After the damaging ruckus caused by SID, who took so many of the men away from us to do battle with him, everyone rushed home to resume their normal lives with each other again.  We had all been away from one another too long and were feeling the repercussions.  We who stayed with Bou had a wonderful supportive and bonding time, but we sadly missed our men.  Then it was over, they were back, and it was time to regroup down at the Pub.

I saw Zack standing at the bar shaking Dom's hand as I entered the Pub.  I ran dead at him and threw myself into his arms, wrapping my legs around his beautiful solid body and smothering him with kisses, wishing Dom a Happy Birthday at the same time. 

He laughed, smoothed my hair away from my face so he could see me better and crooned at me.  "Missed me that much, Baby?   M-m-m ... show me how much ..."

"If we weren't here, I'd show you how much 'til you couldn't walk, G-man! God, you look beautiful! I missed you insanely! Please don't do that again!"

"It wasn't a choice, darlin', believe me. But it's over now and we can enjoy this night."

 He looked over at the new lovebirds behind the bar, lost in each other, and whispered in my ear.

"So -- Uma and Andy, huh?  Whadda ya think of that?"

"I think we could show them a few pointers....." I whisper back into his ear. 

"Maybe I'll take Uma into the Powder Room and give her a lesson in "How To Get the Best Out of Your Man - 101."

"Carol ... Please.  She could probably show us a few things...." He snickered.".... I'll bet she makes his nose bleed.... And I'll bet he loves it...  Come on...drink up and let's slip away...I got me a sudden urge to be very naughty...  You figure it will last? What do you think she sees in him?"

I looked at him incredulously.  "What does she SEE in him? Are you serious, love? Look in the mirror, a few years ago maybe? ... Beautiful, untouched and untainted by your worldly job? Smooth- faced?  Pure?  Innocent? ... No ... I take that back, you were never innocent ..." 

I dodged a grab as he tried to quiet my runaway mouth with a kiss. 

"Really, Baby, I think she sees pure devotion bordering on adoration, genuine love, humor, fun, and truth -- a great chance for a new beginning. Andy is adorable ... and, no ... I wouldn't jump his bones.... Unless you weren't around, of course ..."

I dodged another swipe at my mouth ... 

" - and he is over the moon about Uma. How can they miss? --- Speaking of which ... I'm over the moon about you, so take me home now and ravish me into next week, or it's over for us. Got that, you totally edible specimen of FBI man?"

His eyes pinned me.  "You trying to threaten me, Ma'am?  There are penalties for trying to use improper inducements towards a federal agent ... I'm reading you your rights, miss...

He whipped out a pair of cuffs and snapped them on me.

"Just hauling this one to a holding cell.... I think it's gonna be a long night...it's a jungle out there, boys..." he said to the grinning guys at the bar, and pulled me toward the door.

After leaving the Pub, trussed and cuffed and sputtering between kisses that enough was enough already, I allowed myself to be led to the car.  Zack placed me in the front seat next to him and took his time feasting on my lips until I was gasping and wriggling to get my hands free so I could hug the stuffings out of him.

He giggled into my mouth, "Had enough, my sweet little wise ass?"

"Zack Grant, turn me loose this minute and take your medicine like a man!"

He chuckled and released the cuffs, ducking as I swung my arms up at him. But instead of hitting him I grabbed him around the neck, slid across his body behind the wheel and kissed him with open mouthed passion, sucking on his tongue, until I could feel his arousal straining underneath me and his breathing became labored.  I continued my assault on his mouth until he whimpered. 

"Please ... Jesus, God ... Let's get the hell out of here!"

Back at their apartment, Zack sat at the table in the comfy, nook-sized area they called the kitchen and watched mesmerized as Carol intently puttered about, straightening things here and there, and preparing their tea. As she worked, she absentmindedly stripped off her pub clothes piece by piece as she went -- just as unselfconsciously and unaffectedly as a child -- first, slipping one arm out of her black turtleneck sweater and turning on the stove, slipping out the other arm, and turning on the faucet; filling the kettle with hot water, and pulling the sweater off over her head, which loosened her long glossy dark auburn hair and sent it spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She put the lid on the kettle, put the sweater over the back of a chair, and reached for their cups from the cupboard. The stretch of her arms highlighted the lithe, slim sweep of her long-waisted, lightly tanned torso.

She reached for the sugar bowl, unbuttoning the snap at the waist of her jeans at the same time. She reached for the squat little two cup blue teapot she loved, unzipped the zipper at her waist, spooned tea leaves and a pinch of sugar into a cup in preparation of putting them into the heated teapot when the water boiled. She removed rings, bracelets and earrings and put them in a little saucer on the table.

He marveled at the effortless economy of her movements as she accomplished all these little tasks. With one hand, she began to unsnap the front closure of her bra as the kettle began to peep. Reaching for it, she looked up then, right into his eyes, realizing only at that moment he had been watching her the whole time and the front of his jeans was a huge bulge.

"If that comes off, tea will be much later than we planned." He growled, pulling her onto his lap and burying his face in her warm, fragrant, softly rounded, teal, lace-covered cleavage.

"Carol, have you any idea how much I love you?" He asked huskily, his lips against her silky flesh. Her eyes grew huge at this sudden declaration and she tipped his face up to hers so she could study his heavy eyes. They were misty with emotion. She wondered if he was having some kind of existential crisis. She treasured the expression of unadulterated love on his handsome face as he looked up at her.

"I don't say it often enough, or forcefully enough, and I'm sorry for that. It's in my head all the time. I tell you I love you a hundred times a day in my head; but I need to put it in my mouth. I know that now. I don't know what I'd do without you. I need you more every day, Baby. Please don't think I take you for granted..."

"Oh my love, what's wrong? Did something happen? Are you ok?" She asked, scanning his face with concern.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about. You need to ask me if I'm ok when I tell you I love you. That shouldn't be. You should know."

"Baby, I do know." She answered.   I'm just not used to hearing you blurt it out like that. Did something happen to make you feel the need to tell me?"

"Plenty of shit went down. All of it makes me afraid of losing you. I want to tell you how much I treasure you - that I want to keep you close. I think about my past -- and -- I've lost a lot. I don't want to lose any more. Seeing Uma and Andy all lovey-dovey actually made me jealous."

"Why Zack? Don't I show you how much you mean to me? Do I withhold myself from you in any way?"  She sounded fretful and nervous.

"No, Baby -- you don't -- I do. I want to grab you up in my arms and squeeze the shit out of you most of the time but I don't because I have this shitty reputation for being a hard ass and I'm afraid of revealing who I really am."

"And who are you, Zack Grant?"

"A man crazy in love with you." He murmured. "And I feel like you think I take your obvious love for me for granted."

"Zack -- God --  I don't!  I take nothing we have together for granted, believe me.

 She caressed his face fervently with both hands, smoothing them over his lightly bearded cheeks and furrowed brow. 

"What brought this on, my love? This weekend? SID? Uma and Andy?"

He shook his head, not knowing exactly why he felt the urgent need to confess the depth of his love for her. 

"I don't know, honey. I just see so much shit on my job, so much pain. We've had so much of our own pain to work through. I just - I don't want that to happen to us anymore. I want us to go somewhere and regroup and just be together and reconnect non-stop for a long time. Y'know -- like a trip or something? Could we do that? Would you like that?"

He sounded so pleadingly earnest her heart ached. 

She held his shining longhaired head to her chest and smiled an ecstatic secret smile. What a perfect time to surprise him with her hidden plans. He had inadvertently set it up so perfectly for her - as if he knew -- it was pure kismet.

She sucked his soft upturned lips into her mouth hungrily, running her tongue all around him, as she eased herself gently out of his grasp.

"Sit right there, my angel. I have a surprise for you." His eyebrows went up quizzically as he reluctantly released her from his arms.

She ran into the bedroom area of their open area loft apartment and came back with an envelope in her hand which she held behind her back.  A huge grin was on her flushed face.

"What you got there?" He smiled, delighted at her obvious, childlike pleasure. 

She brought the package out from behind her back and handed him the envelope, watching in pure glee as he read,

His questioning eyes flew to hers. 

"Carol!  Baby!  What's this?  When did you do this?  Is this real?"

She jumped back onto his lap and hugged him about the neck, kissing up and down the strong sandalwood-fragrant column of his throat.

"I did it while you were gone. I got it off the Internet. I figured the time was long past due that we got away and had some time together - just for the two of us.  I hope this is ok. I've heard how beautiful it is there. We just have to coordinate it with whatever time you can be away from the Bureau. Can you get away for awhile without a problem, love? Can you come away with me?"

"Sweetheart, if I have to quit the Bureau, we are going to Cabo! I promise you! This is fuckin' fantastic! See? You've been thinking along the same lines as me all along! Jesus, I love you! Are you free from work?  When can we leave?"

She nuzzled his neck and laughed, so relieved that he didn't say it was a 'bad time' to be leaving, or he'd 'have to think about it, ' or anything negative, just,

"Ok - when do we go?"

"I made my arrangements while you were away.  I guess I assumed you would go for it.  So -- you make your arrangements at work and I'll start proceedings here with the landlord and all.  Then we'll pack and we're off - tout de suite!!  Wait 'til I show you the pictures I downloaded off the Internet. They are to die, my darling! We are going to have the time of our lives!"

They sat entwined in each other's arms staring at the brochures and airline information with both stars and tears in their eyes.

The next morning he went out alone to shop for himself while Carol tried to organize what clothes they would pack.  He came back in an hour or so - excited, silly, and high on the possibilities of this dream trip 

"I'm gonna surprise you...wait until you see the shirt I bought for our trip."  He crowed proudly.  "And they said Grant had no sense of the ridiculous..." He held up the most garish Hawaiian shirt she had ever seen ... "Book 'em, Danny...murder one.   I know we're going to Mexico ...and I do intend to buy a cheesy sombrero as well ..." He added a pair of ridiculous sunglasses with palm trees, bananas and smiling sun faces all around the frames and struck a pose for her to admire.

Carol took one look at the picture he presented in the hideously flowered fuchsia, chartreuse, yellow and orange shirt and tacky, tasteless sunglasses and put her hands over her face, screaming,

"My eyes! My eyes!"

He burst out laughing. "Wait'll ya see how it goes with my sombrero, babes!"

She snorted, "Are you planning to take this trip alone? If you even think of wearing that flamboyant monstrosity, or ANY sombrero, I'll put so much mucho caliente chipotle sauce in your coffee every morning you won't be able to leave the hotel room! You will wear a turquoise Speedo and nothing else. Got that?"

He spluttered with amusement into his morning tea. "Speedo? Are you kidding me? Never in a thousand years. It's naked or nothing."

"H-m-m-m ... wait ... let me consider this option.... Ok - I concur - nothing it is."

"Jeez, Louise ... you're easy ..." he snorted into her neck. "Less to pack. That's always good." 

He was feeling foolishly free, unfettered and happy already. 

He indicated to her what clothes he would like to take, and had a quick cup of coffee, and then he went to the bureau to officially notify them of his vacation plans.  He came back exhilarated. 

"OK.... I'm officially on leave as of this Friday. As I haven't taken a holiday in three years they were pretty neat about it at short notice. And you know what they're like in the Bureau...a pack of old ladies. They wanna know who I'm seeing...one or two have even noticed a certain spring in my step these days. I told them I got new shoes....But wait til they see my snaps..."

They spent Thursday night packing and readying for their trip, then they headed for the Pub to say goodbye to everyone, since they expected to be gone for at least two weeks.

Bursting through the door in high spirits, Zack shouted magnanimously,

"Hey everybody! Belly up to the bar! Andy, my man, get your hands off Uma and set up the bar! This one's on us! You can all wish us bon voyage!"

Carol went around hugging and kissing everyone -- Scarlet, who was looking gorgeous as a pregnant lady with Hando ever at her side, bursting with pride, Bud standing close by Marie, who was still looking a tad pale and shaken after her ordeal, Bou who looked reflective but beautiful as she and Cort talk with their heads together, Wildie and East, Tulip and Egan, Colin, John and Clarity, Alex, Heather and Dino -- Ann and Chili strolled in a bit later and Carol impulsively burst out,

"Wow! I'm so glad so many of you are here tonight! " She said happily. "As you probably have heard, we are going on vacation to Mexico, and it just wouldn't seem right if we didn't get the chance to say bye to you all like this! This works out just perfect! I'm so sorry we missed Cass, Terry, Gaia, Max, Angel, Lachlan and Jack, Johnny, Dom and Jack!   Please give them our love when you see them. We are going to miss you all so much! I just love you all ....." She started to tear up and Zack hugged her to his chest.

Easy, Baby ... this is supposed to be fun, right?"

"It IS fun, you goof! I'm just gonna miss everyone!" She sniffed.

She lifted her champagne, generously offered by Uma, and they toasted all their friends, feeling exceedingly happy and grateful. Life was looking just so fine. Zack winked at her and hugged her to his side - they clinked glasses,

"Here's to us, Baby! Hang on .... it gonna be a wild ride ..." 

Zack and Carol arrived at the tiny airport in Mexico after a long but comfortable flight north from San Francisco, all the way down to the end of the Baja Peninsula.  When they deplaned, they moved quickly through the throngs of locals crowding the tiny terminal. They were holding signs, yelling in Spanish and English, offering special prices and gifts of Tequila as enticements for real estate and time share scams, and trying to grab as many tourist dollars as was possible.  Zack took Carol's hand and pulled her quickly through the mob until they came out the other side, there they grabbed a taxi for the final 26-mile drive from the little airport to the upscale resort town of Cabo San Lucas.   

There was only one single dusty road the whole way, framed by the dessert on both sides.  The desert was vast, and hauntingly beautiful in the waning pink sunlight.  On the way, they passed many poverty stricken little adobe huts that housed some local residents and the sight of an occasional huge black bull in a homemade pen was not unusual. 

The driver of the taxi stopped at a golden adobe two story building on the dusty way, which apparently was a liquor store, and asked them if they would like refreshment.  Zack gave him the money and he went into the arched doorway, returning with three ice cold Corona beers.  It tasted like heaven and they sipped enthusiastically for the rest of the drive into town. 

From the scarcity of the homes and the obvious poverty of the people who lived on the outskirts of Cabo, it was a dichotomous shock as, at long last, they approached the town itself.  The whole area was bedecked with huge, exotic, pastel-colored hotels and various other buildings the colors of gum drops.  They were dotted - widely spaced - along the palm tree and cactus lined road like jewels on a bracelet, with the sandy shores of the turquoise Pacific on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other.     

As they neared the town the view became more and more exotic.  Carol kept stealing glances at Zack, testing his reactions.  His expressive sea colored eyes registered everything with surprised pleasure.  He kept whipping his sunglasses on and off to get a better look at some of the local sights, squeezing her hand in his growing excitement.

They checked into the magnificent Plaza Las Glorias Hotel which overlooked the sea and was located in a prime spot at the very tip of the town.  The view from their room took their breath away as they threw their bags on the bed and drew the curtains.  They stood speechlessly with their arms around each other beholding their surroundings.  They watched the flaming huge red ball of sun as it dipped for the evening into the sea with every color on God's palate streaked across the sky as if to coax it to abide a bit longer. 

The sun colors faded into subdued rusts and grays as it disappeared too quickly between round twin mountain peaks across the bay, casting shadows of deep purple around the area.  They viewed the torch-lit, blue-watered pool area below, lined with white tiles, lines of white deck chairs and swaying green potted palms.  Yachts and boats of every size lined the huge marina. 

Zack was so in awe of the beauty around him, he spun Carol around in his arms so he could study her face in the dimming light. 

"You did all this?  You arranged all this for us?  For me?  No one ever did anything like this for me in my life, baby, no one.  You just knew what I needed and you did it."  His voice lowered to a whisper as he stroked the inside of her lower lip with his index finger.

"How will I ever show you how grateful I am?"

She sucked his finger into her mouth, swirling her tongue around it salaciously. "I'll give you a few pointers." She smiled, and reaching her arms around his neck, she kissed him all over his face then devoured his mouth.

When she released him they were both breathless, and he pushed her backward onto the king-sized bed, lying full length on top of her.  You gonna start something you're not ready to finish, my love?" He purred into her neck.

"You've got a lot of starch for someone who just made a long trip.  Aren't you tired?"

"Yeah ... but I'm horny, too."  He licked her throat and deftly opened the buttons on her shirt.

"M-m-m-m --- oh god - Zack -- no ... you shouldn't -- we really should -- we have ---to--- to -- unpack --- and --- there's so much we need to --- god -- o-o-h-h- - god, don't stop ...yeah .. no --  Zack stop --- "

"Make up your mind, sweetheart..." he said between kissing her neck and sucking her earlobe.

She did.

Later, they lazed bonelessly on the bright expanse of their southwestern inspired bedspread - both nearly naked except for incidentals like a shoe here and a lacy chemise there, after their frenzied coupling in a new country.  They proceeded to plan their evening carefully, stroking each other tenderly as they talked. 

Later .. much later ... Zack was wandering around stark naked rummaging through his case... "You seen my swimmers?  I can't find a fucking thing in here. You know you brought too many clothes for me?  I just need a pair of shorts and a shirt..."

Carol dragged her eyes from the stimulating view of his masculinely awesome naked splendor as he ruined her perfect packing by tearing everything out of his case and dumping it on the bed ...

"I can't find anything ..." he groused. 

She smirked and handed him his swimmers, which of course had been right under his nose. 

"Here, oh Great Detecting One .... If they'd been a dog, they'd have .... well - you know... But you don't need these at the moment, Zack.... I thought we were going out to eat. You obviously need sustenance after expending so much pent up energy .... Plus that, you're getting pissy..... You need food."

He looked sheepishly at the trunks, (well - as sheepish as Zack can look) - grinned at her and quickly snapped the clip out of her hair that she had just so carefully placed. Her hair cascaded back down around her shoulders and she squeaked ...

"Damn, Zack! I just fixed it! Knock it off! You are hindering our progress here! And I did not pack too much stuff! You can't find anything unless it's right under your nose and not even then.  Now put these on and hurry up!"

He took the shorts and soft cotton shirt she handed him, commenting dryly, "Now who's pissy?"

She pinched his bum and skittered away to fix her hair again.

Eventually they made it down to the narrow town streets dressed in simple summer tourist garb - cotton shirts, shorts, and sandals - and wandered around in the twilight, holding hands, peeking into store windows and gazing around at the ambiance of the area. She had put her hair back up with a flowery clip, exposing her long slender neck, which Zack kept dipping his head to take a taste of, sniffing her fragrance and licking her, as she pointed out curiosities to him in the tiny fascinating little shops. The shops were mostly closed, but the bars and eating establishments were wide open and jumping.

He took her hand and said, "C'mon, babe, feed me before I die, here. You can look at all this stuff tomorrow in the daylight."

They chose a simple outdoor venue and ordered enough food to keep them happy for a week -- She ordered Nacho Style Taquitos as an appetizer, and Chipotle Chicken Burrito Salad with sweet avocado vinaigrette dressing, and he ordered Mexican Grilled Charbroiled Steak and El Monterey Beef Tamale Nachos with a hot sauce that made his eyes water when he ate it.  He refused to admit any discomfort, but when he quickly tossed his cold beer back and the tears rolled down his cheeks she chuckled at him.

"It takes a fool's courage to do such disservice to your palate, Zack! You're not used to eating this stuff! You should go easy!"

He groaned in response and stuck another nacho into his mouth. 

That was some meal.... Better walk it off, babes. Let's go down to the beach. My belly's so full, you've got no chance of any action at the moment...mind's willing but the dick is limp...maybe some moonlight and sea air might change things up?  Whatd'ya say?

After their wonderful meal, and much imbibing of Mexican beer, they decided to walk off the after effects and began to stroll up and down the little streets, doing the tourist thing.  The narrow sidewalks were busy but not crowded and every few yards it was necessary to dodge local street vendors who were stationed in place or were walking up and down the sidewalks hawking their wares.  They sold everything from garishly colorful local arts and crafts to silver jewelry to Chiclets gum.  They were plentiful and relentless and soon drove the meandering couple off the streets in search of a stretch of quiet beach to finish their after dinner constitutional.

Zack dragged Carol by the hand as she lagged behind, wanting to see it all - afraid of missing a thing. 

"I want to come back later so we can pick up presents for all our friends." She said as she skipped quickly across the street to keep up with him.

"Yeah ... and how about big, red and black mirrored cheesy sombreros like those for all the guys." He giggled as they passed a vendor with a huge stack of the local headgear balanced on his head.

They walked back toward their hotel and strolled around the pool area, making plans to swim in it the next morning.   They walked down the length of the marina where most of the boats and yachts were moored for the night, listening to the onboard sounds of parties, music and laughter.  It was a magical night. 

They walked to the end of the lengthy marina and behind the curving line of more hotels, where they discovered a secluded section of exposed beach. The sounds of the distant music and the hypnotic lapping of the sea called to them as they picked their way carefully over the sand to the water's edge.

"God, this is so beautiful ..." Carol sighed as they removed their shoes on the sand. "I wish we lived in a tropical setting....."

Zack gazed up at the night sky, still not too dark to see where the streaks of clouds had been, and picked out the stars that were winkingly visible. He stepped into the edge of the water where soft-curling waves washed on to the warm sand and pulled her with him, locking his fingers in hers. The water was warm and inviting on their skin. On this stretch of sea there were no people tonight - no boats, no marinas, nothing but sea and sky and distant hills.

They spoke little - just nuzzled together, touching foreheads and noses, kissing lightly, hugging and murmuring their appreciation of one another. The food and alcohol had relaxed them so completely they wished they could sleep right there in the soft sand of the beach for the night.

Zack looked down at Carol's upturned face and cupped it in his hands. She was lightly tanned already and her skin glowed in the moonlight. The sea breezes gently tossed her hair around on her forehead and he ran his hands through it, marveling at the symmetry and loveliness of her face as she gazed up at him. Her eyes were bright in the night light and lidded with emotion as she met his gaze.

He kissed her slowly, softly, speaking against her open lips. "Yeah ... it is beautiful, darlin,' ... but you should see what I'm looking at."

The ease with which he could take her breath away never ceased to amaze her. She melted into him, wrapping herself around him, hugging his neck. Their hearts began to pound wildly against each other as they stood rocking together in the surf.

Zack was by nature brusque, quick, direct, but beneath the armored surface he presented to the world the emotions of a sensitive soul ran fluidly, deeply, keenly vulnerable. By habit he kept them well shielded. Knowing that the very nature of relationships was that they had to move forward - much like a shark - to live, and this progression often brought irreparable hurt, he strove to keep that integral part of partnership away from what he had with Carol. He wanted to keep them both so well protected neither one would ever again be wounded.

This meant that he was cautious and often didn't reveal the true depths of his love for her. He'd been around the block a couple or more times and knew that if he were to make these feelings clearly evident, it would mean taking things to another level. It was this inevitable aspect of committed bonding that admittedly scared him shitless.

He wanted, yet withheld himself from the very things he knew were foreseeable in a relationship that was as passionately genuine as theirs. The result of this conflict was that he often kept his deepest thoughts from her, rather than let her see the naked rawness of his true feelings.

She saw what he tried so valiantly to hide. She perceived it every time they made love and he looked into her soul as they fiercely came together and collapsed onto one another. She knew, and she lived to shelter him from ever regretting he let her see that part of him. If it meant she had to wait for what she wanted, it was a price she was willing to pay.

Zack picked her up with his arms around her waist and walked with her back up on to the sand where they clung together, moving as one in a slow, sensuous, directionless waltz, whispering their love into each other's necks.

If there was a moment she wished could last forever, this was it. 

"Tomorrow.... " She whispered. "There's a place here called Lovers' Beach.  I'm taking you there."

"Every beach is lovers' beach with you, Carol.."

He carried her in his arms to the elevators, shamelessly kissing her. "I think I just walked off dinner...know what that means...?"

*** Sunday evening - Super Bowl Night *** 
They were sitting side by side at the hotel's dark and comfy bar....

"This feels like Bizarro World, Zack." Carol said, watching Paul McCartney singing on the huge TV screen at Super Bowl Half Time.

"Yeah, it feels weird, Babe." Zack chuckled, sipping his beer as he watched the great light and fireworks show as it lit up his face with blue and green lights. "Sitting in a Mexican bar watching the American Super Bowl live on TV."

"I can't help but wish, just for now, that we were back at the Pub with all our friends watching this." She murmured. 

"Fuck, yeah ... " He nodded solemnly in agreement. "-- Bet they're really getting into it -- We should be there with 'em, gettin' rowdy and drunk, eating the great spread I'm sure Uma and Andy and everybody put out -- raisin' hell with the guys, watching 'em lose their shirts to each other. Kinda not the same here...."

They clinked bottles and grinned at each other. "Well, somebody has to sacrifice for the team. Guess that's us. Here's to you, my love, and everyone at the Pub!" She said with a salute. May the best team win!"

Lovers' Beach

The next morning, lounging in bed after their late night ...they sparred....

Zack whined into her neck that he didn't want to putter around the shops yet.

"Oh no you don't - I knew it. You lost the bet - now stop bitching, deal with it and pay up." She stated pitilessly, poking her finger into his muscled chest.

Her New England team had won the Super Bowl and now she meant to collect her winnings, which was that he would go shopping for trinkets and gifts with her.

"Zack, you're trying to weasel out of our deal. You said if I won I could have my way with you ..."

"Like you didn't already?" He interrupted, leaning over and tickling her cheek with his beard.

"No, I don't. You can be extremely resistant and stubborn."

"...and you can be extremely persuasive ...." He said huskily, catching her bottom lip in his teeth. 

He earnestly attempted to derail her plan, wheedle his way out of the shopping deal and go to the beach. 

Nipping lightly around her mouth ... "You said you'd take me to Lovers' Beach and that's what I want to do.  You have all the rest of our time to shop."

"I knew you'd try this, you beast. You lost the bet, remember? I want to do this bit of shopping, and then we can spend the rest of our time just lounging on the beach."

"Aw, c'mon, darlin'. We can shop later - promise. Look at that sun! Look at the water. Now go pop into that piece of string you call a bikini and let's go swimming."

"You so owe me, Zack Grant." 

His mouth was wet and warm as he kissed his way around her face - her lower half conflicting with her upper half, feeling her folds gush with hot wetness as he relentlessly continued his plea for his own way. He felt her squirm and smiled wickedly.

"Baby, I'll gladly pay what I owe. I didn't say you couldn't have your way with me. When I'm lying on that sand you can do whatever you want with me. How's that?"

"You're hedging your bet. The deal was shopping - not water sports."

"Yeah... He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth.

"But this'll be a win/win situation - can't miss... how about it? C'mon, you know you want to..." Then he sucked her top lip next..

"I hate giving into you, you know ...."

"Nah ... you don't ..." he murmured with supreme confidence. 

God, you're easy...." He teased, much later.

She launched into a frenzy of tickling him at that, and he caught her hands, laughing.

"I didn't mean that kind of easy...although, you are not exactly hard to persuade .... I meant you give into me ... and you know me ... I'm shameless ...if I think I can exploit a weakness....  Exploit a few of my weaknesses, honey ... cos, babes, you know them all...

"Oh never fear, my gorgeous g-man.  I plan to render you weak-kneed and wobbly as a baby lamb in the very near future.  Count on it.  You'll be pleading for my mercy very soon."

He groaned appreciatively.  "Get on with the rendering, darlin'.  I'm all yours."

It had been her plan to get them both away for long enough to be able to really relax.  Every time she had gone anywhere in the past it seemed like the moment she actually felt settled in and officially on vacation, the time was up and it was over.  This time around, she intended to fit in every single feature she had heard about this magical finger of land sticking out into the sea - so -- she relented -- and postponed her shopping agenda for another day.  She also attacked him. 

He was very elated with what he saw as his complete victory, and spun her around until she was dizzy.  They threw their suits on under there shorts and tee shirts, grabbed the canvas bag full of Zack's snorkeling equipment, binoculars, fins and masks and raced each other down the hall to the elevators. 

At ground level they squinted against the brightness of the sun and threw on their sunglasses.  They entered the open-air thatch top restaurant adjoining the pool area and took a few food items with them for breakfast, to be consumed later.  They had intended to leisurely eat breakfast at the restaurant but the pull of the water was too much, so they took coffee in screw top thermoses, helped themselves to some of the wonderful local fruits arranged in huge mountains at the end of the sumptuously laden buffet table, and picked out a couple of monstrously large homemade carrot muffins. 

Carol watched in awe as little birds flew in and out of the open roofed enclosure, flitting fearlessly about from chair backs to tables, even nibbling the tidbits offered to them by customers.  After trying to figure out pesos versus American money, Zack took the bag of goodies from the cashier, heaved his bag of diving equipment over his shoulder, and took Carol's hand.  They walked to the edge of the marina, marveling at the beauty of the scene before them, and hailed a beach shuttle or water taxi for their transport to the particular beach they sought. 

Lover's Beach

Beyond the town lay a string of high, jagged, rocky outcrops with steep cliffs, like giant  snaggled dragon's teeth sticking up out of the turquoise Pacific water into the azure sky.  These small rock and sand islands, some of which had intriguing histories of pirate treasure and activity in their natural caves, were separated from each other by half mile stretches of water, and ran for about two miles out to the very last one.  The final dramatic natural chuck of stone was a striking piece of Mother Nature's beauty called Land's End.  It was a circular arch of stone, the majesty of which was the signature scene of Cabo San Lucas.  It was featured on travel brochures, web sites, postcards, on little hand painted pictures and calendars in nearly every shop in town.

The open sea lay beyond this tip of stony land and fishing boats carrying avid marlin fishermen headed this way each dawn, each one hoping to land one of the giant fish as a grand trophy.  It was regularly asked, why go to Cabo if you didn't intend to go marlin fishing? 

This day, however, our lovers were looking for something far more exciting even than marlin fishing - their own isolated and hopefully deserted stretch of beach.  Lovers Beach fit the bill to perfection.  It was just that - private - and offered enticing solitude to whoever got there first.  Once on the shore, intimacy was key, bathing suits were optional, and nothing was disallowed.  There were times when more than one couple might be on the tiny island, but today, as it was off-season and the crowds were down, they had it all to themselves. 

The water taxi took them almost all the way in to shore.  They stepped off into the warm shallow water and waded the rest of the way in.  The taxi left them there and they were virtually stranded until, at their own discretion, they would wave a towel in the air as the taxis went by every couple of hours or so, and wave one of them in to pick them up and bring them back to the marina.  A perfect system.

Once up on the slightly slanting pinkish sand of the shoreline they looked around, craning their necks to look up at their view of towering sheer rock cliffs and caves that framed their paradise on both sides.  The taxi had assured them that there was no one else on the island that might be hiding in the caves.  They looked at each other, smiling like kids in a toy store.  Without a word, they dropped their bags and beach towels, their bag of breakfast food, their clothing and sunglasses, and dashed into the water.  It was intoxicatingly warm, crystal clear - and the colors of cobalt blue and green glass. 

"I dare you." Zack challenged when they surfaced, tossing back their wet hair.  He stood, put his arm around her waist and pulled her tightly into his groin.  He ran his wet index finger across her lips, down her throat, across her collarbone and cupped the roundness of the breasts barely contained in her skimpy sky blue bikini.  She looked up innocently into his daring gaze and held up her hands in surrender as, with delicate motions, he untied her top and pulled the ties on the sides of her hips.  The suit fell away into his hands and he rolled it in a ball and flung it up onto the sand.  She wore nothing but a finely braided silver waist chain with its tiny dangling dolphin charm.   He threw his head back to free his forehead of his velvety dark wet hair and let his eyes slowly peruse her tall, slender, finely sculpted torso, her neat strip of dark reddish pubic hair, the hardened upturned peaks of her pink nipples and her enchanting face as it watched him watch her.  It was as if he had never seen her naked before.

He ran his hand down the length of her silky torso.  "Fuck, baby ... you are so fine.  Jesus, look at you ..." he murmured, bending to taste the saltiness of her open lips.

She sucked his mouth into hers, licking and nibbling until they were smooth and hot, then broke the kiss and smiled.  

"Look at you, my darling -- c'mon, you next, big boy." She prodded, and then slipped her fingers into the waistband of his swimmers and proceeded downward over his tensed stomach.  He allowed her to wrap her fingers around his stiffened flesh, his muscles rippling under her grasp.  She cupped his balls and massaged them gently, watching his eyes drift closed for a moment before he bent his head and devoured her lips again, pressing his tongue deeply into her mouth.  As they kissed and licked each other's salty skin, she eased the shorts down his legs and he stepped out of them.  He tossed them up on the sand with her suit and they fell back into the water, floating dreamily, their fingers entwined, as the gentle waves caressed them.

They swam and splashed and frolicked like adolescents, luxuriating in the clear briny depths, pausing to kiss and lick salty spray off each other's skin.  They chased each other around, spraying walls of water at each other's faces until he decided to put an end to her assaults. 

He waited until they were back into waist high water, then he swam up, grabbed her around the waist, lifted her and massaged the rounded cheeks of her ass.  She feebly attempted an escape as his lips drifted down to kiss her between her breasts then nipped at her nipples until she moaned.  His fingers moved purposefully to the apex of her legs where he stroked her water-cooled folds with his thick fingers until she began a rocking rhythm and draped herself urgently on him.  He lifted her again and slowly slid his blood-engorged cock deep into her slick hot wetness.  She sagged in his arms then rose again as her body responded to his invasion.  He held her up, stroking slowly into her body as she clung to him.  He reached down between them and pressed her swollen clit and brought her to a blinding sobbing orgasm.  She ran her hands up and down his arms, tears running down her already wet cheeks, then melted limply against his chest, kissing his salty flesh.

"Zack ... Oh my god ... "she sighed into his neck.  "It was supposed to be me rendering you useless."    

With a triumphant grin, he continued to move surely in and out of her until she felt his leg muscles quiver and he began a litany of curse words.  She felt the flex of muscles in his dick as he neared his release and, wrapping her arms around him, she held him tightly as he roared his coming into the sea air.

"F-u-c-k!! oh ... baby ... god -- yeah -- Jesus --- a-h-h-h-h!"   His body jerked spasmodically with each hot spurt of his passion 

 "Trust me.  I am now totally useless." He groaned against her lips.  "I don't think I can walk out of the water."

"Just as it should be -- part of my master plan." She chuckled.  "Now come up and get some rest so we can get on to part deux."

He whimpered for mercy as she dragged him up to their beach towel where, naked and exhausted, they collapsed and stretched out in the exotic luxury of the Mexican sunshine.  The air was soft and fragrant, rippling sensuously over their wet bodies like a lover's breath - cooling and warming intermittently.  They gazed up at the sky to see brown pelicans flying by and a couple of huge Mexican desert vultures soaring effortlessly on the thermals high in the blue dome above them.    

He moaned in an agony of pleasure as the sun beamed down on them.  It felt like warmed honey being poured out on to his sea sprayed skin.  He rolled his head back and forth ecstatically on the outspread towel.   

"Man ... this is perfect - ab-so-fuckin-lutely perfect!"  

She sighed her complete agreement as they both fell into a lulled, satiated doze. 

She awoke sometime later and got up on one elbow, looking around to make sure they were still alone.  She looked down at Zack's sleeping form beside her, her eyes feeding on his rugged beauty and registering it like a camera.   She lightly kissed his cheek and traced the water-starred tips of his childishly long lashes with her finger, marveling at their lushness.  Her juices stirred then and began to simmer anew.

"M-m-m-m-m-m--" he moaned deep in his throat.  She held a piece of carrot muffin close to his nose so he would sniff it and wake up. 

"Earth calling Zack ..." she sang softly into his ear.  He stirred, rubbed his hand down his face to remove whatever was tickling him and slowly opened his ocean colored eyes.

"Are you ok?"  He smiled, munching the muffin morsel she popped into his mouth.  

"Oh, yeah ... primo!" She smiled back into his eyes.  He lay there immobile and ridiculously happy while she finger fed him a muffin, and they shared a thermos of still hot coffee.  He felt like an indulged pasha and only conversed in grunts and groans of pleasure. 

She giggled quietly as she slid down his bronzing naked form like an oiled serpent, licking, kissing and nibbling his water-sheened flesh - down over the solid muscular landscape of his downy chest and wide rib cage.  He jolted; more from the heat of her mouth pressed on his air-cooled skin than the water droplets that still dripped off her wet hair onto his flesh. His eyes slitted against the ethereal brightness of the sun and he watched as she lovingly began the administration of suntan lotion to his smooth skin. 

He felt himself growing hard as he noted the adoring expression on her face as she slowly, sensually massaged the rich, coconut and lime scented lotion all over him.  She took her time, slowly combining deep muscle reflexology with the application of the lotion.  She began to go down his athletic upper legs, her strong smooth fingers stroking and pressing, then to the strong calf muscles and to his toes, rolling each one individually in her fingertips.  He breathed out deeply.  Then to the soles of his feet, her fingers pressing and manipulating them into deeper relaxation, brushing off the sand and applying more lotion.  She swayed towards him and worked on the damped curls of his chest muscles, skimming over the hardened peaks of his nipples.  She leaned over and gently sucked each one to a hard nub as she continued to caress and knead him into a state of boneless elation. 

He couldn't remember ever feeling so completely relaxed, almost forgetting he was capable of response.  Her magic fingers played him like a violin and his body was singing for her as she held his quickly responding cock in her soft hands.  She rubbed it between her palms, skimming her thumb over the tip and gathering the pearls that leaked out and added them to the lotion as she soothed him.  As many times as she had seen this man's beloved body undressed, the sight of his ample cock slowly awakening and hardening to her touch still stirred her stomach and she felt strong hot grasping muscles in her groin quiver wetly in immediate mute response.  

He groaned deep in his throat and threw his head back, lettering her continue her sweet torture of him.  She licked her wet tongue agonizingly slowly up the considerable length of him to his root and buried her nose in his sun-scented soft pubic hair.

"Jesus!  Yeah, baby -- Ho --Fuck -- god --  a-w-w-w -- Stop, baby, stop or it'll be all over ...." He moaned. 

"Relax, Zack ..." she soothed.  "This is for you.  Pretend I'm a mermaid and you're at my mercy.  You're being held down by my sister mermaids - you can't move - and I'm having my way with you."

"God ..." he whispered.  He tensed his leg muscles and involuntarily raised his hips in response to the beat of her touch.

"Carol, oh my god, baby -  fuck -- m-m-m-m-- yea-h-h-h- ..."  His breath came in short deep gasps at this intense pleasure.

She lowered her head and took the head of his warm glistening cock into her soft hot mouth, encircling its satiny tip and solid shaft with her hungry tongue.  He raised his hips again, placing himself deeper into her mouth as he pumped slowly to her maddening rhythm.

"God, Carol!  So good -- so good!  So -- hot -- oh-h-h - fuck - fuck!" 

Floods of his hot sweet gift spurted into her throat as she suckled him until he was shuddering and cursing, every muscle extended.

He collapsed back onto the blanket and gasped for breath, his hands fisted in her hair.

"God, you're good ... Jesus, baby -- fuck -- that was fuckin' unbelievable -- my bones are fuckin' melted ...."

She laughed quietly as she lovingly cleaned him and reapplied lotion to his softened cock, gently spreading the fragrant unguent all over him again. 

"I'm softening you up for the kill." She murmured with her lips close to his mouth.

"That ain't the way to soften me, sweetheart!"  He chuckled.  "But feel free to keep tryin'."

He pushed her down on to the towel and kissed her lips, nibbling and licking down her smooth torso, pausing to nurse at her sensitized breasts.  When he got to her pubic hair she started to vibrate beneath the ministrations of his tongue and he grinned up at her

"What's wrong, love?  You're shakin' all over -- want me to stop?  Can't your sweet pouty pussy take anymore?"

"If you stop now I'll have to kill you Zack Grant." She gritted between clenched teeth.  

He chuckled and continued to breathe on her folds and to lick and invade her with strong penetrations of his talented tongue.  She whimpered, lifted her hips and gasped,

"God - oh god - yes-s-s-s ... m-m-m-m ... yes - oh, Zack -- baby -- yes-s-s-s-."  

He brought her to the cusp several times and she cried for him to put her out of her misery.  

When enough was enough and neither could bear any more, he simply pulled her underneath him and pushed his rock hard reawakened flesh deep into her drenched depths.  She mewled and cried out and wrapped her legs around him as they crashed together over the edge of the world into delicious delirium and exquisite nirvana.

Later that evening they recuperated from too much relaxation by going for a light supper of grilled chicken Caesar salads and Corona beer, followed by a leisurely jog along the beach.

Zack was forced to promise he would go shopping with her in the morning after their morning dip in the hotel pool.

They awoke before dawn and peeked out their window facing the sea and marina.  Down below, no one was moving about but the hotel staff, quietly carrying huge trays of food to the restaurant, talking in low muted voices, sweeping the pool and tiled deck areas and watering huge potted palms and ferns that lined the walkways. 

They crept quietly from their room and crossed the hall to the street side of the hotel and stood sleepily in their nightwear, which consisted of little more than shorts, on the fence enclosed balcony.  The balcony overlooked the long, colorful row of flags from every nation, which flapped in the breeze in front of the hotel and provided a birds eye view down into the dark, still sleeping little town.  Stars still winked in the gray-blue pre-dawn sky.  They silently watched the early rising marlin fishermen in the coffee shop below getting their morning dose of rocket fuel before heading out for their excursions into deep water and the big trophy they all hoped to bag.

They decided to go on an excursion of their own and hurried into their clothes.  They ventured silently out into the pearl gray light to walk the streets, alone and undisturbed by vendors or any other living persons.  The only place open was the coffee shop.  It gave them a secretive happy feeling like kids getting away with something forbidden. 

All the local vehicles and tourist buses were parked halfway up on the sidewalks and no one was about as they meandered through the alleys, palm tree lined narrow streets, and into the private, enclosed, flagstone courtyards of yellow and pink pastel hotel buildings with names like La Bonita and Salsitas. 

They exclaimed quietly their appreciation of the myriad of tropical flowering, dangling plants, and many shades of green of ivy and ferns that spilled lushly, unrestrained and unheeded over the balcony walls and banisters of so many of the buildings.  They were exquisite and gave each terraced balcony an untamed lacy look.  Each coral colored hotel featured an intricately tiled bubbling fountain surrounded by low walls to sit on, or decorated with dramatic sea-inspired artwork.  Statues of aged copper-turned-green mermaids with calla lily shaped scales, and female fish goddesses with wind swept streaming green hair were everywhere.  There appeared to be a thriving art colony here and the pieces displayed either outside for the public or behind glass windows for sale was stunning.        

They found countless little shops in sunken tiled little shopping plazas that sold everything a tourist could desire in the way of artwork, clothing and jewelry.  Carol found exactly the kind of silver jewelry she wanted to purchase, but of course, they were all closed.  She saw innumerable gift ideas and marked their location in her mind, determined to return with Zack on their shopping day.  She bribed him with the declaration she was going to buy him a special piece of jewelry for himself.  He stared into the window for a long moment, earnestly studying all the pieces on display.   

"I want a silver-inlaid-with-turquoise cock ring." He said dryly.   "And you could get silver nipple rings."

She snorted in amusement and with raised eyebrows and half-closed lids said,  

"Watch out what you wish for, my angel.  You just might get it." 

"I hope they come in extra large."

"The cock rings or the nipple rings?"

"Well .. C'mon ... you've got little ears." 

They continued strolling and found highlights for tourists such as the blue domed Hard Rock Cafe with its guitar shaped door pulls and handprints of celebrities preserved in concrete outside the club.  They looked through the windows of popular local eateries like Pappagallos, "The Famous Fajitas, Salad, and Seafood Restaurant", and Squid Roe which specialized in various exotic seafoods like octopus and squid, and places that extolled the virtues of more customary delicacies such as pink gold, the name for giant shrimp, and lobster.  They laughed at posters tacked on telephone poles advertising "Mexican Fiestas with Mariachi Contests and Cockfights."

They walked on and, (Zack thought - by accident), found the giant white sombrero with red bandana signature decor of the Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina, advertising in huge letters the in-person performance of Chris Isaak the following night. 

She chuckled conspiratorially to herself because Zack had no idea she had scored tickets for this concert.  A friend of hers from work was a friend of a friend of Sammy Hagar, and got tickets for her before they ever left home.   It was one of the surprises she loved to spring on him out of the blue.  He became so excited about such things when he wasn't at home in his 'Bureau mode.'  Away from people he knew he was more spontaneous.  She loved his ability to completely enjoy himself. 

They walked around peeking in the windows, trying the doors, and acting like typical tourists. 

"Too bad we don't have tickets, eh, babes?"  He said wistfully.  "They must be sold out by now."   She nodded her agreement and patted his arm in consolation and they headed back to the hotel in search of breakfast at the hotel. 

After a delicious breakfast of Nuevo rancheros, fresh fruit salad and strong coffee they took a long dip in the beautiful hotel pool.  It was Olympic size and featured a bar in the water.  After frolicking and doing laps for a while they swam up to the underwater seats and ordered margaritas and sat in the water as they sipped them.  It was spectacularly decadent and fun.

They sunbathed on the shining deck and watched, fascinated, as a very drunk young man swam with his face in the water, back and forth through his group of friends without looking where he was going, and smashed his head into the side of the pool without seeming to feel a thing.  He stumbled out of the pool and when his wet feet hit the tiled patio they slipped out from under him and he crashed down.  His friends scurried over to help him up but he said he was 'cool.'

"Ouch!" Flinched Zack.  "That hadda hurt like hell.  But he doesn't seem to feel it.  Ain't alcohol a wonderful thing?  He'll be a hurtin' unit in the morning."

That night they walked over to the Hard Rock Cafe, drank more margaritas, and danced until they were hot, sweaty, woozy and hornier than teenagers. 

"Time to toddle off, sweetheart....." He murmured into her ear as they danced their last slow dance.  "I'll be lucky if I can walk outta here." 

She sucked his neck, loving the sweaty salty taste of him and ground her pelvis into his erection.  "I'll help you, poor baby.  C'mon, let's roll."

"That ain't helpin', love ... but lead on...."  They weaved slowly back to their hotel lobby, now quiet and free of people, pressed the button and made out shamelessly in the elevator.

The following evening was the concert and she told Zack she was taking him somewhere special so he would allow her to pick out his clothes.  Left to his own devices, he would wear jeans shorts and tee shirts all the time, everywhere -- which was fine in this vacation spot, but she wanted him to look just so for the Cantina.  She spent a lot of time deciding what to wear. She tore impatiently through her clothes, trying on and discarding everything. 

"What's taking you so long, babe?"  He asked curiously, lying back naked on the bright bedspread.  She had quickly handed him the clothes she decided he should wear, faded jeans, a silk and cotton aqua flowered shirt and western boots, directing him to,

"Here -- wear this." 

"Flowered shirt?  And you complained about my Hawaiian shirt?"

"Your Hawaiian job was garish, darling.  This is beautiful."

She knew Chris Isaak always wore shirts like that, so she was sure it would be appropriate, but she had not brought him into her little surprise yet so he was surprised at her choices.

She decided on a denim mini skirt, a pale pink halter top that wrapped around, tied on the side and showed her lush tanned cleavage, and sienna brown western boots.  She brushed out her long shiny hair and wore it loose and flowing, and put silver hoops in her ears. 

From his place on the huge bed he watched her put herself together and thanked the cherubic gods of love for sending her into his life.  He rose to the occasion and she glanced over at him with her eyebrows up. 

"Don't you even think about it Zack Grant!"

"C'mon babe, it'll only take a second.  I won't mess you up."

"Get off that bed now and get dressed or it'll be you getting messed up." 

"Jeez, you're a hard woman.  Wait.  I'm the one who's hard.  What'll I do with this?"  He stroked himself lewdly.

She leaned over and licked and kissed his cock fastidiously so as not to smear her lipstick but enough to make him suck in his breath.

"Put that under wraps before I get distracted." She sighed.  "We've got places to go."   

"Where are you taking me anyway?"  He winced, putting his jeans on carefully.

"You'll see .... " She smiled and grabbed a little purse with the long straps, just big enough for a tiny camera, lipstick and a Kleenex, and put it over her shoulder.  "Now let's go."

He barely got his shirt buttoned and his hair combed before she was hustling him out the door.

As they approached the Cantina he began to look suspiciously at her.  "What've you got up your sleeve, woman?"  

She smirked, opened her purse and brought out the two tickets.  He threw back his head and howled.  

"How the hell did you do this?" He chortled.  "You are one magic lady!  You never cease to amaze me."  He squeezed the stuffings out of her until she squeaked and gasped for air.   She explained the circumstances of her scoring the tickets as they approached the club. 

The Cabo Wabo Cantina was extremely popular with locals and tourists.  It was the venue at which many celebrities appeared - no doubt the influence of Sammy Hagar was key - and there was a line waiting to get in.  The club had a wild uninhibited ambiance.  Huge swatches of garish colors streaked the black walls and enormous zebra stripes were painted on the back wall of the stage.  The lighting was dim and intimate.  The dance floor and stage were rather small which added to the cozy, exclusive feel of the place.  A man in an absolutely gigantic sombrero wandered from table to table offering tequila shots to any and all takers.  The custom was to toss the tequila down while he blew on a whistle.  Considering how many times that whistle blew, there would be some mightily impaired folks going home that night. 

Carol and Zack decided on Corona beers, which they sipped while they sat at a tiny table in the corner against the wall near the stage.  It was the perfect place to watch all the action.  When Chris and his group came down the stairs behind the stage and walked out to center stage, the area in front of the stage filled in immediately with throngs of screaming girls and some screaming guys.  It made it tough to get clear pictures of him and the rest of Silvertone without several rows of heads of screaming fans in front of them.  She snapped away happily anyway and did manage to get some sexy pics, albeit from a distance.  

Chris Isaak was one of their favorite singers and he didn't disappoint.  He looked terrific with his tanned boyishly handsome face glistening as he worked up a sweat.   Cameras flashed constantly but didn't seem to bother him.  He wore his usual collection of wild western suits, caballero outfits and a brilliant mirrored suit.  He was hokey, corny, funny and appeared to be having the time of his life.  The audience went berserk.

Carol glowed as she looked over at Zack who proceeded to feel her up under the table while she was trying to take pictures from their seats. They finally got another drink and Zack convinced her to fight her way through the crowd to see if she could get closer snaps.  He said he would stay behind to keep their table.  She wished she had an electric prod as she pushed her way through the crowd, but she managed to get a couple of really good snaps of the star. 

They nursed their drinks, munched on blue corn chips, and got into the music.  Dancing was nearly impossible so they settled on watching the action and stroking each other's legs.  When they strolled home they were humming Blue Hotel.

They spent the next few days snorkeling, eating wonderful Mexican cuisine with names they never heard of but took a chance on anyway, sunning until they were deeply bronzed, and shopping contentedly for keepsakes and souvenirs.  Zack had finally settled down enough to actually enjoy poking around and even gave her some good gift ideas. 

Carol picked out matching silver rattles for Scarlet and Hando's babies, a silver tipped western string tie for Cort (as a belated birthday gift), and one for John as well, turquoise tear drop earrings for Uma, sexy bar art for Andy, exotic local spices and herbs for Bou, red hot five alarm chili pepper sauce labeled "Terminally Hot" for Bud, (a personal gift from Zack), wonderful vials of floral and spice fragrant oils for the rest of the girls and a little pink pig pinata filled with crushable sex toys for Ann.  She found a tiny sailing ship in a bottle for Jack, a braided leather thong necklace for Max, and similar braided leather bracelets for the other boys.  Feeling like she might miss someone, she bought several androgynous silver chains just in case.  She fully indulged her love of silver jewelry and picked out earrings and bracelets for the rest of the girls and finished with a feeling she had well accomplished her task.       

"Why did you think you had to buy everyone a present?" Zack laughed as she poured over her purchases, spreading them out on the bed and wrapping them lovingly.

"I don't know - I just love doing it.  We've had such a splendid time I just wanted to share some of it with everyone.  It makes me happy."  She explained wistfully.

"You make me happy." He breathed into her neck.  "This has been a fuckin' dream of a trip.  It's gonna be tough to get back to reality."  She kissed him slowly. 

"Yeah ... I know...  I make you happy?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," he murmured and pushed her back on to the bed to show her how much.

The next day they headed out of Cabo and started home.  They were deeply changed, deeply contented and completely in love.