Alessia and Kyra were spending another idyllic afternoon. The couple had returned to the same secluded lake house where Kyra had proposed to Alessia a some time ago. Nestled deep in Kyra's hometown in Australia, this spot had become their private escape from the bustle of London and the pressures of professional football. Every time they came here, it felt like the world around them paused, letting them live in their own little bubble of love and bliss.
Alessia was sprawled out on a towel, her pale skin glistening with a sheen of sunscreen as she attempted to catch some sun. Her blond hair was tied in a messy bun, and oversized sunglasses shielded her eyes from the harsh light. She wasn't much of a sun worshiper, but after playing for Arsenal under the overcast London skies, she figured she could do with a bit of color.
Kyra, on the other hand, was completely at home in the heat. Barefoot and dressed in nothing but a bright red bikini, she was acting like a child who'd been let loose on summer vacation. For the past hour, Kyra had been darting in and out of the water, diving, swimming, and jumping off the pier like a dolphin set free. Her energy seemed boundless, her laugh echoing across the lake as she tried to coax Alessia to join her in the water.
"C'mon, Less! You have to watch this one!" Kyra called from the water, floating on an inflatable circle with her head tipped back, her wet hair cascading over the sides.
Alessia barely stirred, adjusting her sunglasses and letting out a long, dramatic sigh. "Ky... babe, I've already seen you dive like, fifty times."
"Yeah, but this one's different!" Kyra insisted, paddling around to face Alessia with a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "It's, uh... extra splashy!"
Alessia smiled behind her sunglasses, her lips curling in amusement. "Mhm, sure it is," she teased, though her attention remained mostly on her tanning efforts. She was enjoying the peace and quiet—well, relative quiet given Kyra's endless splashing—but the sun was starting to burn hotter on her skin, and a realization struck her. "Ky, I think I need more sunscreen."
Kyra's head popped up from where she was floating, her face lighting up. "Oh, I'll do it! Gimme a sec!" she said, wasting no time paddling over to the pier. Water dripped off her tanned skin as she scrambled up onto the wooden planks, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Alessia chuckled as Kyra bounded over, as enthusiastic as ever. "Of course, you'd be excited about sunscreen. I just know you love it so much," Alessia teased, knowing full well that Kyra despised the stuff.
Kyra wrinkled her nose. "It's sticky and gross," she muttered, plopping down beside Alessia. "But for you? I'll suffer."
Alessia sat up, reaching for the sunscreen bottle. "Well, before you get to me, let me put some on you first. You've been in the sun all day."
Kyra groaned dramatically but sat obediently, letting Alessia lather the cream onto her skin. She wriggled and flinched as Alessia applied it to her shoulders and arms, making exaggerated faces like a child being forced to eat their vegetables. "Ugh, you're so mean," Kyra joked, twisting away as Alessia tried to smear it over her face.
Alessia just "shushed" her softly, gently but firmly covering every inch of Kyra's face and shoulders. "You're worse than a kid, I swear," she said, laughing under her breath as Kyra squirmed.
Once Kyra was adequately covered, she shot Alessia a playful glare. "Alright, your turn, bossy," she teased, snatching the bottle from Alessia's hands. "Lie down."
Alessia obliged, lying flat on her stomach on the towel with a soft sigh. She tugged at the knot of her bikini top, and before she could even ask, Kyra's nimble fingers were there, untying it completely. "Heyy!" Alessia looked back over her shoulder with a playful scowl, knowing exactly what Kyra was up to.
Kyra grinned devilishly, bottle in hand. "Just making sure I get every spot," she said, squeezing a generous amount of sunscreen into her palm. Her touch was gentle at first, spreading the cream over Alessia's back with slow, deliberate strokes. But soon enough, Kyra's hands wandered lower and lower, her fingers brushing the sides of Alessia's waist with a teasing familiarity.
Alessia's body tensed as Kyra's touch became more mischievous. "Kyra..." she warned, though her voice held no real heat. "If you think you're getting anything now, you're going to be disappointed." She caught Kyra's wandering hand, stopping her before things could escalate.
Kyra pouted, leaning down to press a kiss to Alessia's shoulder. "You're no fun," she complained softly, her lips brushing against Alessia's skin.
Alessia smiled, tilting her head to the side. "You'll have to wait until tonight, love. Now go on, go splash around in the lake some more."
With a grumble of protest, Kyra sat back, playfully rolling her eyes before she kissed Alessia again, this time on the cheek. "Fine. But you're lucky you're cute." She stood up, then sprinted down the pier before leaping into the lake with a dramatic splash.
Alessia smiled to herself as she settled back down on the towel, closing her eyes. The sun was warm against her skin, and the rhythmic sound of the water gently lapping against the pier was soothing. Kyra's laughter echoed from the lake, and Alessia felt content in the moment, grateful for the peace and the company of her fiancée. After all, this lake house held so many beautiful memories—the spot where Kyra had nervously asked her to marry her, the countless nights they'd spent talking about their future, and the quiet moments like this, where the world seemed to stand still.
___
Time passed, and Alessia felt herself slowly drifting off, lulled by the warmth of the sun and the distant sound of Kyra splashing about in the water. It wasn't until she felt a sudden, cold shock on her back that she woke with a jolt.
"Kyra!" Alessia shrieked, twisting around in alarm. Her entire back was soaked, the towel beneath her completely drenched.
Kyra stood above her, grinning like the devil herself. Her hair was dripping wet, and water pooled around her feet. "Oops," she said innocently, though her laughter betrayed her mischief.
Alessia groaned in frustration, wiping water from her face. "You're getting everything wet!" she complained, swatting at Kyra's legs. "Now the towel's ruined!"
"Oh no, I'll have to get another one," Kyra said with a smirk, clearly not sorry at all. Before Alessia could protest further, Kyra bent down, her arms sliding around Alessia's waist as she lifted her effortlessly off the towel.
"K-Kyra!" Alessia yelped, immediately wrapping her arms around Kyra's neck and her legs around her waist in shock. "Don't you dare—!"
Kyra's grin widened, the familiar playful spark in her eyes. "If I'm going in, you're coming with me," she said in her thick Australian accent, the one that never failed to make Alessia's heart flutter.
"Kyra, no!" Alessia shouted, but it was too late. With a wicked laugh, Kyra took off running down the pier, Alessia still clinging to her, her heart racing. The wind whipped through their hair as Kyra sprinted toward the edge of the pier, Alessia screaming in protest.
"Kyr—!"
They flew off the edge, and for a brief moment, Alessia felt weightless before they crashed into the water with a massive splash.
The cold water enveloped them, and Alessia surfaced with a sputter, laughing despite herself. "You're insane!" she shouted, splashing water at Kyra, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"I know!" Kyra laughed, shaking the water from her hair as she swam toward Alessia. "But you love me anyway, don't ya?"
Alessia rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah... yeah, I guess I do." She floated closer to Kyra, their faces inches apart. "But you're still in trouble for ruining my towel."
Kyra grinned and kissed her quickly, the sun warming their wet skin as they bobbed in the water. "Worth it."
