The day I walked off that boat, I mourned the loss of a man I barely knew.

My breath becomes labored, as he continues to stare deeply into my soul, but his gaze flickers to my mouth as my tongue darts out to moisturize my dry lips.

"Zach," I mutter.

Alexis spins around immediately to take another glimpse at the tall blonde that has haunted my thoughts for the past three months. "Wait, The Zach?"

Unsure if it is the alcohol that has suddenly wrapped me up in its warm blanket, but my body hums as I shift off the barstool. My legs take purposeful strides around the bar, and I can hear Alexis shouting my name in the background as she tries to keep up.

Weaving around people, I finally reach him, and my mind goes blank. Thanks to the liquid courage coursing through my veins, I cup his cheeks before slamming my lips onto his.

Sparks ignite throughout my body when Zach snakes his strong arms around my small frame, pulling me so close I can feel his beating heart against my chest. My hands fall from his face and wrap around his neck as I lightly trace his bottom lip, eager for more. Granting me access, he opens his mouth, and even with the taste of beer lingering on his tongue, I still manage to melt under his mesmerizing touch.

Zach is the first to pull away and leans his forehead against mine while brushing his thumb against my scorching skin. His eyes crinkle at the corners as his smile shines brighter than the sun. "Hi."

His happy expression sends my spirits flying, and I am barely able to conceal my delight. "Hi."

I want nothing more than to spend the rest of the night looking into his hypnotizing blue eyes, but my gaze meets the floor as guilt consumes me. "I'm sorry I didn't call. I wanted to, I just—"

Placing his finger under my chin, he lifts my head and claims my mouth once more. Feeling as if I am floating, I begin tugging at the collar of his shirt, desperately trying to keep myself grounded. "I don't care. I'm just happy I found you."

"Holy shit, that was hot." I turn and find a wide-eyed Alexis slapping her hand over her mouth.

Zach's body begins to shake as he laughs at my best friend. Keeping me firmly by his side, he puts his hand out to greet her. "Hey, I'm Zach."

Alexis flings herself towards us, and we catch her before she causes us all to plunge to the ground. "Oh, I know who you are." Zach's lip turns upwards in a panty-damping smirk, and the heat begins to spread across my face. "This is the best birthday ever!"

Zach's brows draw together, causing his forehead to crease. "Who's birthday?"

Alexis waves in my direction. "Our girl Gemma is officially twenty-one."

After looking up to the top of my head, Zach leans in and whispers, "That explains the tiara. Happy birthday, Princess."

No matter how cheesy the pet name is, my stomach flutters when the word rolls off his tongue. Nibbling hard on my bottom lip, I desperately try to contain my massive smile.

"MacCarthy!" Someone roars behind us. Zach's hand finds my hip, and he leads me towards a group of guys motioning him over. "Are you going to introduce us?"

I go to move and introduce myself, but Zach doesn't seem to want to let me go. Not at all bothered by his possessiveness, I reach over towards his friends. "I'm Gemma."

Taking my hand in his, he wiggles his brows in Zach's direction. "Gemma? As in the Gemma, we haven't stopped hearing about? The Gemma who managed to—"

He abruptly stops talking when Zach punches his arm. Closing his dark brown eyes, he starts laughing and begins to rub his well-defined bicep. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Gemma. I'm Nick."

Nick brings his beer bottle to his lips but stops as his eyes widen, and stares behind me. Alexis is looking down at her phone, completely oblivious that someone is openly checking her out.

"Hey, Lex!" I shout over my shoulder. Her head pops up, and she holds up her phone to show me a picture. "I'll look at that in a minute. I want to introduce you to Nick, Zach's friend."

The moment their eyes meet, her mouth slightly opens, and for the first time since I have known her, Alexis is speechless.

Zach leans in, and his hot breath tickles the outer shell of my ear, "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Of course you can."

"I'm going to get us something to drink, are you guys, okay?" Zach asks as Alexis moves to an empty seat next to Nick.

Without looking in our direction, Nick waves us off and uses his free hand to pull out the seat for Alexis.

Zach wraps his fingers with mine and guides me through the large crowd to an open seat at the bar. "I can't believe you're here." The alcohol mixed with the electricity shooting up my arm from our joined hands causes my mind to cloud over.

"Well, believe it because I'm not going anywhere." Zach's face lights up, and it sends my confidence soaring. My attraction to him is undeniable, and I can't control the need to be close to him.

Unable to take my eyes off his perfectly plump lips, I slowly trace my finger up his arm, and my heart flutters when I watch the goosebumps I leave behind. "Is your offer for a date still on the table?"

Zach leans in, and the intoxicating amber and vanilla notes in his cologne cloud my mind with desire. "Absolutely." My breath hitches when Zach brings our bodies together. Resting my hands against his sculpted chest, I can feel the vibrations of his racing heart through my fingertips. "Can I kiss you again?"

Even in my heels, I still need to tilt my head back to give him my full attention. The glint in his crystal-blue eyes leaves me struggling to remember how to breathe as my whole body quivers in delight. "Please."

When our lips meet, Zach buries his hands in my loose curls, tilting my head back for better access. My inhibition flies out the window when his tongue rolls against mine, happiness trembling inside me.

"Aren't they adorable?" Zach and I pull apart and find Nick with his arm draped around a bouncing Alexis. "A pool table just opened up, do you guys want to play?"

Before Zach even has a chance to ask, I hop off my chair and walk over to my best friend. "Let's go."

It's been a while since I've played a game of pool, throw in the fact that I have had a couple of drinks, I know that I'm not going to play my best.

My finger hooks over the pool stick, and I close my eyes, desperate to get my distorted vision under control. I feel a firm body press against me, and Zach tries to steady my shifting hips. Swatting him away, I say, "I got this."

Zach's hands show surrender as he backs up.

Refocusing on the task, I pull back and forcefully push the shaft of the stick into the cue ball and watch the white sphere move across the open table. My eyes go wide when it makes perfect contact with the freshly racked balls, and the striped orange thirteen sinks into the back left pocket.

My hips begin to wiggle in a celebratory dance, and Alexis drops her pool stick. "I want a do-over, this shit is rigged."

Chalking the tip of my cue, I can't help but throw an uneven smirk in her direction. "Don't hate."

As we continue to play, it is evident that Zach and I are unbeatable. Alexis uses this to her advantage and proceeds to use it as an excuse to flirt with Nick and is quick to wrap his body around her to help guide her shots.

After two games, my mind and body are now fully feeling the effects of alcohol, and I know if I have anymore, I won't be able to stand. The warmth of the room suddenly becomes uncomfortable, making it difficult to breathe. I bolt towards the door, and as soon as the fresh wind of the night hits my scorching skin, I hunch over desperate to get air into my lungs.

I don't even bother turning around when I hear the door slam behind me. "You can't run off like that, Princess. We didn't even see where you went."

As I try to stand up properly, I topple into Zach's arms. An obnoxious giggle erupts from my mouth, and I bury my face in his chest. "You're so strong."

Zach's chest vibrates with a chuckle, and I look up to get a glimpse of his smile. His raised lips cause my stomach to flutter, and my fingers instinctively reach to his chiseled face. "You're so pretty."

"And you're so drunk."

"Pish-tosh," I say as I playfully swat his arm.

Alexis frantically runs out of the door with Nick hot on her heels, worry etched on her face. The crease between her brows relaxes when she spots me with Zach. "You're a pain in the ass. Do you know that? I looked everywhere for you!"

Feeling bad, I start to shift back and forth awkwardly. "Sorry."

A yellow taxi pulls up, and Alexis motions for us to follow her. "This is ours."

Despite the time, the night still feels young, and I am in no way ready to say goodbye. "Do you guys want to come back to my house?" Zach's hand rubs against the back of his neck, and deciding to help make his decision easier, I add, "I have food."

The tip of his mouth turns upwards in an arousing smirk. "Well, I mean, if food is involved."

Trying my hardest to look cute, I jut out my bottom lip and bat my eyelashes. "You only want me for my food?"

"Oh, dear God," Alexis runs over and clutches my hand. Pushing me into the car, she says, "You look like a deranged cat."

My head falls back, and my body begins to shake with laughter. Zach scoots in next to me, and I clap my hands and bounce up and down in the seat. "Yay! You're coming!"

As soon as the car leaves the curb, the world begins to spin. Trying to gain control of my senses, I lay my throbbing head on Zach's shoulder. My heart jumps when he rests his soft hand on my knee and begins to rub delicate circles with the pad of his thumb. With a sigh of content, my eyes close, and I focus on the tingling sensation caused by his soothing touch.

Toppling out of the car, Zach bends down and wraps his arm under my knee and hoists me into the air. "I got you."

His smooth voice causes me to nuzzle deeply in his chest as he carries me into the house. "I like your big muscles."

Gently placing my feet on the ground, Zach moves his hands to my waist to help steady my wobbling legs. The key doesn't seem to want to go into the lock, despite several attempts. Fed up with my lack of coordination, I bring my face level to the handle, and with one eye closed, I finally insert the key correctly. "Success!"

Suddenly famished, I kick off my shoes before stumbling to the kitchen. The chilled kitchen tiles feel blissful on my aching feet as I walk over to the refrigerator. Desperate to satisfy my growling stomach, I pile everything insight into my small arms. Alexis rushes to grab some dishes from the cabinet and sets them out on the island.

Nick laughs and picks up a plate. "Dude, this is like the best post-drinking food ever."

"Right?" I say as I hoist myself up onto the counter. "It should be my birthday every day."

The chocolate-covered strawberries have my name written all over them, and the moment I bite into the sweet fruit, my eyes roll back in bliss.

"What do you have over there?" Zach asks as he nestles between my legs.

I'm pretty sure I stop breathing the moment he lifts his hand and brushes away some strawberry juice from the corner of my mouth. When I hold up the strawberry, he never takes his eyes off mine and bites down on the juicy fruit.

"This is going to sound like creeper level 100, but you're sexy when you eat." As soon as the words leave my mouth, my eyes widen, shocked at my boldness.

I can't believe I just said that.

"You should see how I look when I eat other things." Zach winks, and a bolt of lightning rushes to my core.

Tracing my finger slowly up his chest, I lean in and whisper, "Unfortunately, Prince Charming, not tonight. I'm a little drunk and want to remember every second of our first time together."

Zach's breath hitches, and as I pull away, I can't help but notice his alluring, slightly parted lips. The sight ignites a fire within me, and I feel invincible knowing I have this effect on him.

His bright blue eyes flicker to my lips as I roll my tongue over them. Letting out a low groan, he buries his face in my neck, and his heavy breaths tickle my skin. "You're going to be the death of me."

Raking my fingernails up his back, I say, "I hope not."

He playfully nibbles my sensitive neck, and my head falls back in satisfaction, silently begging for more.

"Well, aren't you two just the cutest fucking thing ever." Alexis stands by the doorway, holding tightly to Nick's hand. Walking out, she yells over her shoulder, "We're going to bed."

"You absolutely are not going to bed in my brother's room."

Alexis's nose wrinkles and shrugs her lean shoulders. "What do you mean? I always sleep in Dom's room."

My eyes narrow as I hop off the counter and make my way to the basement door. "I'll be damned if you get your love juices on my brother's sheets." Her eyes look over to the basement, and I point for her to get going. "It's a finished basement Alexis, with a bedroom and bathroom. Stop acting like I'm sending you to a filthy dungeon."

Her tense posture relaxes, and she bobbles her head up and down. "That's fair."

Alexis and Nick make their way down the stairs, and before I shut the door, I yell, "Wrap it before you tap it."

Zach wraps his arms around my stomach, just in time to watch my best friend proudly stick her middle finger in the air. "Cover your stump before you hump."

My head drops back into his chest as I roar with laughter. "Avoid the dread, cover your head."

By the time the two love birds are out of sight, Zach and I have our hands on our knees trying to catch our breath. My stomach aches, and when I stand up, Zach's luminous face captures my attention.

Everything from the way his blue eyes get a shade lighter to the small creases around them has me completely mesmerized.

Wrapping my hand around his, I guide him out of the kitchen and towards the bedrooms.

Zach pulls my hand, stopping me in my tracks. His confidence is long gone as he scratches the back of his neck and glances anywhere but at me. "I can sleep in Dom's room."

"You could," I admit as my hand turns the brass knob, "Or you could sleep with me."

"Are...are you sure?"

I find his stutter incredibly charming, and I tilt my head towards my bed. "I don't bite. Well, unless you're into that kind of thing." Zach's lip turns upwards on one side, showcasing his hypnotizing dimple.

"There's the smile I love."

Zach reaches for my arm and pulls me close, the sudden movement takes me by surprise, and I collide with his chest. "I don't have anything to change into, and I smell like stale beer."

"Lucky for you, I have something for you."

Zach pushes a stray hair away from my eyes while his tongue darts out to moisten his dry lips. "I don't think I'm going to fit into your brother's clothes, Gemma."

An airy chuckle leaves my parted mouth as I playfully slap his shoulder. Walking over to my dresser, I pull out an old pair of black basketball shorts and an old rolling stones t-shirt. "They were my dad's."

Rubbing his brow, he looks down at the clothes I am holding out. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." pointing to the door to my right, I say, "You can change in there."

Once Zach shuts himself in the bathroom, I find myself a fresh pair of clothes. Not caring how I look, I pull out my favorite flannel pajamas and throw on a shirt that is so large, it almost reaches my thighs.

After removing the extra pillows from my bed, I climb in and bring the plush duvet over my shoulders. The bed dips, and I roll over to get a glimpse at the handsome man lying next to me. Resting my head on my propped up hand, I let out an audible sigh. "I honestly thought I would never see you again. Talk about the best birthday gift ever."

Wrapping his arms around me, Zach brings me into his firm body and tenderly places his lips on my forehead. "Me too, Princess."

Resting my cheek against him, Zach begins to run his fingers through my loose curls, instantly relaxing me. The steady rising and falling of his chest, mixed with the rhythmic beat of his heart, creates the perfect lullaby that soothes me to sleep.