Summer Nights

The sticky sweet juice of the mango trickled down her arm as she playfully licked it off with her tongue realizing that he was watching her every movement. Again she offered the other half to him and again he politely declined. Alysa returned the other half to the fridge and then went back out to the veranduh to join him again. She perched herself on the wooden railing and looked at him. He was watching her.

" What is it?"

Skye shrugged his shoulders. " Just waiting to see how long it would take for you to fall off that rail."

" I'm not that clumsy." All the same Alysa got down and sat next to him on the bench.

The cool night air was blowing in the sounds of the crickets chirping in the bushes, pushing its way through her thick black mane. She glanced over at Skye who appeared to be consumed with the never ending darkness. They had been friends since they were fourteen and now a month before they go their seperate ways to college, it seemed strange that she would feel sad that she would no longer see him.

" Skye, you wanna go watch a movie?"

" No."

" How about jumping in the pool?"

" Nah."

" A game of twister?"

Skye raised a suspicious eyebrow at her. " No."

Alysa sighed loudly. He could be so frustrating at times, but he was also a good friend when it mattered most. Plus he was a good looking guy with his closely cropped black curly hair and full lips, and it never hurt to have good looking guy around. Alysa had feelings for Skye for so many years, that she decided that loving him was enough and that she no longer cared if he felt the same way. If he did, he would have obviously made a move by now, wouldn't he?

She felt a finger jabbing into her side. " Ouch. Why did you poke me?"

He looked at her thoughtfully. " Why are you so quiet?"

" Because you don't want to do anything fun with me!" Alysa complained.

He looked at her briefly and then turned back to the silence of the night. Their relationship had always been like this. Alysa the talkative one and Skye the silent one. But somehow they had a close friendship. Alysa sometimes saw a side of Skye that few people rarely saw. He could be really sweet, like the time when...

" You wanna go for a walk?" Skye was already on his feet.

" Sure." Not like if he wanted to do anything else. When she stood she came to just above his shoulder, but he was already walking ahead of her into the dark and quiet garden.

" Wait for me," Alysa ran down the few steps to where Skye was standing with his hands pushed into his jeans pocket.

When she was by his side Skye walked slowly down the garden path with her next to him. The flowers that hung over the garden path touched her bare leg as they walked on by. Alysa was almost scared of the darkness as the trees blocked out any moonlight and the more they walked the more they became covered by the canopy of darkness.

" Where are we going? " Alysa whispered drawing closer to Skye.

" Are you scared?"

" Kinda."

" Well don't be. I'm here." His voice was low and comforting.

They soon came into a clearing where there was a small man-made pond filled with expensive koi fish bought by Skye's parents. There were two small lights at either side of the pond, reflecting into the water. The pond seemed to be almost glowing. Alysa stood entranced by the beauty of the fish swimming in its shallow waters. This was probably the last time she was ever going to see them again. It made her sad because soon she won't be seeing Skye anymore and it almost scared her. She didn't think it would be so hard to leave someone.

Suddenly a frog jumped out of the pond and almost landed on her sneaker clad foot. Alysa screamed and hugged Skye tightly.

When Alysa saw that it was just a frog, she was livid. " You stupid, stupid frog. What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack? Go away! Shoo!"

Skye laughed as the frog hopped aimlessly along, ignoring Alysa.

Alysa lightly shoved him in the chest. " Stop laughing at me!'

Skye grinned, and she was about to shove him again when he grabbed her arms and held them in his. " You don't want to do that." His voice low and deep, with a hint of a sexual tease.

" Or you'll do what?" Her voice challenging him.

A small smirk appeared on his face and she knew that she was in trouble. He picked her up by her waist and dangled her over the pond.

" Skye! Put me down! I swear I'll behave. Please don't drop me in the pond. These are new shoes for goodness sake."

" Promise?" He was clearly enjoying this.

" Yes!" Her feet kicking frantically over the pond.

He pulled her back in close to his body. Alysa wrapped her arms around his shoulders. " You're gonna pay for that."

" Really? " Damn him and that smirk.

Alysa suddenly became painfully aware of how close their bodies were, as she slid down the length of his. Skye's fingers came up the length of her thighs and brushed the hemline of her skirt. His touch was warm on her already hot skin, making her feel alot hotter but for a completely different reason.

Skye felt the soft smooth skin beneath his finger tips. Her arms wrapped around his waist, everything was perfect. He kissed her softly, quietly, feeling the sudden gasp of surprise in her mouth die between them as he carefully kissed her. Moving his lips over every inch of hers, caressing them as softly as he could.

He broke the kiss, and was about to step back when she pulled him to her. Kissing him feverishly, as if she lived all her life for this moment. His hands were on her hips trying to ease down her momentum, he didn't want her to do anything that she would regret. He had been by her side long enough, to know how impulsive she was. Again he broke the kiss and looked at her, she nodded ever so slightly, that was all that was needed. He kissed her once more, liberally exploring her body with his mouth, tongue and hands as she did the same to him. He lifted her up as her legs wrapped around his waist. Simple barriers were undone as connections were made that would last a lifetime. As their sweat mingled together running down their bare chests in the aftermath, they both decided that after all these years of pent up passion and desire it was finally worth it to have it released.

Skye shoved his hands in his pants pockets as they walked back to the veranduh, while Alysa smoothed out her ruffled curls with her hands. Nothing was said between them, as if what had happened a mere fifteen minutes ago was nothing more than a fleeting daydream.

" Hi guys! I bought the beer." Shane smiled ruefully as Skye and Alysa approached. " Where were you guys at?"

" Oh I was just showing Alysa the koi pond. We added a new variety yesterday." Skye took the beer from Shane.

Alysa tiptoed up to Shane and kissed him on the cheek. " Hi baby. I missed you."

Shane smiled and took his girlfriend in his arms. " I've missed you too."

Skye rolled his eyes. " You two, get a room." He walked to door that lead into the den, " I'll go and put this beer in the fridge."

Shane chuckled as his best friend left. " One day he'll know what it's like to be in love," he said as he kissed Alysa on her forehead.

Alysa smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. " Yeah, one day."