What Happens on the Fourth

THURSDAY

The engine quietly rumbled as Alex pulled it into the site and parked the bike next to the trailer. Despite us taking the long way back, no one else had returned- but then I remembered that we had left early and everyone else was likely still at the bar, leaving the campsite utterly empty.

Alex held the bike steady as I dismounted and pushed the kickstand down before pushing himself off of it and pulling his helmet over his head. He chuckled when he saw me fumbling with the chinstrap once again and raised his hands to loosen it. He pulled the helmet off shortly after I felt the strap drop and tucked a stray piece hair behind my ear with an amused smile.

I couldn't help myself as I stared, feeling my lips tip up upon seeing his do so. I didn't know exactly what I was doing when I gently wrapped a hand around his jaw, stood on my toes, and kissed him with the same intensity that he had kissed me at the bar.

He wrapped his free hand around my waist, pressing it against the small of my back to pull me further into his body as he greedily returned the kiss. His mouth worked in sync with mine, and I didn't want to break it, but he pulled away with a smile still playing on his lips.

"That was... unexpected," his voice had gone raspy again, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. He leaned down again, pecking me gently on the lips, before grabbing my hand and setting the helmet on the seat of his motorcycle. He yanked my wrist for me to follow him. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"For a midnight swim," he replied and despite the slightly chilled night air, I didn't fight him as we made our way to the lake.

"Aren't we going to change first?" I asked and he peered over his shoulder at me with a smirk. Something twinkled in his eyes underneath the moonlight, that dimple pushing into his cheek casting a shadow, and the moment we stepped onto the sandy shore, he released my hand and pulled his shirt over his head, kicking his shoes off to the side. I can't deny that I took a moment to stare. I didn't even look away when he unbuttoned his jeans and let those fall to his ankles as well.

"What if someone comes back and sees us?"

"They won't be back for hours," he stalked to me in nothing but his boxer-briefs that hugged his body, emphasizing each curve and leaving little up to imagination. He toyed with the bottom of my shirt before pulling it over my head and I raised my arms to assist him.

The cold night air sent a chill through my exposed skin, but Alex wrapped one hand around my jaw and one around my waist to pull me into his warm body. His lips met mine in another sensual kiss that I immediately returned.

He pulled away and smiled before releasing me and walking out into the lake. "You coming, Brooks?" He asked, and I kicked my shoes off then moved to unbutton my shorts and let them drop to the ground. The cold water lapped at my ankles as I waded into it. I looked up and saw Alex already waist deep and wanted to protest, but I bit my lip and kept going.

The water grew warmer as my body grew used to its chill and by the time I caught up with him, it was already grazing the bottom of my peachy-pink laced bra.

"I like this," I felt Alex's finger run beneath the strap and he pulled me into his embrace again, hoisting my legs up and around his hips. I threw my arms around his neck.

"That's too bad, because I won't be wearing it again after it's been soaked in lake water," I mumbled, and he laughed as he walked us farther into the deep blue water. "You better not drop me," I said when I saw the water reach his pecs, knowing full well I wouldn't be able to touch the ground and would likely go under if he did.

"I'm not going to drop you, Brooks. I'm not that mean- I told you I could be a gentleman when I wanted to, remember?"

"Do you want to right now?" His gaze locked with mine at my question, and I saw the suggestive glint in his eye. "Be a gentleman- you perv." He laughed.

"Of course, Brooks," he gave me a gentle smile, the suggestion in his eyes changing into some other emotion I couldn't read before his gaze flicked to my lips. "I'll always be a gentleman with you."

"That was cheesy," I looked down at the lake around us to break the awkward eye contact. Alex loosed his grip on one of my thighs and I felt his fingers lightly grasp my chin, tipping it up to pull my gaze back to his.

"I don't care," he said, his voice just above a whisper, and leaned in to reconnect our lips. I felt his tongue sweep in after a few seconds and granted him entrance into my mouth. His hand wrapped around my head and he tangled his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer to him.

Our tongues fought for dominance and I wrapped my hands around his face to pull him closer to me as well. We spent a few minutes like that- making out in the middle of the lake- before the water began to chill our bones too much and he walked us back out, setting me down gently on the shore.

Alex pulled his jeans back on and handed me his shirt, which was big enough to cover all of my soaking wet undergarments, though they immediately became visible through the white material. He grabbed the rest of our clothes and our shoes, fisting them all in one hand, and grabbed my hand with the other to lead me back to the tent. I rested my head on his shoulder as we walked to the back of the site at an excessively slow pace.

He told me about Tennessee, and I mentioned that I always thought I'd like to live in the mountains- had almost decided to go to college there. That transitioned to college stories, and how I would have missed out on a lot if I hadn't attended the same school as our group of friends. I couldn't disagree.

He was telling me a story about the time the baseball team decided to go skinny-dipping in the school's pond when we approached our tent, and I was laughing so hard at what he had told me about Max nearly getting caught bare-ass naked by campus security that I almost didn't notice Kate's car parked next to the trailer. My laughing immediately halted, and my heart felt as if had dropped to the bottom of my stomach.

"What?" Alex's brow furrowed when I released his hand and nodded towards the car. I silently urged him to hurry into the tent.

"Do you think she saw us?" I asked in a hushed tone.

"No," he said. "She probably assumed we just went right to bed." I gulped.

"We weren't exactly being quiet."

"I'm sure it's fine, Brooks. Who cares if she did? Kate wouldn't tell anyone."

"But she'd be pissed that I didn't tell her," I rolled the bottom of his shirt in my hands. He turned to face me, halting my nervous antics by placing his hands atop my own.

"She would've said something if she saw us, wouldn't she?" I thought about it for a moment before replying.

"Yea- Kate probably would."

"See? So it's fine. She didn't see us and no one else is back yet. She probably just thought we were already sleeping. Now will you change so we can actually go to bed? I would rather not sleep on a sopping wet mattress." I rolled my eyes at him, but obeyed, and was soon tucking myself beneath the many blankets.

The bed bounced as Alex laid next to me, and I let him get settled before cuddling into his side. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his body, and buried his nose in my hair.

"Goodnight, Brooks," he mumbled, and I wriggled into his warmth a bit further, my bones still chilled from the lake. He chuckled lightly.

"Goodnight, Hanes."

My brain ran wild as I went over everything that had happened today, and I began to think I wouldn't even be able to fall asleep- but when I heard Alex's steady breathing next to me, all those thoughts dissipated, and I finally feltmyself relax before drifting into a deep, contented sleep.