Five

“IF YOU JUMP from that cliff…I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Melanie asked with a smug and challenging grin spreading across her face.

“You’re nuts.” Braden glanced at the water thirty-five feet below.

Her heart raced. Her breathing almost stopped. Why was she doing this? Without giving the leap any further thought, she jumped. She let her body slice through the water before kicking for the surface. The rush of endorphins made her feel more alive.

Braden splashed into the lake beside her. When he surfaced, she saw the rush of adrenaline in his eyes.

“Not bad,” she said. “I think it’s about the same height as an Olympic platform.”

He groaned. “Of course. I forgot you’ve done this before. You’re crazy.”

“It’s not exactly the same,” she said, glancing up at the rock ledge.

“I can’t believe I just did that. You’re a bad influence on me, Melanie Jamison."

She laughed. “You’re the only one who’s ever said that to me. And I kind of like it.”

Braden grinned and started swimming for the shore. She swam at his side until they met the beach.

“I never thought I would find the perfect girl in Granite Lake.” Braden stared into her eyes and smiled.

“Who is she? Do I know her?” Melanie asked.

“You do,” he said. “I’m looking right at her.”

“You’re so full of it, Braden,” she teased.

He wrapped his dripping wet arms around her middle and planted a kiss on her lips. “You’re everything I didn’t know I needed. My family is a train wreck and you’ve made me forget about them. My mind used to revolve on everything that is wrong with my life. Now I think about the future and there’s so much to look forward to. I didn’t think there was anything positive about my life until I met you, Mel.”

Her heart was suddenly too big inside her chest. The sensation didn’t hurt. It warmed the blood running through her veins. Lights like Fourth of July sparklers twinkled inside every inch of her head. Coherent thoughts evaporated from existence. All she could fathom was how much she loved him. The sincerity in his silver eyes melted her insides and the warm butter of her bloodstream pooled between her legs. Melanie didn’t know if she was embarrassed by the sensation or if she never wanted it to end. Braden held her unknowingly captive with that soul-searching gaze. She had to stop staring back if she were to make her next move. Bold was not normally Melanie’s response to any given situation, but Braden somehow managed to bring it out in her.

He’d promised to never push her into doing anything she didn’t want to do. He said many times since they met that he knew all too well what it was like to be forced into situations that he didn’t want to participate in and he would never do that to another person. If she wanted to remain friends and never take their friendship to any level of physical contact, he was fine with that. Melanie tried to ask what happened to him, but Braden would never say. He rarely spoke about anything in his past—at least anything regarding his family. Melanie knew almost nothing about his parents, including where they lived. She clearly saw his aloof response about them and what his life was like before moving in with his grandfather in Granite Lake. His behavior was strange, but she didn’t hold it against him. Her home life wasn’t exactly typical either. Unlike Braden, Melanie was an open book about why she and her family lived in her grandparents’ house. Braden didn’t hold it against her when she talked about her father losing his job and how they lost their house and had to move into her grandparents’ lake house until they recovered financially. How her father couldn’t find a job for over a year and how devastated he was. He listened and talked it out with her more than once. He always seemed to understand exactly how she felt about everything. Did he know what she wanted from him now? Could he see the need in her to connect with him in a way she had never wanted before?

Melanie backed out of his arms and took his hands in hers. She lifted her gaze to his then brought his hand to her midriff. The warmth of his fingers traveled down her stomach and below the line of her bikini bottoms where heat pooled like molten lava.

“I think we should do it. Now.”

His smile actually fell. The tiny flame of courage dimmed and extinguished inside her. Melanie shrank back an inch. Braden stepped forward, not letting her move away.

“Are you sure? Out here?” His gaze flicked to the lakeside and the surrounding forest. “I want this, believe me, but I want you to be comfortable and safe.”

“Safe?” she asked with a shaky voice and a partial laugh.

“I don’t know.” Pain and uncertainty flashed in those incredible silver eyes. “I mean. I don’t want anyone to accidentally see you. See us. Start rumors or whatever.”

Melanie glanced around. They hadn’t seen a single person all day. “I’m pretty sure we’re alone.”

“I think so too, but I don’t want you to have regrets,” he said.

“Regrets? My only regret is that if we keep waiting and it never happens, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. My parents are moving soon and I start college right after that. You’re going to be at boot camp. We don’t have much time. I want to spend every moment with you before we, you know, before we are apart.”

The pained expression returned to his face.

“Don’t do that.” Melanie reached up to smooth the worry lines from his brow. “We’re going to be fine. You’ll see. I’ll go study and you’ll be studying and turning yourself into even more of a stud than you already are and then we’ll be back together before we have a chance to blink.”

Her fingers lingered near his temple. God, he was hot. Not just his unbelievable face and toned body, but his actual temperature. Heat seeped into her fingers. The lake water had cooled her skin. He swam with her, but it didn’t seem to make a difference on his internal heat. The contrast of his warm face and her cool hand raised goose bumps over her hand and up her arm. Melanie often marveled and lost herself when she touched him.

She lowered her hand to his shoulder and dropped her gaze. Melanie suddenly found herself staring at the front of his swim trunks. The heat in that area of his body had to be unbelievable. The thought made her nipples grow tight against her bikini. She tried to swallow but a whimper crept out of her throat. Before she knew what was happening, Braden’s hands wrapped around her back and he guided her to sit on the beach towel. She found herself reclining back, his mouth meeting hers in one fluid move. She opened her lips to him and sought his tongue with hers. He sealed his mouth over hers and sucked lightly as their tongues danced. His fingers played along her ribcage and she nearly died from sensation overload. Melanie’s leg wrapped around his hip and held him in place over her. He never broke his kiss as his hand slid upward and over her breast. More involuntary whimpers left her throat as he brushed those fiery fingers across the taut peaks of her nipples. Sweet Georgia! Ecstasy had to be something close to what she was experiencing. There was no other word for what was happening to her.

The length of his erection pressed against the front of her hip. The firmness of his manhood always surprised her. She’d felt his hard-on before. This wasn’t the first time they’d made out, but the ability of his member to grow so strong and long had a bit of shock factor on her innocent mind.

Her body reacted instinctively and pressed against him. The tiniest of groans rose from the depths of Braden’s chest and purred against her lips. The affect sent shockwaves of yearning through her teenaged body. Her toes curled and she rubbed her hip into him again. His groan deepened and his hand moved beneath her bikini top. Braden’s caresses sent her to another place. She couldn’t define where, but reality no longer mattered. His lips traveled over her neck and paused against her collarbone. With tongue and tender nibbling, he tasted her skin as he continued downward. Melanie arched her back, needing his mouth where his hand currently massaged her chest. She wanted his tongue on her bare skin more than she wanted her next breath. Any fears or embarrassment about this being her first time seem to have vanished as she removed her top and pushed it aside to give Braden full access to her body. The wild glaze over his eyes as he watched her take her bikini off thrilled her and brought back a passing shiver of doubt as she exposed herself to him. But then he slid back into place, the length of his entire body encapsulating her and claiming her as his and she forgot anything and everything outside of Braden.

Possessing her seemed to be his goal and she relished the sensation of being needed. As if reading her mind, his lips moved to the tender bud of her breast and she nearly died from her heart exploding. Melanie ran her fingers over his scalp and through the thick waves of his hair. The feel of it against her hand never got old. She tried to memorize the feel of every inch of him. Braden moved to her other nipple and treated it with the same careful attention. An involuntary whimper escaped passed her lips.

How was it possible to physically ache and tremble with need for someone? Her hand stroked the corded muscles along the back of his neck and along his spine. She brushed the curve of his backside and brought her hand back up again. If he could make her feel so much, she wanted to give him the same gift. With her newfound boldness, she dipped her fingers inside the waistband of his swim trunks. She wrapped her hand around his eager member. Braden lifted his mouth from her chest and found her lips. The kiss lingered sweet and deep. She didn’t want it to end, but he pulled back an inch.

“Melanie, I want you so bad, but we have to stop.”

Her hand froze. Her entire body stilled and she couldn’t speak.

“I don’t have any protection,” he said, eyes closed, a visible grimace of despair on his face. “I should have thought of it before now. I’m sorry. I can’t risk getting you pregnant. I have some at my house. I didn’t think this would happen today.” Braden shifted to the side as if to move away from her and sit up. Confusion, regret, and embarrassment battled for first place on his face.

“I do.” Melanie sat up and reached for her backpack. “I’ve had them for a little while now.” She dug a condom out of her bag.

Melanie's older sister gave her a boxful the last time she came home for the weekend from college. Melanie had been embarrassed and grateful to Emmeline for the weird present. She stuck two of the condoms in her backpack just in case the situation arose and she needed them. Honestly, she thought she carried them around in case Treasure needed one, but now she couldn’t be more pleased with her forethought.

Braden stared at her. His gaze dropped to the square package in her hand. She crossed an arm over her chest. He rose to his knees without speaking. Melanie licked her lips and swallowed. Did he not want to do this after all? What’s he doing?

Braden leaned away and grabbed his shirt. Wow, really? He’s turning down the opportunity to lose our virginity? Melanie wondered what was wrong. She stared at her lap then reached for her bikini top. What excuse would he make? Just as she was about to explode with uncertainty, Braden laid his T-shirt on the ground above the small beach towel Melanie had brought. Before she could speak, he sat by her side and brushed some sand from the back of her shoulder.

“I love you, Melanie.” He kissed the corner of her mouth and took the condom wrapper from her hand.

“I love you,” she said.

With a gentle touch, he guided her back to lie on the towel and his shirt. “Next time, we’re going to be in my bed,” he said, and resumed kissing her.

That he wanted a next time with her before completing their first time made her love him that much more. Their tongues met and circled. He sucked and teased her mouth and lips. His hands explored everywhere he could reach. Her body melted beneath his touch. She pushed his shorts over his hips and freed his erection. When his hand moved lower she spread her thighs to give him room, inviting him to touch every part of her body. The wetness between her legs proved she couldn’t be more ready than she was now.

Braden lifted away from her to put the condom on. She shifted with him, not wanting any space between them. Her lips trailed kisses on his shoulder and upper chest as he rolled the protection over his length. Never losing contact, Melanie settled against the ground as he positioned himself above her again.

“Wait,” she said.

Braden pulled back, a hint of alarm in his silver eyes.

Melanie shifted and reached a hand behind her back. She pulled out the offending object from beneath the towel and held it up so Braden could see it. “Rock.” She tossed it aside and smiled at her boyfriend. “That's better.”

Braden hesitated for a blink of an eye. She didn’t mean to stall their progress, but the rock was pushing against her spine and with Braden soon pushing into her as well, she didn’t want the extra discomfort. Melanie also didn’t want to freak Braden out. She reached for his hips and pulled him into place. She felt the tip of him at her opening. “I’m ready,” she whispered and wrapped her leg around his hips.

Melanie woke with a start. “Good gracious! Have mercy!” Her heart danced a jig inside her chest. The pulse points in her wrists throbbed. A fine layer of sweat coated her skin. Never in her life had she had a dream so realistic. It was as if her memory played back the day she’d lost her virginity in hi-def.

"Urggg!" Melanie groaned and rolled over. She had no recollection of moving from the couch to her bed. And where was Treasure? She reached for her phone on the nightstand. Four text messages waited for her.

Treasure: I’m home safe.

Alana’s chihuahua nearly caused me to crash my bike this morning. Let me know if you want me to run the rat dog over next time.

Your neighbor has a nice ass. (Braden)

Don’t worry about the gross green drink. Have some water and sleep it off. TTYL.

Wooziness clenched her stomach. She set the phone down and closed her eyes, willing the nausea to settle down. The memory finished playing inside her mind, whether she wanted it to or not.

Melanie remembered his movement. The pressure of his body inside hers. It didn’t hurt exactly, but it wasn’t what she would call comfortable either. Scattered clouds dotted the sky overhead and she smelled the combination of Braden, lake water, and pine forest. When it was over, Braden pulled out, but lingered above her. His breath was hot on her ear. When she shifted, he moved to the side, propped on one elbow.

“Are you alright?” he’d asked.

“I'm good.” She was good. It was almost a relief to have it over with. How many times had she wondered what it would be like and now it was finally done. She was trying to process what just happened and didn’t know if she liked sex or not. The beginning was amazing and life changing. Braden made her feel things she didn’t know existed before, but the actual act of having intercourse was sort of weird. Still, she wouldn’t have done it with anyone else. She’d turned into his arms and kissed him like he meant everything in the world to her. Which he did. “Are you okay?” she asked, trying not to sound uncertain.

Staring directly into her eyes, he brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind an ear. “I’m better than okay. You’re everything, Melanie.”

She breathed easier suddenly and tucked her head beneath his chin. Within a few moments, it became obvious that she didn’t want to lay on the ground naked anymore. Braden had an uncanny ability to read her thoughts and reached for her bikini. They were quieter than normal as they dressed and gathered their things. They both knew Melanie was expected home for dinner and it was getting late. They hiked back to the pickup truck. Everything seemed normal and yet had absolutely changed. Melanie wondered a thousand times if Braden felt the change like she did. Some things couldn’t be taken back. She couldn’t help but remember his declaration that the next time would be in his bed. And when would that be exactly? His grandfather was retired. He was home most of the time except for an occasional fishing trip. There was always someone home at her house, she thought with an internal groan. The back of the pickup truck wouldn’t be all that bad, would it? As long as she was with him, she was willing to try again.

Melanie rolled over and stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. Through the walls, she heard Tweeny pushing the dog food bowl around on the kitchen floor. Something she did when it was empty. At least that’s what she thought the dog was doing. Did her history with Braden matter now? That was over a decade ago. As for that second time together, it never happened.