night out with those three could put her in debt for the rest of her life. But they had a point too. She didn’t want to spend the last stop of her trip stuck in a house, even if the house was massive and incredible.
Luckily, she’d abused the wifi at the airport and had pre-planned their trip to the city thanks to travel websites. And the cheapest place for a night out was somewhere the tourists didn’t go much, or so said the reviewer.
‘Fine but if we’re going anywhere it’s the bars in Piazza di Santo Spirito. I hear it’s not as touristy as the other places.’
Elle liked exclusive and Ciara took her shrug as a win.
‘I think tonight I’m going for classy rather than slutty,’ Gem said, following Elle up the stairs.
Hand in hand with Zack, they trailed up behind her friends.
Elle laughed. ‘There’s more to it than wearing a nice dress, Gem. If you get on a guy’s knee two minutes after you meet him, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got on.’
‘It’s not slutty if he’s into it. What do you think Zack? Is it better to go with the buzz or be a tease and frustrate the guy?’ Gem turned to them with genuine curiosity in her eyes.
His cheekbones darkened. ‘Um, I don’t think I should answer that.’
Gem stopped on the stairs and scowled. ‘So you think it’s slutty?’
He held his hands up. ‘Didn’t say that. I meant different guys see things differently. Just like you three.’
‘What do you think?’ Gem was relentless when her temper got the better of her.
‘Well, that depends on the girl.’
Ciara was beginning to hate this conversation. ‘Look, to each her own. Can we drop this?’
‘You don’t need to be jealous, Ciara. He’s all about your fufu. I want a guy’s opinion on this.’ Gem folded her arms and waited while Ciara’s face flushed.
‘Just bloody answer her so we can get ready!’ Elle demanded.
Zack took his time in answering, despite Elle’s death glare. ‘Some guys like it when a woman takes charge and makes the first move, and almost every man I’ve met wants complete honesty up front. If you’re clear it’s just about sex, I don’t think that’s slutty. It’s actually kinda hot.’
Ciara had to bite her lip to stop herself from asking if that was a jibe at her. It wasn’t like she lied to him in LA. It had been crazy sex – the wild, furious, all-night-long kind – and she’d been clear about her no-relationship rule the next day.
But now… her reasons for keeping things light were weak and if he asked where she thought they were she’d be lying if she said they were still in holiday fling territory. Sometime after she’d left Miami she’d realised that much pain wasn’t normal – it was more like she’d been grieving.
So she tuned out of the rest of the conversation and let Zack lead her to their room, situated at the opposite side of the house from Elle’s. But even if she was in the mood for a round before they went out, she doubted any sound would carry through the thick concrete walls.
She went to her case and started to unpack a few dresses while Zack disappeared to the ensuite to start the shower.
It was better to keep her mouth shut and not ask if he meant her when he’d been talking to Gem. After all she’d been the one to kiss him first. Feck, she’d been the one so frantic to get him naked but unwilling to let him go that he had to make the decision for her.
And putting it all down to super pheromones and chemical reactions seemed like a stretch, especially since she cared about him to the point she hurt when he hurt – which she’d been doing ever since he got to Ibiza.
God this really was a feckin mess, wasn’t it?
‘Wanna share to save time?’ Zack asked. He’d disposed of his clothes and was gloriously naked as he leaned against the doorway to the bathroom.
Her mouth got dry and her fingers stung at the tips, like they’d been away from him for far too long and were having withdrawals.
No way was this just pheromones. Borderline addiction, but not a chemical reaction.
But that was the thing about addicts, they got bored and moved onto a bigger high eventually, didn’t they?
‘Ciara are you okay?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I’m fine. Look why don’t you go first? If I get in there the water will be cold before we get out.’ She didn’t mean to sound so distant, but the idea that she was hooked on him was freaking her out.
‘Gem’s wrong. That’s not why I’m here. It’s about more than sex. I like spending time with you, too.’
It took her mind a minute to grasp what he meant – Gem’s vag jokes. She rolled her eyes and forced a smile. ‘After four years I know when not to take Gem seriously.’
He treated her to a delicious half-smile. ‘Good. Now how about you let me wash your back?’
Her gaze darted to his hands. His long fingered, strong hands that happened to be hanging by his sides, framing his hips and a very impressive appendage. Heat sizzled in her lower belly until all her worries disappeared under a craving so deep, she wasn’t sure it would ever disappear.
And Ciara wasn’t enough of an eejit to refuse what he was offering. No woman on the planet would be. Especially since time was running out.
***
Thanks to Ciara’s online hunt for cheap and cheerful nightlife, they found a little restaurant on the Piazza where the food smelled heavenly and the dishes were reasonably priced. Even Elle didn’t seem to mind when she clocked a table full of delicious Italian men in suits nearby.
‘Okay this wasn’t a terrible idea,’ Elle admitted, using the menu as a prop to spy on the men. ‘You don’t see local talent like that in the mainstream bars.’
‘I bet they’re out to relax after a hard week at the office. I’d be happy to help them de-stress,’ Gem added.
Ciara wrinkled her nose but couldn’t stop from grinning. She’d had a perma-smile since the not-so-relaxing shower she’d shared with Zack earlier. And now, even with Elle and Gem sharing the same table, there was definitely a romantic feel in the air. The sun was almost down for the night and the outside tables were covered by a canopy lined with lanterns giving the restaurant a magical aura.
Zack leaned close to whisper in her ear. ‘You’re awfully quiet this evening.’
It wasn’t intentional. They’d been in Ibiza a mere eight hours ago. All that morning sex, travelling and then a bout of pre-evening sex had really done her in. Not to mention the looming deadline reminding her that she was a few days away from never seeing Zack again. It didn’t help that he didn’t seem bothered by the impending separation, and worse was the fact she shouldn’t care either.
‘I’m starving,’ she said so she didn’t have to bend
