Shadow-Land by Heather Parsons (best books to read for teens .txt) 📕

like the day has passed me by." The look he was giving her suggested what I'd said a minute ago. She had to laugh.

"How about this, tonight after whatever Teri has planned for us, we spend the night in each others arms. We can even lock the door just in case." She raised an eyebrow to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Come on before she calls Dean." After that said they both practically ran out of the water, laughing.

Something about holding his hand in hers just felt so right. The simply things in life are the most precious to her. He could tell her anything right now and it wouldn't matter. Just as long as they are together, nothing else matters.

♥`♥`♥

HE couldn't take his eyes off of the beauty that stood before him. She was glowing in the bask of the sun. With his eyes on her, he couldn't see anyone else around and the ring that sat nestled in his pocket of his pants, sang praises to him. Travis would be the luckiest man alive to have her by his side for all eternity.

Being in the water with her so close, pressing against her. Feeling the warmth of her body against his and wanting to be, that much closer. Placing his hands on her back first and then slowly making his way around to her stomach. He would have thought that she would have stopped him from proceeding because they weren't alone but she didn't. And for the love of all things that are wonderful, the feel of her skin under the water was that much more smoother. Even if she wanted to stop him, he don't think he could. Knowing full well what the touch of her skin was doing to him, he moved in that much closer.

He heard her sigh when she placed her head on his chest. Closing his eyes, he moved his hands at different intervals, up and down her stomach. Feeling the need to take her away from here or move her from the view of others. And just as this thought crossed his mind, did he hear Teri's voice calling them.

Opening his eyes again, he saw Sierra turn around. His watch that he was wearing -that he couldn't remember putting on this morning- for some reason, was caught on the material of her top. Unsnapping it and before he had known what happened, it was gone. The material was so small that he didn't even get a chance to see where it had gone.

Travis was looking down at Sierra and knew there would be no way he would let her get out of the water the way she was. He wasn't in the mood to fight anyone if they'd seen her like this. He didn't even want to think about fighting not with Sierra blushing so beautifully in front of him. He knew she was embarrassed but with his quick thinking, he would be able to fix this one. Hopefully. Travis called to Teri to throw him his shirt and when he had finally convinced her that he really needed it. He gave it to Sierra and her suggestion to put in on under the water -was not only amazing to see- but did things to him that he didn't even know how to explain.

When she did stand up, he couldn't keep his eyes off her. The shirt being white and now wet, stuck to her perfectly formed body. Showing off everything. He had to swallow hard before looking her up and down. His mind was screaming at him 'to take her now'. But as much as he wanted to, he couldn't. That would only embarrass her more and her blush was already a deep shade.

They were waist deep in the water and for that he was thankful. What he was sporting didn't need to be seen by anyone else. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her and leaning in. If he had had the chance to kiss her, nothing would have stopped him from taking it further. But again he didn't get the chance, Teri yelled their names, louder this time and he knew if they didn't respond to her that they would be in trouble. Travis would have to listen to her lecture and god forbid he didn't want to hear it.

Hearing Sierra threaten with Dean, he couldn't help but laugh. Running out of the water and to where their towels sat. He grabbed his pants, securing that the ring was still in the pocket and turned to watch the sunset. The colors of red and orange and yellow were the reason he had loved this beach so much. Gold beach is known for it's beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Sitting back down on his towel, he wanted to enjoy this moment with the love of his life. Travis saw she was starring at the same thing he was, "sit with me." Patting the seat in front of him and watching her walk to where he was and sit in between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her and let her rest her head on his chest.

"Travis, it's beautiful." She whispered and hearing her voice only made this beach that much more special. Tilting his head to the side, he looked at her face and saw her lips twitching a little. The smile that was forming, took his breath away. How did he ever live before?

"Your wrong, love." Her eyes nearly popped out of her head, "This place pales in compassion to you." She giggled and tilted her head to look at him. Looking into her eyes, he lost all sense of where he was.

"Travis, Sierra. Come on. Teri is getting upset and you both know how she is when she's like that." Joseph was walking back down the path to where they were sitting. The look on his face, told them that Teri was already upset and prolonging her night would definitely not be wise for anyone.

Sighing deeply, he didn't want to move from where he was. "Fine, we're coming." Travis took one more glance up to see that the sun had already disappeared and all that was left of the sunset was a deep red with clouds hovering around.

He reached out for her hand, feeling it securely in his and walking back to the cars. Teri was standing with her arms crossed but a huge smile on her smile. That right there scared him, what had she planned tonight? But before he had had a chance to ask her, she'd pulled Sierra out of his grip and back to the car. He stood there dumb struck, with his mouth hanging open and questions in his eyes.

"Travis are you going to just stand there or are you going to get changed? And one other thing, do you know what Teri has planned?" He had to turn around to see who had said this because their voice was a little shaky and he would have swore neither one of them had ever been this way, ever. Focusing on their faces now, Travis could clearly see that they were both a little taken back with Teri. Joseph's face probably resembled what his did and Dean's looked like, a child. His back was against the jeep and his eyes were focused on their retreating car.

The girls had pulled their car out of the parking space and out of the lot without anyone of the guys knowing exactly what was happening. The fear that he wouldn't be able to see Sierra's face again tonight had him jumping into the jeep, still wearing just his swimming shorts and practically yelling at the others to move on it. "Joseph, Dean if neither of you know what is happening tonight. Then maybe we shouldn't loss track of the girls."

Feeling the sudden urgency to achieve his goal -the one he had set out to do in the first place- and secured his hand on the pocket of his pants. With a huge grin on his face, Travis knew tonight would be the perfect night. He kept his eyes on the road ahead of the, and very faintly could see the tail lights of their car.

In his mind, Travis was going over how he had liked tonight's events to turn out -praying now that everything would turn out just that way- and knowing full well without knowing exactly what the night's events held, he didn't know if it would turn out that way. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't even know that Dean had received a phone call and was now talking.

"Carmen says for us to go home and change. Our clothes are set out for us to wear and they will call again later to tell us where to go. Whatever that means, I haven't a clue." Dean was starring at his phone and as far as Travis could tell, Carmen had already hung up. Looking between Joseph and Dean and shrugging to what he was saying. It did sound a little weird but knowing Teri -he is hoping they know her well enough- that everything will be explained shortly.

"Let's just go home and change, then we'll find out more." Normally Travis put up a protest about the situation but right now he couldn't focus on that. Dean drove faster than ever to get home, so they could figure this all out.

Once they were home -to his house- they all climbed out and practically ran inside. Running up the stairs to his room, Travis passed by Sierra's and stopped. Looking in the room, he remembered the night they had shared in there. Smiling and rather excited about what tonight held -once in the room, together, alone- at the end of the night.

After closing his eyes for a brief moment and letting his mind wander, Travis stepped away and walked down to his room. The door was slightly open and laying on his bed was a pair of slacks -black in color-, a white button up shirt and a matching jacket to the slacks. Quite impressed with what he was seeing in front of him, Travis quickly shred the swimming trucks and jumped into the shower. Washing his body as effectively and as fast as possible and jumping out just as fast. Grabbing the towel, he dried himself off and headed back into his room. Taking another look at the clothes sitting in front of him, he reached into the pocket of his pants and retrieved the ring box.

Once Travis was dressed and combed his hair, he walked down the hallway to see what the other guys were wearing. Hoping beyond all hope that it was something similar to what Travis was wearing, then he would have to better idea of where they were going.

On his decent down the stairs, Travis caught a glimpse of Joseph and his suit was the same color as his except the shirt was blue. At the bottom of the stairs Travis caught sight of Dean and he