For a second, it seemed as though Zach was to make use of their relative privacy to warm her. The sand would be uncomfortable, but the thrill of it all would be well worth the discomfort. Jo's cheeks flushed and her lips parted at the thought. Only … his step closer hadn't meant he would be taking her here and now as she hoped. "Thank you," she said softly. The hot air charm dried her clothes well enough that the breeze no longer left goosebumps on her skin, for which she supposed she was appreciative. It was quite a tease, though, one she could only avert her gaze and attempt to hide her quick flash of disappointment.

Jo rolled her eyes at his goofy comment and grinned. "Aye aye, captain." She highly doubted there were any pirates nearby, and if there were Zach and she were not very high value targets. Or, perhaps he was as a shop owner, but Jo had already nearly bankrupted herself on this trip. Outside of the obvious needs for a woman Jo had little use to offer them.

They made it up the path with ease and were now within sight of the hotel. It was a blessing that they were so far from home, as Zach's reputation would surely be ruined were they spotted. Jo didn't have much of a reputation to speak of, and nor did she care to. Prim and proper women were frowned upon in places like the Beak, after all.

The path ended at the steps to the hotel. Once inside they would have to go their separate ways to their rooms, and the spell of the night would be broken. Jo reached for his hand as she considered how to go about inviting him to her room. But, for once, she was speechless.

  

As they drew closer to the hotel, Zach’s heart grew heavy with disappointment. Time was so fickle. The days you wished to pass quickly generally stretched on for an age. The ones you hoped would last always drew to a close before you were ready. Although they had a handful of days left, Zach found he wanted this one to linger.

When they paused at the bottom of the stairs, Zach didn’t urge them along, although it was the expected course of action. The sensible thing would be for them both to amiably bid one another goodnight and go their separate ways. Why was he hesitating?

Had anything about this trip even been sensible? This was likely the most nonsensical thing he'd done in his entire life, taking off with an unmarried woman to a remote location, allowing himself to succumb to physical attraction. Yet it felt so right.

Zach lifted Jo’s hand and planted a tender kiss upon it. His eyes met hers, and he found himself lingering there longer than was proper. Was anything proper anymore? "I…" he began, his voice gone a touch raspy from holding his breath. "I’ve had a lovely day...with you." Heart pounding in his ears, he lowered their hands, unable to tear his gaze away from her. He should let go. He should just bid her goodnight, but his feet stuck firm.

"You…"

  

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Pretties thanks to Olive! <3

Had anyone ever kissed her hand like so before? Jo suddenly found herself unable to form a single coherent thought outside of the warmth of his breath on her hand. She'd long ago lost count of how many she shared her body with, but she was certain none had ever thought to hold her hand as though it were worth gold to do so. Merlin. Why had they wasted days dancing around this when they could've been lost in passion for hours?

If there was any room left between them it was eliminated with her small step forward. Her hand rested softly on his cheek, her gaze as equally intense as his own. "It doesn't have to end," she murmured. "Come up to my room."

  

The noise in his ears only grew more intense as Jo closed the gap between him. His own hand drifted up to meet hers, and it was only her utterances that prevented him from planting another kiss on her palm.

Zach’s lips parted, air whispering out as words very quickly dissolved into nothingness. His inexperience didn’t prevent him from recognizing what her invitation implied. It was something he’d been warned against, drilled into the minds of all young men and women of his standing. They weren’t married. They weren’t even properly courting.

Yet.

"Are...are you certain?"

Yet he wished to go with her. He wished for time to stretch on infinitely, just the two of them. He wished to--

Oh Merlin, did he even know how to?

  

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Pretties thanks to Olive! <3

Was she certain…? Jo bit back a breathless laugh. Was the sky blue? Did the stars shine above them? Yes, Jo was certain, and she had been since before stepping foot in Greece this week. Would such confidence frighten him away? Zach's reckless views towards his reputation led him this far but would he turn about now? Jo's hand remained light against his cheek. The question had already been asked, the implication made, she couldn't take it back now.

Wordlessly, she nodded. His refusal would sting if it did indeed come, but Jo would be back on her feet in no time. There were plenty of men in Egypt she could throw herself at if it came down to it. Still, Jo was saddened by the thought of rejection. What had the past few days been building to if not this? "Please."

  

To say Zach was flustered would have been an understatement. Everything he'd been exposed to, taught, screamed at him to refuse. It questioned why he had even agreed to accompany her. Had he been uselessly hoping she would have been chaperoned?

No. He'd known. They'd first met abroad, and she'd been without. Why would this time be any different? The Ravenclaw in him lectured about propriety, thinking ahead, tactful words of let down.

But his heart. His heart clambered to be heard. It silenced reason and logic. It silenced thoughts of repercussion. It silenced everything save for the baited breaths between them.

Please.

How could he refuse?

Jo's surety gave him courage. He intertwined his fingers with hers and started leading them toward the stairs. His expression was strange, caught somewhere between longing and exhilaration. Between bafflement and worry. Between want and need.

He was terrified.

But it felt so right.

  

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Pretties thanks to Olive! <3