The next seven days were some of the longest of Kieran’s life. It was, he reflected, one of the great ironies of the universe that the more you’re looking forward to something, the slower time seems to pass. So it was with him as the day of the Florida trip crawled ever closer. Often it seemed as though it would never arrive, but at least he had time to prepare.

On the upside, he was able to see Katie just about every day, both in and outside of school. She seemed eager to spend every spare minute with him, and he was happy to reciprocate. They talked in between classes, they talked as they walked to their next class, they ate lunch together, and in the afternoon he’d pick her up in his truck and they would go do something together. Sometimes they went out to eat before watching a movie at his place, other times Katie would suggest doing something else. At her urging, Kieran went with her to the local art museum and they spent three thoroughly pleasant hours walking through the galleries until closing time. It was his first time being in any sort of museum at all, and he found it much to his liking. Another time she took him to the library, and they spent hours browsing the shelves while Katie urged him to pick a book he felt like reading on their upcoming flight.

Kieran wasn’t much of a reader by nature. There simply hadn’t been time for it. When he wasn’t at school, he was usually busy at his father’s shop. But now, thanks to Katie, his horizons were slowly being expanded. Slowly and steadily, she was giving him a taste of what it was like to live in her world, to appreciate the finer things in life: fine art, music, literature. She even took him to see a live orchestra at the city’s concert hall, courtesy of the free admission her family name allowed her.

I never knew how much I was missing out on, he reflected mournfully. But then, until Katie walked into his life, he hadn’t had any inclination to branch out. His mother’s tragic passing robbed him of that, as it had so much else. For so long, Kieran was sleepwalking through life: he got up, went to school, worked, went to bed, and got up the next morning to do it all over again. He went to school and worked hard at the auto shop, and at some point he finally convinced himself he was better off keeping everyone and everything else at a distance.

I was so wrong. Katie showed him that. Her kindness, her innate goodness, was what finally coaxed him out of his shell. For the first time in three long, miserable years, he was starting to feel happy. The grief was still there, and perhaps it always would be, but Katie smoothed its jagged edges and helped salve the wounds it made in his soul.

There was no condescension from her, though. Not even a trace of it. Katie wasn’t taking it upon herself to civilize a barbarian, rather she was simply showing him some things she enjoyed to see if he enjoyed them too. More often than not he did--to Katie’s absolute delight. The two teenagers were becoming very close very quickly. The bond of close friendship between them felt so natural, so right. It was as if they’d always been friends.

Kieran was unable to forgive himself for thinking Katie had a snobbish bone in her body. She was, if anything, more down-to-earth than most. She respected him, respected his choices and his goals and his aspirations. She was the antithesis of the stereotypical rich girl.

It wasn’t just a one-way street, though. Kieran also took it upon himself to give Katie a look at his world, too. He taught her how to open a glass bottle using the edge of a table and instructed her on the basics of car maintenance. It was important, so he told her one hot afternoon, that she know how to do some rudimentary repairs if necessary. Katie was all too happy to learn, and the first time he’d seen her in a pair of borrowed overalls, her face smudged with oil and engine grease and her strawberry blonde hair stuck to her face with sweat...

Even then, she was still beautiful. No matter what she was wearing, or what she was doing, Katie took his breath away.

Kieran shook his head, the way he always did when his mind began to wander in that direction. Do not even think it, he snarled at himself, as he counted down the seconds until the dismissal bell rang. Do not even think about trying to turn it into anything more than what it is. It doesn’t matter that she’s kind and funny and she makes you feel alive for the first time since Mom died, it doesn’t matter that she’s the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, it doesn’t matter how bright her smile is or how much she makes you laugh or that you spend every spare second with her or that you stayed up till 1 a.m. texting her last night.

I can’t fall for her. I will not fall for her. We are friends. She is my friend. That is enough.

It has to be enough.

The preparations for the trip went smoothly, to Kieran’s relief. Katie was good to her word and quickly obtained permission for both of them to be absent from classes during the duration, while Kieran’s father was more than happy to give him the time off work. “Go and have fun while you’re still young,” he’d said, when Kieran told him about Katie’s offer over dinner. “She’s right: you’ve more than earned it. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re away.”

Kieran wasn’t sure what Katie’s parents thought of her travelling out of state with someone of the opposite sex. Some would say the situation had a whiff of impropriety about it, but if Governor Petersen and his wife felt any reservations, Katie didn’t share them. Kieran was happy not to press the matter. The last thing in the world he wanted was for Katie’s parents to even know he existed.

Katie was waiting for him in her usual spot, which was right by his truck in the parking lot. Kieran’s serious expression broke into a broad smile and he hurried over to join her.

“Hey!”

“Hey, you.” Katie beamed. “How was your afternoon?”

“Boring as hell. I could barely concentrate.” The words tasted like acid on his tongue, because they weren’t true. People were starting to notice how much time Katie was spending with him, and the school’s rumor mill was already kicking into overdrive. More and more, Kieran was noticing how girls put their heads together and whispered when he walked by, and many of the boys sent him dirty, envious looks during class. No one outright confronted him about it, but it was clear the rest of the student body was starting to draw their own conclusions. Kieran hated the scrutiny, but did his best to ignore it. What other people thought wasn’t his problem. And it’s not like Katie sees me that way in the first place. We’re just friends, nothing more and nothing less. That is enough. It has to be.

“Why, are you excited for the big day tomorrow?” Katie teased, jarring him back to the present. She leaned in a little, and Kieran couldn’t help noticing that an extra button on her uniform blouse was left undone. It exposed a small glimpse of creamy smooth skin and the gentle swell of her breasts, just enough to be tantalizing without venturing into immodesty. An accident, surely, he thought. Katie would never do something like that on purpose. The button just came undone and she didn’t notice, I’ll bet.

He was wrong, of course. Katie was giving him a sneak peek very much on purpose, teasing him a little to see how he reacted and test the waters.

“Yes,” he said, tearing his eyes away with an effort. Katie’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief, but she pretended not to notice. “More than anything. I can’t believe it’s almost here.”

“Did you pack everything?” Katie pressed. “You went down the checklist we put together?”

“Every last one,” he confirmed proudly.

“Me too. I’ve got my suitcase ready to go. I’ve got my sunscreen, my beach towel, my swimsuit...”

The image of Katie in a swimsuit flashed through his mind and his cock immediately came to rampant attention. Katie noticed immediately but prudently decided to pretend she didn’t. Nor did she give any hint of the warmth that started pooling between her thighs.

“Y-you think we’ll be at the beach a lot, huh?” Kieran asked.

“Of course we will! We’re not going to be at Disney World every day while we’re down there. I’ve made sure to set aside some days to do...other stuff.”

“Like what?”

Something...odd flickered in Katie’s eyes, a gleam that looked almost hungry, but it was there and gone so swiftly he wasn’t sure he really saw it at all. It must have just been my imagination. “Well, aside from going to the beach, there’s lots of restaurants and clubs and stuff like that. Orlando’s got a great nightlife!”

“Sounds really good to me,” he said. He meant it too. This was the first real vacation he’d been on since before his mother died.

“So, how do you want to spend our last night before we head out?” she asked. “I was thinking we could go bowling or something. There’s a really great bowling alley a little ways away. It’s a bit of a drive, but really worth it.”

“How far is it?”

“About half an hour. That sound okay?”

“Sure, as long as you’re not breaking curfew or something.”

“Please.” Katie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “My parents trust me and they know I’m responsible. I don’t have a curfew per se, as long as I come safely and don’t do anything stupid.”

“Like being out with a guy past 11?” Kieran asked, pretending to scold her.

“Why, Kieran Callaway, are you saying you can’t act like a civilized man in the presence of an unmarried woman?” Katie asked, putting her hands on her hips in a melodramatic display.

They glared at each other for a few seconds, then dissolved into helpless laughter as they got in the car. It felt good to laugh. He was doing it much more often lately. Another thing I have to thank her for.

Katie, meanwhile, was so filled with anticipation she found it difficult to sleep the last few nights. This was it. This was the moment, the time she’d been planning and preparing for so long. The grand plan was about to reach its climax, and what a climax it would be! She so eager and excited to lose her virginity to Kieran, it was all she was able to think about. Her mind kept playing out one scenario after another, imagining and then discarding a thousand ways in which that magical, life-changing moment would happen. She’d been refreshing her memory on the art of sex in her spare time, using books she kept hidden beneath a false bottom in one of her bedroom drawers. Should she and Kieran do it in missionary first before moving on to something a little more creative, or would Kieran prefer for her to ride him cowgirl-style, bucking and grinding her hips as she took his cock into her virgin, untouched pussy? She’d briefly considered doggystyle, but decided to save it for later. She wanted to look Kieran in the face, at least for her first time. After that, she was happy to try just about anything. She and Kieran were about to embark on an amazing journey together. When they returned, neither of them would be the same again.

And Kieran. Sweet, innocent, Kieran...Katie fought the urge not to melt against him as they piled into his truck. Katie noticed, particularly over the past couple of days, that her heart began to beat much faster every time she was near him, and he tended to intrude upon her thoughts no matter how much she tried to focus on other things. Even the briefest moment of physical contact when he helped her into the cab made her stomach erupt in butterflies. He was starting to affect her in ways she hadn’t anticipated, but Katie just took it yet more proof that Kieran was a perfect match.

He really was a great guy. Katie was amazed he wasn’t in a relationship already. He’s chivalrous, considerate, open to trying new things...that boy is practically made to be some lucky girl’s boyfriend.

Katie prided herself on her self-control. Her mind and body almost never got the best of her. But for just a moment, for the briefest second, Katie’s brain conjured an image of an alternate future, a future where Kieran was her boyfriend or perhaps even her--

She firmly and quietly and very thoroughly derailed that train of thought. Kieran was physically attracted to her, that much she knew, but he’d never given any indication he saw her as more than a friend. Nor was she inclined to press the matter. Her plans left no room for a man in her life, and that was by design. Silently, Katie repeated the statistics to herself, reminding herself that most relationships did not go the distance, that half of all marriages failed in the end, and that Kieran himself didn’t deserve to be tied down with a child at the age of 18. It was for his own benefit as well as hers.

And yet, the tiniest feeling of doubt remained. Katie chalked it up to her emotional side getting the better of her and decided to ignore it. Perhaps I’m just overthinking it. After all, she and Kieran were going to make a baby together. It was only natural to feel some sort of bond with him, especially since they were spending so much time together in the days leading up to the trip. Their friendship, though new, was growing deeper and closer all the time. It was okay to get emotional and even a little clingy, as long as she didn’t lose perspective. That was the key.

As he drove, Kieran was clearly doing his best not to look at the swell of Katie’s perky breasts. Her lips quirked in the tiniest hint of a knowing smile. If you’re enjoying that, just wait. You’re going to see far more of me than this very soon.

She wondered what he would look like naked, what his cock would feel like when she took it into her hands. She’d never held a cock before. Would it pulse in her grip, throbbing as she wrapped her slender fingers around it? Would it be smooth against her palm? Would have its own peculiar taste when she took it into her mouth to give her first blowjob?

Katie knew none of the answers to these questions, but she could hardly wait to find out.

She beamed at him when he pulled to a halt in the parking lot outside the bowling alley. Ever the gentleman, he got out and opened the car door for her. Katie made sure to brush against him ever so slightly as she clambered from her seat. Her uniform skirt swayed in a stray gust of wind, giving Kieran just the slightest glimpse of her toned, slender thighs and buttocks. Katie smothered a giggle. It was rather unfair, but she enjoyed teasing him like this. It helped nurture the natural attraction between them, and honestly, she enjoyed the naughty thrill of it. It excited her as much as she excited him.

The bowling alley was a little busy, but not too bad. Katie and Kieran both picked up some shoes from the teenage girl behind the counter and chose a lane at the far end. Kieran tried to hand her the ball but she brushed it off. “You go first. I’m curious to see how you do.”

“Then I’ll try not to disappoint you,” he said drily.

“You won’t.” Katie said in a matter-of-fact way. I’m sure you’ll exceed every expectation, in more ways than one.

Kieran took a second to get into the proper stance and let the ball rip. It bounced once, twice, then three times before it rolled down the lane at a fast clip and slammed into the pins. All but two of them were sent sprawling.

Katie gave him a playful punch on the arm as she went to take her turn. “See? What’d I tell you? Now watch this!”

She leaned forward, giving Kieran a good view of her shapely rear. The ball left her hand, but instead of rolling in a straight line, it veered off to the left and fell into the groove on either side of the lane, rolling past the pins harmlessly.

“That was worth watching,” said Kieran with a smug grin.

Katie rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut up,” she retorted, but she was laughing when she said it.

The game went on for another hour and a half, though to Katie it seemed like a fraction of that time. Kieran bit his lip, clearly trying to choose his words with care. “Hey, uh, Katie?”

“Yeah?”

“Look, I don’t want to be a downer, but it’s almost eight o’clock and our flight leaves at eight tomorrow morning. Is it okay if we go home a little early so we get enough sleep?”

“That’s a good idea, actually,” she said, giving him a warm smile and touching him briefly on the arm to show she wasn’t offended. “And remember, boarding is usually about half an hour before the plane actually leaves, so we’ll have to be at the gate by 7:30 at the latest, which means we’ll have to get up--”

“Super early,” Kieran finished.

“Super early,” Katie agreed. “I’ve already scheduled an Uber, and he’ll pick me up before swinging by your place. Don’t worry, I think we’ll get there in plenty of time.”

“Sounds like a plan.” His face reddened. “Thank you for asking me to come with you. It’s...it means a lot.”

She almost melted right there and then. Her loins became wet and ached with longing. “I’m the one who should be thanking you,” she said fervently. “It’s like I told you earlier, you deserve to have some fun.” And what fun you’ll have! “I promise you, this will be a trip we’ll always remember.”

Even Katie herself didn’t know how prophetic that statement would prove to be.

The morning of their flight, Katie woke up even earlier than planned. It was just past 4, but she was awake and alert the moment her eyes snapped open. She was still naked from her self-pleasuring the night before, and she was pleasantly aware of the way her exquisite breasts bounced when she threw the sheets aside and hopped out of bed.

I can't wait to feel Kieran's hands on them, she thought, turning in the mirror to get a side view of her bust. He won't be able to resist!

She imagined Kieran running his large, work-roughened palms over her perky pink tits, or better yet, placing his mouth over them and suckling them or teasing them with his tongue. The thought was nearly enough to make her melt into a puddle. I can't imagine letting anyone else touch me like that or letting some other guy take my first time.

If Katie were in a more self-reflective mood, she might have asked herself why that was the case. She might have looked inward and tried to figure out why she wanted Kieran, and only Kieran, to take her to bed. But she wasn't, and so she did not. Instead, and true to her nature, Katie forged ahead with her signature self-confidence. Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead, that was her style.

Her suitcase, almost completely packed, stood in the corner of her room. Katie wished for a moment that her flight didn't leave so early. I would've liked to hug Mom and Dad goodbye before I go, but they'll understand. They already knew where she was going and when she'd return, and knowing their little girl wasn't traveling alone helped put them at ease. She'd already texted Hannah to say goodbye too. At first Katie was concerned her friend would feel hurt she hadn't asked her to come along instead of Kieran, but thankfully that turned out not to be the case.

"Mike and I are a in a really good place right now," she'd told Katie. "So I really wouldn't want to go without him. Go and have a great time with whoever you want, and take lots of pictures!"

Of course, neither Hannah nor Katie's parents knew her companion on the trip was male, nor did they have any idea what she was planning to do with him once she got there. Katie felt a momentary stab of guilt at the deception and did her best to ignore it. It's better this way. They wouldn't understand, they would try to stop me, tell me I'm making a huge mistake or throwing my life away. I can't let that happen. When I get back, I'll explain it to them, but not now. Not before the pregnancy tests I've hidden in my bathroom show positive.

She wasn't looking forward to the conversation. It will be difficult, but I will remain calm and firm and logical, and once they see how much I've prepared and how ready I am, they will come around. So will Kieran, for that matter.

Her hand strayed to her belly. I'm not even pregnant yet, but I love my baby already.

Katie stepped into the shower, humming merrily. In her mind, she played out a thousand scenarios of her imminent motherhood. She saw, in her mind's eye, taking her son to the park and playing with him in the sandbox, getting him his first puppy, teaching him to ride a bike and walking hand-in-hand with him on his first day of school. Just thinking about such things made her heart soar.

She took her time under the hot running water. It was a long flight to Florida, and she wanted to look her absolute best for Kieran. Besides, she was up even earlier than necessary, so she had some time to spare. So she carefully lathered and rinsed her strawberry blonde hair three times. She used more conditioner than usual. She applied a fragrant, rather expensive body wash that smelled of strawberries to every inch of her nude form. When she turned the water off, she took a few minutes to carefully shave her legs and pubic mound. Then she applied a fresh layer of cheery red polish to the nails on her fingers and toes.

When the polish was dry, Katie opened up the cabinet below her sink and rummaged through it. In the very back, hidden behind the ranks of various bottles, rolls of toilet paper and several boxes of tampons, was a small box of ovulation strips. She'd purchased them the day after she turned 18, and used them to determine when exactly her body was at its most fecund. Katie was, thankfully, rather regular about that sort of thing, and she was almost positive her body was entering the peak of its monthly fertility cycle based on her calculations, but she wanted to double-check just to make sure.

She removed a strip from the box and carefully unwrapped it before putting it to use while she sat on the toilet. It took a few minutes for the results to make themselves known. When they did, Katie's mouth curved in a smile.

The result was positive. So positive, in fact, that even a few drops of Kieran's pre-cum would probably be enough to impregnate her. Not that she planned on skimping. Katie was never one to do things by halves. I think it's even safe to move up the timetable, she thought. Kieran and I are already getting closer each day, so there's no need to spend the first week of the trip getting to know one another. I can just skip right to the fun part: seducing him!

Katie disposed of the strip by flushing it, cleaned herself and washed her hands thoroughly. She donned a plain white bra and a clean set of white panties, then padded barefoot over to her large walk-in closet to choose her outfit. It was a choice Katie made with exacting care; she picked out her clothes like a warrior choosing his weapons and armor before a big battle. It had to tantalize, but not too much. It had to be sexy, but not slutty.

It took almost twenty minutes of trying on different articles of clothing before she found a set that satisfied her: a red backless, sleeveless halter top that left her back and toned midriff bare while exposing only a very small amount of cleavage, coupled with a set of tight-fitting denim capris pants that showed off Katie's shapely legs and ass. It was an outfit that flattered her, sure to draw Kieran's gaze without making her look desperate to attract male attention.

Katie checked her watch, pleased that she wasn't running late. She even took a moment to put on some lip gloss before she grabbed her purse and carry-on bag. Then, with her suitcase rolling behind her, she left her room and made her way carefully down the stairs. A quick check on her phone showed the Uber was only a few minutes away, but even so she paused one last time to leave a note in the kitchen for her parents to read, telling her parents she loved them and would be in touch once the plane landed. Then she went out into the cool early morning air.

The Uber driver was an older man in his late forties. He stopped the car, rolled down the window and nearly did a double-take when he saw her. "You're Katie?"

"That's me!" she replied cheerfully, ignoring his obvious reaction to her physical appearance. "So, we're going to pick up my friend now right?"

"That's the plan." The man got out and popped the trunk open, hefting her suitcase inside it with a grunt of effort. He was subtly ogling her the whole time, but she ignored it. "You sure you got the right address?"

"Very sure," Katie said, as she slid into the back seat.

It took about fifteen more agonizing minutes before the car pulled to a stop outside Kieran's place. Katie waited, biting her lip in growing anxiety. What if he didn't come out? What if he got cold feet?

But all such thoughts fled like mist burned away in the sunlight when the front door swung open. Katie's heart leapt. There he was, right there, trailing his own suitcase behind him. He was dressed in a plain black t-shirt and a pair of jeans and looked rather bleary-eyed, but Katie didn't care. She was just happy to see he hadn't gotten a case of cold feet.

"Hey, you!" she said, once his luggage was stowed and he climbed into the seat next to her. "Did you sleep ok?"

Kieran muttered something unintelligible and rubbed his eyes.

Katie smothered a giggle. "Don't worry, we'll get some coffee when we get to the airport."

He gave her a grateful look. "Thank you." Then, with a visible jolt, he noticed what she was wearing. Katie heard the breath catch in his throat. "Y-you look great," he said. "I mean...wow. How are you able to look like that so early in the morning?"

"Trade secret," Katie replied with a wink. "I'm glad you like it!" More than you know, since I picked it out just for you! "Got your boarding pass?"

"Yeah." He reached into his pocket and held it up for her to see. "I'm all set."

Katie sensed there was something more, and pressed him gently. "What else is bothering you?"

"I've never flown before," he admitted after a moment of uncomfortable silence. "I'm worried I'll get airsick and barf everywhere and embarrass both of us, all right?"

Katie held up a hand, a bit startled by his waspish tone. But she forgave him for it. It must've been hard to admit to something like that.

"You won't get sick," she said, placing a soft hand on his arm. "I've flown a lot, and I've never seen anyone have to use those little barf bags they keep in the seat pockets. Don't worry, okay? Everything's going to be fine, I promise."

Kieran seemed to take heart from that and perked up a little. "Thank you." He smiled, making her pussy lips tingle and her pulse quicken. So this is what it's like to really desire someone, she thought. All he did was smile and I want to climb him like a tree. Her free hand, held in her lap, silently clenched into a fist. Don't lose control, Katie. Don't lose control. Don't flub it now when you're so close, dammit!

The rest of the ride to the airport was enjoyed in comfortable silence, Kieran dozing lightly against the car door and Katie silently fantasizing about having sex with him. She was almost sorry when the driver slowed to a halt outside the airport, but consoled herself with the knowledge her fantasies would not remain fantasies much longer. Kieran still seemed half-asleep but didn't complain. As a first-time flyer, he seemed content to follow Katie's lead. Katie was grateful for that. It made things much easier.

The queue to check their luggage with the airline was longer than Katie anticipated. They spent more time waiting there than she was comfortable with, and when they came to the security terminal, the line was even longer. Thankfully, Katie planned for just such a scenario. One of the reasons she and Kieran got up so early was so they could get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. They had more than an hour before the flight even began boarding, so she wasn't worried at all.

When it was their turn to put their belongings in plastic bins, Katie watched Kieran take his shoes off. She half-expected his socks to smell--a lot of her girlfriends told her about that sort of thing--but Kieran's socks were clean and had no odor at all.

Katie walked through the metal detector without incident, but when Kieran tried it, it made a loud beeping noise. The unsmiling TSA officer directed him to hold his arms out and stand with his legs splayed. Kieran gave Katie an anxious glance but she smiled reassuringly and nodded at him. The TSA guy ran a wand over Kieran's entire body, but picked up nothing.

"Must've been a glitch," he said curtly. "You're clean. Next!"

Kieran rejoined Katie on the other side, slightly aggrieved. "What the hell was that?"

"Don't get too worked up." Katie made an effort to sound soothing. "That sort of thing happens sometimes. It's no big deal."

Kieran grunted something unintelligible and reached for his shoes, but when he did, he seemed to become aware again of just how alluring Katie looked in her carefully-chosen ensemble. He visibly faltered, a flush rising in his cheeks. Katie pretended not to notice, but secretly, she felt like purring in satisfaction. Yes, get a good look, Kieran. Get a good look at what's in store for you. I'm going to give you something no man has ever gotten from me before.

"You look stunning," he said, once they resumed walking. His face reddened even further when he said it, but he didn't look away. Katie gave him props for that. He's starting to become a little more confident. That's a good sign!

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Of course!" Her answer was immediate. "I told you before, I'm a straight shooter. You can ask me whatever you like."

Kieran didn't miss a beat. "When you walk across the street, do you ever cause traffic accidents?" he asked, deadpan.

Katie stared for a second, then nearly doubled over laughing. She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her purse. That dry humor again, my God! How does he do that? I could never ask a question like that with such a straight face.

It took almost a full minute for her to stop, by which time her ribs ached from the merriment. "No," she managed finally. "No, I haven't, at least not to my knowledge." Katie gave him a playful shove. "You big silly. Now let's go get that coffee I promised you."

The airport contained a number of different coffee stands, and despite the early hour customers were already standing in line to reach the counter. Katie took her place at the back of the queue and fished out her wallet. "Order whatever you like," she said, looking up at him. "Food, coffee, it's on me."

"I can pay for it--"

"But you won't," Katie said firmly. Her bright blue eyes narrowed with feigned menace. "You are going to let me buy you coffee and you are going to like it, mister."

Kieran snorted with laughter and conceded the point. "Sure, but nothing fancy. Just some black coffee will be fine."

"You don't put any cream or sugar in it?"

"Nope." At her arched eyebrow, he shrugged. "What? That's how I like my coffee."

"How do you drink it like that? It's so bitter."

"You have to develop a taste for it. It takes time."

"How much time did it take you?" Katie was curious.

"About a year."

"...You drank black coffee for a year just to get used to it?"

"Er...yes?"

"Kieran," Katie said, as if in concern, "Tell me honestly, how long have you had these masochistic tendencies?"

"At least I don't drink Pepsi."

Katie put a hand over her heart. "Oooh, that's low."

He poked his tongue out at her and they both dissolved into helpless mirth. When it was their turn, the cashier took the money Katie handed to him and placed the order. Two minutes later, they were walking away, Kieran's caffeine infusion in hand.

Katie watched him sip it with relish. Almost immediately, he began to perk up. "Ah, yeah. That's the stuff. So which gate is ours again?"

She checked her boarding pass. "Gate D12."

"Is that far away?"

"Well, we're currently walking past the A gates, so...yeah."

"Great," he grumbled. "But what if that changes? I don't want to walk all the way to the other side of the airport for nothing, do you?"

"If it changes, the airline should send me a text about it," Katie assured him.

"Nice of them," Kieran drawled. "The fee for checking our bags, less so."

Katie couldn't agree more. "Tell me about it."

It took almost twenty minutes for them to walk to the right gate. By the time they got there Kieran's coffee was empty and he dropped it in a nearby trash can.

Katie tugged at his arm, pointing out the long line of windows, through which incoming and departing flights could be seen on the tarmac. One plane was coming to a ponderous stop just outside Gate D12.

"That's ours," she said. "That one there."

Kieran's pulse quickened a little beneath her fingers, and she drew closer to him. "It'll be all right, Kieran. I'll be right next to you the whole time."

"Yeah," he said with a lopsided grin. "That's what concerns me."

"How so?"

"If I barf, it could get all over you."

"Would you get off the barfing?" Katie asked, chiding him gently. "You'll be fine. Trust me, Kieran, okay? You trust me, don't you?"

"Of course I do." His reply was immediate and without hesitation. It made Katie feel warm and tingly all over. I trust him too.

"Then sit back, relax and enjoy your first time," she continued, allowing herself to take private amusement in the double meaning of her words. "This is going to be an awesome trip. If it helps, think of all the stuff we'll do when we get there. I know I will!"

Kieran, of course, had no idea what sort of "first time" she was really referring to. He couldn't have known at the time that the sort of "stuff" Katie referred to had nothing to do with Disney World at all. So he took comfort in her words, just as she hoped he would, and tried to move past his own misgivings.

"I'm kind of excited for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride," he admitted.

Katie giggled. "I figured that one would catch your attention. What about the Haunted Mansion?"

"Definitely. Halloween's my favorite holiday."

"Not Christmas?"

"...No." Sadness flickered over his face and Katie realized what he meant with an unpleasant jolt. Christmas isn't the same for him since his mother died. Her heart clenched, as though squeezed in an invisible fist. Sympathy and compassion for him welled up inside her. Oh, Kieran, I'm so sorry. You've carried that grief and sorrow for three years. How do you endure it?

She reached over and placed her hand on his in a sign of comfort and solidarity.

"She would be so proud of you," Katie told him softly.

He nodded, but said nothing. The rest of the wait for the flight passed in uncomfortable silence, and when the boarding call began, they were both grateful to have something else to focus on.

As they waited to present their boarding passes to the flight attendant, Katie interlaced her fingers in his. She expected him to start, to look surprised at her boldness, but this time he did none of those things.

This time, Kieran simply let her, and gave her slender palm a gentle squeeze.

His wordless acceptance of the gesture made Katie want to swoon. A pleasant tingle spread all over her body.

Yes, she thought, as the flight attendant waved them on. Yes, this will be the trip of a lifetime.

She touched her belly briefly with her other hand, thinking of the precious little life that would soon be growing there. For all of us.

Kieran felt lightheaded and a little dizzy as he and Katie took their seats. The intercom buzzed and a man’s voice said something over it, but between the growing roar of the jet engines and the loud hiss of the plane’s air conditioning systems, it was impossible for him to make out what was being said. Even if he could, he wouldn’t have been able to focus on it. He was too absorbed in the fact that he was actually holding Katie’s Petersen’s hand. Not only had he initiated that contact, but she also even seemed to like it!

He was astonished at his own boldness. He hadn’t even meant to do it. It wasn’t a conscious thing. It had just...happened. Of his own free will, his hand reached out while they were walking to their seats, found hers, and took it in a gentle grip. That Katie instantly reciprocated threatened to overwhelm him. What is she thinking? Did I cross a line? Should I let it go? Will it offend her if I do?

He gave her a surreptitious glance and found her looking right at him. Katie grinned, giving his hand a little squeeze. Kieran’s blood heated and his cock came to rampant attention. He almost did let go, then, but stopped himself at the last moment. He didn’t want to ruin this. He knew Katie wasn’t his, knew he could never have her, but dammit, he wanted to enjoy this while it lasted.

If Katie felt any similar conflicting emotions, she gave no sign of it. Her posture was relaxed and easy beside him.

The aircraft lurched into motion. Katie squeezed his hand again. He drew strength from that, found courage in her nearness and her warmth, and did his best to look like his heart wasn’t beating a thousand miles an hour. His free hand gripped the armrest of his seat in a white-knuckled grip.

“It’s okay.” Katie’s voice was soft, quiet, soothing. The sound of it was like velvet in his ears. “It’s okay, Kieran. Don’t be scared.”

He nodded, swallowing the lump rapidly forming in his throat.

The plan began to gather speed. Faster it went and faster, faster than he’d ever gone in his life. Kieran felt the moment they became airborne, felt the lurching shudder as the plane left the ground and everything out the window to his left rapidly began to grow smaller. Kieran watched in utter fascination. This must be how birds see the world all the time.

“Quite something, isn’t it?” Katie remarked. She released his hand and leaned in close to get a look herself. She smells wonderful, he thought. Like strawberries and flowers. It made him feel a little dizzy.

He gave himself a mental shake and tried to focus instead on the conversation. “Does it ever get old?” he asked. “The view, I mean.”

“Nope! No matter how many times I see it, it’s still amazing.” Her brow furrowed with concern. “How are you holding up? Any better?”

“Much better, Kieran admitted. Thanks to you.

“Takeoff and landing tend to be the hardest parts,” Katie agreed. “But landing is hours away yet, so we don’t need to worry about that right now.”

“Are they really going to give us free stuff to drink?”

“In a little bit, yeah. They’ve gotta wait for the plane to level off first—right now we’re still flying up at an angle. Once we’ve steadied, they’ll come by and take our orders. They’ll have snacks too, like peanuts or something.”

Kieran’s stomach growled with anticipation. “Yeah, that sounds pretty good to me.” The coffee earlier helped wake him up, but it did little to mitigate the fact that he hadn’t eaten yet.

Katie gave a rueful smile. “I know the feeling. I’m hungry too. They should have an inflight meal in a little bit. You can order whatever you want, my treat.”

Kieran winced. I don’t want her to think she has to keep paying for everything. For one thing, it wasn’t fair to her. For another, it irked his pride, though he’d never admit it out loud. I don’t want to be a burden or...or some kind of parasite. I don’t want her to think I can’t pay my own way. “Thanks, but I’ll pay for myself this time.”

Katie looked a little surprised. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” He gave her a teasing smirk. “Don’t worry, you can pay for all the expensive concessions once we get there.”

“Joke’s on you,” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “Concessions are part of the package. Three meals a day in the parks, plus snacks for two from any vendor we choose, five times a day.” Her pink tongue darted out to lick her lips, and Kieran’s jeans instantly felt a little too tight. “I can’t wait to get some ice cream. And popcorn. And something fried with lots of cheese on top. Ooh, and some of those lollipops shaped like a Mickey Mouse head!”

“I thought you were a health nut.”

“I am,” she confirmed with a wink. “But, Kieran, you must remember that we’re on vacation, and the whole point of a vacation is to splurge. Besides, I’m not going to eat junk the whole time we’re there.”

“Just most of the time,” Kieran said, deadpan.

She grinned. “See? Now you’re catching on.”

Her smile, as ever, was dazzling in its radiance. The way it made her eyes twinkle reminded Kieran of sunlight sparkling on the surface of a calm tropical sea.

I still don’t understand why she chose me, of all people, to start hanging out with. I don’t think I ever will, and I’m too much a coward to ask. But whatever the reason, I’m glad she came up to me in school that day and introduced herself.

His heart did an uncomfortable little somersault, which he did his best to ignore. It was much harder to ignore the smooth skin on Katie’s back as she turned to dig into her purse, or the exquisite perfection of her toned midriff. Nor was he the only one; practically every breathing male on the entire plane took notice of her beauty.

Kieran felt a completely irrational, utterly illogical spike of jealousy. He knew he had no right to feel that way, but he did. He didn’t like other males paying attention to Katie, and he wanted to make them all stop. To that end he scooted a little closer to her, as if trying to shield her from their gazes.

“Looking for something?” he asked.

“My lip gloss,” Katie explained. She held up the thin tube for him to see. Kieran was hardly an expert on that sort of thing, but it looked expensive.

“Good thing you didn’t lose it.”

“Even if I did, it’s no bother. I brought plenty of spares.”

Of course you did, Kieran thought with an inward smile. If there was one thing he’d learned about Katie Petersen by now, it was that she left nothing to chance. Beneath her cheerful, bubbly exterior was a meticulous attention to detail and a razor-sharp memory that still surprised him sometimes.

Eager to keep the conversation going, he asked, “You mentioned you’ve traveled a lot, right?”

“Oh, yeah. My parents always took me on vacations growing up.”

“What sorts of places did you go to? I’d like to hear about some of them.”

He expected another smile, but instead, Katie looked uncertain. Worry made his blood curdle. He’d never seen her look uncertain or unsure before. Not like this. “What is it? Did I say something wrong?”

“No!” Her response was so forceful it made him flinch. “No,” she repeated, more gently this time. “No, it’s not that at all. I just...I don’t want you to think I’m, like, rubbing it in your face or anything.”

Her consideration touched Kieran and he nearly tripped over himself in his haste to reassure her. “Not even close! I’m just curious to hear about some of the places you’ve been, that’s all.” He chuckled. “I probably won’t get to see them myself, so let me live vicariously through you a little.”

Katie’s relief was tangible and she relaxed. “Well, let’s see! Hmmm...” she tapped her chin with one slender finger. “Well, I went to London one time!”

“How long ago?”

“Two years. My dad has this thing where he wants to visit every major city in Europe by the end of the decade. London was next on his list. We stayed for five days.” Her voice went a little distant with memory. “We saw the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, went to the British Museum, went inside Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. I wish you could have seen it, Kieran. They were beautiful, and all that history...” she sighed. “It was a great trip. My dad even got to watch a session of Parliament!”

Kieran’s brows rose. “How’d he manage that?”

“He went to college with a guy who now sits in the House of Lords,” Katie explained. “I met him on the trip, when Dad invited him out to eat with us. He seemed nice.”

“I think it’s really cool your dad still has friends from those days,” Kieran said seriously. “Friends like that, the ones who last, those are the ones worth keeping.”

“That’s what my dad said too.” Katie agreed. Then, more quietly, she asked, “You and me, we’ll always be friends too, right?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Kieran meant it with all his heart.

They continued in that vein for some time. Katie regaled him with tales of her trips to Vienna, Berlin, Paris and Prague while he listened, enraptured. It wasn’t just the stories--it was the way her face lit up when she told them, the way she laughed at some humorous memory or other, the way the light danced in her eyes. For all his determination to keep their friendship platonic, Kieran could not help being drawn to her.

The flight attendant came to take their drink orders, just as Katie predicted. She ordered a Pepsi, he ordered a Coke. When those were drained, they ordered something to eat. Cheeseburgers for both of them, and Katie even ordered an extra side of fries as well. Kieran watched her as she ate ravenously.

Sensing his scrutiny, she looked up, her mouth smeared with crumbs. “If you’d gone as long without a juicy burger as I have, you’d understand.”

“Hey, no need to explain. I’m not gonna judge--gorge yourself to your heart’s content.”

Katie did. When the food was finally finished they handed in their trash to the flight attendant who came around to collect it, then resumed their conversation. Hours passed in the most pleasant manner imaginable. Everything around him seemed to melt away until only Katie remained--her laughter, her voice, her face, her smile. There could have been a fight in the next aisle over and Kieran would not have noticed. All his attention was on her, and remained on her as the plane began to descend. Slowly at first, then more rapidly.

“Already?” he asked. “But...how is that possible? It hasn’t been that long!”

“It has,” Katie assured him. “Kieran, we’ve been in the air almost five hours.”

“Five hours?!”

“Yeah.” She gave him a wink. “Guess time really does fly when you’re having fun!”

Kieran reddened and found himself at a loss for words. Thankfully, he was spared having to respond when the intercom buzzed.

“This is your captain speaking. On behalf of Southern Airlines, welcome to Orlando. We know you have lots of options and thank you for choosing to fly with us. Please remain in your seats until the plane has stopped moving and the fasten seat belt sign is switched off. Thank you.”

The first thing Kieran thought about Orlando was that it was green. Very green. It had palm trees--he could see those clearly as the plane descended--and some of them looked almost as tall as a small building. Suburbs were laid out in neat rows, each house exactly the same as the last down to the shape of the pool in each backyard. As they got closer to the airport the scene switched from houses and neighborhoods to shops and shopping centers.

Everything got bigger, closer, as the plane lost altitude. It wasn’t until it touched down on the tarmac, and its tires began to screech on the asphalt, that Kieran was reminded just how fast the craft was going. For a moment, he was terrified the wheels would hit a rock or something, and the plane would spin end over end before ending in a fiery crash. But Katie, as ever, helped ease his frazzled nerves. She clutched his hand again, more tightly than before, and didn’t let go until the plane came to a complete stop.

Kieran let out a long breath. “Oh, thank God.”

Katie’s beautiful face creased in sympathy. “I know what you mean. But it’s over now. Cheer up, Kieran--we’re officially in Florida!”

He made a conscious effort to do so, trying for a smile. “So...we’re going to get our stuff next, right? From the carousel thing?”

“You got it in one.”

“What if our stuff isn’t there?” Worry began gnawing at him afresh.

“It’ll be there,” Katie assured him. “But even if it’s not, I have our receipts from when we checked our bags at the airport. That will allow the airline to track them and figure out where they are. If our stuff got misplaced, we’ll make do. The airline should be able to send them to us at the hotel when they arrive.”

“That’s a relief. Has that ever happened to you?”

“Once, yeah. But it was years ago.” Katie stood, retrieving her purse and carry-on bag as the passengers began deboarding. She only let go of his hand once exited the jet bridge and walked out into Gate C9 at the Orlando International Airport. She took a moment to stretch, yawning cavernously. She seemed ignorant of how it drew attention to her sleek figure, how arching her back like that drew the eye to her hips and breasts. Kieran looked away.

“Ah, yeah, that’s the stuff,” Katie sighed. “C’mon, let’s go get our stuff. I can’t wait to see the hotel!”

That brought Kieran back to reality. He’d seen pictures of the luxurious hotel where they’d be staying and shared Katie’s excitement. “I hope it lives up to the hype. What you showed me about it, all the pictures and everything on the Internet, looked too good to be true.” Just seeing the nightly rate for a single room in that place made my eyes water.

“The Grand Floridian is one of the best,” Katie said, a little smugly. “But then, I wouldn’t settle for anything less and neither would you. It’ll live up to the hype, I promise you that.”

She led the way to the baggage claim and he followed close behind. It didn’t escape Kieran’s notice that Katie’s passing was followed by the eyes of every living male in the vicinity. A spike of irrational, completely illogical jealousy lanced through him and he picked up his pace to walk closer to her. He wasn’t getting all possessive, Kieran told himself. He was simply protecting Katie and making sure no random guy tried to make a move on her. They were on vacation, after all. Katie dealt with that sort of thing enough back home. She didn’t need to deal with it here, and she wouldn’t if he had anything to say about it.

Thankfully, his worries about their baggage getting lost were proved unfounded. They waited at the carousel for only a few minutes before their suitcases showed up, and after grabbing them, it was time to pick up their rental car. Katie had a mischievous gleam in her eye, one that only grew stronger the closer they got to the rental lot. “I’ve got a car already waiting for us,” she said. “I think you’ll like it.”

“Was this part of the package too?”

“No.” She laced her fingers in his again. “This is simply because I could.”

When it was their turn to pick up a car, the employee on duty led them over to a far end of the lot. Kieran walked past SUVs, sedans, several Jeeps...and stopped cold.

“Is that...?”

“A Porsche,” Katie finished, unable to help her smugness. “A really nice one too--the best they have! I know how much you love sports cars, and I thought you’d love to try driving one.”

“This...” Kieran had to place a hand on the vehicle’s mercury-silver hood to steady himself. “Katie, this..." What could he say when faced with such generosity? This must have cost a fortune!

Katie giggled. “You might try something like ‘thank you.'"

“Thank you,” he whispered, when he finally found his tongue again. “I never expected anything like this. I’m honored.” It wasn’t nearly enough--words alone were insufficient to describe how he was feeling right then--but it was the best he could do. I never expected to drive anything like this, either. He ran a hand lovingly over the hood. I can’t believe she did this for me. He was humbled by the gesture, humbled and grateful--not only for her kindness, but also for having someone like her in his life to begin with.

“Wanna drive?”

Kieran’s smile was so wide it hurt it cheeks. “Oh, hell yes.”

As they pulled out onto the freeway, their luggage stowed and the airport behind them, the wind whipped through Kieran’s hair. The car’s convertible top was down and the Florida sun was warm on his face. Katie whooped in delight as he pressed the accelerator, and he whooped right along with her.

The Porsche zipped down the road in a silver blur.