Page 45 of Third Chances (Men of Manhattan 2)

"Is it okay for us to swim?" I asked and turned back toward the tour guide.

Kristen had already taken off her clothes and was standing in her bikini. "Even if it wasn't, I'd go in anyway." She laughed and joined me on the rocks, being careful not to lose her footing.

"Yes," the tour guide said.

I stripped down to my bikini and dipped my toes into the water. It was chilly, but it felt amazing in the Costa Rican heat.

"Just watch out for crocodiles," the tour guide added.

I immediately pulled my foot of the water. "What?"

Kristen grabbed my hand before I could step back. "It's fine. The water is clear. I don't see any."

Layla grabbed my other hand. "Just don't close your eyes or one might sneak up on you." She winked.

Alina joined Layla on her other side.

"Ready?" Kristen asked, bending her legs, ready to jump into the surely crocodile swarmed water.

"No," I said immediately. But my words were drowned out as they all jumped, pulling me with them. We sunk down into the water. It was way deeper than it looked and it took awhile for my feet to touch the mud at the bottom. I pulled my hands out of Kristen and Layla's and swam to the surface of the water, breaking through the surface and taking a huge breath of air.

Everyone was laughing around me, splashing each other with water. No one else was thinking about the imminent danger. Just me. I swam over toward the rocks to climb out. Momma Bear. God I ha

ted that nickname. If I climbed out right now, they'd surely keep calling me that. I could have fun too. I could let loose. I took a deep breath and submerged back into the water, swimming toward the waterfall.

Before I knew about the dangers, I had wanted to feel the water falling on my head. I'd do that before getting out. Then no one could say anything to me. Plus, I still wanted to do it. It still felt like the waterfall was calling to me. It was the strangest feeling.

I paused at the base of the waterfall and looked up, blinking rapidly to avoid the droplets of water spraying from it. This really was breathtaking. I had stared at waterfalls from a distance, but I had never done anything like this. I closed my eyes and swam closer and closer until the water started falling on the top of my head and shoulders. It was cooler than the pool of water I was swimming in. It felt even more refreshing. I thought the water might hurt, falling so rapidly. But the waterfall was small enough that it felt more like a massage than anything else.

My peace was interrupted by something gripping my arm. Crocodile! I pulled my arm, but it was firmly in the animal's grasp. I opened my mouth to scream, but water fell into my mouth, muting my cries. I didn't feel any pain, probably from the adrenaline coursing through my body. And I was able to briefly think about the fact that sharks hated being hit in the nose. Did crocodiles hate that too? I slammed my fist on top of where the beast was latched onto my arm, aiming for a nose I couldn't see.

"Daphne!"

My name was being called. It was a male voice. Probably the tour guide. It seemed far away from the deafening roar of the waterfall. Too far away to save me. I kicked out, making contact with something solid, probably the crocodile.

"Shit." The same voice said as the crocodile pulled me behind the waterfall toward it's lair of death. I was blind in the darkness.

"Help me!" I screamed, still feeling like I was drowning in the water. I continued to kick and squirm and hit the beast as it pushed my back against slippery rock, away from the cascading water, ready to bite into my flesh.

But I didn't feel teeth. I felt lips brush gently against mine, warm breath on my skin. "It's me. It's just me. It's okay. You're safe."

My heart felt like it was breaking through my ribs as I gasped for air. My eyes still hadn't adjusted from the darkness, but I knew the voice. It wasn't the waterfall calling me toward it. It was him. Had my senses somehow known what I didn't? Had it known he was here, waiting for me? My body wanted him. But my mind was lagging behind.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Rob? You scared me half to death."

He laughed, releasing me from his tight grip, but he kept me sandwiched between his torso and the rocks. "I was trying to surprise you."

"I thought you were a crocodile."

He laughed again. "How? I wasn't biting you. Although, if that's what you're into, I can arrange that."

His words made me shiver. "I thought I was having one of those experiences where you don't feel the pain because your body knows it needs to get out of danger. You know, like when moms can lift cars off their kids."

"Well, I'll certainly have a few bruises from you trying to beat me up."

I didn't react to his jokes. I was having a hard time calming down. "I thought I was going to die." I clutched onto his strong shoulders. He was right. I was safe. Nothing could happen to me when I was being protected by someone so strong. I let my hands slide down to his biceps. It was like my hands had a mind of their own.

"Your heart's beating so fast."

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