It was already mid-August and the days were hot, even in the mountains. Harry and I didn't want to be cooped up inside just to enjoy the air conditioning, so when we spent time outside, we often went swimming.

The pool was always a safe bet with its controlled temperature and smooth bottom, but one afternoon, the rocky inlet shore beckoned us like no other. We dove in after lunch and spent hours playing and frolicking between the stones and fallen trees. We had swam up and down the inlet on a regular basis, once I was confident in his swimming abilities, and today we decided to race from a dead tree at the northeast end back to a large flat stone that jutted out of the water about five yards from the shore. We sat there often, bathing in the sun's rays but today it would be our finish line.

We swam slowly up to the starting point, egging each other on.

"No way you'll beat me," I gloated. "I was captain of the swim team in high school."

"But I...I've been sww...swimming here all my life," he said and stuck his tongue out at me.

"Very mature, Mr. Styles," I giggled at him.

"Y..you started it," he said and rushed ahead to reach the tree first.

"The race hasn't started yet," I said as I approached him. "You should save your energy."

I let Harry signal the beginning of the race. He counted down and I watched his eyes nervously darting between me and the goal. "Three...two...one!"

We took off, swimming our best but Harry was truly a better swimmer than me, even though I really had been the team captain in high school. His body was long and lean and it probably helped that his arms were almost twice as long as mine. He was aerodynamic, sailing through the crystalline water like a fish.

I kept up with him fairly well but couldn't quite pass. As we neared the rock, the ground rose up to meet us and we both took advantage of the rocky bottom to propel ourselves towards the finish. When we were just a few feet away, I jumped forward and pushed his shoulder slightly, saying, "Careful! Don't slip, Harry. Don't fall!"

It became a battle between us, trying to keep the other one from reaching the rock, his arms grabbing at mine, trying to stop me from pushing him, my feet kicking at his to make him fall into the water, which he eventually did, and I plummeted after him. We wrestled against each other to stand up, holding on to the crook in each other's arms. We righted ourselves, still holding on to each other and laughing and when I looked up, I froze in absolute awe.

I didn't see Harry, the little boy hiding in a man's skin. I saw a man with broad shoulders, defined collarbones, and muscular biceps. I saw a man who was funny and smart and tender-hearted, not to mention absolutely beautiful. His smile could light up the entire northern sky and his eyes were brilliantly clear and bright. My breath caught in my throat as I saw him like this for the first time, not as my student but as my equal.

He caught my stare and held it, both of us searching deep for some kind of explanation in each other's eyes for what was happening between us in that moment. I just stood there and blinked like an idiot, completely tongue-tied, still holding his arms for support.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked in a slow, sweet drawl, again the voice of a grown man and not a stuttering child.

What was the matter with me? I wanted to just stand there suspended in time and not return to the reality where I was his nanny. I wanted this.

Or something just like this.

I shook my head and cleared my thoughts. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." I looked at the rock and then back up at him as he towered over me. "Should we call it a tie?"

"Sure," he answered. "As long as you admit I would have won."

My jaw dropped open and I let out the loudest cackle of laughter. "Are you serious right now? Where did you learn that cheekiness?"

He shrugged and then dove for the rock. "Can't handle the truth? Then I win."

I rushed after him, attempting to throw him back into the water but he grabbed my wrists and thwarted me. I tugged away from him quickly and got out of the water.

As I dried off on the patio, Harry caught up with me. "Are...are you sure you're okay? You...you're acting kind of strange."

I smiled again, this time in a much more genuine way because he was such a sweetheart. "I'm really fine, Harry. Just thinking about some things, I guess."

"Okay," he said. "Y..you can talk to me...you know...if..f...if you want to."

Damn I wanted to hug him, mostly because he was so sweet but also because I kind of wanted to hug him and feel his bare skin.

Jules, you flipping weirdo, what's gotten into you? I scolded myself.

"Yeah, sure. I'll talk to you about it some time," I told him. "I'm okay for now though. Really."

We went inside and got dressed, and for the rest of the day, I tried to figure out why the hell I had such a reaction to him. Suddenly my gut was turning things against me and I couldn't figure it out.

Maybe I was going a little stir crazy and I needed some more time off. I'd only taken two personal days and I'd been on the job 24/7 for ten weeks. As much as I loved being here with Harry, that was enough to drive anyone a little bonkers.

And, to be honest, it had been far too long since I'd been properly fucked.

But I didn't see a way to remedy that situation any time soon unless I wanted to head out for a night and hook up with some random dude at the bar. That wasn't exactly my speed, though. I could order some sex toys and take care of things myself. But gosh, I  hope I didn't have any more flashes of that...feeling...towards Harry. He was a minor. And he was six years younger than me. And he was...Harry.

To make matters worse, Harry wanted to do some star-gazing that night. We had spent some time looking up constellations and other galaxies online. We had also spotted some of the constellations with the naked eye, one of the benefits of living so far from civilization. But this was our first chance to use his new telescope.

We got it set up and Harry took the first peek. He breathed heavily while searching and viewing. I could hear the movement of his chest, rising up and down with his breathing. In the dim light, I could make out his jaw line. Why did he have to be so damn attractive? Couldn't he just be ugly and pimply?

"Jules, look," he cooed softly. "I can see Orion."

"Really? Let me see."

The night was so peaceful and quiet, it seemed like it would be insulting to raise our voices above a whisper. I stepped in front of the telescope and Harry, in his excitement, stayed planted directly behind me, much to my detriment.

I huffed out a pant of frustration, feeling him pressing on me from behind. I tried to focus on the...what was it he said he saw? I couldn't even think straight. All I wanted was to stand up and turn around and throw my arms around him.

I was going crazy. That's the only explanation. I had never, and I mean never, thought of a minor in such a way and I certainly would never take advantage of someone in Harry's situation. I really just needed a vacation, I told myself.

I spent several minutes pretending I was looking at something but my mind and my heart were in race to see which could make me pass out first. I finally pulled away and stuttered, "Y...yeah, it's really cool, Harry."

Harry astounded me with his powerful intuition. "Jules, why are you acting weird?"

I turned around and looked up into his sweet face, outlined by the most brilliant stars in our galaxy and my breath caught in my throat. God, no, this couldn't be happening to me. I was being a total cougar and a cradle robber and pervert and a fucking pedophile and about a hundred other things all at once. But he was spectacular, all of him.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm just working through some things."

"Did I make you mad? Did I do something wrong?" He asked, suddenly concerned.

"No, not at all. Really. I've just got some things on my mind." I grabbed both of his hands and squeezed. "Really. You haven't done anything to upset me. In fact, you're pretty awesome," I told him.

"Thanks," he said, a shy grin taking over his face, causing that unforgettable dimple to crease. Then he pulled me into a hug with the confidence of a Hollywood leading man. It was strange, my face pressed against his chest, I could practically hear his heart thumping, matching the beat of mine. "I'm glad you're here, Jules," he said, and I heard him not only through his words but through the vibrations in his body.

What was happening? I was enjoying this, like a lot. Like getting kind of fluttery and lightheaded...but no, I couldn't think of Harry that way. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I pulled away abruptly and gave him the most sincere smile I could. "I'm happy, too, Harry."

So much for not wanting to confuse him.

I was confusing myself.

* * * * *

So, how are you feeling about these developments? ;)