Alexis woke up the next morning with a smile on her face.  She was enjoying a truly delicious dream in which her best friend turned boyfriend had whisked her away for a romantic stay at a hotel, just the two of them.  Alexis sighed softly and rolled over.  Josh was looking back at her, his blue eyes swimming.  Then she remembered, it wasn’t just a dream.

“Good morning Pretty lady! Sleep well?” He said, his voice low.

“Mmm! Yes! This bed is SOOOO comfortable!” Alexis groaned.

JC smiled, then reached out and pulled her to him.  “Mmm Hmm! A guy could get used to this.”

Alexis giggled slightly as he started to pop quick, soft kisses on her lips.  “Used to what?”

JC grinned. “Waking up to you in my bed every morning.”

Alexis cocked an eyebrow and made a face.  “Oh really?!”

JC smiled and popped another kiss on her lips.  “Something wrong with that?”

Alexis pulled back a little.  “No, I just…”

Whether or not she wanted to admit it, Alexis was still being cautious.  She was happy, everything was falling into place, and now she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

JC bit his lip and grinned.  “I know what you’re thinking Lexi.  You’re thinking it’s only been a couple of months, and so far, things between us have been pretty casual but I made you a promise.  I said that if I thought there was even a chance you could trust me again, that you could feel a certain way, that I would ditch the “Playboy” routine and well…you did say “I love you.”

Alexis blushed a bit and nodded.  “I did! It just sorta slipped out.”

JC chuckled.  “You meant it though, right?”

Alexis nodded.

“I meant it too.  I love you!  I always have! I just didn’t realize how much until I screwed it up, until I started to miss you!”

Alexis stayed quiet.

“I’ve thought about it, Lexi. I’ve thought about my future and what it looks like, and who I want to wake up next to every morning and share all my sunsets with.”

Alexis’s eyes were wide now.  She didn’t know how to respond and she most definitely hadn’t expected anything like this to come out of his mouth. 

He couldn’t help but grin at her reaction. 

“No, I’m not asking you to marry me, not today anyway, but I’m also not going to lie to you and say I haven’t thought about it.  I have thought about it, Lexi and I think you should too.”

Alexis just blushed and bit her lip.  “Ok.”

JC grinned.  “Ok. Now, how about some breakfast?”

Alexis giggled and nodded. “Yes, please!”

“Hungry?” JC chuckled.

“Starving!” Alexis replied.

JC grinned more.  “I guess it’s a good thing I ordered Room Service then!  Food should be here in a few minutes.”

True to his statement, Room Service arrived just a few minutes later.  JC jumped out of bed and Alexis couldn’t help but blush and shake her head at the sight of him standing naked in front of her.  Quickly, he shimmied into a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt and shuffled to the door. 

“What did you order?” Alexis asked as she sat up in bed, the sheets still covering her.

JC just smiled as he pushed the cart up to the bed and set a tray in front of her.  He lifted the cover and then stood back and waited for her reaction.

Immediately, a huge grin spread across her lips and she giggled a bit and shook her head.  Underneath the cloche, on the plate in front of her were waffles, a bowl of yogurt and granola, sliced Polska Kielbasa sausage and some sort of fancy coffee drink with a leaf pattern in the foam.

“You really do remember all my favorites, don’t you?” Alexis giggled.

“Yes ma’am.” He replied with a wink.

Moments later he was settled on the bed beside her with his own tray in front of him. 

“Wow!” Alexis breathed out after taking a sip of her coffee.

“Good?” JC asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alexis closed her eyes, took another sip of her coffee and nodded.  “SOOO GOOD! Normally, I am skeptical of hotel coffee but this is heaven in a cup!”

“Do you want more?” JC asked chuckling.

Alexis took another sip and sighed.  “No, this is perfect.”

“Are you sure? It’s officially your birthday! That means you can have ANYTHING you want!”

“Anything?!” Alexis teased.

“ANYTHING Pretty Lady! Just ask and it’s yours!”

Alexis brought the cup up to her lips again and smiled.  “What if I already got everything I could ever want?”

JC looked over at her and felt his heart flutter just a little.  Her dark brown hair cascaded around her shoulders in messy waves, her green eyes were bright, her lips were full and her skin seemed to glow in the morning sun.  He set his cup of coffee down, then moved both trays aside and turned to face her.  Smiling softly, he reached out to touch her face, then gently lifted her chin with his hand.

“Are you sure about that?” He asked, his voice just a whisper.

“Sure about what?” Alexis asked as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

“That you have everything you could ever want?” He asked bravely.

Truthfully, his feelings scared him a bit.  He’d NEVER felt this strongly about a woman.  Not April, not Nikki, not Kate, not Tara, not Bobbi.  None of them.  April had been the first and the last to truly break his heart.  After April, he’d sworn he’d NEVER allow himself to feel that deeply about a woman again. In fact, every time he started to feel a certain way about a girl or had the feeling that she was getting too attached he would sabotage the relationship. Never let a woman get that close to you.  Never let her see how you truly feel.  Love them and leave them.  That had been his rule for the past few years.  Now here was Alexis flipping his world upside down. 

When she wasn’t around, every part of him ached.  His body, his soul, his brain.  All of it.  He NEEDED her, more than he wanted to admit, but he didn’t think he could stand the possibility that she didn’t feel the same.

Alexis’s eyes widened.  She didn’t know what had changed in him but something had definitely changed.  She could see it in the way he looked at her.  From the very beginning he’d always been playful with her, even sarcastic sometimes but this sweet, sincere and completely vulnerable side of him was new territory.  Not that she hadn’t seen it before.  She had.  Just never directed completely at her.

“What do you mean?” She whispered.

He scooted closer.  Their foreheads were touching now and his warm breath on her face was starting to give her goosebumps. 

“I think you know.” He whispered back, his mouth hovering over hers.

Alexis bit her lip and shook her head. 

“I don’t.” She replied, her voice shaking.

JC smiled against her lips.  “Yes, you do Lexi.”

Alexis felt her emotions start to bubble inside of her.  She was still holding back, afraid of getting her heart broken again.  Afraid that he would leave her again.  That was what he did.  He left.  According to Michelle he’d wormed his way out of every relationship since April.  She refused to be another casualty.

Alexis shook her head again, terrified to put a voice behind the emotions swirling inside of her.

“I love you Lexi!  I always have. I always will.  I was stupid to ever walk away from you.  You’re the one I want to wake up next to every morning, the one I want to watch every sunset with.  It’s YOU! You’re the one for me, and I will surrender my “player” card if you’ll have me.”

“Josh…don’t…” Alexis replied, her lips trembling.

JC sighed then kissed her lips ever so lightly.  “It’s ok, I get it, you’re scared.  You’re afraid I’ll leave again, that I’ll break your heart but I think turning 30 made me realize I’m not a kid anymore.  I’m a man and I need to start acting like one.  I want to be the man you deserve, the one that you fell in love with.”

“Josh…” Her eyes were brimming with tears now.

He smiled and then allowed his mouth to close over hers.  Kissing her softly, then pulling away briefly, just long enough to say what he’d been wanting to say all along.

“I’m yours Lexi, all of me, for as long as you’ll have me.”

Alexis whimpered softly as the tears started to fall.  JC smiled then pushed her back on the bed, pulling the sheets down leaving her completely naked and exposed.  He popped a kiss on her forehead, then pulled his shirt over his head and climbed on top of her.

Her eyes fluttered closed as he kissed her tears away and then stretched out on top of her.

“Shh! Don’t cry Pretty lady!  I never want to make you cry …not ever again.” He whispered before burying his face in her neck.

“Josh…” She whimpered quietly.

“Shh! It’s ok! Take all the time you need Pretty lady.  I’m not going anywhere!”

She nodded then gasped as he started to place very soft kisses on her neck.  He kissed at her neck for a long time before moving to her jaw and her lips.  Once at her lips he applied a bit more pressure, pushing her lips apart then finding her tongue easily.  He kissed her slowly for a long time then moved to her chin and throat.  However, when he moved to the spot between her breasts, she let out a ragged breath and then a moan as his lips closed over her right breast.  Her back arched involuntarily as gently tugged at her breast with his lips.  He gave both of her breasts equal attention and care before trailing downward to her stomach.  Her breathing had quickened and her back continued to arch up to meet his lips as he trailed soft, sensual kisses over every inch of her skin. 

“Lexi, I love you!” He whispered before sliding himself inside of her.

Yet again, her back arched to meet him and quiet moan escaped her lips.

“OH!”

He could feel her tensing up a bit and truthfully, it made him smile a little.  He knew she was still holding back, still protecting her heart, still afraid to let him in completely.  He was determined to change that.

“Relax! It’s your birthday Pretty lady! Today is all about you! I want you to enjoy this!”

Alexis allowed her eyes to flutter open.  He was looking down at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

“Relax! Please! I won’t hurt you!” He said smiling.

Alexis made a face.

“Trust me! Please!  Remember, I said I had eight years of birthdays to make up for, THIS is part of that.”

Alexis bit her lip and nodded as JC pulled back slowly, then filled her up again.  His thrusts were slow and gentle, filling her up each time and with every thrust it felt as if he swelled inside of her a bit more.  Soon, he found a slow, steady rhythm that had her lifting her hips to meet him each time.  Her breathing had quickened and her hands were grabbing at hips giving him the leverage he needed to keep his rhythm going.

“Say my name.” He growled, his voice gravely and low.

“Josh!’ She whispered.

“Say it again.” He replied.

“JOSH!” She whimpered as she felt her body began to quake.

“You first Pretty lady!” He groaned.

Alexis shook her head fitfully.

“Together.” She replied, her voice catching in her throat.

He moaned and quickened his thrusts just a little.  “NO! THIS is all for you Pretty lady, I NEED you to go first. I NEED you feel what I am willing to do for you!”

“Josh…” she protested, her voice a whisper.

“LEXI! PLEASE!” He said before burying his face in her neck so that his lips were against her ear.

“Josh, I …” she stuttered again.

“Shh!  Don’t speak, don’t try to rationalize, just FEEL…PLEASE!” He whispered.

FINALLY, Alexis relented and allowed her body to relax and the trembling to meld with his thrusts.   It wasn’t long before the quaking within her had her shaking on the outside too.  However, he remained steady and attentive, his hips moving back and forth in a steady rhythm as he devoured her neck with his lips.

“OH GOD!” Lexi felt herself scream as she felt the wave of her climax and release crash within her.

Moments later JC reached his climax too and then collapsed gently on top of her.  Kissing her lips softly until he felt her heartbeat slow to a steady pace.

Smiling, he sat up, their bodies still connected as he looked down at her.

“Hey there Pretty lady, how about you open those beautiful green eyes of yours and look at me?”

Alexis’s eyes fluttered open as a small smile started to spread across her face and she bit at her bottom lip.

“There she is!  Happy Birthday Alexis!” He said grinning.

Alexis couldn’t help but giggle.  “Was that my Birthday sex?”

JC chuckled.  “Part of it.”

“There’s more?” Alexis laughed.

“Possibly!  We’ll just have to see how the day goes.”

“Did you really mean all those things you said?” Alexis asked, her eyes still wide.

JC grinned.  “Every word!”

Alexis bit her lip again and nodded.  “Hmm, and just what am I supposed to do with that information.”

JC laughed. “Whatever you want.  That’s for you to decide, but as I said, I have no intention of going anywhere.”

Alexis cracked a smile and nodded.  “Glad to hear it.”

JC grinned, popped a quick kiss on her lips then settled himself on the bed beside her and pulled the sheet over them.

“What next Birthday girl?” He asked smiling.

Alexis laughed.  “Umm…you’re the man with the master plan, you tell me.”

JC picked up his phone to look at the time.  He had several text messages and a couple voice mails but right then he was completely focused on the gorgeous woman beside him.

“Hmm…well, it’s just now 11 a.m.  How about a nice, relaxing bubble bath then maybe another walk, come back here for some lunch, maybe take another dip in the jacuzzi and just go from there?”

Alexis giggled at him and shook her head.  “A bubble bath?  Did you come up with that all on your own?”

JC blushed.  “No. Not completely.  I saw it on the hotel amenities menu and thought it sounded like a good idea so I went ahead and booked it.”

Alexis made a face.  “How do you book a bubble bath?”

Josh laughed.  “Umm.  It wasn’t hard.  Apparently, you just select it on the menu and then they send all the stuff to your room.”

“What stuff?”

“Uhhh…bubble bath, bath salts, some fancy ass sponge and chilled face towels.”

Alexis couldn’t help but giggle at him and shake her head.  He was being adorable again.

“Sounds intriguing.  Ok, I’m game.  Fire it up!”

JC grinned then tossed the covers aside and jumped from the bed.  He was still naked but Alexis wasn’t complaining one bit.  She watched with complete satisfaction as his naked ass disappeared into the master bathroom.  Moments later she heard the water running, sighed and then snuggled back into the pillows.

Alexis grabbed her phone from the nightstand and looked at it briefly.  A few text messages from her sisters, a voice mail from her parents as well as one from Kenny and Andrew.  Probably all wishing her Happy Birthday, but right then her sole focus was Josh.

His proclamation of love minutes earlier still had her head spinning.  She didn’t know what to make of it.  It was not at all what she’d expected but she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that he had her thinking about their future together.

Could it be possible that he was being sincere?

JC reappeared minutes later, still naked, but wearing a huge grin.

Alexis blushed a bit and shook her head.  “Are you planning to stay like that?”

“Like what?” he teased.

Alexis laughed.  “Naked.”

“Would you like that?” JC replied with a smirk.

Alexis blushed more.  “Umm…”

JC laughed out loud, letting his head fall back a bit.  She was adorable when she got embarrassed, which wasn’t often.

“No. I’m not going to stay like this.  I’ll get dressed while you are in the bath.  We can go on that walk after.”

Alexis nodded then pushed the sheets aside.  However, she didn’t get the opportunity to stand.  JC was at her bedside in an instant, sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her towards the master bathroom.

Alexis squealed and laughed as he picked her up and started to carry across the room.

“JOSH!” she squealed.

“It’s your birthday and therefore, I am going to spoil you as much as possible, and that includes carrying you to the tub.”

Alexis just laughed a bit more, wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to carry her, then carefully set her down in the hot water.

Once she was settled in the tub JC popped a quick kiss on the top of her head before leaving the bathroom.

In the bedroom, JC dressed quickly.  He pulled on a pair of boxer briefs then slipped back into his cargo shorts from the day before and pulled a clean polo shirt over his head.  Yes, he needed a shower but he was planning on a shower after getting in the jacuzzi later so there was no sense showering now just to shower again. 

After getting dressed JC settled himself on the bed and reached for his phone.  He had a text from Johnny reminding him of a meeting they had on Wednesday to discuss tour stuff.  He had another text from Justin checking in from NYC.  He said that the flight to NYC had been “NEXT LEVEL” but didn’t elaborate beyond that.  It made JC shake his head and chuckled a bit.  He was probably better off not knowing if he was being honest.

About an hour later Alexis emerged from the bathroom wrapped in one of the hotels plush, terry cloth robes.  Her skin was glowing from the heat of the bath and her hair still piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

“OH MY GOD…these robes…” Alexis giggled as she stepped into the bedroom.

“Comfy?” JC asked grinning.

“VERY!  They should sell these…”

“I think they do.” JC said grinning.

Alexis bit her lip and smiled.

“Consider it done Pretty lady!”

Alexis shook her head and blushed.  “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

JC chuckled.  ‘You didn’t have to. I am happy to do it. Anything for the Birthday girl!”

“You spoil me.”

JC grinned.  “DAMN RIGHT!  You’re my QUEEN and I am going to treat you as such.”

Alexis laughed a bit.  “Well, ok then.  I guess I can’t argue with that.”

“Nope! Now, get that cute ass of yours dressed so we can go on that walk.”

Ten minutes later Alexis was dressed in a denim skirt and a simple, cotton ribbed tank top in dark green.  Nothing fancy, but definitely comfortable and it wasn’t like they had to impress anyone but each other.

Hand in hand they walked the grounds for over an hour, stopping from time to look at flowers or watch the swans swimming.

“Come here.” JC whispered as he pulled her behind a small grove of palm trees.

“What are we doing?” Alexis whispered as he wrapped both his arms around her waist.

JC smiled and dropped his head a bit. Then, still smiling, he captured her lips a sweet kiss.

Alexis giggled then leaned into him.  He was being cute and romantic and she was loving every minute of it.

“When did you get to be such the romantic?” Alexis asked he pulled away.

JC smiled.  “I’ve always been the romantic type, just never had anyone I wanted to be this romantic with.”

“Is that so?” Alexis smirked.

JC grinned and nodded. “Mmm Hmm! This is all YOUR fault! You did this to me.”

Alexis laughed.  “I did this to you, what about what you’re doing to me?”

JC chuckled then pulled her a bit closer.  This conversation was taking an unexpected turn but he wasn’t mad about it one bit.

“What am I doing to you Lexi?” He asked, his voice low and thick.

Alexis began to feel her heart pound in her chest.  It still amazed her how one minute, things between them could be totally playful and casual, and in the next far more emotionally charged.  It was as if he had this power over her, one that turned her brain to mush and made her knees go weak with just a few words or the simplest touch. 

Alexis blinked and forced the lump back in her throat then tried to make the butterflies in her stomach stop doing flips.  He was getting to her, that much was certain.

“Making me fall for you.” She whispered back.

JC smiled then lifted her chin so that she met his gaze.  “Go ahead, fall for me, I’ll catch you!”

“Will you?” She replied.

“Always!”

“I love you Josh!  It scares me just how much sometimes.”

JC nodded then cracked a reassuring smile.  “I get it! Believe me, I do!  I also understand why you’re being so cautious.  I don’t fault you for that, just know, I will wait for you, for as long as you need.  I’m in no rush.”

Alexis smiled and nodded.  “Thank you”

JC pulled her into a hug then kissed the top of her head.  “For you, anything!”

After their impromptu discussion and a bit more walking, they returned to the suite where lunch was waiting on the patio. 

Lunch was delicious, but then, so far, all of the food at the hotel had been top notch so of course this would be no different.  Neither one of them left a single crumb on their plate. 

In fact, there wasn’t a single part of her birthday “getaway” that she didn’t absolutely love.  JC had attended to every detail and gone above and beyond to make her feel special.  Truthfully, she couldn’t think of a time when she’d had a better birthday than this one.

“So…28, any big plans for 28?” JC asked before taking a sip from his glass of wine.

They were now in the jacuzzi, drinking wine, relaxing and just chatting casually.  It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Alexis blushed a bit then giggled.  “Umm…supposedly, I am going on tour with this really FAMOUS boyband…maybe you’ve heard of them.”

JC laughed.  “Hmm…the Backstreet Boys.”

Alexis snorted and made a face.  “Gross! No! I wouldn’t last five minutes in the same room with Littrell.”

“Not a fan?” JC smirked.

“NO!  Plus, you guys are FAR more talented.”

Now it was JC’s turn to blush a little.

“Thanks.”

There was a brief pause, but it was very brief, just long enough for both of them to take another sip of their wine.

“Ok, so the tour and…” JC continued.

Alexis screwed up her face in thought, which made JC chuckle a bit.

“Well, I know I should be focusing on the tour, and I am, but I also want to get back in the studio.  I have this song that I’ve been playing with, here and there, when I have time, and I would love to see what I could do with it.”

“Oh yeah?” JC asked raising an eyebrow.

The producer and songwriter in him were beyond curious.

“It’s just something I’ve been playing with.”

JC grinned.  He understood completely.

“Want to tell me about it?”

Alexis blushed and shrugged her shoulders.  “It’s a duet…or at least that’s the way it’s been playing in my head.”

JC couldn’t help but grin and shake his head.  “A duet, huh?  Got anyone in particular in mind for this duet?”

Alexis giggled and bit her lip.  “Well, it would have to be a guy.”

JC smirked.  “Obviously.”

Alexis was trying to maintain her giggles by this point.  “He would have to have a killer voice.”

“A definite must.”

“I’m thinking someone with a decent vocal range.  I don’t know…three, maybe four octaves.” Alexis teased.

JC laughed and shook his head.  “Alexis, are you asking me to do a duet with you?”

Alexis blushed more.  “Maybe.  You know, if you’re not too busy.”

JC grinned.  “For you? Never!”