to go swimming yesterday?� �Boxers. So now I�ve run out of those.� How did I not notice that during my viewing session on the beach yesterday? Although, all things considered, I was probably staring more at what was uncovered�. Obviously getting impatient with the dreamy expression on my face, Dominic interrupted my happy thoughts with a terse, �So do you want to come with me or not?� �What kind of question is that? Do you seriously think I could spend an entire week in a foreign country without going shopping? How long have we known each other?� �In days, months, or years?� I threw my hands up in exasperation but Nick continued undaunted, �2920 days, 96 months, or 8 years.� I couldn�t help but giggle that he was able to come up with that answer so quickly, although he�d always been better at math than me. �Actually,� Dominic mused, �I don�t think you can spend an entire week in any country � foreign or not�� �Alright! You win!� I capitulated, though I couldn�t resist adding a rebellious, �You kiwi,� under my breath. Nick�s POV The instant we arrived at the gift shops in the hotel foyer, Ally made a bee-line for the bathing suits and began snatching up whatever caught her interest. By the time I caught up, she already had a mountainous pile clasped tightly to her chest. It only took me a minute to find what I was looking for, a plain, navy-blue pair of swimming trunks. I turned towards the fitting rooms with the intent of trying them on. Catching my movement, Allison pounced, thrusting a pile of brightly coloured fabrics at me. �Try these on while you�re in there.� Seeing that I was ready to protest, she played her trump card, �After what happened last night, you owe me that much.� A wave of guilt flooded my response and I meekly took the pile of suits into the change room. I randomly grabbed a suit from the middle of the mound and pulled it on. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I realized that despite her assurances to the contrary, my partner was furious � and seeking revenge. The trunks I was wearing sported a leopard print. �Dominic,� my evil partner called sweetly, �How are you doing in there?� �Fine.� I ground out, refusing to give her the satisfaction of knowing she�d gotten to me. In fact� �Do you want to see them?� A brief silence followed my question, proving I�d thrown her off balance. �I do indeed!� she responded, a faked excitement almost covering the surprise in her voice. I opened the door, turned slowly and closed it again ignoring Ally�s comments. I knew for a fact she didn�t like the suit � her opinion of leopard prints is no better than mine. We�d dealt with four or five suits in that manner � all garish colours or patterns � and my comfort level was beginning to increase slightly. At least, it was until I pulled on one of Ally�s final picks and it dawned on me that I could feel more air than in the previous cases. I stared down and let out a gasp of horror. I was wearing a Speedo. And not just a regular Speedo, this was cut high on the legs, narrow at the back, and it was BRIGHT PINK! �Dominic?� Ally called, �What�s taking so long?� �This is not a bathing suit Allison! There isn�t enough material here to pass as a handkerchief!� �Are you wearing the black one?� �No.� I swallowed my nervousness. There was another one like this? �Ah, the pink suit!� My silence was enough to confirm her guess. �Let me see!� �No!� �I�ve see you wearing less than that Dominic. Stop being such a wimp!� I remained silent. Ally might have been right, but I wasn�t about to admit it. A slight scuffle overhead drew my gaze and I jumped a foot as Ally�s grinning face came into view over the side of the stall. �Allison!� I protested, backing into a corner in the hopes of limiting her view (I don�t think it helped much, as her smile only brightened). �Go away!� �But I�m enjoying the view,� She replied, pouting. I picked up my shoe and threw it at her. She ducked quickly, but reappeared once it had flown over her head. I chucked the other shoe and this time the face did not pop back up (a very good thing, as I had run out of ammunition). I took the opportunity to put my clothes back on and escape. As I left the fitting room, still blushing, Ally stepped passed me into the now vacant stall. I raised a questioning eyebrow as she turned to close the door and she responded to my silent query with two words that should have warned me, �My turn.� Her voice continued to echo from behind the door, �I�d really appreciate it if you would help me choose a new suit. If I�m left on my own it�ll probably take me all afternoon to decide.� As the door opened, I abruptly collapsed into a chair. This was the sight I�d been hoping for yesterday � lots and lots (and lots) of skin. Hmmm� making intelligent comments was likely to become difficult. �I like the pattern� �Love the non-existent back!� �Nice colour!� I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable as the size of the bathing suits on which I was to comment shrank. Shifting nervously in my chair, I crossed my legs and cursed under my breath. Why hadn�t I thought to wear looser shorts? I saw bathing suits of every colour and design. The string bikinis were the worst, but I was actually able to form a response, albeit a slightly strangled one. The bathing suit that did finally strike me speechless wasn�t the most revealing by any means. It was a delicate two-piece and in shape reminded me of the out-fit the little-mermaid wore (well, with a bikini bottom in place of the tale). The colour was a sorta brownish-gold and it made Ally�s hair and eyes shine even more brightly than usual. I did make an effort to speak, but after several seconds of listening to me sputter incomprehensibly, she interrupted with a decisive, �This one it is then.� As we approached the check out with our purchases - me carrying my original navy trunks and Allison her maize, sea-shell cut bikini (as she�d informed me when I was unable to describe it to her satisfaction) � my cell phone started� well ringing I suppose. It certainly didn�t sound the same as it had the last time someone called me. It wasn�t even close. In fact, I had the sinking feeling that the music which had replaced my ring sounded very familiar. I looked up at Ally with a panicked expression on my face. �You didn�t.� Ally grinned at me, �I did.� �But you know how tired I am of that music!� I continued, desperately hoping this was some sick dream. �I don�t see how you can tire of something so wonderful/� �We�ve been skating to kit for almost three years! I never want to hear it again!� �Hmmm�. I suppose you did throw that costume into Lake Ontario� but I thought that it was just because you didn�t like the colour. And,� she added as a side-note, �You shouldn�t refuse to answer your phone just because you have a thing against Riverdance.� I blinked. I�d almost forgotten. At least it was still ringing� �Hello?� �Dominic!� crowed my coach in her recognizable Russian accent. �I have been trying to call you all day! I suppose you have been working very hard. How goes the training camp?� I wondered away from the cashier�s desk in the hopes of finding somewhere slightly quieter. It sounded like Elizaveta said training camp and that simply couldn�t be right� �Training camp?� �Yes, of course. That is were you are, is it not?� Oh, well that explained how Ally had convinced Elizaveta Karkova to give us a week off. �It�s going extremely well. I feel like I�m really making progress.� �You are doing much exercise?� �Absolutely. We spent all yesterday working on strength and endurance exercises in the water.� �Good. Be sure not to neglect balance. Ocean training is very useful for balance.� �Yes Elizaveta,� I replied meekly. �And is Allison sticking to her diet? She is not to have anything that is more than 20% fat and she is supposed to limit her carbohydrates.� �I think she�s staying on track.� �Under no circumstances may she eat noodles. There is no goodness in noodles but it seems that whenever I take my eyes off her�� I knew that Ally had eaten shrimp linguini last night, but despite everything that had happened, I didn�t want to get her in trouble. On the other hand, I didn�t like to lie to our coach. �She hasn�t ordered any noodles.� It was true. I�d ordered them and then she�d stolen them. �Alright then, I shall let you get back to your training. I am sure you are working very hard.� I covered a laugh with a cough. Ally�s POV It was too perfect an opportunity to waste. As Dominic wondered off with his phone, I turned back to the cashier who was in the process of ringing up our purchases. The sight of Nick�s navy trunks lying unguarded gave me an idea. Unable to resist the temptation, I checked to make sure that my partner was still out of sight and then dashed back to the fitting room to grab Nick�s favourite suit � the bright pink Speedo. Upon return, I smiled sweetly at the cashier and asked in my most winsome voice if he�d help me wit a little project. When he agreed, I revealed my devious plan. The young man did try briefly to get out of our deal, protesting that it was against resort policy to make the guest�s lives hell. I assured him that he would be left totally out of it. If he didn�t cooperate, a certain guest would be making his life hell. Besides, the only person Nick would be angry at was me, and that was just how I wanted it.
