The Challenge (13 page)

"Alright, guys, let's get our things put away," Uncle Ethan said after I had woken Megan up by slamming the door.

She grumbled as she got her stuff from the trunk and shot a dirty look. I smirked at her as I got my own stuff and went to my room. It was a little smaller than my room back home and it had wood panelled walls, a cathedral ceiling and an enormous window looking out over the lake. I loved the atmosphere out there, it could have been the setting for one of those fairy tales my mom used to read me when I was little.

I unpacked and changed into jeans and a black sweater before bouncing down the stairs. Uncle Ethan was getting a fire started and Megan was lying on the couch reading. I couldn't shake the good feeling I got up here, even if it was a little isolated. Then I got another text from Henry, saying he had decided to explore the surrounding area. I texted him saying that was a good idea and that I'd do the same.

"I'm going for a walk," I said. Uncle Ethan nodded and I went outside through the forest off to the right of the cottage and down to the road.

Lake Severn sat like a bowl in a valley that was completely surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The lake was fairly remote, so the only way to reach it was a winding dirt road that cut through the mountains for about thirty minutes before approaching the lake from the south. Once it reached the valley, it split two ways and formed a complete circle around the dark blue waters of Lake Severn. Our cottage was about halfway around the east side of the lake. There were several other little cottages that were peppered around the lake, but many of them were falling apart or vacant. Including ours, there were only seven cottages that were lived in each year.

I walked north on the pine straw-covered dirt road and, between sending texts to Lena and the girls, took in the fresh air and listened to the varied songs of the many birds that inhabited the valley. Somewhere nearby I heard a brook murmur over rocks and sticks towards the lake, undoubtedly fed by ice that was constantly melting from the lower fringes of the snow caps.

I had walked for about twenty minutes before reaching the far north side of the lake (it took nearly eighty minutes in all to trek all the way around the lake at a moderate pace) and stopped in my tracks when I heard a rustling on the mountain side of the road. The woods were thicker than on the lake side, so I knew the animal was close. It was most likely a deer-there were plenty around Lake Severn-but there were also mountain lions.

Listening carefully, I could hear the sound of crunching leaves get fainter-the animal was moving away from me. My curiosity got the better of me and I took my cell phone from my pocket, ready to dial Henry should I become scared. I followed the animal for probably fifty yards before I realized that the rhythm of their footsteps suggested I wasn't tracking an animal at all-it was a person. It was fairly rare to run into anyone else at the lake, especially on the mountain side, which frightened me. I heard the footsteps stop. Shaking, I pressed dial and my phone began to call Henry. Then, about fifty feet ahead of me, I heard a familiar song ring through the thick woods in a tinny tone. I smiled, the song was
Fluorescent Adolescent
by Arctic Monkeys-Henry's favorite.

"Hey, Kris," I heard Henry's voice float from my phone just as the music stopped.

"Hey, cutie," I said, trying not to laugh or talk too loudly as I crept closer.

"You should see this place," Henry said. "It's brilliant."

"Oh I bet." I stopped walking. I reached the edge of a clearing and not twenty feet away from me I saw Henry standing in the grass, facing away from me. "How are you doing?"

"Good so far. Wish you were here, though," he said, running his fingers through his hair.

"Hold on a sec," I said. I hung up the phone and put it in my pocket. Then I walked slowly and quietly to Henry. He looked at his phone and I heard him sigh before he put it away. I was six feet behind him when I threw my arms over his shoulders, jumped on his back and yelled, "Your wish is my command!"

Henry jumped and nearly threw me off his back, "How the bloody hell did you get here?!" Henry asked, his voice trembling.

I jumped down and planted a kiss on his cheek, but said nothing as I smiled and stared into his eyes.

Henry's hands gripped my waist, "You nearly gave me a heart attack, pet!" He looked angry for a second but then he smiled and demanded, "Answer the question."

"My cottage is about a twenty minute walk that way," I said, nodding behind me.

"Oh...so that would be why Dad told me I should stop complaining about being stranded out here," Henry said.

"Probably. I wouldn't doubt it if my uncle had something to do with this as well," I responded, then made little patterns over his chest with my fingertips. "At least this weekend won't be so crappy now."

"No, it won't," Henry said. His hands slid to my back, and he pulled me closer to him. It was a bit cold and his body was always, oddly, the right temperature. "You know I missed you."

"Really?" I asked. "It's only been like four hours."

"So?" Henry retorted. He leaned down and kissed my neck lightly. "Still missed you."

"Henry..." I said, trying to turn his attention away from my chest. "Henry!" He raised his head and looked at me. "I have to head back. Meg's probably got dinner almost done." Henry whined and dropped his head onto my shoulder. "Hey, dude, think about it-your dad and my uncle probably knew about the cottages being near each other the whole time, but were keeping it a surprise for us. They probably have a day planned where we have dinner together or something." Henry raised an eyebrow. "This leaves one of the cottages empty for hours." He finally got it, then his eyes lit up with the twinkle of mischief. I kissed him again, before turning around and heading back to my cottage.

"Hey, Kris!" Henry called. I turned around and looked at him. "Do you know how to...uh...get back to the road?"

I laughed and led him back to the road before we parted ways.

I GRUMBLED AS I walked around my room, shivering, with a towel wrapped around me. I was angry-no, I was livid-with Henry.

Earlier that day, Henry and I decided to meet on the lakeshore to decide what to do that day. When I finally met him, he was sitting in a beat-up old boat ten feet out in the water. It was a small, green boat that had two paddles and enough room for maybe three or four people and he was dangling his feet in the water like it was just another hot summer day in L.A. I told him he was insane if he thought I was going to walk through that water just to get on a crappy, old boat. Finally, he paddled back to shore.

"You're no fun, princess," he said.

"Oh yeah, then why are you with me?" I joked back.

Then he went too far.

"Because we had a deal-remember,
pet
?" he said with a smirk.

I picked up a wad of leaves and sticks and through them at him, missing horribly.

"I was just joking, baby!" he yelled after me, but I was already storming back to cottage.

To top it off, I fell in the mud on my way back, so I had to take a shower after checking on the food. Now here I was, pacing back and forth in my room trying to decide what to wear and force Henry out of my mind. I settled on a black shirt with a low neckline, along with a pair of white-washed blue jeans.

I put on some of my favorite strawberry flavored lip gloss and black eye liner. I always liked looking nice around people I don't really know. I decided to leave my hair down.

"Kris, our guests are here!" Megan called through the door.

"Okay!" I said and put on a bit of perfume before leaving my room. As the living room came into view, I took notice of the fact that Henry had changed clothes as well. He wore a navy Henley shirt with the sleeves rolled up and gray corduroy pants.

"Hi everybody," I said, bringing attention to myself.

Charles and Diane, Henry's parents, exchanged pleasantries with Megan, Uncle Ethan, and me. Henry didn't even look at me and I felt even angrier at him than before.

Once we sat down for dinner, I refused to look at him all. Luckily for me, he sat next to me instead of across from me, which seemed to be Megan's permanent spot. I played with my stuffing, appetite having been lost due to anger and let the rest of the group chat.

After about five minute, I felt Henry's hand squeeze my knee. I stiffened and shot him an angry look. Smirking, he started moving his fingers over the thin denim, slowly moving his hand up my thigh. Damn Henry, I couldn't do anything without giving it away. He lightly massaged my thigh, which terribly annoyed me in the most enjoyable way.

"So, Henry. How are things?" Megan asked.

"They're just as they always are," he said. "Loads of studying, good friends to laugh with, same stuff, day in, day out."

"Are you good in school, Kristina?" Charles asked me.

"I try, but school can be hard sometimes," I said, trying not to focus on Henry's advances.

"Maybe Henry can help you in some class that you might not be doing well in, he's a great tutor," Diane said.

"That...sounds good," I said as Henry squeezed harder.

"Are you okay?" Megan asked.

I nodded. His hand had now reached even higher. My legs snapped shut and I gasped involuntarily, but not loud enough for the others to hear.

"What do you plan on doing after graduation, Henry?" Uncle Ethan asked.

"I'm not quite sure yet," he said, moving his fingers around.

"Your band is getting pretty well known," Megan said. "Maybe you guys could do that for a living."

"I want Kris to at least go to college," Uncle Ethan interjected.

"Oh yes, they must do that," Charles agreed.

I held my breath as his fingers inched farther up my leg. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and I abruptly stood up.

"What's up?" Uncle Ethan asked.

"I'm finished eating. Henry said he'd show me the cottage. We'd like to see it now if that's okay?"

"Right," Henry said, standing up as well. "If that's okay with you, Dad?"

"Well, alright." Charles said. Uncle Ethan agreed.

I nodded and followed Henry as he turned and left the room.

"Oh, you are so getting it, mister," I said, turning on him once we were in the forest. "You've got a lot of nerve pulling that stunt."

"Just wanted to see how you'd react, love," he said.

I backed him against a tree and pressed up against him. "Let me tell you something, hon," I said. "If you think you're gonna get away with something like that, you've got another thing coming." My face was now only inches from his.

"We'll see about that." He said, then grabbed my hand and began pulling my along the lake toward their cottage.

IT'S AMAZING HOW similar Henry's room in the cottage was to mine. Of course, I didn't have much time to think about it, because as soon as we were in, Henry pinned me to a wall and was kissing deeply.
God, why on earth did Lauren drop him for David?
I thought to myself. Henry was a sensual and skilled, unlike the clumsy and immature David.

Henry moved his mouth down to my neck. His hands on my lower back tugged me closer to his body and I couldn't even dare to refuse him. I was unaware we were moving until I felt the bed behind me. Without even thinking, I sat down, removing my lips from his, and started undoing his belt.

"Kris..." Henry said with a quizzical look in his eyes.

I looked up at him, as I pulled the belt from each loop before tossing it against the wall. My eyes stayed locked on his. It seemed as if Henry was holding his breath. "What is it,
love
?" I asked seductively.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, if it's-"

"Henry..." I cut him off. "...I'm ready."

"Well, I'm just saying if you-"

"Shut up," I whispered then threw him down on the bed.

My eyes stayed locked on his as I popped the button and slowly unzipped his pants. It seemed as if Henry was holding his breath. I slid my fingers through the belt loops, and pulled his pants down. I wasn't surprised to see that he didn't have anything on underneath.

"Looks like I was wrong," I remarked. And boy was I ever wrong! His cock was rather large and thick. I could feel myself getting wetter by the second just thinking about his big cock sliding into me.

I glanced back at Henry's face once more before wrapping my fingers around the length of his erection, slowly moving my hand back and forth. I knew I was killing him with all this slowness, but what can I say? I just love messing with his head. I leaned closer and ran my tongue over the tip of his penis. I glanced at his face again - poor little boy! I decided to be nice and removed my hand, replacing it with my mouth.

"Oh, baby..." I heard Henry mutter. I couldn't help wondering why this wasn't grossing me out, like it did when David had me do it. But no thinking of David now...

I moved his cock slowly in and out of mouth, teasing him with my tongue. As I was really getting into it, Henry suddenly grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away. I frowned and looked up at him. He had a mischievous look on his face, as he pushed me down on the bed, before getting onto it as well, and kissing me again. Then Henry made me sit up, and yanked the shirt over my head, before laying me back down again. I was glad I decided not to wear my bra today.