Max watched as the kindly tour guides led several docile horses up towards the group of ten or so guests who wanted to go riding. Alec leaned down to talk to her; it irritated her that he was so much taller than her.
"Have you ever ridden before Max?" He asked. Max glared at him.
"I'm a city girl Alec, I don't ride horses."
"They're nothing like bikes." Alec assured her. Max scoffed.
"Like you'd know."
"Horse riding is just one of my many skills." Alec said affably. Logan smiled coolly at him.
"We'll see." He said. Alec smiled back, nodding his head just a tiny bit to indicate his skepticism.
Max climbed dubiously onto the back of a sweet little gray mare. Ash was looking wobbly on a black horse and Alec was adjusting his stirrups. Logan was already discussing something with the tour guide.
"Hey Max, hold the reins in your right hand, hold on to the pommel with your left if you're feeling unbalanced." Alec's horse seemed to dance at Alec's command. Max glared at him.
"Hey Alec - come on." Logan called over. "We're up front." He waved him over. Max watched as Alec winked at her and kicked his horse into a lope towards Logan. The train started off.
"This aught to be fun." Asha drawled as her horse settled beside Max's. Max nodded, worried in case Logan's pride was bruised.
"See that ridge over there." Logan gestured to one that was just out of a field of trees. Alec smiled, stroking the neck of his horse.
"That I do. What of it?" He asked, consciously sitting back in the saddle to appear languid. Logan's eyes glinted.
"I'll get there before you." He almost growled the words. Alec smiled at him.
"I accept."
Almost before the words were out of his mouth they were off. Alec crouched his body along his horse's neck. He zoomed in on the ground ahead, watching out for potholes. He spurred his horse on; the bay tossed his head and extended his gallop. Alec felt the horse flow beneath him, he was extended but still collected enough to stop it from being full out. They drew level with Logan's black and the horses snorted with excitement, picking up on their rider's adrenalin. The bay tossed his head again. Alec collected him slightly, making the gallop bouncier. He straightened a little, allowing the bay to hop over a pothole. Logan's black was not so lucky; the horse stumbled but kept going. Alec allowed his horse a freer rein. The bay snorted, dropping his head and bucking in excitement. Alec rode it out; the horse was simply exhilarated by his small victory. The bay collected quickly when it realized the black was coming flat out behind him. Alec's superior eyesight caught something in the distance. He pulled the bay up quickly, yelling out to Logan.
"What?" Logan yelled as Alec cantered a lare circle away. Alec's bay came to a stop, pawing at the ground in frustration. Suddenly Logan's black jumped six-foot up and six foot sideways as a snake lunged for them. Logan clung on by the skin of the teeth. Alec watched, stroking his horse comfortingly.
"Ssh boy, we did good." He cooed, glancing back to see Max and Asha hurrying to meet them.
"We did damned good."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I hurt." Max said as she gently eased herself into the Jacuzzi. Asha nodded, her head resting on the side.
"I know what you mean. Take it Logan didn't want to come in?"
"Sensitive. As if it matters that his legs don't work." Max sighed and rolled over in the water to look out over the pool. Alec was busy chatting up some blonde girl. Max recognized her as the girl from dinner the other night, Katherine. She frowned.
"Look at him. As if he isn't content with racing he's gotta be womanizing too." She snorted. Asha turned to look.
"But you gotta admit. Nice abs."
Max stared at Alec for a full minute. She had to admit, the way the water trickled down his perfect washboard abs, and his hair was all messed up and the way he smiled winningly . . .
"Genetically engineered soldier's all look perfect." Max retorted. Asha chuckled.
"Max, it's not a bad thing to admit you're physically attracted to Alec." Asha said. As if he'd heard his name (knowing his hearing he probably had) Alec swam over and paused beneath the wall that separated the Jacuzzi from the main pool.
"Hey Max!" He lunged forward, dragging her in the pool. They fell below the surface. Max struggled with him, getting nowhere. She paused and he grinned at her. She felt herself automatically pouting.
Stop this Max. Why do you answer a friendly game with hostility? She thought to herself. She grinned and broke away, swimming off as fast as she could. Alec followed her, cutting the water like a dolphin. She dove underneath the surface again and double backed under him. He twisted to try and see her but she caught his ankle and yanked him under. Alec turned and grabbed her arm before she could escape; he dragged her closer and grinned predatorily. Max couldn't keep from smiling herself. She struggled to get away but Alec locked his arms around her. The surface together.
"Gotcha!" He announced.
"Hey! Are you two coming for dinner?" Asha called. Max turned to look at realized that she was pressed right up against Alec's 'washboard abs'. Suddenly uncomfortable she stammered something and broke away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night at dinner she smiled at all the joke and nodded when Alec asked her to confirm something, or shook her head when he expected a denial.
Despite all his attempts she didn't rise to a conversation. When they made their way to the room in silence Alec thought he'd explode.
"Okay - what did I do?" He slammed the door behind them. Max jumped. She headed for the bathroom, trying to escape.
"Max! Answer me!" Alec cried, Max turned.
"Alec . . . please don't."
"Don't what!" He exclaimed. "I have no idea what I'm doing wrong." Max stepped closer.
"Just . . ."
"Are you having fun Max?" Alec asked, his tone changing to a sarcastic note. "Is that what's wrong?"
"Alec . . ."
"Is it? I think it is. You're so afraid of having fun you'd rather runaway." He snarled. Max looked at him, half insulted, half afraid of what he'd do next.
"Well screw you Max. I'm having fun." He grabbed her arm and yanked her forward, kissing her.
Much to his surprise she leaned into the kiss, kissing him back. Her hands wrapped round his neck, one fondling his barcode, the other slipped down to his chest. It dropped further down, slipping under his polo neck and stroking his skin.
Shocked he ventured to bring his hands lower down. Max pulled away from him and met his gaze.
"I just want you to know - this isn't anything to do with the fact you can beat Logan."
"Course it isn't." He drawled, pulling her back towards him. She pulled away again.
"Seriously. And if you rub this in Logan's face I'll-"
"Shut up already." He leaned down to kiss her again.
"I don't want you getting the wrong idea. This is just to relieve whatever sexual tension that's between us . . ."
"Max, shut up! And just in case you wanted to know, you're not in Heat, I would be able to tell."
Max couldn't reply with his tongue down her throat.
She pulled his polo neck over his head, interrupting his work for a few painful seconds. He was busy with the fastening on her jeans. Where had her shirt gone?
Alec gently forced her backwards onto the bed; his lips dropped to he collar bone and brushed her shoulder. Feathery light. Max felt her emotions rise within her, ready to burst. She fumbled with his jeans.
"Knew this holiday was a bad idea." Alec whispered breathily in her hair. Max succeeded with his elusive jeans and felt the bubble inside her reach bursting point.
"Bad sexual tension." Max muttered as finally they started business.