"Oh my fucking god! How do you ever get anything done, at all, ever?!" I cocoon myself in the duvet, surround myself with plump pillows and sink back into the pillow top mattress. "Lookit, I'm a cloud!" I earn a pillow to the face for my shenanigans before Zak joins me back on the bed clad only in a towel.
"Get in the shower!" He shakes his head vigorously so I get sprayed with droplets from his wet hair.
"Why? I just got given one!" I pout and push him out of the way as I clamber out of my puffy duvet nest. I squeal as the towel snaps at my ass as I hop off the bed. I turn to face Zak with a frown to find him laying down and grinning at me with the towel now discreetly covering his modesty.
"Problem?" He raises his eyebrow in provocation but I'm completely distracted by that smile and his body. Annoyed that he can distract me so easily just by lying half naked in bed I flip him the finger and stomp into the bathroom closing the door on his annoying snickering.
The bathroom, much like the rest of the house, is luxurious yet understated. I take my time under the sluice of hot water to ease my muscles after the previous day's travelling and evening's exertions. I exit the bathroom wrapped in a huge fluffy towel to find the bed made ad the room empty but sniff at the most delicious smell wafting through the open door. My bags had magically appeared at the bottom of the bed, unzipping my case I stare at the contents at a loss as to what to wear.
"Zak, where are we going today?" I stick my head around the door and call down the stairs.
"Its a surprise."He calls back.
"But what should I wear?"
"Clothes."
"So helpful thanks, babe!" I yelled back in frustration as his laughter drifted from the kitchen. Someone was in a mischievous mood this morning. After eventually settling on a flowing sleevless top over ripped Capri jeans and boots I trot down the stairs and come to an abrupt halt at the dining table. While Zak was nowhere to be seen before me was a banquet, not a breakfast. There were bacon, eggs, pancakes and pastries, a huge bowl of fresh fruit salad, granola, yoghurt and toast all to be washed down with freshly brewed coffee, tea and cold pressed juice. I was taken aback and a little confused but couldn't resist popping a fresh raspberry in my mouth. I close my eyes and relish the tart sweetness as the juice runs over my tongue. The sound of voices at the front door interrupts my enjoyment as the door swings open. The black and white blur of Gracie was followed by the silhouette that I would recognise anywhere, he was talking animatedly to someone behind him but who I couldn't see. The door was still wide open and I soon realised more people were following behind. I nervously brushed myself down and patted my hair trying to keep my social anxiety from rearing its ugly head.
"Oh hey, sweetie you're ready, great! I hope you don't mind but we have some company for breakfast." He hugged me to his side and kissed me quickly on the cheek. I was thankful that he kept his arm around my shoulder and stayed close as my mouth went dry. "This is Bacon, I'm pretty sure you know all about him." I smiled at the familiar hirsute face.
"Hi, Bacon, good to meet you in the flesh rather than just in the background of Zak's calls." I laughed.
"M'am." He gives me a little salute and a wink.
"Jay and Billy, I think you already know." Zak pretends to ponder and I laugh in delight as I'm caught between them in a tangled group hug, Zak included.
"Yay! So good to see you guys, you better have been behaving!"
"Always!" Billy answers a little too quickly.
"Yeah right!" I give him a playful nudge.
"That little streak coming in with Aaron is Dakota." I could tell from the smile in Zak's voice that he was actually very fond of Dakota who was somewhat of a protégé of the crew since he won a guest appearance on the show a few years ago.
"Hey Trace, pleased to meet the woman that could put a leash on this guy." He shook my hand and quickly ducked out of the way of Zak's incoming swat. Aaron passed by with a ruffle of my hair as he reached around me and swiped a croissant, stuffing it in his mouth before anyone could object. Finally, I heard the front door close but I was intrigued as to who the owners of the female voices were that drifted from the hallway.
"And this here lovely lady is Dianne, the poor long suffering wife of Billy and of course that's Ash Wasley, and you must be something special because she never comes to Vegas if she can help it."
"Oh thank god! I thought I was stuck in a testosterone nightmare!" I wipe my brow. Zak scowls at me but Dianne and Ash both laugh and greet me warmly.
Everyone grabbed a plate and helped themselves before spreading out to the seating outside to make the most of the not too warm Vegas morning.
"Sorry to spring this on you, it was all a bit last minute." Zak pulled me away from the group for a moment.
"Its ok, I wanted to meet them all anyway so might as well do it all in one go, I'll try not to be too shy." I shrug.
'Just be you and you 'll do just fine." He brushes his knuckles against my cheek before ghosting his lips across mine.
'Such a charmer." I grumble as he takes my hand and leads me outside. I didn't admit to Zak that I was a little overwhelmed, I felt awkward and self-conscious, all too aware that these people were incredibly important to Zak and their impression of me would be important too. I pulled up my big girl pants, put a smile on my face and readied myself to dive into the conversation. We joined the group of men at first but after a few pleasantries they quickly lost me as the talked filming schedules and cage fighting so I stalked away and joined Ash and Dianne under the gazebo next to the pool.
"Mind if I join?" I ask shyly.
"Of course not girl, make yourself comfortable." Dianne insisted and patted the wicker seat next to her.
"Thank you, it was all getting a bit..." I furrowed my brow trying to think of the right word.
"Male?" Dianne offered up.
"Boring?" Ash suggested.
"And technical if we're going to keep it polite." I grinned and the two women chuckled knowingly.
"Oh we've all been there doll, poor Ash more than most." Dianne laughed and Ash pulled a face.
'Best to leave them to it. So how are you finding Vegas Tracy?" Asked Ash.
"Well I've only been here since yesterday afternoon and I've seen the road from the airport to here, seems nice I guess."
"Those guys! We're going to have to have words! I thought you'd been here for at least a couple of days already but you haven't even had the chance to get your toes wet! We wouldn't have come and crowded you had we known." Dianne looks genuinely annoyed on my behalf, it's clear that she acts as a mother figure to the group.
"Oh its ok really, I admit I'm a little nervous to meet you all but I have two whole weeks to see the sights, I'm happy to be getting to know you," I assure them not wanting the guys to get into trouble.
"Hmmm I'll still be having a few words." She threw a scowl in their direction.
"Ok, maybe a couple but don't be too harsh on them I would have insisted on meeting you all sooner rather than later anyway." I smile and realise that I'm actually enjoying myself and find them both easy to talk to.
"So tell us, how exactly did you manage to reign in the eternal bachelor anyway, and don't spare the juicy details!" I knew that Billy and Jay will have told them about our time in Australia but they were eager to hear it from the horse's mouth and I obliged, omitting a few of the juiciest details of course. We continue to chat and gossip for a while and I made sure to find out as many funny and embarrassing stories about the boys as possible. I wiped tears of laughter from my eyes as Zak, Jay and Billy came to join us.
"What's so funny?"Billy asked as he sat down.
"Nothing!" We all quickly chorused prompting us to all collapse into giggles once more.
"you better not be sharing our deepest darkest secrets and leading Tracy astray," Billy warned them.
"Pfft as if she needs any corrupting." Zak nudged my shoulder playfully, I grinned quite proud of my reputation for mischief and shenanigans.
"It's about time you met your match, well done Bagans you finally done good." Coming from Ash who had travelled and worked closely with him for years this felt like a huge compliment, Zak's smile suggested he felt the same.
"Come on guys we should make a move we have work to do at the museum remember?" Aaron tries to round everyone up.
"Do you need to go to?" I ask Zak.
"Not today sweetie, the rest of the day is all ours." He took my hand skimming my warm skin with his thumb.
"Well if you're sure, I know you have plenty of last minute jobs to do so don't let me get in the way." He brushes a kiss on my temple.
"You're never in the way, don't worry its all under control, I will have to go in over the next few days but not today." He assures me and I grin pleased that we'll get to spend some time together. It felt like we hadn't had the chance to just chill together just yet and I was grateful for that chance now.
"We'll be getting out of your hair then, its been great to meet you, Tracy. Sorry again to have all barged in on you unannounced." Dianne eyes everyone and I chuckle as they all shrink back from her gaze.
"Its been no problem at all, I've loved meeting you all, thank you for coming."
"We'll see you Saturday." Ash smiled.
"Oh good, you're going to be there!" My relief was palpable, I didn't realise just how nervous I had been feeling about the whole thing. Not only was it the grand opening of Zak's pet project, it was also our first official outing together, our relationship was going to be made public and that was nerve wracking in of itself. Lastly was the demon knife, the obsidian blade that had my very own demon bound to it. I hadn't seen it since the binding ritual had taken place and I wasn't sure how I felt about seeing it again.
"We wouldn't miss it doll." Dianne bent to kiss my cheek and squeezed my shoulder as she led Billy, Ash and Jay away.
"See you later pompom." Aaron ruffled my hair again, Bacon doffed his cap and Dakota grinned as the quickly followed suit. We were left listening to the relaxing splash of the water cascading into the pool.
"You ok sweetie?" Zak asks me his hand still in mine.
"Yep, that was nice, thank you. They seem like a really good bunch of people." I smile, it made me happy that Zak had a support network that he could rely on. They obviously cared about him and vice versa and I felt privileged to be accepted into the small and trusted circle. Zak's return smile was warm and even his eyes seemed to take on a golden glow as the sunlight filtered through the shade.
"They liked you too, I can tell."
"I hope so. I don't think I ever want to get on the wrong side of Dianne!"
"You and me both!"He laughed loudly, pulling me across the sun lounger towards him. He took my face in his hands and kissed me, softly running his tongue over my lips urging me to part them and allow him access. I was never going to deny him and invited him in, my tongue dancing with his. As the kiss ended I sat a moment my eyes still closed and my lips slightly parted savouring the taste and feel of him. He brushes his thumb over my swollen lips bringing me gently back down to earth. His crooked smile did nothing to help me catch my already stolen breath as I find myself caught in the whirlpool of his eyes.
"Come on, I want to show you around a bit, get you accustomed to your soon to be new home." He pulls me up to my feet and still in a daze I follow him obediently.