Chapter 7

• ALPHA HARDEN
• The sun was still up, even at ten o'clock at night. Carmen had called to tell me he'd be out of town for a few days and that he'd already told Alicia. I lay back in the warm water of the jacuzzi, just staring up at the stars, which were like tiny holes in a black blanket.
• I took a sip from my glass. The dark amber liquid was strong. It burned a little, right down to my belly. Just then, I heard a rustle, like leaves moving. My ears perked up.
• "Hello? Anyone there?" I called out, my voice a bit deeper than usual because of the drink.
• "Y-yes, it's me. Alicia!" A soft voice replied.
• "Oh, Licia," I said, even though I could barely see her in the dim starlight. "You scared me for a second!"
• She moved closer to the steaming tub, still mostly a shadow. "Sorry! I didn't know you were here."
• "Here, let me turn on the light," I offered, reaching for the controls. "Don't want you tripping."
• With a click, the lights around the tub flickered on. And there she was. She had a towel wrapped tight around her chest. Her long, dark brown hair was pulled back and pinned up. Her big eyes blinked in the sudden brightness.
• "I-I really didn't know you were here," she stammered, giving a little nervous laugh. "I promise, I wouldn't have come out if I knew."
• "Funny, I thought you'd be asleep by now," I said, leaning back. "Especially with the light off. Listen, it's a big tub. There's plenty of room. Come on in!" I scooted over to the far side, leaving her space.
• "The water feels really nice," I added, for no real reason.
• "Okay, maybe in a few minutes!" she said, with that cute laugh that always got to me. "I just need to, you know, change first!"
• "Why?" I teased. "Is there a pool party I don't know about? No fancy dress needed here, kiddo!"
• She chuckled. "No, it's just... I think I'm dressed a little too 'off,' if you know what I mean." She kept her distance. "I'm not wearing a swimsuit underneath this."
• And I swear, I didn't mean for my cock to react, but it did.
• "Really?" I tried to sound casual, but my voice felt a little tight.
• "You can change, or not. It's up to you," I said, trying to reassure her. "I promise I'll be good. I'm just trying to show you I'm a good person."
• She smiled, and the white of her teeth twinkled like the stars. "It's not that, it's just... well, you know..." she started.
• "I think I get it," I cut in. "You're waiting for someone, right? Like, a boyfriend?" I started to push myself up from the bubbles. "I should probably leave you two alone." I secretly hoped she'd say no, that she was single.
• Then I remembered. All I had on were swimming shorts, and nothing under them. They clung to my body like a second skin. I froze. I saw her eyes widen as they landed on my crotch, perfectly outlined in the flickering light.
• Maybe touching her, kissing her, had more of an effect on me than I thought.
• "No, wait!" she blurted out, fidgeting. "You can stay. It's not like that at all. I'm not meeting anyone." She took a breath. "It's just, I'd feel weird being, um, naked in a tub with you. You're my brother's friend, and I don't know you that well."
• I nodded. "Okay, I'll tell you what." I slipped back down into the bubbles. "I'll take off my shorts, and then we can both be naked."
• She giggled nervously, looking at me. I knew it sounded crazy, but the words just came out. That's how much she affected me. For a moment, her smile faded, and I thought she'd tell me to get lost. But then it came back.
• "Okay, fine," she said, biting her bottom lip. "But I want to see yours off first. And you have to turn off the light!"
• "Deal," I said, pulling the wet shorts past my ankles. "How's this?" I held up my dripping shorts so she could see.
• "Alright, now turn off the light!" she ordered, with another little giggle. I pressed the button, and the lights around the tub went out. In the dim starlight, I couldn’t honestly just make out her shape. She draped her towel on the rack next to mine. Slowly, carefully, she took off her robe. Her body was swallowed by the darkness. As she climbed down the steps into the tub, I could just see the curve of her backside as it disappeared into the bubbly water. She was slender, and her breasts bounced softly as she settled herself down.
• We were both careful, mindful of our lack of clothes. We sat at opposite corners of the tub. As our eyes got used to the dark, I couldn't help but notice her beautiful shape.
• It looked like she was running a hand over her body under the water. "This feels so good!" she sighed, resting her arms on the side of the tub.
• I smiled and took another sip from my glass.
• "What are you drinking?" she asked softly.
• "It's alcohol," I replied. "Want some?"
• "Sure," she said, leaning towards me a little. I held out my glass so she could take a sip.
• "Whoa... strong stuff!" she gasped.
• "Yep, it's an acquired taste. Not really for kids like you," I teased.
• She frowned. "Hey, I'm not a kid!" she protested, her voice a little louder now. "Call me Alicia, thank you very much!"
• "Alright, Licia," I said, smiling.
• "That's better. And please don't call me 'kiddo' either. I'm not a child!"
• "But you are," I said, still teasing. "You're only twenty, or twenty-one, right?"
• "Yeah, twenty. I'll be twenty-one soon!" she said proudly.
• "Let me get this straight," I mused. "So I was in my last year of high school when you were born."
• She laughed nervously. "I don't think you're that old!" she said, looking genuinely surprised. "I mean, you look really young!"
• "Thank you!" I said, as she studied me in the moonlight.
• "I wouldn't believe you if you told me you were past your late twenties! I mean, not that you're old old..."
• "I am," I said plainly. "But does that matter?"
• "Not to me!" she said, shaking her head, her eyes still on me. "Besides, I think there's something kind of sexy about older men."
• "Well, given how we are right now," I said, a playful note in my voice, "I think we should probably not go there."
• She laughed, a more relaxed sound this time. "Can I have more of your drink?" she asked.
• "Sure," I said, handing her my glass. "You can have this whole glass. I'll just drink straight from the bottle."
• She laughed again. And as we drank, we just talked. We talked about ourselves, getting to know each other better.
• "I've never done this before," she mumbled.
• "What, drink this?" I asked.
• "No, sit in a hot tub with a... man," she said, and I thought I saw a slight blush on her cheeks in the dark.
• "More, please!" she said, pushing her glass forward.
• "Just a splash, young lady. You're not quite old enough to be drinking legally," I joked.
• She laughed, and her smile sparked in the dim light. She sat up and leaned forward, holding her glass out to me. I could see the soft curve of her breasts as they bobbed gently on the surface. Her pink nipples seemed to flirt with the cool night air and my eyes.
• As I poured into her glass, she slipped over to the side, right next to me, and settled back. "I like this spot best!" she said, closing her eyes.
• She leaned further back, her body sinking lower into the water, and her hand brushed my hip.