Janice awoke in a state that was best described as "slightly odd".

Nothing unpleasant...just mildly unusual. A strange combination of having several hours of very deep sleep that had been preceded by some very intense...very extremely incredibly intense lovemaking. The beautiful blonde somehow felt well-rested but slightly exhausted at the same time.

But what she was feeling most of all was...satisfied.

There were still some matters she had to work out in her mind about the previous evening's unexpected tryst, but nothing overly troubling. She began to ponder any potential details that could be a bother, and how best to deal with those issues. Janice believed in tackling problems pre-emptively. That was just her way.

She looked over at her slumbering bedmate. He was sleeping quite soundly. She was pleased to note that he wasn't snoring and hoped this was normal for him.

In case last night was going to be more than a one-time occurrence.

*Now let's not get ahead of ourselves,* she thought as she rose from the bed and headed for the bathroom. She reached for her toothbrush. and the small container of toothpaste that the hotel provided. Bad breath was a particular pet peeve of hers, so it was always the first thing she attended to each morning after waking up. She frowned momentarily when she realized she had no extra toothbrush for her unplanned guest. Fortunately the hotel had provided a small bottle of mouthwash, so that would take care of her companion's oral hygiene.

She was sure there was going to be a bit of conversation when he woke up...and she was no more tolerant of bad breath in others than she was in herself.

After brushing her teeth, Janice scrutinized her appearance in the mirror...another regular habit of hers. This was not an act of vanity, but practicality. The British beauty had made a living based on her appearance for over a dozen years now, ever since she and her identical twin Jessica had been signed to a top modeling agency as teens. Janice felt it was only good sense to make sure she her appearance was presentable at all times, and keep an eye out for any flaws that might need correcting.

But on this particular morning, having just gotten out of bed and without a spot of makeup on, and her hair disheveled...there was not a flaw to be seen. She looked radiant...no, she looked glorious. A natural beauty who was all but emanating positive energy out to the rest of the universe.

She shook her head in near disbelief, knowing that what her reflection was showing her was all due to what had happened last night.

******'******

Zack awoke and felt a moment of disorientation.

This wasn't his bed, or his hotel room. It didn't take him long to recall where he was...which immediately made him realize a monumental fact.

Last night hadn't been a dream. It had actually happened. He sat up quickly and came face to face with...

"Good morning," Janice said with a smile. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing nothing but a bathrobe. "Did you sleep well?"

Her tone was pleasant...and much calmer than Zack himself was currently feeling.

"Uh, yeah," he answered. He had no chance to say anything else before she spoke again.

"I'm afraid I don't have an extra toothbrush but there's some mouthwash in the bathroom. Go wash up and then we can talk." She paused. "Assuming you want to talk?"

"Talk...yeah. I want...uh...talking is good"

Janice remained calm and pleasant, making Zack feel more at ease. She gestured towards the bathroom door and Zack began to get out of bed...before his face took om a particular shade of red as he realized he was not only nude, but had no idea where his clothes were.

Janice laughed softly when she saw him pause and start to try and wrap the bedsheet around himself.

"It's not like I didn't see everything last night," she said. "Why so shy now?"

Zack's complexion turned a deeper shade of red, though Janice's manner helped him feel at ease. "Are you saying you want me to parade around your hotel room in the buff?" he asked with a grin.

She clucked her tongue at him in response. "Now, now...I don't respond to flirting from anyone with morning breath." She stood and moved to a dresser where she retrieved another bathrobe. She tossed it to Zack and then pointed once again to the bathroom.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied as he slipped on the robe and then complied with her wishes.

When Zack returned from the bathroom, Janice had taken some orange juice and some bottled water from out of the room's mini-fridge and offered him his choice of drinks. He opted for the juice and then both of them sat back down on the bed.

"So...last night..." he began, only for the British beauty to take control of the conversation.

"Last night was utterly marvelous," she said. "And I'm going to regret saying this I'm sure, as it will go straight to your head, but I'm not going to lie...you were magnificent. Seriously, that was the best sex of my life. I swear I nearly lost consciousness at one point."

Zack's jaw dropped as the gorgeous model sang his praises. He could tell she was being sincere from the affectionate warmth in her eyes...yet her words came out in such a casual and matter of fact tone. He'd always known Janice to be direct, sometimes to the point of bluntness...but this conversation was on a whole new level.

"Of course, I can tell you all this," she continued. "Because I know you feel exactly the same way. Don't even pretend like you can deny it."

Her grin seemed to almost dare him to say otherwise, but he knew he couldn't.

"You were amazing," he said. "The whole night was amazing." He took a long pause. "It just took me by surprise. Even when you pulled me away from dinner and asked me to come up to your room, I didn't think...I didn't realize what you had planned."

"Truthfully it wasn't planned. Though in hindsight that does seem ridiculous. The way I all but dragged you up here."

Zack looked at her with a note of confusion. "Well, you must have planned a little...even if it was spur of the moment. You were really insistent about getting me alone."

"I suppose I did plan to get you away from the dinner table," Janice admitted. "And yes...very spur of the moment. I hadn't realized you'd be joining us after all. But the mind-blowing sex part...that was entirely unplanned."

Zack's confusion only grew. "But what were you planning that you wanted me in your hotel room?"

"Honestly, all I was thinking about was getting you away from the dinner table. You were too much of a distraction."

"I'm totally lost now."

Janice sighed. "I suppose I'll have to tell you everything." She adjusted her legs to sit more comfortably on the bed and looked towards Zack with a bit more seriousness in her expression. "It wasn't that I was unhappy to see you last night when you showed up with Bailey...but you were very unexpected. At first I didn't think it would be a problem, but as dinner went on I could see you were threatening to ruin everything."

Everything that the lovely blonde said increased Zack's confusion. He thought dinner had gone quite nicely from the moment it had started, even if he had been a surprise addition to the original plans.

He'd been in Arizona on some business and had no need to rush home once the deal was done. Knowing that his old classmate Bailey was currently living in Phoenix, he decided to drop by and say hello. She'd been happy to see him after so long, though he'd soon learned he wasn't the only one that had decided to pay Bailey a visit. The former farmgirl had been heading out to meet Janice and Jessica for dinner when Zack had shown up at her door. Bailey invited him to join her, figuring a reunion with yet another old friend would only make things better.

"Ruin everything?" Zack repeated Janice's last words back to her. "What was I ruining? We were all having a great time."

"Yes, you and Bailey, especially. I was a little thrown when I saw how you two get on. I can only imagine how Jessica felt watching you with her."

"What?"

Janice rolled her eyes. "Am I the only the only person on this planet who knows my sister is absolutely mad for Bailey?"

Zack's jaw dropped, answering Janice's question quite nicely.

"Jess has been mooning over her for ages, practically since the day they met. I finally convinced her to tell the girl how she feels and planned this whole visit so Jess could do that. But then you show up and Bailey is looking at you all night."

"Whoa! Whoa! And WHOA!" Zack exclaimed. "What are you talking about? Bailey and I are just friends."

Now it was Janice's turn to look confused...or at least curious. "Really? You're saying your feelings for Bailey are strictly platonic?"

"Yes."

"Not even a hint of attraction?"

Zack paused. "Well, I...I'm aware she's attractive. Very attractive. Beautiful even."

"Not sounding very platonic at the moment," Janice chuckled.

"It's not like that," he protested. "Yes, she's gorgeous. And I care for her...a lot. But it's never been a romance thing with us. Come on...she's my brother's ex-girlfriend."

Janice could hear the sincerity in Zack's tone...and his words led her to a sudden realization.

"Oh, I should have thought of that," she said, as if talking to herself, before refocusing her attention to Zack. "I was really surprised at the chemistry between you and Bailey last night. But apparently you two are unaware of how you come off to others who see you together. Thought I think I understand why."

"What do you mean?"

I've heard from both you and Bailey about how you first met, and how Cody was interested in her from the start. But I never thought about the effect that would have. No wonder she likes you so much."

"I'm still not following."

"Zack, from almost the start of your friendship with Bailey, you had considered her off-limits out of respect for your brother. You didn't hit on her, you didn't get on her nerves with constant pick-up lines...none of that. With her, you're always on your best behavior. You're always the best version of yourself when you're around her." Janice laughed and shook her head. "I'm a bit jealous now...though fortunately the earth-shattering sex last night takes the edge off."

The last comment brought a smile to Zack's lips for a moment. but there was a troubled look in his eyes.

"It sort of sounds like you're saying women like me more if I keep things strictly platonic."

"Not exactly," Janice replied. "It's more about how genuine you are. And let's face it, you've gone after some girls with nothing more on your mind than a bit of fun."

Zack began to frown.

"No judgement," the beautiful blonde reassured him. "Sometimes people just want a bit of fun and nothing more. But the women you've dated and stayed friends with after...and the ones who kept turning you down but became your friends anyway. They're the ones that got to know the real you."

Zack's frown disappeared but her remained quiet for a while.

"I wasn't expecting to have this conversation about Bailey," he finally said. "Though it gives me some new ways to look at things. But what I really want to talk about is you and me."

"That seems an appropriate topic," Janice said. "May I go first?"

"Please do."

She looked him in the eyes. "I didn't plan last night. I didn't expect last night. I don't regret last night. And I loved every single moment of it."

Zack smiled. "I loved it too."

"But as to what happens next," Janice went on. "There's a lot to think about. It's not going to be one conversation for us to have and decide everything. That will take many conversations. But if you want have them, I'm willing."

Zack took hold of her hand. "I'd like that." He paused. "So what now?"

Janice smiled as she let go of his hand and stood up. "Well, I'm going to take a shower and then get breakfast. Care to join me?"

"For breakfast or in the shower?" Zack asked with a sly grin.

Janice gave him a bemused look. "It wasn't a multiple choice question." She undid her robe and let if fall to the floor as she stood before him. "It's yes or no."

She then turned and walked slowly towards the bathroom, giving Zack plenty of time to catch up with her.

******'******

After a very long shower, Janice and Zack got dressed and left the hotel room to head downstairs for breakfast. Zack had to wear the same clothes he'd worn the night before, but Janice had changed into a comfortable light blue sun dress.

As the approached the dining area, they soon caught sight of Jessica, who by coincidence was also wearing a blue sun dress...along with Bailey, who was wearing the same outfit she'd had on last night.

Zack stifled a laugh as Janice did a victorious fist pump in the air before walking over to join the other young women. He followed and moved next to Bailey to ask how her night had went.

She blushed as she answered. "It was...really great."

"Really, really great!" Jessica added, blushing just as much.

"I'll expect thanks from both of you," Janice said triumphantly, causing the other girls' faces to go even redder.

Zack just smiled.

The End.

author's notes: Here's my attempt to write something after a long hiatus. It's also a birthday gift for my friend Silverturtle. Please review.