Chapter 19

Leon slowly pulled back from Raina. He stared at her for a moment. Then he shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what came over me." Leon said quietly. Raina shook her head.

"No, please don't apologize. Don't take it back. Why? Why shouldn't you have done it?" Raina asked. For so long, she had dreamt about how it would feel to kiss him. She now knew how amazing and perfect it was. "Did you not feel what I felt during it???"

"Raina, it's not about feeling. It's about what's right and wrong. And I shouldn't have kissed you. There's a ten year age gap between us. Your life is just starting... we're at different times in our lives. I'm ready to settle down and have a family. While you've got your music, college possibly, and much more that you could do. I'm not gonna have you throw your life away to be in mine..." Leon explained. Raina stared at him for a moment.

"Leon... I can't say what the future will hold. Quite obviously, it changes in mere minutes. Had you kissed me weeks ago... I would've taken your answer more. But, I lost the last of my family. Now, I know that the man I have loved for years has feelings for me, and you want me to just walk away???" Raina said.

"Exactly, you're going through a traumatic time. It's not a time you want to make rash decisions with me or anyone else. Just focus on you. Let yourself get past this unexpected detour first... believe me, I know. Take it from someone who didn't have a choice but to grow up fast either. You need time to heal." Leon added. Raina thought for a moment.

"It doesn't matter what I say, does it? You've made up your mind that you know what's best for me. And what if I say what's best for me is you??" Raina asked.

"You don't know that!" he yelled. "Hell, last night you were kissing my brother, and I bet in that moment you felt like he was best for you! Right???" said Leon. Raina took a step back from him. She shook her head.

"I don't know, to be honest. I guess maybe part of me did. I'm not sure, but it's different!" Raina yelled back.

"How? How's it different?" Leon asked her. Raina stared at him, confused.

"Because I love you! And have loved you for..." began Raina, but Leon cut her off.

"Love... you don't even know the meaning of the word. You've just had a crush, that's all." said Leon. Raina shook her head.

"Stubborn ass! It doesn't matter what I say, does it? You've made up your mind for you and me!" Raina sighed, then added, "Give me the rest of the weekend, will you?" Leon stared at her, confused.

"Date me for the rest of the day and night. Then, at noon tomorrow, we'll do as you say. That's if you still feel the same way!" said Raina. Leon nodded.

"OK, fine. And my decision ain't changing." Leon said as he moved toward his tent. Raina's heart skipped a beat. She didn't care that there were stipulations and it would not last. Her heart felt full in this moment, and that's all that mattered. She ran after him and hugged him from behind. "Thank you..." she said as she kissed his bare back. Then she ran to her tent to do her hair and make herself more presentable. Leon shook his head. What had he done? He said his mind would not change. However... once he had her, could he really bear to let her go? A sigh escaped his lips. Raina felt as if she was walking on clouds. She practically skipped as she came back out of her tent. When she did, she found Leon tending to their horses. Quietly, she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her head lay on his back, and she breathed in his smell. The smell that has kept her sane through all of this. Leon turned his head to try to see what she was doing.

"Are you ok?" he asked. Raina just nodded. He placed his hand on hers. "Do you want to go swimming?"

"Yeah, we can go swimming!" Raina answered excitedly. Leon nodded as she let him go. "OK, go get your stuff ready." Leon added. It did not take either of them long to grab their stuff and begin to walk down to the swimming hole. During the walk, Raina had reached out and grabbed Leon's hand. It was such an amazing feeling to Raina to finally do as she pleased, and Leon would just smile in response. Soon, they had made it there. Leon stripped his shirt off and slowly began to wade in the water. He turned to look at Raina. "You coming?" Leon asked her. Raina stood fidgeting for a moment, half regretting the decision she made back at camp. Since she only had a day to be with him, Raina decided that she was going to be with him completely. Slowly, Raina began to take her clothes off. Leon stared at her in shock and then turned his head. "What in the hell are you doing? Where is your swimsuit??" Leon asked. Raina was now completely naked. She slowly started to wade. The cold water sent goosebumps up her body and caused a shiver up her spine.

"I have one day to be with you. And I'm treating it as authentic as I can. Like we have been together for years." Raina answered. "So look at me, Leon. You wouldn't turn away from me if I was yours completely." she added. Leon hesitated, but the truth was he wanted to look. Finally, he gave in and turned back towards her. She stood now with the water up to her thighs. She was skimming the top of the water with the palms of her hands. Leon's eyes moved up her hourglass figure. God, she was beautiful, he thought. His own body was beginning to respond, and he caught himself moving closer to her. Before he knew it, he stood right in front of her. Leon's hand reached out for her waist, and he pulled her in close. He stared her in the eyes. Raina's heart began to pound louder as her naked body came in contact with his bare chest. The silence between them was different. Raina wanted to hear him speak but did not want to stop the moment. Finally, Leon spoke, "If you're mine completely for the day... go put something on! Go grab my shirt for heaven's sake!" Quickly he pulled away and splashed water at her as he moved away.

Raina stood in shock from the cold water hitting her. Then she crossed her arms and yelled after him, "Make me!". Leon turned back towards her and his eyes narrowed. It was then that Raina realized she had made a mistake and began to move backward. Leon moved quick as he closed the gap between them. Her feet began to stumble as she tried to get away. The only defense she could think of was splashing water at him but it was too late. His muscular arms wrapped around her and before she knew it, her feet were dangling in the air with her face staring at his back. "Put me down! Leon!" Her fist began to slam on his back as her feet were flailing toward his front. Suddenly there was a stinging sensation on her butt. He had spanked her! She tried to turn to see his face, "Did you just slap my ass?!"

"Well according to you, it's mine to slap for the rest of the time. Plus if you keep that up we'll both be on the ground." Leon answered as he now removed her from over his shoulder to standing on the ground. As Raina stood trying to find the words, a white fabric was now blocking her sight. Her arms went up through the holes and once the fabric came down, she realized that Leon had forceably put his shirt on her. "There!" He said with a huge grin on his face, "Much better!" However, Raina felt a tinge of sadness in her heart.

"Yeah...better," Raina mumbled after him. Thoughts of how she must be ugly or made him uncomfortable began to run through her head. She began to bite on the side of her cheek as he returned to the water. Her naked body must be a disappointment. Raina's eyes looked down at the long white shirt that hung over her body. She scratched the back of her left leg with the front of her right foot. There was no shirt thrown on Ashley when she basically had nothing on with that skimpy bathing suit. 'Might as well have just worn dental floss...' thought Raina. There was suddenly cold droplets of water hitting her body, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"C'mon I thought we were here to swim!" Leon said as he kept splashing water at her. That smile again. 'Not fair!' She thought as she rolled her eyes at him. Then she ran back into the water, her hands running through the water splashing it into his face.