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

Chapter 48

Clarke's POV

We take a well-deserved rest where Lexa and I both manage to sleep in. It's absolutely lovely, and it's had to describe how much I love waking up to see Lexa's face. Especially since, for once, I wake up before she does. I revel in it and look at the softness in her expression as she sleeps. The light from the windows illuminated her face in a beautiful way, making her seem almost ethereal.

My fingers twitch and I resist the urge to gently brush the hair from her face. Her mouth drops open slightly and she automatically cuddles closer to me and I swear I can feel my heart turning into a gooey mess inside my chest.

Lexa's eyelids flutter and she slowly blinks them open, like a sleepy cat. She smiles when she sees my face and kisses my bare shoulder her head is curled up against.

"Come on, babe. We have to get up." I say softly.

Lexa pouts and I resist the urge to coo. She's so cute when she's just woken up.

"But you're comfy." Lexa grumbles.

I hum and kiss her forehead. "I know, but you want to go to the beach, right?"

Lexa lets out a sigh and moves so she straddling me for a moment. She kisses me deeply before smoothly getting put of bed.

***

Everyone wants to go to the beach, so the others join us. The walk there is beautiful. The architecture here is incredible, and since the beach is way below us (because we're on a cliff), we get to hike down a path that leads down the cliff. Thank the Gods that it's wide enough for two horses to comfortably pass by each other. Otherwise, I wouldn't feel safe going down it.

It's pretty steep, but not so much that it's impossible. Though Raven does ask us pause every once in a while until Lincoln offers to carry her on his back. She seems to be having a great time up there.

"I wish you had hair, Lincoln. If it were long enough, I could make them into two braids and move you around like a horse." Raven says, her head resting on top of Lincoln's head.

He chuckles and doesn't seem to mind her chin on his head.

Guards patrol the path and there are posts every once in a while where guards can set up and stay, so they're not standing and walking for hours on end.

Getting down to the beach takes a while, but when we finally get there, it's worth it. The cliffs provide shade from the heat of the sun, making the golden sand cool enough to walk on barefoot without burning the soles of my feet. I dig my toes in and take in the smell of the ocean, the salt water. The sunlight, where it isn't blocked by the cliffs, makes the water glisten.

Lincoln carefully sets Raven down and she and Octavia head to the water, holding their shoes in one hand and holding hands with the other.

Lexa unfurls the large blanket she insisted on bringing.

"You're not just going to sunbathe all day, right Lexa?" Raven calls from the water.

"Did she even bring a bathing suit?" Octavia asks.

"Of course I did. Clarke insisted." Lexa answers.

"You should come in now while there's shade!" Raven says.

Lexa looks at me and I shrug. Lexa tosses the rest of the stuff she brought onto the blanket and tugs off her shirt. My heart catches in my throat because no matter how many times I see her naked, I never get used to it. I'll never get used to how gorgeous she is, and how lucky I am that she wants me. Hell, that she wants to marry me (which still seems so weird and amazing to think about).

I watch, dumbstruck, as Lexa pulls off her pants as well and folds them up neatly before placing her clothes on the blanket. I definitely don't stare as she bends over to put them down (I definitely do). Lexa walks towards the water and I swear her hips are swaying more than usual. Float me, Lexa looks amazing. She's wearing a black swimsuit that's a two-piece that covers her torso so it kinda looks like a one piece. It's almost a tragedy, her covering up her abs. But I can't really complain.

"I think you broke Clarke." Raven teases.

I snap out of my haze and give her the finger. I strip off my own clothes and toss them on the blanket. I run towards the water, making sure to splash Raven, Octavia, and Lexa as much as I can. Raven sputters but she's grinning. Octavia wipes the water from her face, trying to seem unamused but the fondness in her eyes gives her away.

For the first hour or so, we play in the water while the guards either relax or float around, away from us (Raven has a bad splashing habit).

Then, we compete to see who can make the best sandcastles.

"Clexa, you can't be a team." Raven says. "You work too well together. Let's mix it up! Lexa, you're with Octavia. Clarke, you're with me!"

I shrug and head over to work with Raven. We sit down and I ignore how some sand sticks to me because I'm still wet from the ocean. One rule we agree on right away is that there's no peeking. We all know we'll stick to that, so there's no worries about that.

"Wait! We need team names!" Octavia calls from where her back is facing Raven and me.

"Okay. Um. You guys are Octexa!" Raven replies.

I can practically hear Octavia's 'are you kidding me' face in her voice. "Really? Well, fine. You're Princess Mechanic."

I groan loudly and glare when Raven fails to muffle her laughter. "I'm known as the Commander of Death, and the future houmon (spouse) of the Commander and you choose to use some stupid nickname?"

"It sucks to suck." Octavia says.

Okay! Next chapter, the sandcastles and who wins that, then we move on to the next clan! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!