They drove off, and Alex clasped Holly’s hand again.
“Where are we going?” she asked as Alex just smiled to himself.
“It’s a surprise.” He said and winked.
They drove for about twenty minutes with the road getting quieter and more remote. A lot more trees and plant life. Fewer and fewer houses, until the roads were really quiet.
Alex pulled over to the side of the road, right under a large oak tree. It must have been at least six meters tall.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“We’re in five oaks park forest. My Mom and Dad used to bring Dev and I here as kids. I used to come here sometimes with the guys.”
It was peaceful, and the guys never got bothered by anyone. They would go there occasionally during school breaks, just to hangout without the noise and, sometimes, suffocating feeling they had from being in the city.
Alex told Holly about what they’d get up to. Making rope swings and jump off them into the lake in the summer, see whether they could still climb trees as agile as when they were small kids and just sitting down, talking.
Holly looked around. She was taking in her surroundings with avid interest. The place was so serene and beautiful. Tall trees of different sizes, shapes, and colours. Lots of smaller ones had taken root from the previous falls’ seeds, and they were coming up out of the ground.
Small and youthful like a child standing next to their parent.
The songs of countless birds could be heard in the air, and the sky was turning a darker shade of blue as the sun was setting, casting intimate shadows between the spaces in the trees.
Alex opened the trunk of the car and pulled out a blanket and a small cooler.
“You planned this?” She asked, but more of a statement.
“Yeah, I did. Well, we were supposed to go to the park but…anyway, since it was still early and I thought we could come here instead. He said a little shyly.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous.” She said.
“This way” Alex said as he took her hand.
They walked through a narrow pathway between the trees until they came to an opening.
The view was incredible!
The lake was surrounded by various trees and colourful foliage of reds and greens. The sun was shining on the water as it was setting, causing a beautiful orange glow to reflect off the surface onto the plant life.
Alex led her further still to a flat patch of grass right next to a tree with a long rope hanging from it. It had a huge knot at the bottom that looked grey and well worn.
“That’s where we used to swing from.” He said quietly.
He showed her the markings on the tree. ‘AV, BS, RL, KM’
“We carved them two years ago. We haven’t actually been here for over a year.”
“Why not?” Holly asked. It was great. It was the kind of place you could go to relax with friends, as Alex had done, or a ‘special’ friend, like they were. It would be a once place to just go and think or even to study.
Holly couldn’t imagine why anybody would just stop visiting a spot like this. Maybe because they were older and had more responsibilities with school?
“Uh…we…Kind of got followed here a few times so we just…stopped.” Alex looked saddened.
Holly felt bad. Alex was harassed at school and even when he was enjoying time with his friends.
“By her?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah.” He said quietly as he laid the blanket on the ground.
Holly sensed that he didn’t want to discuss it. They were still on their first date after all and she wasn’t ruining it.
“I figured we could come here because we can now.”
They sat down together on the blanket and looked out over the lake,
“This is amazing.” Holly whispered.
“It really is” Alex said but he wasn’t looking at the scenery. Holly turned to Alex, and he was looking straight at her. His brown chocolatey eyes twinkling with the reflection of the sun.
His hair falling over his forehead to his eyes, with the gentle breeze blowing throughout the strands.
His cheekbones and strong jaw made for a magazine cover and his full, pink lips that felt soft and strong at the same time, as they’d mingled with her own.
Holly took a deep breath as Alex smiled down at her and he began to chuckle.
“What?” She asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“Nothing.” He grinned.
“It must be something.” Holly was getting a little paranoid that she’d said something out loud again.
Her eyes widened.
“Did I say something out loud?” Alex chuckled again, and then he licked his lips a little, which Holly automatically focused on.
“Well, now I’m intrigued as to what you were thinking” He said.
“Oh, no, no.” She said playfully. “If I didn’t say anything then it stays in my head.” She tapped her temple with a finger.
“Ok. I’ll tell you what I was thinking if you tell me.” He said.
Holly thought for a second.
“I don’t think I should.” She replied as a flush crept up her cheeks.
“Why not?” He asked. His tone lower. Holly’s breath hitched before she spoke again.
“Because it’s private.” She whispered secretly.
“Please?” He batted his eyes and pouted.
Damn his eyes are sexy!
Holly closed her eyes.
“I’m not falling for that!” she giggled.
“Pwitty pweeeaaase?” He asked again in a childish voice.
“Aagh, ok!” Holly caved. But, you have to tell me, first, why you laughed.”
“I wasn’t laughing at you.” He said. “I was laughing because I’m happy.”
Holly’s heart jumped into her throat. He was happy. She was happy too.
“I thought you laughed because I was staring… again.”
“A little bit but, I love the way you look at me like that.”
Holly blushed, as usual. She was worried about her involuntary actions around Alex. She’d already spoken her thoughts aloud in class and tripped over her words goodness knows how many times, and the ‘Alex fog’ constantly increasing in number.
“How do I look at you?” she asked.
It was Alex’s turn to blush.
“Um…Kind of like…uh…” He didn’t know how to say it without sounding forward or assuming. “Like you see only me.”
Phew.
He almost said ‘like you want me.’ But, she might have taken it the wrong way and assumed he meant it in a ‘have sex’ way.
Holly bit her lower lip and smiled shyly.
“What were you thinking? What did you think you might have said out loud?” He narrowed his eyes playfully.
Holly laughed.
“I was thinking… I think you’re mighty purdy!” She said with a southern accent and giggled.
“Seriously?”
“Yep.” She replied as she lay back onto her elbows, her knees bent.
Alex had a great view of all of her as she lay like that. Her jacket opened out, showing her amazing body underneath her vest top. Her breasts pushing out, the skin of her stomach peeking out the waistband of her jeans. Her thighs…
“Actually…” Holly’s voice broke his lustful thoughts. “…I was thinking you could be on the cover of a magazine, like Mens’ Health or something.”
Alex lay on his side next to her, propped up on his elbow.
“Is that so?” He said with a smirk. Alex knew the guys on the covers of those magazines had a tendency to be shirtless, so if Holly was thinking of that specific magazine, then she must have been thinking about him with no shirt on.
“Well thank you. I’ve never even thought about it, but I think if there were a chance I’d be on a cover, and never in this lifetime, I would prefer it if I were fully clothed.”
Alex tried to keep a straight face but failed.
“Wha…? I wasn’t thinking…” Holly blew out a sharp breath. “Ok, truthfully I was, but I didn’t mean for other people to see. Just me…Oh God! I’ll shut up now.” She said as she lay back and put her hands over her face.
Alex was a little stunned, yet jumping for joy inside. God, how he loved the way she reacted to him. He hoped she would never stop.
“Oh my goodness.” She whispered from behind her hands.
Alex watched her closely. Her skin flushed pink and he wanted to taste it. Her breasts were showing a little more of the skin above the neckline of her vest as she lay down.
Her stomach exposed a little more, begging to be touched.
Her jeans caressing her hips where his hands should be and her legs that needed to be around him whilst he made lo…
“I’m sorry.” Holly said, bringing Alex back to the here and now and his throbbing groin area.
“Why are you sorry? I like that you think of me that way.” He really did. There was no point in denying it. He wanted Holly to have thoughts of him like he had thoughts of her.
“You do? I thought, maybe, you’d be sick of people drooling over you? I mean, you can’t help how you look but it has to be annoying what people do.”
Alex closed his eyes for a second, and then he looked right into Holly’s eyes.
“Other people…yes. I hate it. But you? I love it.”
“You do?” She whispered, her eyes growing wider.
Alex nodded.
“I know you don’t like people looking at you either. I can tell because you round your shoulders forward to hide.”
“You noticed.”
“Yes. You don’t do it with me though. Well, at first, but it was more like you were trying to hide your beautiful face.” He said as he stroked a finger down her cheek.
“People looking at me makes me uncomfortable.” She admitted.
“What about me?” He asked. He knew he was asking a personal question but, even though he’d told her that he loved how she looked at him, he needed to know how she felt.
Holly just stared, stunned in silence. Could she tell him? Could she say ‘the way you look at me sets me on fire?’ or ‘the way you look at me thinks very naughty things that I have no business in thinking? Yet…’
“Ummm…I like it.” She said. It was the safest answer, even though she was embarrassed admitting it. He had told her he loved the way she looked at him. Why did she have trouble with telling him things?
Oh yeah, because three days ago, she was boyfriendless, on the verge of a nervous breakdown and having sexy dreams about him! And, right now, he was here, he was hers, and he was gazing at her with so much tenderness it physically hurt to look at him.
“You do, huh?” He said with a flirtatious bite of his lip and a sexy-as-sin smile. Holly nodded her head and reached for his hand as she laid her head back on the blanket.
“It makes me feel funny.” She almost whispered.
“In a good way, or a bad way? He asked.
“Depends on the place.” She replied. “Here, away from people, definitely good. In the middle of class…not so much.”
Alex raised his eyebrows.
“Well, well, Miss. Edwards. I think I shall be testing out that theory.”
Holly’s mouth popped open.
“Nooooo.” She said in a low voice, slightly pleading. “You can’t do that. I don’t want another outburst in class!”
Alex laughed at her shock.
“Ok. I’ll try to behave, but maybe I can’t help myself.” He said in his low, sexy, growly tone.
Holly bit her lip to contain her turned on sigh that threatened to escape. She was so gone. How she was going to contain herself for much longer, she didn’t know. Just one look, one word, and even one touch from Alex and she was ready to tear his clothes off.
“Football, baseball, fishing, basketball, fencing, mud-pies and snails…”
“Mud-pies and snails? That’s new” Alex chuckled.
The horror on Holly’s face was priceless.
“Oh for F…” was all she managed as he brought her lips to his.
Holly let go of his hand and immediately tangled in his hair.
He loved the way she did that. He knew she liked his hair and the feel of her fingers gripping, as if she couldn’t get enough, turned him on.
His hand found her waist, and he gently dug his fingers into her side.
She gasped, and he licked into her mouth. Their lips teased and sucked each other, tongues flicking and stroking.
As Alex tilted his head to deepen the kiss further, he got a surprise when Holly captured his tongue with her lips and slowly sucked as she ran her tongue along the underside of his.
She let out a whimper as he moaned.
He moved his hand from her waist and into her hair. One of Holly’s hands let go of his hair and stroked down his neck to his shoulder, down over his chest, and then moved to wrap around his back. Her fingertips pressed into his muscles and then stretched out again.
Holly pulled her mouth away, breathing hard, chest heaving.
“What are you doing to me?” she asked a very turned on Alex.
“The same thing you’re doing to me.” He said, breathless.
“That’s good.” She whispered as she pulled him back to her mouth.
As she pulled, his arm that he was leaning on slipped a little, which brought his body down on hers. Holly seemed to want this because she pulled him tighter still. Alex freed his hand from Holly’s glorious, satin locks and stroked down the side of her neck. Round the back of her shoulder, of the arm that was currently holding him to her as though her life depended on it, and he continued down to her waist.
Holly had turned her hips towards him slightly, by dropping her right knee slightly inwards, and her left leg straightened out. This gave him access to her perfect rear. He let his hand continue down until he was cupping her very firm butt.
Holly let out a slight squeak but continued to explore his mouth. Alex brought his left knee across a little, to rest between hers. As he did, Holly brought her right leg further over his, trapping him in place.
Alex was in heaven.
His Holly.
Beautiful, sexy, and oh-so-fucking perfect lying almost underneath him.
His hard on was throbbing, his body scorching, heart beating faster than ever before. He couldn’t get enough. He wanted to kiss her… touch her… everywhere.
Not yet, not yet.
He’d promised.
Oh Holly, what you do to me!
He felt her hand move lower on his back.
Is she…?
Her hand found his butt, and she squeezed… and moaned. Alex pulled back from their kiss and Holly’s eyes found his. He rested his forehead against hers to catch his breath.
“Holly.” He whispered and then swallowed hard. “You drive me crazy.” He closed his eyes and turned his head slightly, but not separating from her.
“You have no idea what you do to me.” She replied breathlessly. “You’re perfect all over.” She added with a cheeky squeeze to let him know she appreciated his tight, defined, rear end.
Alex lifted his head so he could look into her yes. Eyes that he could get lost in. Eyes that, right then, were looking at him with so much desire he could barely restrain himself.
Keeping his body still, he removed his hand from her perfectly formed ass and stroked down the side of her face, across her jaw, and to her chin. From there he began his slow decent down the center of her neck, stopping before he reached her breasts.
Holly took a sharp breath as he caressed her and Alex was admiring the flawless beauty before him. He watched her chest rise and fall rapidly in her aroused state, and her nipples were hard and protruding from her vest.
He licked his lips and kept his bottom lip tucked between his teeth.
He wanted to lick and then suck on her nipples and caress her feminine mounds whilst she lay under him. He closed his eyes to take steadying breaths.
God, he was going to burst in his pants if he kept thinking that way.
“Are you ok?” Holly whispered. Noticing his distress.
He opened his eyes to hers, full of concern. He smiled before placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
Holly thought she was going to pass out from the pleasure Alex’s touch brought her.
First, he’d stroked down her side to reach her arse. His hand fitted perfectly, and she liked it. She’d pulled him further onto herself to feel his body against hers and when she did, the surge between her legs was almost crippling.
She’d plucked up the courage to seek out his amazingly tight butt and…wow! She’d told him what she thought of that.
He’d stroked her face and down, almost to her breasts. The feel of his touch was almost too much. When he stopped, her body was screaming ‘No!’ Holly wanted his hands all over her.
Too soon.
Just over a week until her birthday.
Would she last that long?
Alex moved his head to the side and kissed Holly’s cheek. Then her jaw, then gently scraping his lips along to her chin and back up her jawline until he reached her ear.
Holly was ready to explode. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she needed it…whatever it was.
If only he would touch…
No. I can’t think of that.
Alex exhaled, and his hot breath sent prickles of pleasure over her skin.
“Quiero que tan mala.” He whispered before kissing her neck, just below her ear, like he had at Quincy’s.
“Oh my God!” she squealed as Alex repeated the delicious torture on her neck.
He sucked and nibbled down to her collarbone and then back up.
Holly was gripping fist fuels of the blanket. Her knuckles turning white from the strain. Her eyes tightly shut and her lower lip in-between her teeth to stop herself from crying out.
“Alex. I can’t…take…anymore.” She panted. “It’s too…much…I…Oh God!” she squealed again.
Alex lifted his head and saw for himself that Holly was on the verge of combustion. He smiled a slow sexy grin and kissed her deeply, stroking his tongue with hers. When he lifted back up, he gave her more kisses, but slow pecks.
He brushed his fingers through her hair and carefully removed himself from their entanglement, laying on his back. His hard shaft was pressing against the denim in protest at not being set free.
They both took deep breaths.
Holly lifted up onto her elbows, and she looked round to Alex. Her eyes widened and then looked away as she noticed the hard shape in his pants.
There’s no point in hiding it. She knows what she does to me.
“Sorry.” He smiled. She had to know he was as turned on as she was. Hell, it was digging into her hip!
“Don’t be sorry.“ She said. “I’m glad I could do that to you.”
“Really?” He asked in surprise.
“Yeah. And just so you know, Alexandro Valencia, I’m going to get you back for that.”
“For what?” He knew what, he just wanted her to say it. And his full name again. It sounded so damn sexy when she did.
“You know what.” She said as she cocked an eyebrow.
“Say my name again.” He said in the tone she loved.
“Alexandro Valencia.” She said.
“Mmm. Again.” He urged.
“Alexandro Valencia.” She said, quieter.
“Once more.”
Holly turned over so she was on her hands and knees. Her hair cascading over one shoulder. She crawled the two paces to him, put her hands either side of his head and lifted her leg to straddle him. She lowered her face to his, a little.
“Alexandro Valencia.” She whispered, making his groin strain against his jeans even more.
He was stunned. It was the reverse of the position on the track earlier that day.
Holy fuck! Holly is damn sexy and she’s mine. Mine!
Alex looked down, and he could see down her top.
“Holy shit.” He said out loud. His unwelcome friend was knocking to come out and play. Banging to get out would be more appropriate!
Alex raised his eyes back up to Holly’s face and saw she was smiling down on him. She had seen exactly where his eyes had been.
“Is this you getting me back?”
“Not in the slightest.” She chuckled.
“Funny huh?” He said and he grabbed her around the waist and turned them so Holly was on her back again and he… was lying between her legs her thighs pressed together on either side of his hips.
They both froze, realizing the position they had found themselves in.
“We should probably…”
“Yeah.” Said Holly and Alex moved off of her and sat up.
“I think I should take you home now.” He said with a sad tone to his voice.
“Why?” Said Holly, worried that she’d upset him. Alex just smiled at her.
“It’s eleven-thirty, and I promised ‘before midnight’.”
“Oh.” She said with relief. “I thought I’d done something wrong.” She said quietly.
“None of that was wrong, babe.” He said, cupping her cheek. He kissed her one more time before he stood and helped her up.
On the way back home, Holly was dying to know what Alex had said to her, in Spanish. She loved hearing him speak in the language. She just wished she knew what he was saying.
She tried to remember some of the words she had learnt. She couldn’t figure anything out other than ‘Quiero’ ‘I want’.
“What did you say to me, before, in Spanish.”
“I’ll tell you later.” He said with a smirk.
“No fair.” She pouted and Alex laughed.
After driving back to her house, hand-in-hand, Alex walked her to the door.
“You want to know what I said?” He asked, his voice low and sexy.
“Yes. But, please don’t tell me to use my app. I want you to say it.”
Alex took a deep breath and slowly released it. He cupped her face and looked, deep, into her eyes. Holly almost melted just from that.
“I said…” He paused to look over her face. He leaned in closer to whisper to her. “I want you so bad.” And he kissed her as her mouth popped open in surprise.
The front door opened and there stood Oli.
“Ahem. It’s good to see you kept your promise.” He smirked.
“Dad!” complained Holly as he snickered.
Holly shook her head at him.
“Dad, will you follow Alex home?” she asked.
“Of course honey.” He replied. “That’s what I was going to suggest.”
“Good. Even though she’s… I just don’t want to take any chances.”
“Ok. I’ll get my car.” Said Oli as he left them to say their goodbyes.
“Thank you. I had the best time.” She said to Alex.
“Me too.” He stroked her jawline as he watched her mouth. “I lo…” He paused and then closed his mouth. “See you tomorrow.” He said and then gently pressed his lips to her mouth.
“Text me when you get home.”
“I will”
As Alex drove away with Oli following, Holly went indoors.
“So…How’d it go?” Her Mum asked, grinning.
“Definitely cross-eyed and weak kneed” She replied as she went upstairs. “But don’t worry, still intact!” she added with a smile to herself.
I hope he texts soon.
Holly was worried about him being on his own incase Stacey had somehow been released and was waiting for him.
Even with her Dad following him.
She had to stop herself from over thinking incase she panicked again.
Everything’s going to be ok.
Holly went into her room and flung herself back on her bed and sighed before checking her phone.
She felt amazing.
She’d never understood the hype of having a boyfriend or partner, whatever. Wouldn’t it be annoying having the other person around all the time? Constantly wanting to touch you.
Absolutely not!
Now, Holly knew how it felt and it was just ahhhhhh. She sighed again, but quickly sat up as her phone beeped.
A: Hi babe. I’ve just gotten home. Currently hiding from
Dev.
H: I’m glad you’re home safe. I was worried :\ Where are you hiding?
A: In my room, but I had to sneak in.
H: You know she’ll figure it out that you’re back. :D
A: Eventually, but I think I may have about 10 minutes left before she comes knocking on my door.
H: So what do you plan to do with your 10 minutes of freedom?
A: Cold, cold shower.
H: Mine’s hot and very soapy.
A: Agh! Is this your payback?
H: Oh, my sweet Alex. I haven’t even started. ;)
A: Now I’m worried. :O
H: You should be.
A: I think I need a subzero shower. *0.0*
H: You have fun with that and I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight. Sweet dreams. Xx
A: I will definitely. Goodnight and sweet dreams for you too. Xx
H: I always do. ;P xx
A: Do you dream of me? ;)
H: Goodnight, Alexandro. XD xx
A: Goodnight :( xx
There was no way Holly was going to spill any details of her dreams to Alex. Truthfully, she’d like to recreate those dreams and, out in Five oaks, it could have.
In that moment with Alex she wanted to and she knew he did to, but it was too soon for both of them regardless of how they felt. They should wait until they were both eighteen. Then, they would be legal adults.
The state law was sixteen, but even she thought that was too young.
Maybe if they’d know each other for all that time, but they had only dated once. They’d been a couple for less than twenty-four hours. Hell, they’d only had their first kiss the day before!
Holly had never known feelings like this and she wondered if she were just getting overwhelmed by them. She took a breath to focus.
Am I rushing things? Should we cool down for a while? Go slower?
She asked herself the questions to see how her subconscious would react.
All she felt was panic.
Slowdown? Why slowdown? Are you crazy?
It felt right and so…so… Holly had to swallow hard as she replayed the evenings events at the lakeside. Her mind and body were in agreement. Whatever had happened with Alex, happened and it had felt right. Like it was a normal thing for them.
Yes! Her mind screamed like Holly was finally catching on to what it had been telling her all along. Hell, she knew it the first day she almost walked into him, but was too confused to realise it.
“I love Alex.” She said out loud.
“Well that’s obvious.” Said her Mum from the doorway.
“Mum!” Holly, said, startled.
Kim entered the room and sat next to Holly on the bed.
“How did your date go love?” she asked, brushing Holly’s hair back behind her ear.
Holly sighed happily with a flush across her cheeks.
“That good ay?” Asked Kim playfully as she nudged Holly with her elbow.
“Oh we didn’t…you know…” Said Holly as she shook her head and Kim laughed softly.
“I know love. You’re a smart, sensible girl. I know you’re not going to jump into bed with him after one date. I wouldn’t be making jokes if I thought that. I’d be giving you a lecture instead.”
“Evie said you probably weren’t serious.”
“Evie?”
“She was there when you phoned me before. Alex heard you and he was in hysterics at my reaction. I explained that you like to make comments.”
“Well, it’s good that she understands that.” Kim said.
It was. Evie hadn’t gotten mad, maybe because Holly was embarrassed at what her Mum had said, but she also noticed Evie and Rami didn’t mention anything about ‘being careful’ or ‘safe’. Holly thought that was a bit unusual. Maybe they trusted them, just like her Mum did.
That made sense.
“You love Alex, ay? When did you realise that?
"“I think…” Holly paused. Not knowing how her Mum would react. “…The day I met him.” Holly waited for her Mum’s reaction.
“Aww. I’m glad you finally realised, love.”
Holly’s eyes snapped to her Mum.
“What…you think I didn’t notice? You’ve been in and out of daydream land since you started school.” Kim said as she squeezed Holly’s hand.
“Yeah…that’s big isn’t it?” She knew she’d made a mistake instantly.
“Oh, Holly.” Said Kim with a little sigh. “The things I can say to that comment…” and she laughed.
“For goodness sake Mother!”
Once Kim had left, Holly showered and went to bed.
The days events played over in her head, and she went to sleep with a smile on her face as she remembered how it had ended.