Page 13 of Whispering Waves

He smiled. “So that I can share the warmth with you.”

“That’s cheezie.”

“Yes, but true. The body heat doesn’t normally manifest.” He smiled down at her. “So, a swim?”

“Sure. Either that, or I lick the salt off you, and that might raise my blood pressure.”

His eyes flared, and he wrapped his arms around her, walking her into the water, and as the cool rush wrapped around them, he kept his grip. He kicked away from whatever he was standing on and floated with her in the cool water.

Nina floated, resting on his chest, and she chuckled. “Clever.”

He smiled. “I am guessing a slow seduction is preferable.”

She nodded. “You are right. It is preferable. What do you consider slow?”

“Three days?”

She blinked. “Seriously?”

“Well, when the storm hits, I would like you in my bed so that we can weather it together.”

Nina stared at him, and Kimo floated, kicking idly. “How do you float?”

“What?”

“Your muscle mass should give you neutral buoyancy. So, how do you float?”

“The water lifts me.”

“Oh. Handy.”

“It has never been as useful as it is right now.” He stroked a hand down her back. “So, I am going to be making concerted efforts to get you out of this suit.”

“Good to know. So, did I pass competency with the scuba stuff?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Not enough to satisfy me. So, you will just have to stay with me and practice tomorrow. We will go into open water, and I will test your competency.”

She huffed and pressed her forehead to his chest. “I thought I did well today. I guess, if I am not good at it, I should give up.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I think I just fucked myself over.”

“Yes, you did. You can say I am competent, but you don’t trust the guys to keep an eye out for me.”

“Yes, that. What you just said.” He smiled ruefully.

She chuckled. They floated like that for a few more minutes, and she eventually said, “Okay, I want to try swimming.”

He let her go, and she swam a few feet away. She carefully tipped her head back and rinsed the salt out of her hair.

He leaned over her, and a flashback hit her. Hands holding her under, fresh water streaming into her lungs until she died. She kicked and clawed at him, sobbing and shrieking. Nina hit him over and over until he pulled her out of the water and held her on his lap until she calmed.

Spots sparked behind her eyes, and breath sawed in and out of her lungs. When she relaxed and her breathing eased, he stroked her jaw. She croaked an apology. “Sorry. That... happens.”

“It was when my shadow crossed you, wasn’t it?”

She nodded. “I can go under freshwater, but it has to be face-first. That was just a test. I failed.”

“You didn’t fight me, you were fighting yourself.”

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