Tetris in Red

28: Tetris in the Depths

28: Tetris in the Depths

Rhys

I look up at Alec as he lays above me. The sea sloshes onto our skin as if we aren't there.

And the only thing in my mind at that moment is that: Time really freezes like what is portrayed in movies when you fall.

But in my case, it's not because I'm enamored by him. I'm frozen in my spot because tiny grains of sand infiltrated my lungs when we dropped down. They tickle my nose and my throat feels like that of an allergy.

It feels tight and itchy that it's a struggle not to cough so I won't let it out to Alec's face. My face is flushing furiously. Alec finally notices, though, and he moves from above me to my side. That was so not how I imagined being under Alec for the first time. "Are you okay? What happened?"

I clear my throat, massaging it. "Sand in my throat. Totally okay," I say in a high-pitched voice.

"Jesus. Come on," Alec pulls both of my hands to help me stand up. A fit of vigorous, forced coughs leaves me while he rubs my back. "You have such a vulnerable throat. Allergies and now this."

"Please, don't remind me." I breathe in. "That tops the most embarrassing things that ever happened in my life."

"Sorry." He chuckles. The audacity. "You alive? Let's go swim."

"Sure, you go. I'll just try to settle down."

Another chuckle. "All right, love. I'll wait for you there." He winks, before diving into the waves

Oh, gods... Why am I suddenly melting? Maybe it's the sun?

x.x.x

A cold breeze blows past us as we sit just a foot where the water meets the shore. It still reaches and buries our toes, before retreating back again. The sun is setting now,  the sky painted a gradient of orange and purple as it meets the ocean.

I look at Alec who's squinting to the distance, his skin a deeper tan from the swimming we've done all afternoon. I have tan lines on mine, too, that are more prominent against the paleness of my skin.

We look like an 80's couple, I can't help but grab my phone. He had gone back to the house an hour after we left to grab some food and other necessities. I guess he's still worried that he'll miss some rockstar thing despite his casual indifference earlier. "Let's take a picture. Can we move a little bit so our whole body will be captured?"

He gives me a slight grin and moves back. "This okay?"

"Hold on."

I position my camera against my purse and set a timer. I then go back to my place beside Alec. His hands immediately finding my waist before grabbing me to him. My heart flutters, goosebumps rise as he caresses my skin. I swallow. "We are on three, love. Look at the camera," he whispers, his voice a tone deeper.

I try my best signature bored face while ignoring his touch. Alec snatches my phone before I can. "Looks good. One more?"

"S-Sure, okay."

He places them back on its position and goes back to my side. Alec surprises me when he puts me between his legs as if I weigh nothing. "What are you doing?"

"New position."

"Alec..."

"Click the shutter button," he says. I pause, frowning. "Click it now, love."

With slight frustration that he's commanding me more than telling me, I click it. His arms come around me as I get back, his lips an inch from my ears. "Smile."

I don't. I earn a chuckle as he looks at our shot again. "Thought your feisty side was just a stranger phase, but it's really your thing."

"Yes." I lean back to look at him. A sweet smile graces his face as he studies our photos, his gray eyes almost white against the orange glow of the sunset. My voice lowers, "I don't like anyone telling me what to do."

"I know." He sets my phone down and focuses his gaze on me. My body still caged in his arms. "Tetris..."

"It's Rhys."

His face turns sobers, all traces of that boyish grin gone. "Remember those lyrics I wrote on your back?"

"The one you told me before you asked me to be your PR?" I haven't said yes to that.

He laughs lowly, the sound traveling all the way to my toes. "Yes, love. This time around though," he begins, his voice husky. A part of me has always known that those lyrics are about me, but I thought it was written from the heat of the moment and not something he has always thought about. I have never been more wrong as he says, "I not only want my hands painted with red, I want a taste of it, too."

Before I can react, Alec grabs the back of my head and presses his lips against mine. I freeze in surprise, but it's not too long before my body loosens, eyes fluttering close and my mouth opening on its own accord. His lips are warm and tasted of sea salt.

I imagine Alec's kiss as soft but demanding, like his personality. But this kiss, it's tentative, exploring yet fiery at the same time. As if he's still holding back and grasping on what I like before gradually submerging us into the depths of pure feverish passion.

His hands begin wandering, caressing my back, the sides of my waist and down to my legs. My own hands delving into his messy hair. Our moans and grunts lost on the sound of the waves crashing against each other. Then, that strange buzz, that buzz I haven't felt for a long time starts to sing everywhere his touches go.

Soon, we break apart, my forehead rests against his as we both come up for air.

My eyes open.

His own looks up at me, a grin like that of a devil slowly growing on his face. "Oh, my god. What did we do, Red?"

—

oof. that really happened, didn't it?