On My Knees 3 HEARTS OF STONE Conversation during lunch was light and between them they tried to steer Rita to hold the point of interest upon Moirah, after all, it was supposedly an interview of Moirah. Not long after Rita fauned over the pretty cake made 'in her honor' they bid her a farewell with friendly hugs all around. Rita drew Moirah to her one last time. "You keep that one, he's a gem!" She ordered, then kissed Moirah's cheek and was gone, speeding off in a little lime toned hatch-back that just screamed 'Rita.' Zac and Moirah cleared the table as Ramone began to load the dishwasher, all were enjoying the quiet afternoon as strains of Bach wafted from the stereo speakers. Ramone soon excused himself and went back to work. Moirah washed her cake decorating tools, setting them out to air dry as Zac flipped through the extensive music collection. She had stuff even he didn't know who they were. He was reading the back of a vinyl album when she came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, laying her head in the center of his back. She sighed in contentment when his fingers traced hers before lacing together. "You have an amazing collection. I'm jealous. Wait til I tell Tay. He's gonna throw a tantrum." His deep voice rumbled against her cheek. The vibrations tickling her. She slid her body to stand next to him without breaking their cherished bond. She tipped the album down with a finger on the corner to see what it was. "He can borrow anything he wants, I even have some doubles, maybe we can trade some stuff." She offered sweetly. "Mmhmm." He answered as he replaced the album, distracted by her intoxicating perfume. He was having difficulty keeping his mind occupied with thoughts other than ravaging her body in heated sexual bliss. Whenever she was near him his heart leapt to his mouth and tried its best to crawl out and dance for joy. His body had automated responses to her presence, he couldn't help himself. He was powerless to stop it. He spun around quickly and captured her lips in a kiss that rivaled the heat of the sun. They broke apart, leaving her next to breathless and his own chest was heaving, eyes dark with lust. She saw his burning desire, making her heart pound against her ribs. His mouth advanced on her again, her knees weakened and she stumbled backward. He pressed her up against the wall behind, holding her up with the pressure of his pelvis against her body. She moaned into his mouth. Her hands sunk into the thick luxury of his hair, desperately trying to swallow him whole. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and stroked it like a cock. A moaning growl erupted from him, he reached down to the back of her thy, lifting her leg to wrap around his hip. He ground his hardness against her hot center. Her hips bucked against him with want, the stiff denim of her jeans rubbing her clit to tortureous delight. She tore her mouth from his, biting at his neck and sucking on his adams apple. His hips rocked against her harder as he began to moan. She could feel the tension of his body as she gripped his biceps, the vibrations of his moaning making her lips tingle on his throat. She could feel the heated hardness of his cock, the tip running over her throbbing nub, the only thing between them two layers of hot wet denim. Pleasure began to curl through her like a whisp of smoke, taking over her body, numbing her mind. His body stiffened against her in spasming convultions, she knew he was cumming, it made her tumble over the edge that much faster. "Ohhh Zac..." She sighed against the dampened skin of his neck, tucking her nose up under his ear. He slumped against her, his heavy body barely able to stand. Her leg sliding down the back of his leg as he let go, running his hand over her hip and gripping her waist. "Jesus Moirah, I loose all control when I'm near you." He admitted, quietly whispering into her hair. He could feel her smile press against his flesh, her face burried under the fall of his hair. "Why would you want to control youself Zac when loosing your grip can feel this good?" She asked in a soft tone. He smiled, pulling himself up to his full height, capturing her eyes with his own. "You're amazing!" He exclaimed as he looked down upon her, satiated face, eyes at half mast. His heart swelled knowing it was he that created that look of pleasure that painted her face. He could hear the enterence of Ramone from the other side of the studio. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as he sighed for the interuption. Then he felt the sticky wetness and looked down to the incriminating wet spot on his crotch. His eyes caught hers and she was already one step ahead of him as she loosened her grasp on him cocking her head in the direction of the bathroom. He grinned sheepishly at her, stooping to kiss her quickly as he let her go, strode to his bag parked on a stool, and to the bathroom. He turned as he was closing the door, Moirah was straightening her hair and clothes as Ramone approached her with a clipboard and pen in hand. That was a close call, but at least this time Ramone's lousy timing was a bit off kilter and he had had the oppurtunity to enjoy a moment with her and share an intimacy they hadn't yet experienced before. He rummaged his bag and came up with a pair of shorts, blessed be the day last week that his mother reminded him to take a pair when he was rollerblading. He stripped out of his soiled clothes and noted that he would look pretty stupid in a long sleeve button up shirt with shorts. So he took that off too leaving him in a white wife beater. He hoisted the shorts up over his hips and tucked himself in, zipping carefully so as not to to do any damage. That was one of the drawbacks of no underware. Bobbing his head to the music now cranking on the stereo, he slipped his shoes back on and splashed some water on his face and neck. Trying his best to cool his heated skin, that little trist out there got him overheated. He pulled his hair back into a long tail then decided to braid it instead to keep it off the back of his neck even more. After chucking the evidence into the bottom of his bag he stepped out into cooler air. Moirah wasn't in sight but Led Zeppelin was thudding away, pounding the shit out of the speakers making it impossible to call out to her. He threw his bag into the corner next to the door where the car was parked and went in search of her. He wandered among the maze of her studio. Half finnished sculptures, tables laden with paints, canvases stacked in twenty-deep rows. Mysterious shapes drapped with tarps and odd, large size, tools and equipment. As he neared the huge bay of double doors that stood open now, he could hear a resounding ring of metal on metal that co-insided with the heavy thump of bass emenating from the speakers. It was as if it were a part of the song but seperate in regalness. He slipped his shades on as he entered the large yard of the 'stone city.' He followed the ringing thud with his ears. His eyes decided to play tricks on him when he found the source of the commotion. They had to lieing to his brain. The scene before him was nearly too much to bear. When the next thunderclap sounded he realized that this was all too real. This *was* what was happening. He wanted to melt into a puddle from the sight of her. She was breathtaking! His eyes followed the curve of her spine and length of her leg stretched below her. His gaze caressed her supple neck glistening with her efforts, and how her hair stuck to it in haphazzard strands. He watched the arc and fall of her arm as her hands met, tool to tool, chips of stone flying up and powderfine debris clinging to her exposed chest and shoulders. The power those tiny hands weilded! He could feel the familiar tightening in his shorts as he watched her work. He never knew art could be so sexually arousing, maybe it was just because Moirah was a sensual person, or he was just constantly horny... any way he looked at it, he had to do something to get his mind off of satisfying his prick again before he did something rash in front of Ramone. He forced his eyes to tear away from her bare legs and firm ass clad in denim shorts as she stretched atop a small step ladder to reach the top of the stone she was working on. Wandering back to the garden seemed to help some. He figured he would let her work, and he would do some work himself. He slipped into the studio and grabbed up a sketch pad and a stray pen. Plopped himself in the shade of a large stone edifice. He then began to scribble away at some lyrics that floated, disconnected, through his head. His focus of concentration shifted enough and seemed to do the trick. Still, every poetic line he uttered had images of Moirah laced through his thoughts. He decided that wasn't such a bad thing after all and resolved that his previous potentially embarrassing moment could be chalked up to him not being prepared with the vision of lovelyness he had beheld. She was always beautiful to Zac, but as she was consumed in her passion, she was a goddess. What man could have resisted that? His inspiration running thin with lack of instrument to put his fingers to work and keep his momentum going, he gave up the ghost and let his body be pulled back towards her that had captured him in forceful worship. He steeled himself as he drew closer to her, preparing himself to withstand the emotions that would flood over him when he lay eyes on her again. He couldn't stay away from her, his mind was always running over possibilities of how he could be near her more. Arms folded across his broad chest he stood with his hip slung to the side, foot tapping to the heavy beat of the screaming music of Skid Row. He watched her. How she bent to shave a ragged corner with a deft swing of hammer on chisel. How she stretched to etch a line deeper into a crevase. How her eyes would squint and he knew she could see only her vision and not what was physically before her. He watched her imerse herself in her passion. It was almost as if he were watching her in the throes of passionate lovemaking. His whole body and mind ached for that woman. It forced his mind to race... race to find a way to be near her for longer. He did not want to leave her tomarrow and return home, alone, half a man. Her next fall of hammer rang through his head and struck at the foggy haze, shattering it and leaving the brilliant cut gem of an idea. An idea so delicious, he nearly cried out 'eureka!'... but refrained. Every muscle jumped and made him squirm as he watched her, he couldn't wait to propose his idea to her. He knew she would approve, now if only she could pull it off, that was his only worry. He so much wanted this, needed it. Over the next hour she worked tirelessly in the hot sun. Sweat poured over her face and left her hair in sticky avenues. Her wetted back embraced her tank top and in the front, on occasion, he could glimpse a darkened nipple through the white fabric left nearly sheer from her exertion. The sheen of slick perspiration made her lightly tanned arms and legs gleam like polished silver. Her damp face smeared and streaked with grime held an inner glow. But her hands mesmerized him. How she held her tools, like a master, but with an ethereal grace. It was as if it were an impossibility, this slight woman with the delicate features and diminutive bone structure, she held a hidden strength, a power that burst forth like a mighty warrior on a surprize attack. She didn't look like a sculpter, certainly not the kind that swung a hammer so mightily to cast a mar in the unforgiving surface of stone with a mere chisel. But yet here he was watching her do just that. It held him in awe, everything she did had that effect on him. So captured by her, he hadn't even noticed when the music died away. But his reviere was broken when Ramone stepped up beside the ladder she was perched upon. He tapped her leg with a cordless phone to gain her attention. She downed her tools to look down at the distraction, Zac almost felt a pain of loss when she abandoned them for the phone. He handed it up to her. "Hello?" Her lilting voice sounded. Even after all of that exhaustive physical labor... she sounded as fresh as if she were sitting on a porch in the shade sipping cool ice water. He half listened to her one sided conversation as Ramone walked away to go about his business. Her tone became excited. She sounded positively gleeful. "Thank you! Thank you so much!... I surely will... You too, buh bye now!" And she clicked off the phone. She beamed with happiness, tossing him a ray of pure light in her smile. He stepped forward and held a hand out to help her down from the ladder. "What?" He asked with a lighthearted tone. She jumped off the last step of the ladder and stood on her tip toes to place a peck on his jaw. "I just got backing... major backing! I have a show booked for the fall, and now it's confirmed. Bar natural disaster, the month of november is mine at the gallery we visited." She bubbled. "That's wonderful!" He exclaimed. "Was there ever any doubt? You are only the premier artist of this generation." She shook her head. "That's your biased opinion. I'm sure my other six rejected gallery bids would beg to differ with you." She countered as she laced her fingers with his and began to stride back inside, tools and work forgotten like a summer breeze. "Well they were all idiots." He stated firmly. They stepped back into the studio. She let go his hands to pull the door closed. He followed suit and tended the other door, shutting them firmly. He didn't waste a moment to recapture her hand. "Moirah?" He toned gently. "Mmm?" She answered distractedly as she replaced the phone and headed toward the kitchen. "I have something I want to ask you, but I'll understand if you can't do it... it's just that I have this idea and..." He rambled on. She turned to him. "Zac, just spit it out already!" She giggled. He smiled then cleared his throat. "Would you come home with me? Just for my parents anniversary! I... I don't mean to stay... not that I don't want that, because you know I do... I just..." She placed a dirty finger on his lips to still him. "Yes." She said simply, a smile lighting her whole face. His eyes shot open like saucers. "Really! Oh Moirah thank you! You're wonderful you know?!" He cheered as he lifted her into a spinning hug. He was beyond happy. It was like a wish come true. He couldn't wait for her to meet all of his family. He knew they all would love her. He just knew it, what's not to love? "Now put me down you big bear!" She laughed. "I'm dying of thirst." He promptly did so, grabbing her ass as she walked away from him and elliciting a giggle from her as she tried to quicken her pace and step away from his playful hands. He chased her all the way to the fridge where she tossed him a cold bottle of water and chugged one down herself. "I have got to get out of these clothes!" She exclaimed. He moved toward her with a naughty look in his eyes and a smile playing on his lips. She laughed at him and pushed him away. "You know what I mean!" He gave her a pout. "That's almost enough to make me change my mind." She joked and shook her finger at him. She slipped away to get cleaned up and he made a much needed phonecall. His idea was blossoming into a veritable mind storm. Before too long she came back down the stairs toweldrying her long hair, dressed and refreshed. He quickly put away his cell phone and joined her on the bench she was sitting on as she began to brush out her tresses. He took the brush from her tiny hands and took over the task. She turned more to sit with her back facing him to make it easier. She sighed at how gentle he was as he worked out the many tangles. She figured with so much long hair in his family he had to be quite experienced with it, it showed. He made short work of the gnarled mess her hair had become and began to braid the sleek wet strands with quick fingers. He fished a rubberband out of his own pocket and secured the intricate work he had just created. She couldn't wait to see his handywork and ran to a nearby mirror to admire it. She came bounding back to him and slid into his lap. "Thank you, it's lovely." She whispered against his neck as she nibbled. He kept one hand supporting her around her waist and let the other one wander as it had a mind to. Her body pressed to his in hunger as their mouths fused with heat. She ran her hands over his firm chest and broad shoulders needing to touch all of him she could. When his fingers crept up her thy and the pad of his roughened thumb traced the edge of her shorts as he slid his hand to the curve of her asscheek, she sighed. How could one man make her feel so many things all at once? She loved how he made her feel, so very alive! His grasp tightened on her backside when she sucked and nibbled on the juncture between his neck and shoulder, pulling aside the fabric of his undershirt. He lifted her and she swung her leg to straddle him. He gripped her hips as she settled into his lap once more, pressing her body to his again. His excitement, evident in the tight bulge of his shorts, made her moan a tiny little breathless moan. She grasped at his upperarms leaning into him and nipping at his adams apple. Her hands went up to grip his strong shoulders as she ground her hips into his lap. His head dropped back and his eyes were closed, lips parted and chest heaving. His strong arms wrapped around her tighter, bringing her as close to him as he could get without them merging into one person. "Oh god Moirah! You catch my heart on fire!" He moaned into the thick air, then pressed his cheek to the top of her head. She lapped at the soft spot between his collar bones. Her whisper against his damp skin sending chills over his heated body. "You are the spark of Prometheus." Was her reply. He growled from deep in his chest, his hands flying up to cradle her face to his. "I love you so much Moirah! I'm crazy without you, but your touch drives me to insanity. I want you, all of you, so bad it hurts!" He confessed to her in a heated whisper against her swollen lips. "I know baby, I feel it too. And if we don't stop now you're going to have to borrow something of Ramones to go back to the hotel in." She giggled, lightening the mood. He grinned at her. "I know, we should... it's so hard though." Then he rolled his eyes as she laughed, he realized his unintended pun. She ran her tongue over her teeth, a cocky grin smeared over her delicate features. "I noticed." She teased. "You're so bad!" He scolded. "You know it!" She shot back with a laugh. She kissed his lips through a smile. "Come on. Let's get our stuff together and head back, I made reservations for dinner. I was going to suprize you, but I think you need time to get ready." She informed him. He nodded in agreement. "You're too good to me." He told her. She shrugged. "Cuz I love ya!" He grinned and pulled her into one last lingering kiss. She pulled away from him a moment later. "Enough of that or we will never get out of here!" She laughed at him. He lifted her off his lap as he stood and set her on the floor. His hands lingered on her hips for a moment longer as he stooped for one last kiss to tide him over before walking away to retrieve the page in the sketch pad with his new lyrics and a few bars of music that mingled with his doodles from his time spent in the garden. Before long she had informed Ramone of her plans and promised to call him later to let him know what was going on. She met Zac at the car, stuffed knapsac in hand and ready for a night out on the town. She tossed him the keys and threw both bags into the back seat as she scooted into the passenger seat of her car. She popped in a cd as Zac waited for the garage door to open and they were off. "Why don't you drop me off at my place, I'll get ready and you take the car back to the hotel. When you're finnished getting ready, just swing by and pick me up?" She asked. "You sure? Don't you want your car?" He returned. "Nah, I think it may take you longer to get ready, and since I just took a shower, it won't take me but a few minutes. So it would be easier for you to just come and get me whenever you're ready." She asured him. "Ok, if you're sure." He clarified. "Positive." She stated firmly. "Ok, I'll call before I leave the hotel to let you know I'm on my way ok?" He asked. She lay her head on his shoulder and hugged his arm to her chest, snuggling up to him. "Now who's being too good to whom?" She teased. He just laughed and turned onto her street. He dropped her infront of her building with a flurry of tastey kisses. He watched her enter, savoring the sway of her ass as she walked away from him. She opened the door and turned to wave to him. He waved back and put it in reverse to leave. She blew him a kiss and was gone. His heart made him heave a heavy sigh from his lungs. It was almost painful just to be away from her for a minute, how was he going to survive a whole damned tour? He pushed that thought away. Now he needed to use his time to enjoy being with her when he could, not worry about what he would do to cope later. He headed back to the hotel bobbing his had and pounding the steering wheel all the way to one of her KISS cd's. She really did have good taste in music. He swaggered into his hotel room, his soul beaming through his smile and merryment in his eyes. He tossed his keys on the bed and popped his head into Darius's room. "Dude! I'm back." He chirped. "So I see. What the hell is the cheshire grin for? You aint been doing nothing that would make your Mom blush now have ya?" Darius teased. "That would be none of your business man... but, not really. The woman has seven kids after all." Zac joked back. Darius laughed with him. "Moirah and I are headed out to dinner. I'm gonna go get ready and head over to pick her up. Could you do me a favor?" Zac asked. "Sure, sup?" Darius querried. "Could ya go down to that little florist shop on the corner of second street? Pick up this for me?" He wondered as he handed him a handwritten slip of paper. Darius read it over. "No problem. I'll be back by the time you're ready. Anything else? Do you need me tonight?" He asked Zac. Zac thought for a moment. "I don't know where we're going, she made the reservations, but, I don't think I have to bother you. I have to call Moirah before I leave. I'll ask her then. And thanks, I don't need anything else. You're a life saver man." Zac said, clapping Darius on the back and handing him some money. "Glad to do it. Anytime my man. I'll see ya in a few." Darius responded and headed out the door. Zac stripped as he walked to the bathroom for a long hot shower. His mind totally consumed by one wonderful woman. A woman he couldn't stop thinking about. She was on his mind constantly every moment he was away from her. She occupied every ounce of his being when he was with her. She was the piece that completed him. He needed her like he needed air to fill his lungs. He stepped into the steamy stall and let the soothing cascades wash over his tight muscles. He closed his eyes in relaxation. A sigh escaped his lips as he could see Moirahs moist soft lips in his minds eye. He licked at his mouth, still tasting her on his own flesh. He remembered her eyes, how the green light danced and played as she spoke in an angel sweet voice. A small groan emanated from his chest. He pictured her soft curves and how she swayed to a rythm that matched his heartbeat when she walked. His hand slid down over his taught stomach. He imagined her hands, small and supple, strongly gripping her hammer and chisel as she worked the smooth stone. His own hand gripping his tool in pleasure. His mind replayed the events of the day and all the times he had savored her touch on his skin. He started to stroke his shaft in a slow strong rythm. The way she had kissed him, the way she had touched him. He let his thumb tease his cockhead and run around the ridge. How her body pressed against his and the way she sighed and moaned against him when he touched her. He braced himself with his other hand against the shower stall wall, becomming weak in the knees from the pleasure of her running through his mind as his fist worked over his prick. Then he recalled the stolen moments next to the stereo they shared. Their bodies on fire, moving, rocking, pleasuring each other. A tight pleasure boiled up inside him, deep in the bowels of his very soul. He could still hear her tiny wimpers of delight ringing in his ears from her orgasm when he was cumming. "Oh Moirah!" He gasped as he was split in two and his soul soared with pleasure as his body spilled his seed. Lungs burning for lack of air, a loud pounding of his blood in his ears and wobbly knees refusing to let him stand, he leaned against the wall, supporting himself by miracle until he could again stand on his own long enough to wash so he could get dressed and get back to her, his fantasy in reality. Stepping from the shower, a glazed look and sloppy smile still hugged his features. He doesn't even realize that he's singing to himself. He goes about the menial tasks of preparing to appear in public, shave, brush teeth, dry hair... then he's struck with a thought. He has absolutely no idea where they are going. What is he supposed to wear? Jeans and a nice shirt? Dress suit? Just a tie and jacket? He's lost! He figures no matter what he has to wear it will only take him a few minutes to put the actual clothes on. He decides he should call Moirah and find out the answer to his dilema. He's supposed to call her anyway- so it will be a few minutes longer between his call and when he picks her up. So what? He picks up the phone next to the queen sized bed that occupies most of the room. The same bed he had shared with her. He closed his eyes to savor the memory of waking beside her as he sat and his fingers dialed the phone without him. "Hello?" Came her melodious voice. "Hi Hun. It's me. Um... I got a question." He proposed. "Shoot." She offered. "I've no idea what I'm supposed to wear. How dressed up do I gotta get?" He asked. She chuckled softly and answered. "Just a tie, maybe a nice jacket, it's not overly fancy, but they have the most scrumptious tiramisu." He licked his lips in anticipation. He loved tiramisu. "That's cool." He stated. "I'm just gonna jump into my clothes then and run right over there ok? I'll probably be there in twenty minutes. Sound good?" He asked. "You mean you're sitting there naked?" She questioned in a breathy voice that made him tingle. With a small chuckle he informed her that was not the whole case. "Close, but not quite. I do have a towel on you know." "Close enough!" She exclaimed. He could tell she was getting a bit hot and bothered. It made him ache to touch her. It pleased him to know that she thought of him the same way. "I was thinking about you earlier." He informed her. "Oh? When?" She asked. "When I was in the shower." He teased in a low voice. "Oh!" She breathed. He could hear the arousal in her voice, knowing she completely understood his inuendo. "What were you doing before I called?" He asked thinking maybe he could have some fun with her before Darius came back. "I.. I was painting." She stammered. He knew she was flustered and her mind was racing by the way she was speaking brokenly. "And what were you painting?" He urged. "Uh... I was... It was you. I was painting you." She confessed. "Mmm... from one of those photographs no doubt." He accused. "Y..yes." She wimpered. The tightness in his groin was getting unbearable, he reached down to part his towel and stroke himself. Oh the things this woman did to his body. Could he ever get enough of her? How would he be able to be seen with her in public without ravageing her body? He heard a tiny little sigh escape her. "Touch youself baby. Touch yourself for me. I want to feel you on my fingertips." He pleaded with her. "Mmm..." Came her response. He held his breath, his excitement taking over his mind and body. "Tell me what you're doing love... please! I can't stand it!" He begged. Her soft raspy voice laced with lust came to him over the phone. "I'm pretending that it's your fingers teasing my tight nipples. Oh!" She cooed. His head fell back and his eyes screwed shut tightly as he tried to picture her there, talking to him on the phone. The way she looked as she pleasured herself thinking of him. Precum was running a steady stream from his tender slit, he used it, spreading it over his hot flesh, making his hand slide faster over the hard rod between his legs. "Fuck!" Came his pleasured exclamation. "Tell me more baby. My cock is so hard... my balls are aching for you." He moaned. Her breathing became faster, heavier. He knew she was getting really excited. "I'm so wet Zac. I'm wet for you. Mmmm... feels so good... Oh how I wish it were you I was feeling." She sighed. He could think of nothing else other than wanting to taste her cunt right then. How sweet she would be on his tongue. How wet and warm, her tight tunnel gripping at him as he plunged his tongue into her hole. How she would sound as he lapped at her clit. "Oh baby I wanna eat you." He groaned. "Oh!" Came her tiny wimper. He knew she was close. "Son of a bitch baby, you're gonna make me cum!" He huffed as his fist yanked over his pole. "Oh yes Zac, cum with me... please... I wanna hear you cum again!" She pleaded breathlessly. He couldn't take it anymore. His rough index finger rubbed furiously at the throbbing underside of his head, he could feel it climbing up inside of him. "Oh, mmm..." Came her strained voice in his ear. "Oh yessss..." She moaned. "Jesus!" He cried. "Here it comes baby!" His voice low and tearing at his lungs awaiting the arival of his release. "Oh Zac I want to taste it! I want you to cum in my mouth!" She pleaded with him. "Oh fuck!" He whispered, a wave of nirvana gripping him with the first wave of creammy cum vaulting from the tender tip. "Oh yes Zac! I'm cumming!" She cried in jubilation. Four more spurts of his sex shot forth as he growled her name in bliss. "Moirah!" They were quiet but for their ragged breathing for a few moments. "God baby that was good, but I still want you." He confessed. "I want you now more than ever." She replied. "Mmmm..." He rumbled. "It's gonna be hard to keep my hands off you tonight you know." He informed her. "Who said I wanted you to do that?" She teased. "Maybe I like to be naughty." She giggled. "Stop that!" He scolded. "You're never gonna get any dinner if you don't stop. Baby I can never get enough of you." He sighed. He could hear her smile as she responded. "I know what you mean sugar. I feel the same way. And you're right. If I don't shut my mouth now, you'll never be able to get dressed so you can leave your hotel room and get over here so I can taste you again. I'm wearing away the flesh of my lips tasting you on them." She teased. He groaned. "That's not helping any you know!" She laughed at him. "Horny much?" She giggled. "For you? Constantly." He admitted. She sighed. "I better let you go or I'm never gonna see you. Hurry Zac, I miss you." She toned. "I will. I'll be right there dove." He returned. "Bye love." She whispered. "Goodbye baby." He replied. He hung up the phone and stood up taking the towel from his waist to clean up the mess he had made. He hummed softly as he headed back to the bathroom to dress and wait for Darius's return. He was impatient to see her again. He never wanted to be away from her but knew that sometimes it was needed. At least the phone could be a bit fun they had found out. It was a poor substitue for her touch, but he would have to make do with what he could get for now. Besides, tomarrow, he would be winging back to Tulsa, with Moirah in tow... what could be better? Having her always, but that might come in time... he just had to take it one day at a time for now... one day at a time. Perhaps he did literally jump into his clothes. Maybe he did practacly tackle Darius and sprint out the door as soon as he arrived. Surely he could have driven a bit slower on his way to her apartment. But he needed her. Needed to see her, touch her, taste her. He just needed her. He nearly ran down the hallway in his wide bredth steps, box in hand, as he shoved her keys into his pocket. He knocked on her door anxiously, weight shifting from one foot to the other in attempts to control himself. He nearly bolted through the solid door when he heard the distinctive click of hte lock. She pulled the door open as she slid an earring in the pierced hole of one ear. His breath was stolen. Her face lit in a radiant smile as she pulled him into the apartment and he pulled her into his arms. Laying the box on the hall table, he wrapped her up like a cocoon, laying butterfly soft kisses over her face. She sighed a tiny breathy exclamation and snared his mouth in a tender and loving expression. "Mmm... I love the way you taste." She whispered. He smiled against her soft cheek. He painfully parted from her enough to look down on her. Her scent was intoxicating, his knees weak from her closeness. The twinkle of her emerald eyes hypnotized him as he stood with a goofy grin plastered over his strong jaw. "How can I love you so much?" He breathed. She pecked him on the cheek before turning around in his loving embrace. "Zip me?" She asked of him. He let his eyes sweep over her smooth skin as his fingers itched to undo her bra instead. He slipped his large rough hands inside her dress and around to the front to cup her breasts. He kneeded the satin covered flesh, drawing her into his body. She leaned to him and he dipped down to taste her neck as his fingers fondled her hardened nipples. He bagan to nibble on her shoulder, letting one hand dip and glide over her soft tummy, playing with the elasitic edge of her panties. Running the tip of his tongue over the outline of her earlobe in time with his index finger creeping under the soft fabric. The soft hairs tickling his fingeres as he dug deeper into his pleasure. From his pocket his cell phone screamed. "Shit!" He growled, pulling his hand away from her treasure. 'So close!' His mind yelled as he stood tall once more, his hands sliding out of the tight space between the soft fabric of her dress and the heated silk of her skin. She looked up at him with an appologetic smile over her shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her middle and answered his phone. "'lo?" She softly giggled, as she pressed into his body, feeling his hardness. He held his breath as he listened. She turned in his arm and lay against his chest, breathing in his scent. "No, I haven't." He grumbled into the phone. She spread her fingers over the surface of one of his tight pecs, letting her thumb rub at the hidden little nub under his shirt. He groaned softly and looked down to her. She had mischief in her eyes and he loved it. Her hand pressed downward, over his taught stomach, making him smile widely. "I didn't say that, I said.. on the seventeenth we should skip the third one. That's too far to travel in one day." He rattled off distractedly as he watched her fingers creep down further. Her gentle fingertips lightly grazing over his hip and masaging his thy. "I... I don't care to discus that. We have approved them and they are all final. If you care to speak with my brothers, and if either one of them changes their minds, then and only then, feel free to call my father and arrange a meeting." Her hand danced all around his aching member, never touching it but making him insane with w2ant. When her firm hand did make contact finally he grunted, thrusting his hips into her grasp, trying to cover his secret up while he was on the phone with a small cough. She silently laughed as she stroked him through the fabric of his pants. His breath became short, his face took on a red hue. He licked at his dry lips. His voice came husky and low. "That will be decided when the time comes. I think that's all I have to say for now." He looked down to Moirah, fire in his eyes. "Very well then." He nearly barked. "Goodbye." He jumped to end the conversation abruptly. Rude or not, he was about to cum again and the last thing he needed was to cum in his pants while he was on the phone to his tour manager. Throwing his phone aside he growled. "Fuck Moirah, you're gonna make me cum again woman!" His fingers flew to release his aching member from its confines. It sprang forth, engorged and the tip glistening. In an instant her cool fingers wrapped around the heated hardness. His mouth captured hers in a desperate kiss. She stroked him furiously as he swallowed her tiny wimpers. Insistantly his hand tugged at her dress, yanking it up, and then diving into her cotton panties. "Oh!" Came her breath when his fingers glided over her throbbing clit and dipped into her sopping hole. She leaned against him, hips rocking. Lost to the pleasure of his fingers, wimpering in delight. His thumb strummed over her hot nub as he sunk his two fingers into her slick folds deeply. He felt her gripping at him as she cried out in pleasure. "Oh Yes!" He'd never felt anything so erotic before. It drove him over the edge. "Unn... Moirah!" He groaned into her swollen lips. She stroked him gently, milking every last drop of his white hot sex. She began to stand up on her own again, he withdrew his hand letting her dress fall back down around her hips. He rubbed her slick juices between his fingers and thumb, loving the way it slid and moved. He watched in pure agony as she brought her cum coated hand up to her reddened lips. Snakeing her tongue between swollen lips to lap at the product of his pleasure. He thought he would die of euphoria when she popped her little pinky into her mouth to suck off the sticky seed. "Christ! How do you do that?" He hoarsely whispered. Her eyes opened and searched his as she took her hand from her face. "What?" She asked in a whispered return. "Make me horny even after I just came." He rasped. She smiled. "You do the same to me you know. I think it's just because we haven't seen each other in so long." She reasoned. "I think it's because you're perfect." He countered. She kissed him lightly before leaving him to tuck himself away as she went to get cleaned up. He lapped at his lips tasting himself then stuck the side of his thumb between his lips, sucking on the pad of his digit. His eyes closed in delight. She was as sweet as he had imagined. He couldn't wait to taste the source of his quick treat. But, for now, they had reservations - suddenly, he was starved! "Hurry up hunny! We're gonna be late!" He called as he walked down the hall, tucking his shirt back in. He could smell her on himself still. It gave him a private thrill. He walked into the bathroom as she was leaving. He washed his hands, smoothed his hair, and straightened his tie. "You ready yet baby?" He asked as he flipped off the light. "Almost. Could you come and help me?" Came her muffled reply from the bedroom. He entered the room to be greeted with her ass, head burried deep in her closet. He chuckled to himself and ground his crotch into her backside. She stood up quickly, turned and scolded him. "We're never going to get out of here if you don't stop tempting me!" He laughed loudly. "Me? It was your ass!" He came back. "What ever! Zip me up please? And this time... stay out of my dress." She giggled. He smiled and behaved himself. She slipped into her shoes as he sat on the bed waiting for her. She went back to the closet, grabbed a sweater and stood with a heavy breath. "Done. Let's boogie." He got up and grasped her tiny hand in his big paw, leading her out of the room he'd rather stay in. With her directions he drove to the resteruant. A nice place he thought, even if french food was not one of his favorites, he enjoyed it. Just being able to be with her was enough to make him happy. Only once was he approached for an autograph. He was polite, but made it clear that he was not in the mood for pictures, hugs and a conversation with a weepy fan. He lucked out that this girl was smart enough to realize that. She only asked where his brothers were as she nervously looked back to the table her family sat at waiting for her. "They are home right now. We're getting ready for rehearsals for the upcomming tour. Can we expect to see you there?" He asked politely as he absentmindedly reached for Moirahs hand. The girl merely nodded and clutched her autograph to herself as she whispered a quiet 'Thank you.' and headed back to her seat. Thinking that was almost painless he cringed inside when he heard her whisper to a girl by her side at the table. "He was on a date! I can't believe I actually saw him out on a date! Wait til I post this on my site! Ohmygawd! I'm the first one with news of a girlfriend since Isaac mentioned Elouise's name on the air in Germany! I'm gonna be almost famous!" She gushed. He rolled his eyes. Moirah squeezed his hand and whispered to him. "Oh stop! Let them have their fun. To them you are someone to look up to. It's only natural for girls their age to get so excited." He gave her a half grin. "I suppose so, it's just that sometimes it kinda gets stale ya know? At least she didn't scream or cry. I hate when they do that." He said in a low voice. She chuckled. "They just get excited. They don't know how to express their emotions yet. They're young yet." She soothed. "Then explain the middle-aged women who grab at my hair and try to tear my clothes off, screaming like a banshee?" He half joked. "I do not scream like a banshee!" She shot back. He laughed, maybe a little too loud. "You are nowhere near middle-aged, and if you wanted to scream... I know how I could make you on demand." He cooed in a raspy voice. She giggled. "Oh you could huh? I bet you know all sorts of different ways you could make me scream... we'll have to try some of those out... hell! Let's try all of them out!" She teased him. He laughed and stole a kiss from her sweet mouth. She gave him one in return which led to another from him and so on until he heard a tittering giggle from behind him. The same girl was just leaving the establishment. Being dragged behind her mother was more like it. She didn't even have the decency to turn her face away and pretend not to notice she had been caught oogling when Zac met her eyes. She just had a grin from ear to ear, her laughter bubbling up as her friend helped tug on her. "Come on you fool. It's not that big a deal. Leave the poor man alone for God's sakes. He's entitled to have a life too you know." He really liked that other girl. He gave her a grateful smile and turned back around to dig into his promised tiramisu he had been promised. She was certainly correct. It was scrumptious, not that he would ever be caught dead saying that word... but it was. A full belly and a long day made him tired. He pondered over the day he had had. It was as if he had lived a whole week in that one day. He climbed into the car beside Moirah as she slipped an Aerosmith cd in and turned it down low. "Tired baby?" She asked as she stroked his cheek. "Mmm." He sighed, eyes closed and head back against the headrest. "You wear me out." He chuckled as he peeked at her with one eye open. "Oh you!" She exclaimed and laughed with him as she started the car. He settled back and dozed as she took him back to the hotel, he was wiped out. Before he knew it she was gently shaking his shoulder. "Sugarbear... wake up... we're here." Her soft voice stroked his ear. He stretched and forced his eyes open. "What a wonderful way to wake up." He sighed. She laughed softly. "What? In a car all stiff in your joints and body cramped?" She joked. "No." He said quietly. "Next to you." He whispered as he held her face and leaned to her to place an angel sweet kiss on the corner of her mouth. She smiled and returned the tiny gesture. "Come on, we have a longer day ahead of us tomarrow, lets head upstairs." He grinned and nodded in agreement, secretly pleased that she was comming up too. He wasn't ready to let go of her yet. It hurt too much to be away from her. He wanted to be near her as much as possible while he could. She locked the car and he wrapped his arm around her as they walked side by side into the hotel and waited for the elevator. Together they stepped in and he fished his key out while the ascended. They traipsed to the door and he unlocked it, holding the door open for her and then entering himself. It had been a long day and he could feel the sluggish effects of being overtired. He forced himself to stay awake, not wanting to let her leave. She slipped her shoes off as she shrugged out of her sweater. She lay her purse and sweater on a chair and curled up on one end of the sofa. She watched as he kicked off his shoes, took off his tie, and let his hair down. He tugged open his shirt's top few buttons and slipped out of his jacket. "Want something to drink?" He asked cordially. "Water. Cold?" She asked. "Sure." He replied as he passed her on his way to the small frige, his fingers slipping casually through hers of her uplifted hand. He got a bottle too and shoved some popcorn into the microwave. She clicked on the tv and was surfing through the channels as he sat her bottle of water next to her on the stand. He cracked his open and chugged some as he plunked down on the sofa next to her, throwing an arm over the back, behind her head. She was so short that she could barely lay her head on the top of the backrest whereas his shoulders were far above the top. He slouched down and pulled the coffee table closer with his sock covered foot to set his water bottle down. She found the start of an old black and white cheesey horror movie and turned it up before laying the remote next to his water. The microwave beeped and she jumped up before he had a chance to. He let her tend to it and flopped over to stretch out on the comfy seat. She busied herself in the mini kitchenette and before too long returned with a bowl of popcorn and a bag of peanut m&m's. "Oh yummy." He said offhandedly as she raised his head and slid back under it to sit on the seat, resting his golden locks in her lap. She set the bowl on his chest and poured the candy in it as she watched distractedly. "Has he written the letter to the Duke warning of the mummy's curse yet?" She asked without looking away from the flickering screen. "Nope, but he did find the ruby scarab." He informed her. She nodded and dug her fingers into the treats, fishing out a handfull and feeding it to him one piece at a time as they watched in silence. Hours later a tired Darius came back to the room finding a cozy scene. Zac lay stretched out over the sofa, feet propped up on one armrest and his head in Moirahs lap. The fingers of one of her hands were twined in his long hair, the other laying on his chest, just inside his shirt, his giant hand covering it. Her head lay against his shoulder as she lay curled up in a ball, looking for all the world like Zac's pillow. They were sound asleep. The tv was nothing but static and an empty bowl and two waterbottles lay on the table in front of them. He almost didn't have the heart to wake them but figured they would be more comfortable in the bed. "Zac?... Zac buddy wake up... Zac, wake up and get your skinny white ass to bed!" Darius joked. Zac's body stiffened in a ministretch as his eyes fluttered open. "Huh? Darius? What the hell?" He asked dazedly. "You fell asleep on the couch. Why don't you two go get in bed where you'll be more comfortable." Darius informed him. Zac turned his head a bit and found Moirah asleep on his shoulder. She looked so angelic he hated to wake her. Carefully he slid out from under her and stood up stretching. "Thanks man." He yawned as he scratched his belly. "Think nothing of it." Darius tossed back. Zac stooped down and scooped her up in his arms. Darius opened the bedroom door for him and said a quiet, 'night.' and closed the door behind him. Zac sat her down gently on the bed. He reached behind her and unzipped her dress, sliding it off her arms and letting it fall around her hips. He snatched a t-shirt up from his nearby suit case and slipped it over her head, carefully placing her arms through the holes and laying her back. He easily lifted her hips and tugged her dress off the rest of the way then covered her up in the downy comforter. He stripped down to his boxers and turned off the dim light before crawling in and snuggling up next to her. It wasn't long before he was again, fast asleep, being cradled in slumber by her loveing embrace. He was a happy man. A persistant ringing invaded his head. He snuggled down more and tried his best to ignore it, not wanting to leave his wonderful dream of Moirah. It didn't work, it kept on. "Zac, get the phone baby." A sleepy Moirah moaned. His eyes snapped open. This was not a dream, she really was beside him. He grinned as he looked down at her, burried in one of his own t-shirts and he remembered last night. "Zac! Please! The phone!" She whined. Not wanting to take his eyes off her, he reached behind himself and grabbed at the reciever. "'lo?" He croaked. Pause. "Ma!" He exclaimed, sitting up in bed, all of a sudden fully aware of the implications of his situation. Of course they were innocent, sort of, but still, it was certainly an odd feeling to have a woman in his bed as he spoke to his mother, his *christian* mother. Moirah cracked one eye open and grinned at him as he squirmed. She was enjoying that far too much he thought. He listened to his mother prattle on, slipping in a few 'uh-huh's' and 'yes m'am's' when needed. Moirah sat up next to him and stretched her tiny curvy body. He had a hard time paying attention to his mothers voice and not Moirahs breasts as her nipples poked out from behind the soft cotton. She pecked his lips as her hand slid under the blanket to grasp his manhood briefly, teasingly. His eyes shot open and he looked at her with a 'what the hell are you trying to do to me woman?' look. She laughed softly and left him in the bed alone. He watched her ass sway back and forth as she strode towards the bathroom, vaguely aware that now his father was filling his ear with unimportant drival. "Sure Dad." He stated firmly as he watched Moirah strip out of his t-shirt. He almost hung up on his dad when she dropped her bra and panties to the floor and stepped into the shower. He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. Taylors voice shoved through the earpiece next as Zac watched the steam billow and her silhouette danced over the frosted glass. "Yup, whatever you say Tay." He agreed as he got to his knees, trying to lean further on the bed for a better look. "Zac? Are you even listening to me?" Tay asked irratatedly. "Mmhmm." Zac responded. "And you're gay too huh?" Tay droned on. "You bet." Came Zacs reply, he was practacly drooling as he watched her shapely body going through the motions of washing her long curly auburn hair. "And the martians anal probed you, that's why you act so stupid. Isn't that right Zac?" Tay pushed. "Of course." Zac breathed into the phone. His eyes nearly tearing as he watched her step from the shower, wet and glistening, as she wrapped a towel around herself. She blew him a kiss and took up his hair brush, beginning to work the tangles out of her wet hair. "ZAC!" Tay screamed. "Huh?" Zac came back with, breaking free of his Moirah induced spell. "You're not even paying attention to me! What the hell are you doing? Smoking crack or somp'n?" Tay wondered. "Uh... no." Zac supplied. "She's there isn't she?" Tay hissed. "Why do you say that?" Zac asked, a bit scared. "You fucked her didn't you?!" Tay spit, ignoreing Zacs question. "I did not! And that wouldn't be any of your business either if I had!" Zac yelled. Moirah came and stood in the doorway of the bathroom, brush in hand, a concearned look on her face. "What the hell makes you think you have the right to say things like that to me? You're my brother not my father. And Dad didn't have any problems with trusting me to come here so why shouldn't you?" Zac screamed. "Because she's too old for you Zac! Jesus H. Christ! She's robbing the cradle! It isn't right Zac and you know it! You were brought up better than that, you disgust me almost as much as she does!" Taylor seethed. Zac was wounded beyond belief. He never thought his own brother would do something so hurtful to him. He had tears in his eyes. Moirah came and crawled up next to him on the bed, wrapping him up in her arms and smoothing his forehead to press out the crease in his brow. "You fucking asshole! You don't even have a clue as to what is really going on. Shit, if Mom and Dad had a problem with it don't you think they would have said something by now? Love does not have an age limit, there are no boundries when it's real, wake up Tay! Can't you realize that this isn't just some stupid fling. I'm not out here just because I'm some horny guy looking for a piece of ass. I could get that anywhere! I'm here because I love her damnit!" He cried exasperated. He couldn't take anymore. He couldn't stand to hear what Taylor would wound him with next. He slammed the phone down and sobbed into her shoulder as she rocked him gently, cooing soothingly into his hair, wanting nothing more than to take the pain away. It hurt her to see him so tortured. She would take the pain for him if she could, the best she could offer was her support. She loved him. "What the hell is all the yelling about!?" Darius's booming voice came from the other side of the door. Zac sniffled and lifted his head from Moirahs shoulder. "Don't sweat it man, just Tay being his usual ass self." Zac tried to pass it off. Darius could hear the pain in his voice. "You sure dude? Can I come in?" Darius questioned. He knew that the guys rarely ever fought. "Yes." Moirah answered before Zac could refuse. He quickly swiped the tears from his red eyes and pulled the blanket up over Moirah as Darius came in. Darius gingerly sat on the corner of the bed. A small smile passed between Darius and Moirah. "I heard everything from this end ya know man, the walls are thin." Darius informed him. Zac sighed. "He didn't mean it." Zac defended his brother needlessly out of habit. "He's just upset that I was so pissy during the promotions." He couldn't look either one of them in the eyes because he knew they could see he was lieing. "Zac..." Moirah lay her hand on his arm. "It won't do you any good to stew over this now. You need to talk this over with him when you see him." She stated reasonably. "Ya know she's right." Darius agreed. "You guys have been through too much and love each other too much to let this tear you apart. Tay loves you man. He's just confused, he doesn't understand the way you see things. I'm sure once he actually meets her he will change his tune." Darius tried. Zac shrugged and sighed. "I suppose, it's just the things he said..." He drifted off, trying desperately to push away the tears that threatened. Moirah pushed his hair from his face, soothing him as her hand passed over his cheek. She looked to Darius helplessly. She didn't know how to help him. He was so lost. She knew he was extremely close to his brothers, something like this had to hurt tremendously. "Come on man. Get your shit together and go help Moirah pack. I'm gonna call the airport and change our flight. We're gonna go home earlier and get this settled, even if ya gotta knock his block off to make him see how much you care for her. I can see it. Your parents know, they see it or else they wouldn't have let you come all the way out here." Darius ordered. Zac nodded. "Yeah, I... I suppose it's better to face this sooner than later. Thanks man." He toned quietly. Darius gripped his shoulder affectionately. "Anything for you kid, you know that." Darius said seriously. And he meant it in so many ways. He patted Moirahs leg under the blanket and rose from the bed. She smiled up at him. Grateful for all he had done for them. He was truely a wonderful friend. He left the room silently, closing the door quietly behind himself. Moirah snuggled up next to Zac. "Come on baby. Let's go home." She whispered. Zac wasn't sure if she meant back to her place or home to Tulsa. Either way, home was wherever she was beside him. He crawled out from under the comforter and bent to the floor, picking up a pair of jeans he tossed there. He dragged them on and wandered to the bathroom. She too left the bed and dropped her towel to slide her dress on. A few minutes later zac came back out, hands full of his stuff and her bra and panties rolled up in his t-shirt. He stuffed everything into his bag and tossed on a t-shirt from his bag. She closed the small distance between them and held her arms out to him. He looked like he was about to cry again, she figured he needed the comfort. He sat on the bed and his head fell against her as he wept again. She sifted her fingers through his tangled hair. "Shh baby, it's gonna be ok once we get home. You'll see." She soothed him. It made his heart that much lighter to know that she meant Tulsa. She didn't even realize that she was doing it but she was helping him heal the broken heart that needed mending so badly. He tightened his embrace on her middle. "What would I ever do without you? I love you so much Moirah O'Hara!" He cried. She kissed the top of his head. "And I love you too Zac Hanson, fiercly!" She quietly exclaimed. In no time at all Moirah, Zac and Darius were checked out of the hotel and on their way, first to her studio, and then later to her apartment. Zac sat slumped and despondent in the front seat. The occasional sympathetic and supportive look passed between She and Darius. They pulled into the studio, Ramone greeted them warmly only then to notice that Zac was not his mirthful self. Moirah introduced Darius and they shook hands politely. He backed off and pulled Moirah aside. "What the hell is going on?" He hissed in her ear. Moirah quietly explained the situation as she and Ramones eyes followed a sluggish Zac pulling cd's from her collection to put into a book-like case for her to travel with. His face said all he needed in response. "I'm so sorry hun. I know you will fix everything once you take him back home. Don't you worry about anything here. I've rescheduled everything. Nothing to worry about except the lost time to work that stone. You just concentrate on helping that man of yours." He soothed Moirahs frazzled nerves. She nodded as he followed her up the stairs. He sat on the bed as she changed in the bathroom, door slightly ajar so she could hear him speaking. "You know, at first I thought all of this was just because he is one damn fine specimen of man..." He sighed. She laughed from inside her t-shirt as she slipped it over her head. "Don't tell me you have a thing for him?" Moirah teased. Ramone snorted. "Not that it would be hard to handle sweetness, he is gorgeous... but I rather go for his brother. Please tell me his brother is gay, bi at least!" Ramone pleaded. "Which one?" She querried. "The blonde diva of course hunny! Who else?" He laughed. "Taylor." She stated matter of factly, knowing instantly who Ramone meant. "Damn. He's the one stirring up trouble huh? Well, I suppose we can't have 'em all." He said. "Huh? What do you mean?" She asked as she came out zipping up her jeans. "I just mean if he's the one stirring up that kind of trouble, he most certainly is not open minded, therefore, he is not gonna fall head over heels for me." Ramone chuckled. She shook her head. "I don't think that's in the cards, no." She smiled. She quickly put her hair up in pigtails and slipped on her sandals. She turned to Ramone. "Thank you. You've been a sweetheart about all of this. Never once did you even tease me about us. I appreciate it you know." She said seriously as she hugged her friend. "Aww girl, you know someone just has to see the two of you together to know how much you care for each other. It's as plain as the nose on my face. Anyone can see that you two belong together if they just bother to look." He cooed as he cradled her in his long arms. She kissed his cheek sweetly. "You're a lifesaver. What kind of chaos would reign in your stead?" She laughed as they headed back down the stairs. "You just remember that in my next paycheck." He quipped. They laughed together and started to comb the studio in last minute preperations for her departure. She would only be gone a week, but a lot can happen in a week. A lot. Once more they piled into the car and were off again. Moirah held a bit more confidence now that Ramone had bolstered her soul. Maybe between He and Darius, they could convince her that it would be alright. Still, she dreaded the confrontation that loomed ahead of them. This was one nightmare she did not want to live but was prepared to fight through for the sake of her love. She loved Zac. What more could she possibly need or want? He was worth fightning for til the bitter end if need be. She just hoped that she didn't have to prove that theory. Everything was so quiet in the elevator ride up to her apartment. She wondered if this was what it was going to be like the rest of the day, or worse yet, like this until Zac and Tay resolved all of the issues that were ripping apart their relationship. Even in his dejected mood, he still did not fail to show her how much he cared for her. Even in the littlest ways that she was sure that he was unaware of. He would hold doors open for her and lace his fingers with hers without even looking up from the floor. When his chin would quiver and she knew he was close to crying, he would cling to her a bit more, but still not openly weep again. It was as if she were his rock, it was her nearness that kept the tears at bay. She was more than happy to fill that role if it meant any help to him what so ever. He gently took the keys from her and unlocked each lock without her having to remind him which key was for which lock. He had just remembered, that's all. It was those little things that made her love him more... if that was even possible. He held the door for her and Darius before passing through himself. She turned on some soft jazz and started toward the kitchen with Zac in tow. "Darius, how bout some breakfast. I'm sure the airline food is atrocious. I'd rather like to think of you getting through your day with as little as possible of that shit they call food in your body." She called out, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Thanks, I'm kinda hungry. I've never been known as one to turn down real food either." He joked back as he entered the kitchen. Zac sat in the corner staring out the window as his fingers abscentmindedly played with the flower arrangement on the table before him. She had all she could do not to cry the tears she fought and run to him. Darius sat on a stool at the bar and watched her as she busied herself in the kitchen. He would have offered to help her, but it was so tiny he was sure he would only be getting in her way. They talked quietly, trying in vain to lure Zac into the conversation. He just wasn't talkative. They understood and didn't press the point. Not even the delicious smells wafting his way brought him out of his funk, and Zac was always known to eat heartily. She handed Darius everything to set on the table for their meal, still wishing that Zac would come back to her some more. She understood that he was hurting, she just never fathomed that it could run so deep in him. He was a man capable of tremendous loves and when that was cracked by tragedy, it was a chasm of remarkable width. It tore her up inside knowing that he hurt so much and there was naught she could do for him. She carried the last of their repast to the table and gestured to Darius to sit and dig in. He did, helping himself with relish for she surely knew how to satisfy a man gastronomicly. She slid into the seat next to Zac and leaned in to him. "Love, you need to eat something. Even if it's just for me, please. Eat." She pleaded with him. He sighed and sat up more in his seat. He gave her a saddened look like 'fine, but only for you because I love you.' She smiled wanely at him and placed a plate infront of him. He took up his fork and speared himself a piece of frenchtoast. She squeezed his knee and poured him some milk. Darius passed the syrup his way and She took the liberty of getting him some fruit. She doubted that he would eat it all. He was mostly just pushing it around on his plate, abscently chewing a random bite or two. At least what he did have before him was a balanced meal, even if he only ate a miniscule amount of it. Darius wolfed down enough for the three of them having been famished, and it did taste like his moms... He excused himself and said he had some more phonecalls to make as he walked to the other room, leaving the two alone. Through the whole meal her hand never left his lap, and his hand never left hers. She pushed her plate away, not able to finnish what was on her plate. Her worry robbed her hunger. He noticed her lack of appetite. He downed his fork and picked up a strawberry from his plate. He offered it to her silently. She smiled warmly and leaned to him, lips parted to recieve the gift. He lay it on her tongue as her eyes closed in time with her mouth. She let the sweet ripe taste melt over her tongue, savoring the fruit as much as the loving gesture of the bearer. She swallowed slowly and opened her eyes to his. A small smile tugged at his generous lips. It made her so happy to think that he was still somewhere in there. Somewhere behind the tortured man who lie in pain and darkness. Wanting nothing more than to extend this small widow of time that he felt a lift of the burdon from his shoulders she fetched a small piece of melon from her own plate and returned the gesture. She held it between forfinger and thumb before him. His body drew near her and he bent down to take her proffered gift. His lips parted and her fingers passed between them. He let his teeth graze over her tender skin and stole the morsel from her hand. His mouth paused and his decadent lips took up the task of kissing each finger set before him as his arm came around to her back, pulling her to his chest. He dipped his head down and captured her mouth in a long, slow, lucious confection of a kiss. When he pulled away she looked up dazedly. "I love you." He whispered against her cheek and placed one more soft sweetness on her jaw. The moment may have been shortlived, but the emotion was joyous. Whatever they had to go through in life, they would do it together, as promised. He rose from the table and held out his hand to her. She took it with grace and together they began to clean up so as to move on to the task of packing for... home. They quietly passed Darius and went to the bedroom to gather her things. He took her suitcase from the top shelf of the closet and lay it open on her bed. He sat and waited while she began to rummage through drawers. She collected a handful and lay it on the end of the bed. He took them up one at a time, carefully folded them, and placed them in her bag. She moved on to the closet and the sceene replayed. She knelt and started sorting through shoes in the bottom of her closet. "Would you be a dear and fetch me some things from the studio?" She asked sweetly. "What do you need?" He asked practacly. "Charcoal, at least two different sizes of sketch pads, the purple bag on the back of the black chair, the Cannon camera will do; there's extra film in the box near the sink in the darkroom; some pastels from the drawer, and the wooden box with the leather handle on the top shelf behind the urn with the willow branches. That should do for now, if I need anything else, I'll get it later." She listed. He nodded, trying to keep her requests and instructions straight in his head. He left her and headed towards the studio. He passed the livingroom, stopped, backed up and poked his head in the door. "Done with your phonecalls?" He asked aimiably. Darius was sitting, skimming through an art book that had been placed on the coffee table. He looked up, pleased to see a little bit of Zac's old self shine through. "Yup." He replied. "Gotta go grab some stuff for her in the studio. Wanna come help me?" Zac querried. "Sure thing." Darius pipped, getting up and following Zac down the hall. Darius let out a low soft whistle when he entered the room. Zac just laughed and nodded in understandment. Soon enough they had a few of the things she needed gathered up and waiting. Zac was in the darkroom trying his best to locate that pesky extra film she claimed was hiding in there while Darius wandered around the room. He noticed a lot of her work was of just Zac. That had to be the more recent stuff, and most of it was... well it wasn't something he wanted to sit and stare at. It wasn't like he hadn't seen Zac in next to nothing before, hell they had shared a hotel room on more than one occasion. But still, he was a simple kinda guy, and that just wasn't something that appealed to him. He moseyed over to the large easel and peeked under the canvas. He took in his breath and lifted more of the heavy material away from the stretched frame below. Zac came back and headed over to get the last item, the wooden box. He noticed that Darius was just standing there, arm lifted high, holding up a tarp that drapped over an easel. "Dude! You find some porn under there?" He teased his friend. Darius tore his eyes from the painting and crooked his free finger, motioning for Zac to come over and look. "Man, she must be a hottie if she's got you speechless." He laughed all the way over and stood beside his friend. Abruptly the laughter died and he too stared. It was amazing, sureal almost. He dumbfoundedly helped Darius fold the canvas up over the back of the easel so they could get the best possible view of this... this... this true masterpiece. He was awestruck that his likeness was portrayed and imortalized so exquisitely it compared with the works of the rennaisance masters of yore, and it wasn't even finnished yet. He found it hard to breathe. His vision blurred and there was no doubt that these tears were happy ones. He was overwhelmed. Astonished that he could be depicted so classicly. Overwrought that the woman he loved held the talent in her soul that rivaled the greatest painters he had seen, and he had been in the sisteen chapel! Stricken with the reality that this was something that the public would view, and perhaps, in time, be a thought of as a treasure of the world. It was just that good. And it was... him. This was a mind trip even greater than he had when he realized at eleven that most of the people of the planet knew his name and likeness... and that was a headtrip that boggled him still. But the thing that gripped at him the most, it was the fact that her hands had captured the essence of their love. In paint and canvas lay two lives, entwined forever... an infinity of passion. "Just what the *Hell* do you think you are doing?!" Her shrill voice startled the two men and their eyes raced to find the source of their panic. She stormed into the room, face rudy with ire and eyes afire with her Irish temper. Her body ablaze with furious movements as she shoved them both away from the canvas and covered it up again. She whirrled around and faced the two giant men with her hands on her hips and a sunflare hot pout on her twisted mouth. "You have no business meddeling in my affairs. That is not for public viewing until I see fit to put it on display!" She spit, her brogue blossoming in full. Her attitude was as if she had caught them staring at her naked body and they were total strangers. Darius shrank away from her, ashamed as if he had been caught doing just that. "I... I'm sorry, I was just curious. I... I didn't know..." He tried feebely to excuse his actions that he hadn't realized were wrong. She stared at him with eyes that tore at his soul. He cast his gaze to the floor and whispered. "I'm sorry." Then slunk away to another room and out of the way of her tirade of temper. Zac stood and watched the whole thing with increduelousness. He had never seen her so upset before. It was only a painting, granted it was a phenomenal one, but was it really worth all the fuss she was making? "What the hell is your problem?" He barked at her. Her eyes pierced him as she glared into his very spirit. "That is my most private and innermost self!" She raged pointing behind her, not letting her eyes release him from the hold she had him in. "That is not some trifle I whipped up of some sad clown on velvet." She spat, rising up to her full height. "That is my life's passion, my masterpiece, and having you pawing at it makes me feel like I've been raped!" She cracked. The tears of frusteration and despair welling up and brimming over. His head spun with an overload of information. He was torn in so many directions he didn't know up from down. "I... I don't understand..." He tried, desperate to do just that. Her body sagged with the weight of emotion she had been carrying. "Don't you understand? That is me... it is all of me. It's my only legacy in oil, the only thing in my entire career that I've done that I felt was worthy of being embraced as art. That is my soul trapped in your likeness!" She cried into her hands as she fell to the floor. His body shook with emotion. He had never seen anyone so passionate about their art before, she was so real, so small, so vulnerable. He knelt beside her and held her, rocking slightly. "Shh baby. I'm sorry, I didn't know... we didn't mean any harm. Can you forgive us? I would never do anything to hurt you purposefully, you now that. Moirah, I love you. I don't want to see you hurt, it breaks me to see you like this." He whispered to her, calming her body wracking sobs. She gripped at his t-shirt, face burried in the soft fabric as her tears came endlessly. She said no more but quieted to a weepy state. She pushed him away and got to her feet. She sniffled, wiped away some of the corpses of once hot tears, then wrestled the canvas, tarp, easel and all into the darkroom, locking it away from prying eyes. She left the room without a word, still he sat in the same spot that he had tried to comfort her. He didn't know if he had even accomplished any repair to the situation. But he knew, when she was ready, they would make amends. For the sake of all they had, she would talk with him when she felt she could, she had to. return unto me take a flying leap step back bitch in the begining *On My Knees* spit or swallow? email me!