Page 19 of Navigating Lexie

Lexie

Lexie’smindwaswhirling in a sea of confusion as she and Nav walked just inches apart toward the restaurant for dinner. While she knew it was good for them to hash out their past together, the conversation left her feeling odd. Her feelings for Nav had always been complicated, made worse when he left her life. She truly loved Oliver and was feeling a pang of guilt because she was starting to remember the way Nav used to liven her soul. She didn’t want to feel that way for any other man again, despite knowing Oliver would always give his blessing from above. Ollie had encouraged Lexie on several occasions to reach out to Nav through the course of their relationship, but Lexie never did because she didn’t feel it was appropriate. Ollie’s approach to their relationship gave her the permission she needed to carry her love for him with her for the rest of her life. It gave her permission to keep her heart open for something new but wasn’t sure she was ready to dive in with someone new...or old.

As they approached the restaurant, Lexie was struck by the beauty of the views around them. The restaurant was elevated above the water and the sea breeze was blowing through the open patio. She spotted their friends at a large table near the railing of the patio. They walked in unison toward the boisterous group.

Kennedy stood and waved Lexie over, patting the empty chair next to her. The girls were all sitting at one end with the guys at the other. She was relieved to know she’d get some girl time today before everyone paired off again because that would only mean more serious conversations she wasn’t ready to have with Nav.

Kennedy leaned in close enough for Lexie to feel her warm breath brush against her neck. “So, I see that you are both still alive.”

Lexie laughed and narrowed her eyes at the girls around the table, who were all leaning in, eager for details. “Yes, we are.”

Avanna leaned across the table toward Lexie. “Sorry about making you two pair off. I hope it wasn’t too bad.”

Lexie looked around the table and smiled at her friends. “No, it was okay. We had a much-needed talk.”

As the girls settled back into their seats, Lexie let her mind wander off. For some reason, her thoughts were continually pulled to the night of high school graduation. Lexie and Nav had been seeing each other for about two years, but still hadn’t spoken the words to one another explaining what their relationship was and Lexie was fine with it. Those that knew them always referred to them as boyfriend and girlfriend and neither ever corrected anyone, which led Lexie to believe it was real for both of them. She was just so wrapped up in Nav, that it didn’t occur to her to ask for a label until their relationship followed them to college. But that night, Lexie and Nav found themselves at one of the local party houses. It was the first real party Lexie had been able to attend, her parents finally loosening up the chain they had on her life. She hadn’t ever had much of a desire to go to the parties held by her classmates because she didn’t have many friends outside of Nav and for the most part, they lived in two very different worlds. But that night she was able to convince her parents she was spending the night with a classmate, Lyla Gould. Lyla picked her up from her house and they rode together to the after-graduation party where Lexie quickly united with Nav, leaving Lyla with her boyfriend. Nav brought her around his friends plenty of times, but it seemed different that night as he wrapped his arm around her protectively for the majority of the night.

They navigated through the party with Nav occasionally stopping to introduce her to friends and refill their drinks. By midnight, they had found their way to the backyard, which was up and away from the sandy beach below. Nav pulled her hand insisting she follow him and she hesitantly agreed as he walked to the very edge of the property and began to descend down the side of the small cliff. He grabbed her hands and helped her navigate through the rocks, her vans slipping against the uneven rocks in the pure darkness. She could hear the music from the party fading behind them as they got to the base of the cliff. Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light as the moon and stars were reflecting lightly on the dark waters ahead and the sand was shifting slightly beneath her feet. The sound of the waves lightly lapping at the shores mixed with the faint sounds of the party behind her worked together to calm the raging thoughts bubbling in her mind.

Nav had reached his hands around her from behind, swaying gently with her to the rhythm of the water around them. She leaned her head back against his strong chest and his long hair tickled against her forehead. She spun herself to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her hands up into the back of his hair and rubbing lightly at the base of his neck. He was close enough that she could see the moon reflecting in his eyes, but their appearances were muddied by the dark sky around them. She reached on her tiptoes and extended her body toward his, brushing her lips against his. He responded intensely as he wrapped his hands around her back. Her dress shifted and the cool sea breeze brushed against her bare cheek sticking out from under her dress, now exposed. Nav took the opportunity to slip his hands under her dress, rubbing his rough hands against the smooth skin of her back. She let out a sigh of pleasure as the fire in her face grew. She felt herself lose footing, but Nav quickly reciprocated by lifting her into his arms and lowering himself to his knees. He removed his lips from hers and gently laid her on the sandy beach below them. She could hardly feel the rough sand against her back, losing herself in the moment with Nav. They let their lust take over as he lowered himself toward her, resting his lips on hers again, this time with matched urgency.

Lexie felt the heat radiating from Nav and could see the passion burning in his eyes. His hands slid underneath her dress, brushing against her inner thigh. A slight gasp released from Lexie’s lips as he slid across the top of the thong she was wearing. His hands lingered along her sides before draping lightly over her bra. Lexie responded by reaching her hands down to the base of Nav’s shirt, pulling it up, desperate for their skin to touch. Their lips separated as he sat up on his knees to finish taking it off for her. He sat gazing at Lexie below him for a moment before lowering himself down and pressing his bare chest against her. The weight of his body on top of hers fogged her mind and she lost herself in the moment. Nav’s lips kissed along the side of her neck and a slight moan released from her lips as a tingle spread from her head to the butterflies swirling in her stomach. She pushed against him and he pulled his body apart from hers, rolling onto his back and allowing her to take over. She resumed the position Nav had previously been in and gazed down at the body beneath her. The ridges of Nav’s abs were glowing against the light of the moon. He was resting his head on his arms as he nibbled on his bottom lip. He watched intently as she pulled her dress up and over her head, exposing the matching bra she wore beneath. A smile crested across Nav’s face as she lowered herself against him, their skin igniting flames in the dark. She leaned her head to the side of his neck and he whispered into her ear three little words that set her world on fire.

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