Half a Heart

Chapter Three

"I'd absolutely love to go for a swim," I giggled, stripping off my top and shorts after kicking off my sandals and untying my hair.

Zayn shimmied out of his boots and jeans, until he was standing there in just his boxer briefs, his dog tags clinking together.

I took a moment to take him all in. He was gorgeous, pale and skinny but muscular and endearing, his dark tattoos covering both arms and peeking out of the waistband of his boxers, a stark contrast to his pale skin.

He studied me for a moment, too. I couldn't imagine what I looked like, standing there in my polka dot underwear with one arm clasped above the other.

I took a few nervous steps towards the end of the not-so-shallow part of the river, just about to stick my toe in to test the temperature before I began wading in.

Before I could, I felt Zayn come up behind me and nuzzle his head into the crook of my shoulder--a perfect fit. The scruff on his chin tickled my neck before he turned his head and lightly sucked on the flesh right below my ear.

"You're beautiful, Brooke," he murmured into the crook of my neck. Just the sound of him saying my name sent shivers up my spine and gave me butterflies.

Being in Zayn's presence was just so... Stimulating. Electric. I could feel the energy coursing through my veins before he even took two steps towards me.

"You're amazing," I giggled lightly, whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too, babe," Zayn said, barely giving me a chance to take a deep breath before he pushed me into the water and jumped in after me.

I squealed and hit the water with a large splash, my limbs going in all directions as I resurfaced and got my bearings. I spotted Zayn a little ways in front of me, laughing and waiting until I came up for air.

I paddled over to him, near a large rock next to the steep bank of the river.

He was leaning up against it, looking absolutely irresistible. His hair had fallen flat against his forehead, water dripping down his chest and into the water.

I playfully swatted his chest, "Smooth move, Poindexter," I smiled, "you could've drowned me!"

Zayn laughed, his head tilting back and his arm reaching forward to pull me closer.

"I would never hurt you." he placed his head on my shoulder, leaning into me.

"I know," I confided, "I trust you."

Without hesitation, Zayn lifted his head up and pressed his lips to mine, effortlessly. A thousand emotions swam through my mind, finally landing on true and utter bliss.

My hands found a place in his hair, fingers curling tighter as our kiss deepened and intensified. His hands crawled down my spine and grasped my waist, and our bodies were sandwiched together.

My hands slowly moved down until I was lifting up his chin. Jolts of what felt like pure electricity were rushing through my mind, as well as pure ecstasy from the taste of his lips. It was like I couldn't get enough.

We stayed like that for a while, relishing the moment, our bodies intertwined. It was a beautiful few minutes, moments that I won't forget.

Zayn descended lower along my jawline, his kisses getting hungrier and more desperate until he was leaving soft love bites in his wake. I pulled him flush against me, desperate to feel every part of him. As his hands crept lower and lower, teasing me, I let my eyelids flutter shut and felt myself enjoying him having his way with me.

Just as Zayn had gotten exactly to where I needed him to be, and our labored breaths were punctuated with intermittent soft moans and giggles, Zayn's phone started ringing and vibrating back on shore.

"Just ignore it," Zayn mumbled, sucking another hickey onto my shoulder blade.

I shivered, my attention snapping back to focus. Looking up, I hadn't realized how dark it had gotten or how cold the water had become.

"No, wait-" I said, lifting his head up, "It's getting late. That could be your mom."

Zayn noticed the goosebumps on my arms, and took my hand to lead me up the riverbank.

I toweled off, tying my wet hair back up in a ponytail and sliding my clothes with difficulty back upon my damp body.

I watched Zayn, still shirtless, hop back into his pants while on the phone with his mother.

"Yes mum, I'm with Brooke," I heard him say, and I immediately smiled. His mom was adorable, and I knew she and his sisters liked me.

"I have my jacket, yeah? Okay, I'll bring her over if that's what you want. Alright, mum, bye," Zayn ended the call, coming back over to me and pressing his wet body to mine.

"My mum wants to know if you wanna stay for dinner," he said, scratching the back of his head and squinting his eyes, "If you want."

I looked up into his warm brown eyes, loving the way that they sparkled. "Do you want me to stay for dinner?" I asked, ambling away from him and shaking sand out of our blanket.

Zayn started packing up leftover snacks, making sure to look me straight in the eyes when he told me, "I would love for you to."

-

Zayn gave me his jacket to wear on the ride back to his house, even offering me the blanket so I wouldn't catch a chill.

I just leaned against his back as we sped along the road, enjoying the crickets and the gunning of the engine.

I thought about his mother, as his shoulder blades bore into my chest, and about how she would be welcoming me into her home, with promises of a fulfilling evening and an ambrosial meal.

I sighed into him, once again interlocking my fingers around his stomach, for the millionth time wondering about how I could've been blessed with a life so gratifying.

And I couldn't imagine any better feeling in the world.