Chapter 3

I own no characters except the ones I create.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter deals with adult themes. If you don't care for those or they make you uncomfortable, you might want to skip this chapter. And if I offend anyone, my apologies.

The sun was still rising as Bailey found herself standing on the balcony of her and Cody's room in nothing but the complimentary hotel robe. She couldn't help but smile. A beautiful morning after such a beautiful night. She and Cody had finally taken that next step. And it had been the most amazing night of her life. Sure, they both had been nervous, but both had given into the trust and love they had for the other. Bailey let the memories of the previous night replay in her mind. She knew she was truly blessed. From overhearing stories on the ship and even back in Kettlecorn, she knew a lot of girls didn't really enjoy their first times. Bailey thought that had to have been because they hadn't been ready or didn't have real feelings for the guy they were with. Or the guy was more concerned about his own pleasure than hers. Bailey paused to look back into their room and at Cody still asleep.

None of those had been true about last night. Bailey knew Cody had taken his time and made sure she felt loved and desired. And did she ever. London had been right, Cody had treated her like a princess last night...not because she was rich, but because he loved her. Well, if she was his princess, the he was her prince charming. Bailey couldn't help but to smile again. But she knew she would be doing a lot of that today. She felt like shouting from the balcony for the world to hear just how perfect last night had been. She wanted everyone to know that inside was the world's most amazing guy and that he was all hers. And she had no intentions of ever giving him up. She only wished everyone could have their first time with someone they loved and who loved them. And Bailey again realized just how blessed she was. She was only 17, but she had already found the person she was going to spend the rest of her life with. And if last night had been any indications, it was going to be an extremely satisfying life.

Of course, those thoughts were interrupted by two arms circling around her from behind and the feeling of his lips on her neck.

"Good morning..."

Bailey turned to face him while still being held in his arms. Cody too had slipped on his robe. "Good morning to you too..."

"I was kind of worried when I woke up and you weren't there..."

"Sorry about that...I had to get up to use the bathroom and when I was done, I decided to step out her for a little while..."

Cody pauses. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't because you regretted last night..."

Bailey smiles. "I'll never regret last night...How could I ever regret the most wonderful night of my life..."

Cody smiles. "Really?"

"Really...(pauses)...What about you? Any regrets?"

Cody shakes his head. "None. Its just kind of strange. Before, when I would think about we did last night, I would get so nervous, but now..."

"It feels like it was the most natural thing in the world?"

"Yeah...that's it exactly...but, at the same time, I'm glad we waited this long..."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, these past several months, it seems like we've had one thing after another thrown at us. Things that some relationships might not have been strong enough to withstand. But we did. We came out the other end a lot stronger. A lot more committed and devoted to one another..."

Bailey smiles. "We did, didn't we?"

"We proved that our love for each other was stronger than anything we had to deal with or would have to deal with. We proved that we were a unified front...a team...with an unbreakable bond..."

"I know. I know with you by my side, I can handle anything that life throws at us..."

"And I with you by mine...We were ready for this next step. Instead of causing us problems like I had feared, I think its brought us even that closer together..."

Bailey wraps her arms around Cody's neck. "Cody, I feel closer to you than I have ever felt to anyone else in my whole life..."

Cody smiles. "I feel the exact same way..."

"Even Zack?"

"Yes. He's my twin brother and I love him, but you and I share something he and I don't. You can read me like I'm a book. You can look at me and know how I'm feeling without me having to say a word. You accept me for exactly who I am. You embrace who I am..."

"Because I love you..."

"And I love you too...While Zack may be my twin, you are the other half of me..."

Bailey smiles. "And you the other half of me..." Bailey pauses. "Speaking of Zack, are you going to tell him what happened?"

Cody shakes his head. "No. What happened last night is none of his business. As far as I'm concerned, its nobody's business but ours..."

"I would agree with that. Do you think anyone will be able to tell though? Do I look any different this morning?"

Cody smiles. "Well, you do seem to have a glow to you this morning..."

"Yeah? Do I look like I'm a real woman this morning?"

"Sweetie, you were always a real woman. What we did last night wasn't going to change that in my eyes..."

Bailey smiles. "Thank you. And after everything, if you still question you masculinity, don't. You were all man last night...my man."

Cody looks embarrassed. "If I was, it was because you brought it out of me...I do feel like I have a smile permanently plastered on my face though..."

Bailey laughs. "I noticed...I think its you who looks like the Joker now..."

Cody laughs. "Well, let's not call Batman this time...I want to spend as much time alone with you as I can before we have to go back..."

"Me too..."

Cody pauses. "And I do want you to know, even though we have taken the next step, I still don't want you to feel pressured in any way. If you tell me no, I will respect that..."

Bailey smiles. "I know you will. And I don't want you to feel pressured either. I will respect you if you say no too..."

"Sweetie, I can't imagine ever saying no to you..."

"Is that so?"

"It is...Baby, once you've been to heaven, you want to go back as often as you can..."

Bailey blushes. "You think it was heaven?"

"No, I know it was...(grins)...I think you may have created a monster..."

"I can deal with that...(grins)...as long as my village is the only one you are terrorizing..."

Cody turns very solemn. "That is one thing you will never have to worry about."

Bailey nods. "I know...And I hope you know you don't have to worry about that either. I am yours and yours alone for the rest of our lives."

Cdy smiles. "The rest of our lives...I can't think of anything better. You know, we do still have a few hours before we have to check out..."

Bailey smiles. "What do you have in mind, Mr. Martin?"

"Well, there is that large garden tub in the bathroom...How would you feel about taking a bath with me?"

"Hmmm...a bath together..."

Cody pauses. "Bails, I know we've both seen all there is to see of each other now. But, if you still don't want to completely change in front of me or uncomfortable with me seeing you naked, I completely understand..."

"Cody, I appreciate that..." Bailey reaches down and begins to untie the sash of her robe. "But I no longer have any fear of that. I saw the look on your face last night when you finally saw me. It was one of love and admiration...and lust. Like you, I was afraid that you wouldn't like what you saw. But that look you gave me told me I had nothing to worry about..." Bailey then reaches for the sash on Cody's robe. As his robe falls open, Bailey looks up into Cody's eyes. "What does my face tell you?"

Cody swallows and pauses. "It tells me that I'm the luckiest man in the world..."

"And I'm the luckiest woman in the world. Cody, I want to be completely open to you. And you make that so easy for me to do so. I want my body to be yours and yours to be mine..."

Cody whispers. "It is..."

Bailey smiles. "I would love to take a bath with you. And not just now, as often as we can..." Bailey finishes untying her robe and it falls open.

Cody can't help but stare. "You are so beautiful..."

Bailey beams and grabs Cody's hand. "Come on, I don't want to waste another second before we have to leave..."

Cody stops her. "No need to rush...we have our whole lives..."

Bailey feels her heart begin to flutter. She knew without a doubt she was going to love the man in front of her for the rest of her life. And she vowed to herself to make sure he knew how much she loved him everyday.