Chapter 18 is finally ready to be published. I wasn't happy with the original version and spent quite some time editing it and adding more to it. Please let me know what you think. I'm also open to suggestions. This was originally one of the last chapters, but as said in the beginning I will add a bit more to the last chapter and split it in at least two more chapters.

Rating: Though not explicit, the rating is T for this chapter due to adult situations.

Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story. Bonnie's family and her family background as well as Scott were created by me.

Chapter 18

Bonnie was waiting in one of the rocking chairs on the patio while Michael went to the front desk to ask if there were any rooms available. She nervously played with a strand of her brunette hair. Though she had avoided talking to Michael about their kiss and her feelings for him, she knew she couldn't put it off any longer. She had to tell Michael that she loved him before they would return to Los Angeles.

Michael waved at her from the parking lot with a big smile on his face and showing her his thumbs up so that she knew that they had a room. A room or two? She realized they hadn't talked about whether they would share a room or sleep in separate rooms. Knowing Michael, both options would be a possibility. He could decide to be careful and respect her privacy and ask for separate rooms, leaving it up to her where she would sleep. However, it could also mean that she had misinterpreted the kiss, his suggestion to spend their days off traveling and all the touches of their hands. Bonnie knew that this was unlikely. Michael wouldn't mislead her. Not after everything that happened in the last few days. She felt that he was serious about her and she hoped he would have asked for one room only.

What would happen if they shared a room again? Would they continue where they had stopped this morning and even go further? She wanted to be with Michael, wanted him to touch her and to feel his skin. But she didn't want him to think that she was someone who'd jump right into bed with him after only a few kisses. Would he lose interest in her if she already slept with him the second she told him how she felt? He wasn't a stranger. He was someone she'd known for a long time. They had been flirting with each other since they had met and over the last few days the tension between them had increased. So it would only be natural to give in to their feelings, wouldn't it?

She sighed. Why did she always contemplate everything? It would be so much easier for her if she let her heart tell her what to do.

XXX

"This is it." Michael pointed to the door at end of the floor. He pulled the key out of his pocket and opened the door to the room. While he grabbed their bags again, Bonnie walked into the room and looked around. It was as nice and cozy as she had imagined. Moonshine lit through the windows and through the door leading to a small balcony which overlooked the lake. The bed was covered with a beautiful comforter and several matching pillows.

"I love it." She smiled happily. She was glad they weren't spending the night on the road. "This was a wonderful idea, Michael."

Michael smiled at her. "I'm glad you approve." He nervously played with the key in his hand. How would she react when he told her that they were sharing this room? "This was the last room they had available. Which means that we'll have to share it."

Her heart leaped with joy. They'd spend the night together again. As usual, doubts emerged again as she heard him say that it was only because they were booked. What would he have decided otherwise? Her eyes wandered to the bed again. It was a queen-size bed, big enough for two people. Big enough to avoid lying too close to each other if necessary. What would happen when they both shared this bed?

He watched her while he was waiting for her reaction. He couldn't tell whether she would have preferred her own hotel room. He liked the thought of spending the night in the same room and in the same bed as Bonnie and he hoped he'd be allowed to hold her in his arms the entire night. His heart had told him to ask for one room only – it was fate that there was the last room available.

Bonnie was now gazing out of the window and taking in the view over the lake. He wished he knew what she was thinking. It would be so easy if she'd developed a device that would allow KITT to read minds. Things would be a lot less complicated between him and Bonnie.

She hadn't yelled at him and hadn't objected that they would share the room. Michael interpreted this as a positive signal. "I hope you don't mind. The only other option would have been to continue driving and look for another hotel or spend the night on the road. I doubt we would have found another place like this." He said as he decided to interrupt the silence. "However, I could sleep in KITT's cabin if you don't feel comfortable."

Bonnie turned around and looked into his eyes. She hoped he could read in her eyes that this was what she wanted. She didn't want separate hotel rooms. It might have been fate that the inn only had this room left or just a coincidence. But this was their chance to finally admit how they felt about each other. There wouldn't be a time for it once they would be back in Los Angeles because Devon would probably send Michael and KITT on an assignment the minute they'd arrived. And by the time Michael returned, the moment and maybe the spark between them would be gone and Bonnie would probably no longer have the courage to tell him how she felt about him.

"Don't be silly." She finally said rolling her eyes. "We shared a room last night, didn't we? And don't even think about sleeping on the floor or on one of the chairs." She was surprised by her courage and was glad she said it out loud. "The bed is big enough for both of us."

Michael quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay. The floor doesn't look too comfortable anyway." He grinned, then added quickly. "I promise I'll behave." He would be patient and give her time, but he was hoping he'd get a chance to kiss her again.

"Oh really?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow. She hoped he wasn't serious. She wanted Michael to hold her in his arms and to kiss her again.

"I was a perfect gentleman last night." Michael stuttered defending himself and confused by her reaction which was rather unusual for Bonnie. The last time she'd looked at him in such tempting way had been at the Buckaroo years ago. If he hadn't been on an assignment, he would have definitely played along. "Okay, almost a perfect gentleman. I kissed you but it was only a goodnight kiss I had forgotten." He was lying, and he hated himself for not shouting out loud that it wasn't true. It had meant more to him, and he had to tell or show her how he felt. It was killing him inside.

"Michael..." Bonnie hesitated before she continued. It was impossible that this kiss hadn't meant anything to him. Why was he now trying to let her believe that it was only a goodnight kiss? Now when she had finally allowed herself to let her heart make the decisions. "That kiss...it wasn't a goodnight kiss. It was a passionate kiss. Goodnight kisses aren't passionate." She noticed that she sounded slightly angry and immediately regretted having used this tone of her voice.

Michael avoided looking in her eyes. He couldn't tell from the tone in her voice if Bonnie was upset about the kiss or if she wanted him to admit that she was right. Either way, he decided not to push his luck. "I think I better spend the night with KITT."

He grabbed his bag and headed towards the door. He was angry at himself. He had blown it again. They had been so close, but his reaction had ruined his chance to tell Bonnie that he loved her. Apparently, fate wasn't in their favor. They weren't meant to be.

She watched him walking slowly towards to door and wondered what had just happened. She couldn't let him walk away. Not now. She darted to the door and reached it first. She was determined to stop him from leaving. "Michael, don't go." She whispered as he was standing right in front of her.

Their eyes met and she lost herself in his blue eyes. This was the right moment. She had to tell him that she loved him now. "Michael, I was trying to say that I hope it wasn't a just goodnight kiss." She paused. "This kiss, it meant a lot to me. I didn't want it to end this morning."

"Are you sure?" Michael whispered while he carefully tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. His heart beat faster as he heard her say how much the kiss had meant to her. This was exactly what he had hoped she would say.

"Yes, I am." Bonnie smiled at him. "I want you to kiss me again."

"That can be arranged." He whispered while he moved closer to her. He gently caressed her cheek before his lips slowly touched her lips. She kissed him back with such an intensity that it almost took his breath away.

"You are right, it wasn't just a goodnight kiss. I wanted to kiss you, Bon. I've wanted to kiss you for a long time." Michael admitted as he was grasping for air in between kisses. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. Finally, he could touch and kiss her without having to worry if she felt the same or would reject him.

He dropped his bag which still hung around his shoulder, then took her hand and lead her away from the door to the bed. They kissed again before they sat down on the bed.

Michael raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Bonnie, you are more than a friend to me. But I didn't know how to tell you that I have feelings for you. I've tried so many times these last few days, but I either lost the courage or we were interrupted."

She rested her head on his shoulder and listened to his words. This was what she had been waiting for. Michael had feelings for her. "I know exactly how you've felt. I've been hiding my feelings for you for a long time and I was afraid to tell you because I didn't know if you felt the same. And I didn't want to ruin our friendship or make a fool out of myself if I told you and you didn't return my feelings." Or end up getting hurt. This thought still worried Bonnie, but she pushed it away. "I'm glad we were finally honest about our feelings."

"Me too. It was killing me." Michael laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I think KITT felt it too. He even gave me a lecture on love. Or did you program him to find out how I felt?"

"I would never do that. But KITT is smart. And he knows us very well." Bonnie would have loved to have listened to the conversation between Michael and KITT. "Michael, before we go on, I have to ask. This is real, isn't it? I'm not make a fool of myself, am I?" She hoped he wasn't offended by her questions. She didn't doubt that his feelings for her were real, but she needed to hear him say it. "What are we?"

"You mean if we are in a relationship now?" He asked her, confused by her question. She nodded and he continued. "Yes, if you are okay with this."

"Of course, I am. I was hoping you'd consider us a couple." She looked up and kissed him deeply. "Because this is what I want as well."

"And to answer your other questions, no, you aren't making a fool of yourself. And you aren't dreaming either." He would never understand why she seemed so insecure sometimes. Why was is hard for her to believe that he really wanted to be with her?

"It's going to work, isn't it?" She asked hesitantly.

Michael felt her tense up a bit and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her head while he began to play with a strand of her hair. "Of course, it will work. It might be a bit awkward for us in the beginning, but we'll make it work." Was she worried about them being a couple would affect their work? Or was she afraid that he could lose interest in her? "Are you worried?"

"You know me. I worry too much." She mumbled into his chest.

"I've given you enough reason to doubt me in the past." He whispered in her ear. "But I promise I won't do anything to mess this up. You mean a lot to me and being with you is important to me. This is not a fling, Bonnie." He bent his head down so that he was able to look into her eyes. "I want a real relationship with you."

Her eyes began to tear up as he told her that he really wanted to be with her. They wanted the same and she believed him that they would make it work. He gently kissed her tears away while she wrapped her arms around his neck and began to play with his curls.

"What about KITT? How will he react?" She suddenly asked.

"KITT will be fine. Okay, maybe he'll be a bit jealous. But he told me that he'd be happy if - and now I'm quoting him – we finally admitted to each other how we felt." Michael reassured her. KITT was another reason why he was determined not to ruin what he had with Bonnie.

Bonnie looked at him. "And Devon? I'm not sure he'll approve."

"Well, Devon...I guess you are right. He won't be thrilled." Michael said hesitantly. Devon had always treated Bonnie like a daughter and had emphasized several times how important it was that they worked well as a team. He wasn't sure how he'd think about two members of their team being in a relationship. Knowing Devon, he would worry that Michael could hurt Bonnie. He could tell Michael to stay away from her. "Maybe we should wait a while before we tell him. This is new for us and we also need some time to explore our new relationship and to get used to this. We can tell him in a few weeks, when we are certain that it's working and that we are able to separate work and our relationship." He paused for a moment and looked at her. "I know it's not fair to him and to you but it's probably better right now."

Bonnie nodded. She hated lying to Devon, but Michael was right. Devon could worry that their relationship would endanger their work and ask them to stop seeing each other. "I agree, let's keep it for ourselves at the moment. If he figures it out, we'll tell him. It won't be easy though and I hate lying to him."

"I know." Michael caressed her back.

Bonnie leaned into him. She loved being so close to him. "We can tell KITT, right? I can't lie to KITT."

"Of course, you can tell KITT. He probably already knows anyway, right, buddy?" Michael raised his arm and talked into his comlink.

"I wasn't spying on you. I'm parked close enough to hear what's going on and I'm on surveillance." KITT defended himself.

"Of course." Michael chuckled. "So buddy, you know that I finally admitted to Bonnie how I feel about her."

"Yes, Michael. And I'm very happy for you. Although I do question Bonnie's taste in men." KITT answered and Bonnie burst out in laughter.

"Ah, you are just jealous." Michael grinned. "Good night, KITT. And we don't need surveillance in the room."

"Of course." KITT replied dutifully. "Good night, Michael. Good night, Bonnie."

"You should teach him that eavesdropping is not okay." Michael teased Bonnie.

"I will. But not now." Bonnie laughed and kissed him again.

"Right. We have other things to do right now." Michael smiled as he replied to her kiss.

"No surveillance in the room?" She whispered in his ear.

"Well, KITT doesn't need to know everything what's happening, right? There are certain situations in which I prefer some privacy." He replied quickly. He wasn't sure how far they should go. He couldn't wait to be with her and to make love to her and to show her how much he loved her. But he didn't want to ruin what he had with her by going too far too soon. She had to be ready and he didn't mind waiting.

He noticed that her cheeks were turning pink and he wondered if this thought made her uncomfortable.

"Bonnie…", he began when she interrupted him.

"Michael?" Bonnie avoided looking into his eyes. She tried to hide that she was nervous. She didn't want him to believe that she was someone who's quickly jump into bed with a man. "I...I was wondering...well, I don't want to rush this. We have enough time, right?" Why was this so hard for her? "I want our first night together to be special. I mean this place would be perfect, but would you mind if we took it slowly?"

Michael took her hand and kissed her lightly. "Bonnie, it's okay. I want to be with you, and I would love to show you how much you mean to me. But I don't want to rush you if you need more time. I want you to set the pace. What we have is important to me. We can wait."

"Thanks, Michael." Bonnie smiled at him, then rested her head on his shoulder. "Now tell me, was this really the last room they had, or did you only ask for one room?"

"Which answer would you prefer?" He said with a big grin on his face and kissed her again. They laid down on the bed and continued kissing until Bonnie broke away and looked at him playfully.

"I think I already know the answer." She laughed and kissed him again.