Our Journey (the Fourth Book in the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 32

Lexa's POV

Being at the beach with them is interesting. Raven and Octavia mainly use the time we are here to play around and float on their backs. Well, in Raven's case she has to keep her leg with the brace firmly planted on the bottom in order to float.

Clarke and I practice swimming and I show her what I could not before because the river I taught her to swim in was more of a stream. I demonstrate different kinds of swimming techniques and teach her how to do them.

"No, Clarke, you have to kick your feet as well." I try to explain as she struggles in the water. I hover near her to make certain she's okay.

"I have to use both sets of my limbs in different ways?" Clarke groans.

"Niron (loved one), you have done that sort of thing before."

"Oh yeah? When?" Clarke challenges me, swimming closer.

"Almost every time you are in bed with me." I say and Clarke nearly chokes on nothing. "Multitasking, love."

Clarke sputters for a couple of second before beginning to swim off again, this time correctly.

"What did you tell her? She's so red!" Raven asks.

I jump, not having noticed that she is near me. "I told Clarke she has multitasked like this before."

"Ooh, how so?" Raven questions curiously. I flush and awkwardly clear my throat. "Oh, you meant sex wise. No wonder she's blushing so hard." She chuckles.

I realize something and eye her suspiciously. "Raven, I thought that your brace is too heavy. So how are you swimming right now?"

"Oh, I'm not. I'm just brilliant." Raven answers.

She flips over onto her back and her braced leg slowly rises to the surface, wrapped in a cloth similar to Clarke and I's blanket.

"What... what is that?" I ask.

"Floatation device. The hard part is actually keeping it down. Ooh, I could make floaty things for my arms so I don't have to worry about being dunked underwater when I get tired." Raven muses excitedly.

Raven swims off, murmuring about her ideas, which I understand none of what she says. I turn my attention back to Clarke, who is still swimming around.

"You are doing very well, Clarke!" I call as an encouragement.

Clarke perks up when she hears my voice and swims back over to me. She stops in front of me, treading water. "I'll get my revenge on you for that, Lexa." She says in a faux serious voice.

"For what?"

"For making me think about sex with you when we're in public. Tell me, are you a strong swimmer?" Clarke cocks her head.

"Yes," I answer semi-hesitantly at the seemingly random question. "Luna has always loved the water and often made me swim with her."

"Good."

Clarke swims closer to me. I feel her legs wrap around my waist and my eyes widen. Will I be supporting her weight as well as mine? Clarke pauses, still moving her arms to keep her afloat. It takes me a second to recognize that she is waiting for my consent. My heart melts a little more in my chest and I nod to her.

Clarke gives me that cocky smirk I love so much and runs a hand through her wet hair, giving it a tousled look that nearly takes my breath away. She moves her face closer to mine until our breaths mix together, her open mouth inches from mine.

She slowly leans in and I wait those tantalizing last seconds before her lips touch mine. I let out a soft moan as soon as they do and sink into the kiss. And into the river. The cold water sends a shock through my body when it touches my shoulders for the first time in a couple of minutes. It is just what I need in order to focus on keeping us afloat.

Let me tell you, it is more difficult than you would think to simultaneously swim hard enough to keep yourself and your fiancée afloat while kissing your breathtakingly gorgeous fiancée.

We pull apart only when we hear Octavia shout "Yeah! Get it, Griff!"

Clarke raises her middle finger to them without looking, still staring into my eyes with her own blown out pupils. I do not attempt to hide the shiver that runs down my spine at that look. And it is not because we are in cold water.

***

The next morning, I get out of bed and smile at the sore muscles I have all over. Some are from swimming, some are from last night. I stretch and revel in the soreness, a familiar feeling that I have grown to love. It reminds me of back when I started training with Anya. I was so sore after the first couple of days I could barely lift my arms.

I put on enough that I will not scar for life anyone I come across and head downstairs to get breakfast for Clarke and me. Lincoln is already there, as is an exhausted looking Raven and Octavia, who has her face on the table and is snoring gently, her drool pooling on the table. Raven does not even tease me for not wearing much, just grunts out a greeting.

"Do we have to go on the boat? Can't we just sleep in?" Raven groans, dropping her head into the table with a thunk that wakes up Octavia.

"Wha? Huh? I'm awake!" Octavia declares sleepily, blinking and wiping away her drool.

"Yes, you will love it. Eat the breakfast Lincoln has kindly made us. We leave in an hour." I tell them.

"An hour?" Raven complains. "You mean we didn't have to wake up this early?"

"You did if you want to have the chance to pack anything." I answer. "I will see you soon, I'll take our breakfast up to Clarke."

Raven makes a whipping noise as I walk away with the plates and cups precariously balanced.

I gently set everything down on the table and I can tell when Clarke wakes up. She makes a humming noise and stretches, then lets out a loud groan.

"Jok ai (f*ck me), I'm so sore." Clarke complains.

"I am pretty sure that contributed to our soreness." I say as I bring over a glass of water for her to sip.

This was a little bit longer than usual... I love snarky Lexa in this one. Next chapter, the boat ride! :) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!