Hello, my friends! How are you guys today? I hope you're doing well.

Here I am. Still writing up a storm. I think it's the excessive amount of energy I have at the moment... Or the coffee that's in my system. Honestly, I don't know yet.

WARNING THOUGH!

There is a bit more heated content in this chapter. Not like anything actually sexually explicit, but suggestive ideas. Ya know? Why did I write it? Honestly, I have no clue. This chapter came from me legit just shutting my mind off and letting my fingers do the typing.

Anyway! Hope you guys enjoy! Much love, my friends!

When Jim asked me to go on tour with him, I was nervous.

He and I spent a lot of free time together since we were high schoolers, but I felt as if I was overstepping my boundaries in a way. Don't get me wrong, I always loved hearing him sing since we were sixteen, but seeing him perform to such a large number of people made me feel as if I was looking at the most exposed version of him. Especially now since I know exactly what he was singing about and how he was able to muster such raw emotion in his voice.

But each time that I felt like I was intruding, he would welcome me with open arms. Each city we stopped in bringing us closer than ever before.

I felt my back press gently against the metal door of his lips captured mine. A soft gasp escaping me as my fingers gripped the back of his hair.

Well. Closer was an understatement.

I could swear that my eyes were rolling back into my head as his body was flush against mine. His right hand engulfing my hip as his other was placed onto the door to keep him steady.

"Where the hell are they? We need to get leaving for the next stop." I smirked against Jim's lips as I heard a small grumble come from the musician.

"We can be late." He took my lips as his own once more as the sound of footsteps walked past the room we were hidden within.

"I," I spoke between messy kisses as it was obvious neither of us wanted to stop anytime soon. "I don't think the label would like that very much."

"Fuck the label." He moved his attention toward my neck as he placed a few quick kisses onto the sensitive skin there. I drew in a sharp breath as he licked gently at the exposed skin.

"You're gonna-." I closed my eyes as I tried to steady my wavering voice. "Leave a mark." He just murmured something against my skin before moving his attention toward the opposite side of my neck.

Jesus fucking Christ, Lake.

I tightened my grip on his hair as just groaned in this deep tone in response.

"JIM! CLAIRE! Where the hell are they? Mr. Domzalski is going to lose his mind!" The hurried footsteps went across from where we were once more as I felt a small nip to the base of my neck. I tried my best to stifle the yelp that threatened to escape me as it was obvious that the crewmates searching for us were still near.

"Fuck. Don't do that. You wanna get caught?" He just smirked against my neck before repeating the action. This time the yelp escaping me.

"Hello?"

"Told you." Jim just pulled his head back from my neck and just gave me a lopsided smile.

"Worth it." He leaned in and pressed his forehead against mine. I couldn't help but nearly get lost in his eyes. His pupils dilated beyond compare as the blue within them were nearly nonexistent unless you knew what you were looking for. A smile appeared on my face at the sight of the effects our interaction had on him.

"Mr. Lake?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there. Was just finishing up something." He called out toward the crewmates as his eyes kept themselves on mine.

"Is Ms. Nuñez with you?"

"Yeah, I'm here." I called out toward them as I placed my hands onto Jim's shoulders. "Just helping him out. We'll be at the bus in a moment."

"Alright. Just hurry, please. I rather not have the wrath of a stress Mr. Domzalski."

"You got it!" I smiled as Jim and I responded in sync. I giggled at it as the footsteps fled the scene once more. "Can't tell we've been friends for a while."

"Can't tell at all." I smiled up toward him as he placed his hands onto my hips. "Guess we should get going."

"Yeah. Before Toby rips the head off of a poor roadie." He chuckled at that as we moved away from the door just enough so that we could leave whatever room it was that we were hiding within.

"This isn't done though." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we exited the room.

"Wouldn't want anything less, Lake." I smirked up toward him as I wrapped an arm around his waist in reply.

"You two were making out in some fucking spare room of the concert hall, weren't you?"

"What?" I gave a dramatic performance as I placed a hand onto Jim's chest. "We would never!" I felt Jim's laughter as it rattled his chest gently.

"Yeah! We would never do such a thing!" Toby gave us a blank stare before pointing toward my neck.

"Yeah, and Claire got bit by like four mosquitos between when I saw her last and now." I felt a simple blush take over my cheeks before looking toward Jim who was beside me. His cheeks were just as pink as I figured mine must have been looking like. Toby let out a sigh as he just ran a hand through his air. "Well, you two will get your alone time soon enough. After our show in New York, we're taking a break from night travel since we need to catch a plane to the UK afterward."

"Are we staying at the normal place?"

"Yup."

"Same-?"

"As always. Just the way everyone likes it."

"Perfect." I looked between them as I was lost within the almost wordless communication between the two men. "What's wrong, Nuñez?"

"Kind of just lost between what the hell you two are talking about." Jim chuckled once more. His laugh causing his chest to chuckle under my hand once more.

"Don't worry, Claire. You'll love the place. Probably one of my favorite stops on the tour."

"I thought you hated the crowdedness of New York City?" He shrugged at that as he gave me a small smile.

"I might be performing in the city. But we stay somewhere else." I gave him a curious look as he seemed to enjoy stringing me along on the subject. "Don't worry. You'll love it."

"Trust us, C-Bomb." I turned my attention over to Toby who was just giving me a small smile. "You'll love the place."

"Can't wait then." I smiled between both of them.

The tour might have brought Jim and me closer, but it did the same with the three of us in general. Becoming even closer than we were in high school. Allowing us to see almost every side of each other.

Even the more professional side to Jim and I's favorite little red-head.

My smile upturned the corners of my mouth even more as I snuggling into Jim's side.

And I know that even if I don't enjoy wherever we're going, I'm going to enjoy the experience either way.

Jim's New York show went off without a hitch and it seemed that everyone, even Jim himself who was almost always ready to sing for his fans, was rampant on trying to ourselves to wherever it was that we were heading for our night's stay. I just chalked it up to the fact that everyone must have been sick and tired of sleeping on the tour bus since bucket bus seats weren't the greatest for sleeping.

But that was before I actually saw where we were staying for the night.

"Are you sure this is the place? It looks like some kind of new-age mansion." Jim just chuckled beside me as he gestured toward the large black building with wooden fixtures. It was a beautiful sight, to say the least. The slanted roofed three-tiered structure was a mountain oasis in comparison to the cluttered busy streets of New York City. "We're still in New York, right?" I looked around the green scenery as I took in the absolute beauty that was the nature around us.

"Yes, yes we are." I turned my attention back toward Jim who was smiling down toward me. "Do you like it?"

"Like it?" I looked between him and green scenery once more as I reached out and took his hands into mine. "This place is stunning."

"Welcome to the lodge then." He laughed a little at the end of his statement before he started tugging me along with him as he made his way toward the entryway. "Come on. If you like the outside then you'll love the rest of it."

"Lead the way, Lake." His smile widened at me as he decided to just that while he pulled me gently behind him.

"Have fun you two!" Toby called out toward us. "Not too much though! Remember, we don't have time to clean up after ourselves." I laughed lightly as I caught up to Jim's side.

"He acts like he owns the place."

"He doesn't." Jim turned his head toward me while he spoke. "I do." I gave him a shocked look. A small laugh escaping the singer as he squeezed my hand gently. "What? Something wrong with that?"

"No, not at all." We came to a stop as we reached the front doors of the lodge. "Just shocked you never told me." Jim gave a small shrug as he opened the front door for me.

"It's more for the tour crew than myself. I pay for people to stay here and do the upkeep though and other musicians and stuff pay me here and there to stay here during their off-seasons so it's just a cool little oasis to have for everyone."

"No wonder why you didn't even need keys to open the damn thing." He just let out a small laugh as he followed me through the door.

"Still love me though, right?" I gave him a soft smile as I reached out to take his hand once more.

"Same as always." We stopped together as we reached the center of the room. It looked as if the whole welcoming area was the whole first floor of the damned place.

"Ah! Jim! Wonderful to see you, as always." I looked over toward Jim who just smiled at the tall man that greeted us. His white suit contrasted greatly against his dark skin, but his wide shining smile seemed to tie the two together. His features were kind as put his hands behind his back while greeting Jim. "And you must be Ms. Nuñez. Welcome." I smiled toward the man as he gave me a small bow.

"No need to be so formal with me. You can just call me Claire if you want."

"Yeah, trust me." I felt Jim let go of my hand so he could drape his arm over my shoulders. "She's hella down to earth."

"My apologies then. From my experiences with some of the people that stay here, they usually relish in the formalities." The man let out a soft laugh as he seemed to loosen up from his rather professional persona. "The names Marcus. I'm Jim's head keeper here for the lodge. I make sure everything in tip-top shape as he's gone then make sure that everything is as it should be when guests arrive. Basically what I'm getting to is that if you need anything or get lost, don't be hesitant to ask."

"Well, thank you, Marcus. It's wonderful to meet you."

"You as well, Claire." He gave me a small nod as he pulled out a small key from his pocket and gave his attention toward Jim once more. "The usual room?"

"As always." Jim reached out and took the key with his free hand. "Thank you, Marc."

"It's what you pay me for." The man gave a humorous smile as the door opened behind us with a small ding that I must have ignored when we first entered. "Now to continue with my work. If you excuse me." He gave us a simple nod before making his way over toward Toby and the rest of the traveling crew. "Gentleman! Wonderful to see you all again!"

"Marcus! Get to see you, man! How's the wife?"

"As they say, happy wife happy life." I couldn't help but laugh as I turned to watch the interaction. The two men pulled each other into a small hug before Marcus bent down to take some of the bags that Toby had beside him. "Let me help you."

"Thanks, man."

"Just doing my job, my friend." I brought my attention back toward Jim who was just enjoying the light scenery of the place. A small content grin on his face as he watched over the scene right along with me. He looked so happy just standing there with his arm pulling me just a little bit closer to his side.

"See why I love this place?"

"Between the scenery and happy lodge-keeper, definitely." He chuckled against me as he pulled me in flush against his side.

"You haven't even seen the rest of it."

"Why don't you show me then?" I smiled as his signature lopsided grin took over his face before taking his arm away from my shoulders to grab my hand and pull toward some unknown destination like we were two children in a toy store. Our laughs echoing off the lodge walls as the static noise of small chatter faded behind us.

We laughed lightly together as we made our way down the main hallway of the third floor together like giggling children. The sun setting beside us in the large slanted windows as it gave a golden sheet to the wooden fixtures as we made our way to wherever we were walking toward.

"I knew you could kick ass, Nuñez, but I wasn't expecting you to break the damn thing."

"I've been having to do martial art based fighting scenes for my last four movies, Jim. I would remember me complaining about how tired I was between the classes I was taking for them along with the late-night acting session."

"I do! I just wasn't expecting you to break one of the training bags in the workout room!" I laughed as I squeezed his hand that seemed to be glued to mine for most of our time within the lodge. "Like, I knew not to mess with your before, but Christ. Remind me to never anger you." He turned his head toward me to show me a toothy grin. The sun gracing his pale skin with ease while the natural light made his deep ocean eyes look more like little pieces of the sky themselves. A smile appearing on my face as I squeezed his hand once more.

To think such a sight could be my dearest friend as well as my boyfriend. Possibly the love of my life considering how long I've longed to be with him.

I swallowed dryly as I rubbed my thumb over his knuckles while we came to a stop before a large blue door which was no doubt Jim's personal room within the large building.

Even though we told each other nearly everything as teenagers, we buried our feelings for one another behind joyful smiles and short relationships that were nothing more than trials to see if we could get over one another. Emotional and physically.

He turned to take my other hand in his as a shy look appeared on his face.

"About what I said earlier." His voice was soft as he toyed with my hands. His eyes cast away from mine as it was obvious he was thinking about something a bit more intimate than what we normally spoke of to one another. "We don't-. I mean, I-." I smiled as the man before me stuttered just like the boy he was when he stole my heart all those years ago. He took a deep breath before closing his eyes gently and recapturing his composer. "You don't need to do anything if you don't want to. You don't need to start or finish anything for me. We don't need to do anything if you don't want to." He opened his eyes slowly and looked up toward me with a genuine gleam in his eyes. I stepped forward toward him while I slipped my hands out of his. Cupping his face with them before pressing my forehead gently against his.

But I know that it doesn't matter if we tried to get over our feels for each other. It doesn't matter what we have done before.

"Unlock the door, Lake." I spoke softly toward him as my right hand crept itself to intertangle itself with his dark locks of hair. He did as I told him without hesitation. The blue door swinging open before I leaned forward and took his lips into a soft kiss.

I know I'm most definitely not his first. That's for sure.

I felt his hands engulf my hips as we somehow made our way into the room together before the door closed behind us with a soft click.

But I'm most certainly going to make sure I'm his last.