I'm a little worried that I've lost my regular readers. I don't mind not getting many reviews but I hope everyone comes back for more Troyella.
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CHAPTER 14
The walk started pretty early and it seemed that today's challenge was climbing down hill without falling down. We had one night and one day left and by tomorrow night we should be home.
The progress down the hill was slow though and I felt my ankles aching with the pressure as I stepped down with care.
I still hadn't spoken to Zac and it was killing me slowly on the inside wondering what he was thinking. I was regretting my words, my behaviour and my inability to accept his support because right now I felt like I could use it. The entire trip he had been there if I had turned and looked for him, his hand ready to take mine, his eyes ready to bolster me, his lips ready to smile at me, his ear ready to listen. Only this time I turned round and he wasn't there,
I wondered what life would be like without Zac, what this trip would have been like and I couldn't quite picture it. It was frightening, thinking how quickly he had infiltrated into my heart and it scared me to think of him not being there.
Like the bright flash of lightening and great clap of thunder hitting the sky, I suddenly realized that I wasn't going to get a second chance with Zac.
Who cares how it had happened or why? Who cares about the past about our history about everyone and everything else?
Zac was there for me, really there for me and I couldn't pass that up. This comforting, delicious feeling he roused in me with a mere look was surely worth all the effort.
I looked around for him, the impending storm sending my heart beating erratically with fear and excitement. I couldn't see him amongst the group so I stalked across to Joan.
"Where's Zac?" I asked suddenly.
"He's back there with the men somewhere…" she wafted her hand behind her "Come along, dear, we're heading for the shelter down there" Joan pointed toward a lip on the decline at the foot of the hill.
"I have to see him" I said, panicking and climbing back up.
"Whoa, wait" Dom said "You can't waste your energy hiking back up; you'll need to reserve it. Andy's bringing up the back of the group" he said to me as he blocked me.
"I have to see him!" I said again "You don't understand!" I insisted, getting emotional and frustrated, still not being able to pick out Zac among the hikers descending the hill "Where is he?!" I shouted, the wind kicking up and the rain starting to fall as thunder cracked out again after the flash of blinding light.
"We have to go, Now" Dom commanded and directed the group down the hill but I was determined not to go anywhere without Zac and then I spotted him come over the brow of the hill and I took a gasping breath of relief.
He was a long way up the hill and I stood for a moment watching him, his hair tamed under a grey knit beanie that brought stark contrast to his bright blue eyes and he was making easy work of the tough terrain.
He seemed to sense my eyes seeking him out and he looked over and I silently pined for him, wishing I could tell him I was sorry and ask him if he would mind very much getting his butt down here so I could hug the hell out of him.
I burst into tears, so grateful to see his face despite the wind and rain lashing at me.
"Come on!" Dom shouted and tried to push me.
"Don't touch me!" I shouted, heading up the hill for Zac and I left Dom behind, seeing
Zac was making a hasty beeline for me also and I panted as my lungs struggled with the climb, pausing on the hill and resting my hands on my knees.
"Hey" His voice hit me before I felt his hand curl onto my back in his familiar gesture.
"Oh my god, I'm so glad you're here!" I cried randomly and grabbed him, throwing my arms around his neck "Where were you? I couldn't see you" I bawled as he held me steady in the downpour.
"Hey, it's okay, I'm here. What happened?" he wondered briefly, hugging me despite the rest of the group moving down the hill.
"I missed you" I said into his face, not knowing how else to express my emotions and wishing I could say everything that I wanted to, but not having the courage to.
His blue eyes softened and he cupped my jaw with his gentle palm, his thumb tracing my cheek.
"I'm sorry, Jen. I shouldn't have let last night happen" he apologized and his regret caught me off guard.
I trickled my fingers into his damp hair poking from his beanie and stared into his watery blue eyes.
"I wouldn't take back last night for anything" I assured him as the rain beat down on us and I reached up to kiss him, all my hurt and pain and passion pouring from my body and into my lips as I coaxed his into responding, our kiss as desperate and electrifying as the weather around us.
His arms were tight around me as we got wetter and wetter in the rain and I didn't care that I might be swept away in the storm because while I was here in Zac's arms, nothing else mattered but how his lips against mine evoked this exquisite, sweet tingling that enveloped my body and wiped away any other inconsequential details like the rain drops that fell around us and upon us.
"We have to get out of here" he whispered as he touched his forehead to mine and I nodded, taking his hand and letting him lead me down the hill until we reached the shelter which didn't hold much cover but there was a bit of a cave further down that we all trekked to once we had caught up.
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Shimmying into the dry space, the loud wind flapping at the open edge of the rock,
Zac turned and found Jen clamping her arms around his waist, placing her face against his chest and stirring a very basic protective need in him that he expressed by wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her to him tightly.
"Honey are you ok?" Joan asked Jen and she nodded against his chest.
"Mm-mm. I am now" her voice came a little muffled from her contact with his body and her words made him feel dizzy and warm with her affection.
"You need to get dry…" she offered and flicked a look at Zac who nodded and stroked her back comfortingly.
"I'm not letting go" she said and Zac chuckled.
"I'm not going anywhere" he promised, his voice warm with his smile.
"I couldn't see you…" she said again, forlornly.
"I was there, all along. Even when you couldn't see me" he said and he wasn't sure himself if he was talking about now or before they had met again, but he liked being here for her and how she was accepting his embrace.
Her admission that last night wasn't a mistake after all was enough to make him feel on top of the world and he hugged her really tightly as he sighed, knowing he had to let go.
"We have to get dry, baby" he said softly, tipping his head to look down on her. She was still wrapped around his middle and she lifted her beautiful face to him which he studied carefully, his tenderness toward her evident as he smiled a little and leaned down to kiss her softly, moving her wet hair from her face gently as he pulled back.
"Let's find a towel" he suggested and linked their fingers, tugging her over toward Dom and Marg who were handing out blankets and there were three towels doing the rounds which they borrowed to take off the worst of the dampness, casting off their soaking jackets as well.
Zac pulled his beanie off and exposed his crazy hair as he took a seat on the dry floor of the cave as the ladies lit up the gas burner and began making hot drinks.
"Good grief Efron, put that mess away" Jen teased as she came over with a hot chocolate and handed it to him, brushing her fingers through his hair
He curled his lips into a rueful smile and caught her wrist as she went to take her hand back.
"Are you taking the mickey?" he asked.
She nodded "Yep".
"So you don't like my hair?" he wondered as he lifted his brows.
She tilted her face as she studied him. "No, I do" she hid a smile.
"Wanna tame it for me?" he asked, twining their fingers together.
"Mmm, maybe" she pouted then knelt before him as he sat cross-legged and she began to tidy his fringe from his eyes with deep concentration.
He smiled at her from under his lashes. "So did you make up your mind yet?" he asked.
"About what?" she asked distractedly, finishing her work on his wild hair and running a gentle hand down his face before placing both her hands in her lap.
Zac picked up his drink and sipped, handing the mug to her so they could share it.
"About going home with you" he broached.
Jen sipped from the mug and passed it to him, pressing her lips together and their fingers brushed as he took the drink once more, leaving his skin tingling.
"Well, how do you feel about it?" she asked lightly .
He reached out and took her hand from her lap. "I feel like I'm not ready to face the reality of LA yet" he admitted.
She cocked her head and gently ran her thumb over his fingers "Okay, you can come and meet mum and dad. But I'm only going for a day because I'm booking a flight as soon as I get home." She warned.
"Okay" he nodded, meeting her nervous brown gaze. "What is it?" he asked.
"They're going to think…" she blinked and shuttered her eyes from him "I've not really taken guys home before" she said with a little hitched breath.
"And you don't want them to think we're together" he guessed.
"Are we?" she asked furtively and he lifted his brows at her directness. It was coming from a long two weeks of avoidance of the subject.
He reached out and touched her face "I don't just sleep with anybody" he smiled a little, handing her back the mug as it remained unused in his hand and she cradled it in her lap as she dropped his hand and watched his face intently.
Zac panicked at her lack of response and touched her knee "Are you having second thoughts?" he asked.
"No!" her eyes shot to his and then she closed them "God, I'm so sorry for making you think that. It's just so…complicated" she explained, fiddling with the mug and taking another sip of drink, putting the cup to one side and shuffling forward, wrapping her arms around his neck awkwardly as she leaned across his folded legs and he cast one leg out, almost bringing her into his lap as she relaxed against him and he snaked his arms around her waist.
"I know, baby" he whispered into her ear as she clung to him.
"Please, don't think I don't want this…Just…let's just deal with it as it comes?" she suggested.
"Oh look at you two!" Joan said warmly from behind Jen and Jen pulled back shyly from Zac's arms, exposing his tight groin somewhat so he caught her waist in his hands gently and cuddled her against his body as she turned to face her friend and she cast him a quizzical look, but sat in the space between his thighs as his legs braced her curled body.
"Hi Joan" Jen grinned.
"I'm so happy you two made it up" Joan smiled "Look at you, young man, all happy and smiley!" she teased and Zac blushed.
"I don't know how long for with this storm. I don't wanna be caught out here again" he admitted.
Jen lay her head against his chest as he cuddled her "We'll be okay" she assured him.
"Dom said we'll camp here tonight and start early tomorrow to get back in time. I came over to see if you need any fresh bedding? We don't have many extra but we've pooled what we had and are handing them out now."
"I'll just sleep in my sleeping bag" Jen offered and looked to Zac.
"Me too" he nodded.
"You can keep each other warm" Joan winked
Jen smiled "Something like that"
"That's if you can keep your hands off him for a whole night?" Joan questioned Jen gently "Hunk like that…" she led and Jen giggled, making Zac's tummy turn inward at the delicious sound.
"I'll try!" she joked back, placing an affectionate hand on his chest briefly.
"You'll try?" he growled in her ear as Joan moved off and he brought his knees up, trapping her into his body.
She giggled again and twisted in his arms awkwardly "What was I meant to say?" she challenged.
"I don't know! That I'm irresistible and it's impossible to keep your hands off me?" he suggested.
"Oh Zac, really?" she scoffed, running her hands into his hair as she faced him boldly
"Yeah, really" he said, pretending to be hurt.
"Okay" she said with a light in her eyes and she leaned up to reach his ear "You're irresistible and I can't keep my hands off you" she murmured sexily and he felt his groin heat swiftly, tightening his trousers even more as he groaned out loud.
"You didn't just do that" he murmured with a tight voice as he laid his forehead on her shoulder
"I did" she teased warmly, stroking the back of his head as he hid his face and he felt her soft curves pressing into his body, connecting with his hardness.
He tilted his head and kissed her softly on her neck and he felt her stiffen in his arms with awareness, sighing gently as they embraced in the corner of the cave.
He tucked his legs around her and they sat entwined as he lifted his head and framed her face to kiss her, their lips meeting in a slow, exciting kiss that had him wishing they were alone right now as she squirmed in his lap, casting her arms back around his shoulders to pull herself closer to him and she dipped her tongue into his mouth, causing him to shift against the increasing level of desire he felt rushing around his body and pooling in his already painful groin.
"Zac…" she panted as she wrenched her lips from his and clutched at his shoulders.
Zac let his breaths slow and steady before speaking, wondering what the rest of the group made of the pair of them making out in the corner, but no-one seemed to be paying much attention as they busied them selves making adhoc food for the group.
"Yeah, it's not going away, huh?" he joked as she unfurled from his body.
"You are way too tempting in this small space" she sulked and he wanted to kiss her pouted lips but knew better than to allow himself that pleasure.
"I'm gonna go help with dinner" he said, gently stroking her dark hair back from her face as it escaped her ponytail.
"Okay" she nodded and moved so he could get up, cuddling her arms around herself as she rested up against the wall, deep in thought.
"Hey, you ok?" he asked worriedly before he moved off.
Jen nodded and smiled fakely at him and he didn't want to push the subject so he turned and brushed a hand through his hair as he took a breath to calm his taut body before joining the group.