And here we go... the next installment! As usual we extend our thanks to Elainhe and Blueberrynose for being our beta/gamma test subjects.
Your comments are a thrill to read, because you are reacting precisely the way we did when we read each other's sections, lol. "WHAT?" "NO WAY!" Feel free to lose your self in this one. On with the show...


Chapter 3

The morning swim had been the perfect de-stressor for Lindsay, and it had given her some time alone with Danny. Back in their room, she was now treating herself to a hot shower. She inhaled deeply as the steaming water ran down her; never had she felt so … refreshed. She was frugal with the utilities in her apartment - her showers were only lukewarm and very quick. Here, she could indulge a bit. She smiled as she felt around for the shampoo bottle and emptied a generous glob into her palm. The exotic fragrance of pineapple and coconut immediately surrounded her. Wow, she thought, this place really doesn't cheap out on anything! She had just begun to lather the shampoo into her hair when the soft click of the bathroom door opening caught her attention.

"Something you need, dear?" she asked playfully from behind the shower curtain.

She jumped slightly as he yanked the curtain open. "Found it," he said, a large grin on his face.

It took only a second for her to realize that he was naked. Before she could say anything, he stepped into the shower with her, drawing the curtain behind him.

He had a look in his eye that she didn't recognize, a look that silenced her. All she could do was gaze back at him intently. Slowly, he brought his hands into her partially-shampooed hair, smiling as he picked up where she had left off. His hands felt so good as they massaged her scalp. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut, as she simply enjoyed the moment. Everything around her was laced with heat - the flowing water, the rising steam, the radiation from Danny. She could feel his breath hot on her face as his hands worked through her hair. Her lips tingled, craving his touch, hungering for his kiss. Damn him if he was going to tease her like this! Wasting no time, she crashed her mouth against his, fire of all kinds taking over her senses. His hands tightened in her hair, pulling it lightly, but she didn't mind. Her hands roamed over his back, up to his shoulders, down to his butt. She pulled back, breathing heavily, using Danny to steady herself. He said nothing, only smiled.

He carefully pushed her head under the water, running his fingers through her hair as the suds were rinsed out. Lindsay closed her eyes against the water, allowing Danny to do whatever it was he had planned. After a few minutes of repeating these motions, he pulled her back towards him, reaching for the conditioner, using his fingers to comb it through her hair.

He smiled lightly at her, then whispered in her ear, "Close your eyes," placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

Lindsay obeyed without question; the heat of Danny against her chest, of his skin beneath her hands created such a new pleasure... all she could do was moan softly in sheer delight.

Feeling his hands leave her hair, she heard him whisper again, "Don't open your eyes, keep them closed."

It was exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at the same time to be in this position; completely vulnerable, yet completely aroused.

A new aroma filled the thick, steamy air - the scent of the liquid soap was just like that of fresh-cut freesias. She inhaled sharply when it was not the expected touch of a cloth against her skin, but Danny's strong hands. He spread the soap slowly along her shoulders, working her muscles, rhythmically and seductively. Concentrating on her right arm, he slowly descended all the way down her hand, massaging and lathering as he went. He moved smoothly to the left arm, repeating the same luxurious actions.

Lindsay smiled widely - there was no point in trying to hide her pleasure - as fresh soap made its way in a similar fashion down her chest, over her breasts, down her stomach. How did he do this to her; ignite her entire body, awaken every sense, every nerve, every inch? His hands tightened on her hip; she gasped as he pulled her sharply into him, his mouth immediately finding hers. His hands continued their journey across her body, now all over her back. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. Her mind wandered to the events of the previous night. Oh, how she would have taken him right there, had it not been for Mac in the next room. Images of that morning in the water filled her head in turn, the feel of his body in the soft lake water, the sweet taste of his lips, the same sweet taste that flooded her now.

Danny pulled away, once again instructing her to keep her eyes closed. She smiled in anticipation of what else he could possibly do to her. Well, actually, she knew what he could do - exactly what they had planned to last night, before it took a nose dive thanks to the mood killer. Her body was tingling all over, the hot water still beating against her back. He must be doing something extravagant to be taking this long, she thought, with a shiver of delight.

Click.

Her eyes jolted open - Danny wasn't there. She stuck her head out of the shower curtain, looking for Danny. The wet footprint facing the door was confirmation of what he had done. "Danny Messer, you get back in here and finish this!" she called, still not believing.

"Consider it payback for last night, Sweetness," he laughed in response. "By the way, schedule says we have to be down in fifteen. I'm going to go on down. Don't be late, Montana!"

Before she could reply, she heard the door to their room close. Shoving her head under the shower to rinse out the conditioner, she couldn't help but laugh - she was so going to get him back. She had refused him last night simply because Mac was in the next room, something that was just way too weird for her. She didn't want to cross that bridge with Danny while their boss was two feet away. Danny, on the other hand, was refusing her as sheer payback.

He is so going to pay for that, she thought, shutting off the water. So going to pay.

By the time Lindsay arrived downstairs, everyone else was seated and had begun eating their meals. She smiled awkwardly as she took a seat across from Danny, nodding hellos to the others.

"Lindsay, you looked flushed, are you feeling alright?" Stella asked.

Danny grinned wickedly. "Yeah, Honey, are you getting sick?" he asked mockingly.

Lindsay glared at him, and kicked him hard under the table. When she saw the reaction on his face, it gave her an idea. Carefully, she slipped off her sandal, than began seductively running her foot up Danny's leg.

He stopped eating, his eyes bulging out.

Hawkes gave Danny an odd look. "Something wrong with the pasta, man?" he asked.

"Nope," Danny sputtered, reaching for his water glass. "I, uh…" he failed to finish, as Lindsay's toes brushed dangerously close to his thigh.

"So what did you all do with your breaks this morning?" asked Stella, swirling linguine around her fork.

"Flack and I went to shoot some hoops," said Hawkes.

"Yeah, and I kicked your ass," laughed Flack, pointing.

"Only because I let you win. You're broken, I had to."

"Oh, sure, sure, is that what you say to make yourself feel better?"

"We went to the beach," Lindsay replied quickly, casting a teasing look in Danny's direction.

Danny pretended to be very caught up in his lunch, memories from the beach running through his mind. Lindsay, in the sun, water glistening on her perfect body… and whatever she was doing to his leg was definitely not helping the situation. Watch it, he glared at her.

She smiled in response. "You ready to go up to the buffet?" she asked sweetly.

Danny shook his head. "No, I'm good," he muttered. His expression said simply, You got me.

After their meal, the group was to meet in the lobby for what was designated as "Self-pampering time". Danny pulled Lindsay aside by the arm. "Are you mad at me?" he hissed.

Lindsay grinned. "Of course not," she purred, running a finger down his chest. "I don't get mad. I get even."