Chapter 74 A swim

Chapter 74 A swim
~Ariel~

The moonlight slipped through the canopy above us, painting silver patterns across the narrow path as Lyra and I walked side by side. Our hands were linked together, our bags resting against our backs as we followed the winding trail deeper into the woods.

Every now and then, I found myself glancing around.

At the trees, shadows, and the endless stretch of wilderness surrounding us.

I had spent most of my life within the safety of Silvercrest's walls. Even when I wandered into nearby fields searching for herbs and plants, I had always known home was only a short walk away.

This was different.

There were no walls, guards or familiar face. Just the two of us.

"Don't tell me you're chickening out now," Lyra teased and I looked at her.

Her lips curved into an amused smile. "It's too late to turn back."

I scoffed. "I'm not chickening out."

"Really?"

"Really." She raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you keep looking around like something is about to jump out of a tree?"

I laughed despite myself. "I was just thinking. I was imagining how you survived out here by yourself before you got to Silvercrest."

Something softened in her expression.

For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the woman who had wandered through the wilderness alone carrying nothing but pain and determination.

Lyra shrugged. "I always make sure to survive." There was no pride in her voice. "No matter what."

I squeezed her hand.

"You're brave."

Her eyes met mine. For a second neither of us spoke, then I leaned over and pressed a kiss against her cheek.

The smile that appeared on her face immediately made the gesture worth it. We continued walking.

The night felt peaceful.

We were simply moving forward when I heard it. My eyes widened.

I stopped walking. "Wait."

Lyra turned toward me. "What?"

I held up a hand. "Listen."

We both went quiet. A few seconds later, her expression changed. The sound was faint.

It was the sound of flowing water.

My face immediately lit up. "Do you hear that?" Before she could answer, I grabbed her hand and started running.

"Ariel!" She screamed. 

I laughed. "Come on!"

She burst into laughter as I practically dragged her through the trees. Branches brushed against us and leaves crunched beneath our feet.

The sound of rushing water grew louder and louder until finally we burst through the last line of trees and stopped. The river stretched before us like a ribbon of silver beneath the moonlight.

The water sparkled and the current moved gently. The entire place looked almost magical.

I turned toward Lyra. She was staring at it too. Then we exchanged looks.

The same thought had clearly crossed both our minds. "We're definitely camping here tonight," I declared.

Lyra laughed. "I was hoping you'd say that."

I dropped my bag onto the grass.

For the first time all day, I felt completely relaxed. The sound of the water alone was enough to wash away every worry sitting in my chest.

I bent down to begin unpacking when I noticed movement.

I looked up and immediately burst out laughing.

"What are you doing?"

Lyra glanced over her shoulder. "What does it look like?"

She continued removing layers of clothing without a trace of embarrassment.

My eyes widened. "Lyra."

"What?" She sounded completely innocent.

I pointed at the river, pointed at her and then back at the river.

She laughed. "Have you ever gone swimming this late at night before?"

I folded my arms. "No."

"Exactly." She spread her hands dramatically. "You've missed out on one of life's greatest experiences."

I shook my head. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet you adore me." I rolled my eyes. The worst part was that she wasn't entirely wrong.

A second later she sprinted toward the water.

The moment she entered the river, she let out a loud squeal.

"Oh, that's cold!"

I doubled over laughing.

She splashed water toward me. "Stop laughing!"

"You ran in there like a warrior heading into battle."

"It looked warmer from a distance." She answered. 

That only made me laugh harder.

Soon she was floating comfortably near the surface, looking entirely pleased with herself despite her earlier reaction.

She tilted her head. "So?"

I raised an eyebrow. "So what?"

"Are you going to leave me out here alone?"

Every sensible part of me said absolutely not. It was late. The water looked freezing. And I had never done anything remotely like this before.

Then again, a week ago I never would have imagined leaving Silvercrest behind either. Yet here I was.

I sighed dramatically. "Fine."

Lyra's face lit up. "Yes!"

I began removing the extra layers that would only get soaked anyway. "You are a terrible influence." I mumbled. 

"I've heard that before." She answered proudly. 

A few moments later I found myself running toward the river. The second the water touched me, I understood exactly why Lyra had screamed.

"Oh, damn."

She laughed so hard she nearly swallowed water. "Told you."

"It's freezing!"

"It gets better."

"It absolutely does not." I stopped a few steps into the river while my body adjusted.

Eventually the initial shock faded. The water wasn't so bad anymore.

Actually… It felt refreshing. The river carried away the dust from the road and the tension from my shoulders.

Lyra drifted closer. Moonlight danced across the surface of the water around her.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke and the laughter slowly faded.

She lifted her upper body from the water, and my eyes couldn’t just help but wander down to her chest. Her nipples looked hard because of the cold. 

Seductive? Hell yes. I swallowed hard and quickly moved my gaze back to her face before she caught me staring. 

"You know," She said softly, "I didn't think you'd actually come."

I frowned. "Come where?"

"With me." The teasing had vanished from her voice. I could hear the vulnerability underneath. "When I told you I wanted to leave."

My chest tightened and I moved closer. "I told you I wasn't letting you do this alone."

"I know."

She smiled faintly. "But I still didn't believe it at first."

I reached for her face and caressed it. Somehow, her face were still warm against my hand, giving me comfrot.  "I meant every word." 

Her gaze held mine. At this moment, I couldn’t help it anymore, and my eyes drifted down to her lips, and to her floating chest again. I swallowed hard and clenched my jaws. 

“It’s not polite to stare.” She says, and I kissed my teeth. 

“I am sorry.” I lowered my head. “I keep trying to not stare, but they’re so distracting, I can’t help but…” 

The words got stuck in my throat as her hand raised my chin and her lips crashed on them. She opened up wide and went in deep as her body leaned against mine. She breaks off the kiss and stares into my eyes. 

“You don’t have to be polite with me.” She reached for my hand and raised it to her chest. She wrapped my fingers around it and gave it a firm squeeze. 

My lips parted as I locked gazes with her again. This time, I didn’t want to hold back anymore. I couldn’t. 

My lips found hers. And this time, it wasn’t gentle. It was hungry, passionate and lustful. There was no holding back. I pulled her closer by the waist, until her legs were intertwined with mine. 

I lifted my body, until her head was tilted backwards in complete submission to me. My hand reached for her neck and gave it a slight squeeze, causing a moan to escape her lips.

“Oh, you’re hungry.” She whispered, looking into my eyes lustfully, and this only fueled the passion in me. 

My fingers tightened against her skin. 

“Uhmmm.” Her eyes closed briefly before looking at me. 

“Fuck this.” I grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the water with me. When we got out, I looked at her and said; 

“Give me a minute.” 

She nodded with a wide smile as I reached into my bag and pulled out the sheets I had packed along. I laid them on the ground in haste. When they were laid, I stretched my hand to her and she took it. 

She laid on the sheets and I got on top of her. Without wasting auymore time, I covered her lips with mine again. This time, my hands wandered all over her body, giving her cute little squeezes as it wandered. 

“Uhmmm.” Her moan filled my ears, sealing whatever sound the woods made out. 

I broke the kiss and began to kiss her down her body. Her chest arched up against my lips, and her hands grabbed my hair, grabbing them tightly yet carefully. 

My hand moved between her thighs and as I traced her inner thighs, she shivered underneath my touch. I hands slid into her sacred lips and a gasp escaped our lips at the same. 

She was a mess down there. I instantly drove my finger into her. 

“Ahhh.” Her back arched. My finger was a cold constract to the warmth inside her. “Fuck.” She moaned as the pad of my finger reached deeper up her front wall. 

I began to caress her inside as I drove it in and out of her. 

“Yes, baby… ahhhh.”