Page 20 of Restoration

“I know. Ugh. If I didn’t have that sunscreen, I’d have first-degree burns all over my body now.”

Edmund pulled the tub over earlier, so I reach into it and grab the towels. There are four of them, which is incredibly helpful. I drape them over our makeshift shelter so they can dry out in the sun.

“I don’t know about you,” Edmund says, pulling off his T-shirt, which used to be white but is now a dingy tan color from dirt and sweat and sand. “But I’m going to go cool off in the ocean since we’ve got water and shelter and protein bars, so we’re probably okay to rest for a while.”

I think about it for a few seconds and realize he’s right. I’ll feel better getting in the water—even if it’s salty ocean water. I pull off my loose, thin top since I have a tank top on underneath it.

Then I stare as Edmund blithely pulls off his shorts, standing right in front of me in only a pair of gray boxer briefs.

His body is lean and firm and very nicely formed. I have to fight not to peek at the outline of a shape at his groin. He’s not aroused of course, but I can definitely seesomethingthere.

He doesn’t appear a bit self-conscious or even aware that I’m a female in the vicinity of his mostly naked body. He starts walking in long strides toward the water.

I hesitate for only a moment before I pull off my shorts too. I’m wearing my panties, bra, and tank top, so I’m more covered than Edmund is.

He doesn’t think of me as a desirable woman anyway, so it won’t matter what I’m wearing. He dates models and TV stars and gorgeous, lithe beauties.

He’s not going to see anything he’s interested in with me.

With this clear in my mind, I follow him down the beach and start wading into the waves.

It’s cool but not cold, and it feels wonderful after the heat of the sun and all that exertion.

Edmund is already farther out, leaning back to submerge his whole head in the water. I have a brief thought about sharks or jellyfish or other nasties that might be lurking in the ocean depths.

I’ve gotten in the water countless times at other beaches. This one is probably fine too.

I wade out until the water is about chest level since I’d like to keep my body underwater. Edmund is swimming a leisurely backstroke. I do a kind of half hop, half flail to keep my head above water despite the moderate waves coming in.

I feel better. Cooler. More like myself and not like some stressed stranger who has walked into the pages ofRobinson CrusoeorThe Swiss Family Robinson.

Edmund and I could be at a beach anywhere in the world, simply having fun.

The mental gymnastics work for a while, so I’m more relaxed when I finally get tired and trudge through the water back up to the shore.

Edmund is still swimming, so he’s not watching me, which is a good thing since my tank and underwear are transparent and pasted to my body.

I’ve got big boobs, wide hips, and a round butt, so there’s a lot to be seen right now if he happens to be looking.

But he doesn’t see me that way, which should be a good thing since he’s been my employer for six years. It would be highly inappropriate if he’d been lusting after me all this time.

He’s kind of a wastrel, but he’s a good guy at heart, and he’s never treated people like objects. It’s one of the things I like about him, so I can hardly be disappointed that he’s not interested in taking a look.

I return to our shelter and use one of the towels to dry off. It isn’t fully dry, but it’s better than nothing. Then I take off my bra since it feels like a vise around my boobs and pull on my loose top instead. It’s long enough to cover my hips and panties.

I spread the towel out on the sand in the shade nearby and lie down on it, feeling cooler. Exhausted. And weirdly shaky.

I close my eyes and might actually have dozed off when Edmund’s voice startles me.

“You really should eat something.”

I blink. As odd as it sounds, I actually forgot about food until this very moment. My stomach is so rumbly from nerves that I didn’t even notice any hunger pangs. “Oh. Yeah. I guess we should.”

He’s opening a box of protein bars, and he throws me one. He spreads his towel out next to mine and sits on it in just his damp boxers.

We eat our small lunch in silence.

When we’re done, we go drink some water from the stream and then return to our towels.

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