The kiss went on for a long time.

A very long time, actually.

And when it finally ended, both Zack and London were literally speechless. Neither teen had been prepared for the unexpected kiss, and certainly they hadn't been prepared for just how amazing the kiss had felt.

Finally, London found her voice. "Wow," she said very softly, before shaking her head and continuing in a firmer tone. "I mean, what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm sorry," Zack said, trying to gather his thoughts. "Sort of."

"Sort of?" London questioned.

"Well, I'm sort of not sorry because that was something," he replied. "You're a great kisser."

"So are you," the heiress said, and then again shook her head. "But that's not the point. You can't just grab me and kiss me like that." As she spoke those words, an image appeared in London's mind. She pictured Zack, dressed like the hero of a romance novel, marching towards her and boldly taking her in his arms. Her imaginative scenario ended with them kissing passionately as orchestral music swelled in the background.

Seeing that London had gone quiet (and having no idea what she was imagining), Zack nervously cleared his throat. "Maybe we should go somewhere and talk."

That suggestion brought the heiress back to reality. "Right." She looked to Zack's door, and then remembered how this entire incident had started in the first place. "Wait a second," she said. "You wanted to keep me out of your suite." She paused. "I wanted to see Cody." Those last words felt somewhat odd to say now. London's feelings were in a huge jumble due to the kiss with Zack.

"I know...and I'll explain everything," the young man replied, his owns feelings a bit jumbled a well. "But not here."

"Okay. We'll go up to my place then." After she said that, London realized that her words might be open to misinterpretation. "To talk. We'll go to my place to talk."

"Right," Zack said. "Just to talk. That's what I thought you meant."

"Good. Because if you try any funny stuff I'll have security throw you out of the hotel." She paused and then lowered her voice for effect. "I can do that, you know. I'm rich and powerful."

"Very rich. Very powerful," Zack agreed as he walked with her to the elevator. "Very hot." He felt embarrassed when he blurted that last part out and stared down at his feet.

As a result, he didn't see London's cheeks redden or notice the corners of her mouth turn up in a slight smile.

A short while later in the Tipton penthouse, after Zack had explained a few things, London's emotions were still in a confused whirl. Though now at least she understood why Zack hadn't wanted her to see his brother.

"Mikayla and Cody," she said. "Now I know why she left so quickly before when she found out I was interested in him. She should have told me."

"Yeah, but how would you have felt if it had been the other way around?" Zack asked. "If she'd told you she had feelings for a guy that you'd just fallen for?"

"That would've been...awkward." The heiress sighed.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Zack's expression was more than a little troubled as he waited for her response.

"Normally, I'm not worried about a little competition," London said. "But Mikayla and I have become really good friends. And if she's as crazy about Cody as you say--"

"She is," Zack interjected.

The heiress nodded. "Then I'm not going complicate things for her." She was quiet for a moment and Zack thought he could detect a look of regret in her eyes. The look was still there even as she forced a laugh. "I mean, come on. Me and Cody? What was I thinking?" She followed up her question with more forced laughter.

Zack didn't join in with the laughing. "Not trying to offend you here, but I was wondering the same thing." He gave her a meaningful look. "Is it true that you started thinking about dating Cody...because of me?"

Seeing the serious expression on his face, London quickly ceased her false laughter. "Yes. That's true."

"Don't you think that's a little messed up?" he asked. "If I was the guy that you...had a moment with, why didn't you think about dating me?"

"I did think about dating you. I just decided against it."

"Why?"

It was a fair question. And it turned out that London had some fair answers.

"Well, for one thing, you and I had our 'moment' while we were talking about how you were interested in Mikayla. Not really a good sign when a guy is into another girl."

Zack couldn't really argue with that, but he was surprised when London expanded on that point.

"And it's not just Mikayla. You've always been..." She hesitated as she tried to find the right words. "You're a good friend, Zack. I like you a lot. But...you've never seemed to be a one-woman kind of guy."

Zack's eyes widened as he heard this. "So you wouldn't want to date me...because you don't think you could trust me?"

London frowned. "I wouldn't put it that way."

"But that's what you think?" he asked.

Seeing that she'd hurt his feelings, London looked downwards as she answered quietly. "Yes."

"Oh of all the--" Zack was too upset to finish his sentence. He turned from London and began storming towards the door, but then stopped and turned back. "I'm not that type of guy. I would never cheat. Not if we're talking about a real relationship."

The heiress looked at him questioningly. "A real relationship?"

"When people decide they're only going to date each other," he explained. "Look, I'll admit I go out with a lot of girls. But those dates are just about having fun. If a girl that I really liked wanted to be in an exclusive relationship, then I'd do it. I wouldn't see any other girls behind her back."

"Have you ever been in an exclusive relationship?" London asked curiously.

Zack shook his head. "A couple of girls have asked me, but I said no. And it wasn't because I'm scared to be in a relationship, it's just that if I'm going to be exclusive with someone...it has to be the right girl."

The heiress considered this. She could tell from Zack's manner and tone that he was being sincere. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I believe you when you say you wouldn't cheat."

"You're not just saying that?" he asked.

"No," she said firmly. "I really believe you."

Satisfied that he'd made his point, Zack smiled as he sat down on London's couch. "Good."

The two teens were then silent. Both of them knew they had more to talk about, but neither knew where to start.

"So," London finally said. "Since you'll be exclusive for the right girl, have you thought about what the right girl for you will be like?"

Yes," he answered. "As a matter of fact I have."

"Tell me about her. Describe the right girl for you."

"Okay. Well, it goes without saying that she's hot."

"Of course."

"And I don't just mean regular hot," he continued with a grin. "I'm talking major-league, five-alarm fire hotness."

"So, really gorgeous," London concluded.

"Right, but that's more than just looks," Zack went on. "She's got to have the attitude to match. I like a girl that's confident and fun-loving. Someone that's exciting." He paused as he contemplated the qualities he found attractive in women. "A girl that isn't afraid to get all...girly. Don't get me wrong, I've been attracted to more than a few tomboys, but I really like a girl who knows how to be all...feminine." He shook his head. "I don't know if I'm explaining it right."

"I think I understand," London replied. "Tell me, do you have any specifics in mind for your dream girl? Is she tall or short? Blonde? Brunette?"

"I'm not specific in that way," he answered. "Wouldn't want to limit myself." He laughed. "It would be just my luck to say I'd only want a blonde, and then the next day meet the most stunning brunette alive."

"What about age? Does that matter to you?"

"To tell the truth, I've often pictured my dream girl as a few years older than me," Zack admitted.

The heiress smiled. It seemed to her that the ideal woman that Zack was describing was an awful lot like London herself. But after thinking over his response to the question about age, her smile faded.

"Zack, is your dream girl named…Maddie?"

The grin on his face was replaced by a serious expression. "I used to think so. Let's face it, we both know I've been crazy about Maddie for years. But now, a few things have changed."

Zack went on to explain how he'd felt like he'd had his best chance ever at starting a relationship with Maddie a few months ago. After she'd spent time with him during her vacation on the S.S. Tipton, Maddie had become far more receptive to his flirting. Yet somehow, even after a few very enjoyable sessions of making out, they'd never been able to make the transition from friendship to more. They'd had a long talk about it right before Maddie had gone off to Africa to do her volunteer work. And while that conversation hadn't closed the door completely on future possibilities, it had made Zack consider that perhaps he and Maddie weren't destined to be together.

"So Maddie's always going to have a special place in my heart," he concluded. "But the right girl for me?" He shrugged.

While London considered all that she'd just heard, Zack decided it was his turn to get some answers.

"Now tell me about the kind of guy you want." He flashed her a smile. "Fair's fair."

The heiress tried to think for a moment, and then she frowned. She knew what she found attractive in a guy, but she'd never spent much time thinking about how to describe what she liked in words. She began to pout. "This is hard."

"Do you know how adorable you are when you pout?" Zack asked.

"Very adorable," she answered brightly. "Plus it's a great way to get what I want."

Zack laughed. "And what is it you want now?"

Her pout morphed into a sly smile, and Zack noticed that she was starting to lean towards him. He responded in kind. "Come on, tell me what you want."

"I think I want you to kiss me again."

Zack was more than happy to comply, and while their earlier, unexpected kiss had been amazing, this kiss was different.

It was a million times better.

To be continued...

author's note: Thanks for the last batch of reviews. Please give more. :-)