Page 156 of Wisteria and Cloves

“Here," Nicolaus said, moving closer. "Let me help you." His hands were gentle as they supported my back, barely touching but providing just enough guidance to keep me afloat. "Relax your neck. Let your head rest in the water. That's it."

I focused on his voice, on the steady pressure of his hands, and gradually felt myself becoming more buoyant. The water cradled me, cool against my heated skin, while the morning sun warmed my face. Above me, the sky was a canvas of pinks and golds, clouds catching fire at their edges as dawn fully broke.

"I'm floating," I whispered, afraid that speaking too loudly might break the spell.

"You are," Nicolaus confirmed, his voice close to my ear. "Now close your eyes. Feel the water supporting you. Nothing to do but exist in this moment."

I obeyed, letting my eyes drift shut. The world narrowed to sensation—the gentle lapping of water against my skin, the distant call of morning birds, the faint scent of pine and clean water. Time seemed to suspend as I floated, all my usual worries dissolving into the stillness of the moment.

"This is what it feels like," Nicolaus said softly, his voice a gentle anchor in the peaceful void. "This is what I wanted to share with you."

I opened my eyes to find him watching me, his expression more open than I'd ever seen it. The carefully constructed walls he maintained had lowered, revealing something raw and honest beneath.

"Thank you," I whispered, letting my feet find the bottom again. "I understand now." He nodded, satisfaction evident in the relaxed set of his shoulders.

"What about you?" I asked, moving closer to him through the water. "Show me how you really swim. Not for competition or training, but for yourself."

Nicolaus's eyes lit up with something I'd never seen before—pure joy. Without warning, he dove beneath the surface, and I watched as he moved through the water with liquid grace. His body undulated with perfect rhythm, each stroke a masterpiece of controlled power. He swam in a wide circle around me, sometimes diving deep enough that I lost sight of him in the golden depths, only to surface yards away with barely a ripple.

When he finally returned to me, his breathing was steady despite the exertion. Water droplets clung to his dark lashes, and his smile was unguarded in a way that made my heart skip.

"Your turn," he said, reaching for my hand. "Don't think about technique. Just move."

I let him guide me through the water, his hand warm and steady around mine. At first, my movements were awkward and splashing, nothing like his fluid grace. But gradually, as I stopped trying to remember the rigid lessons of my youth and simply let my body respond to the water, something shifted.

"That's it," Nicolaus murmured, his voice carrying approval that made warmth bloom in my chest. "Feel the water, don't fight it."

I found myself moving with more confidence, my strokes becoming longer and more natural. The water felt different now—not like an obstacle to overcome, but like a medium to explore. When I finally stopped and treaded water beside him, I was breathing hard but exhilarated.

"I did it," I said, unable to keep the wonder from my voice. "I actually swam."

"You did. Good job," Nicolaus said, his eyes heated as he looked at me, something flickered in his gaze, pride mingled with something deeper. He swam closer, his movements fluid and purposeful. The water rippled between us, sunlight dancing across the surface in dappled patterns.

"You're a natural," he said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of wet hair from my face. His touch lingered, fingers trailing along my cheek with deliberate care. "Once you stopped trying to be perfect."

I laughed, treading water as I tilted my face toward the warming sun. "That seems to be the lesson I keep learning with all of you."

"Some lessons bear repeating," Nicolaus murmured, his voice carrying a depth of meaning that made my heart flutter. The morning light caught in his dark eyes, turning them to amber as he watched me. "Especially when they're important ones.”

I nodded, he was right. I let myself relax in the water as we watched the sunrise fully come up, a smile on both of our lips as we relaxed in one another’s presence.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Lilianna

The sun had fully risen now, painting the cove in golden light that danced across the water's surface. Nicolaus's gaze had grown more intense with each passing moment, his eyes tracking my movements through the water with a hunger that was becoming harder to disguise.

"We should probably head back to shore," he said finally, his voice carrying a roughness I hadn't heard before. "The temperature will start rising soon, and we have the second part of our day to consider."

I nodded, though part of me was reluctant to leave this magical space where time seemed suspended and the world consisted only of water, light, and the two of us. Nicolaus led the way back to the dock, swimming with those powerful, economical strokes that made it look effortless.

He reached the ladder first and climbed out in one fluid motion, water cascading down his body as he stood silhouettedagainst the golden sky. I followed more carefully, accepting his steadying hand as I climbed the wooden rungs. The morning air felt cool against my wet skin, raising goosebumps that had nothing to do with temperature.

"Here," Nicolaus said, wrapping a large, soft towel around my shoulders. His hands lingered at the edges of the fabric, his touch burning through the terry cloth. "Better?"

I nodded, suddenly aware of how close we were standing. Water dripped from his hair onto his shoulders, and I found myself tracing the path of the droplets with my eyes—down his neck, across his collarbone, over the defined muscles of his chest. When I looked up, his eyes were dark with something that made my breath catch.

"Lilianna," he said softly, my name a warning and invitation all at once.

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