Page 36 of Depths of Destruction
He pulls back. "You're lying in mud."
"I am?"
His eyes twinkle in the darkness of the cave. "Yeah."
"Oh."
He sits up and slides to the edge of the rock then jumps in the water. "Get in and hold on to me, Naomi."
I obey him and cling to his shoulders, melting into his flesh once again.
He dips my bottoms in the water along with his underwear, which came off at some point, then throws them back on the ledge.
The water is warm, but his body is warmer. The jutting of the ledge creates a calm area. The current isn't rushing through it, and he keeps us safely there.
"Did you get your adrenaline rush?" I tease him.
He grins. "It's on the top of my list."
I suddenly feel a bit shy. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He kisses me again.
My ego soars to the sky. I hungrily return his affection with my heart pitter-pattering and my body throbbing some more.
How can a man make me feel this good?
I shudder in his arms.
"Are you cold?"
"No."
His lips twitch, and he tightens his embrace. "I think we should ride down to the end of the cave then set up camp."
"Okay."
He tucks my hair behind my ear and pecks me on the forehead then props me up on the ledge. He gets in the tube.
"You're riding naked?" I ask.
"Yep."
Stay naked forever if you want. I won't object.
I untie my top. It's hanging off me. I clutch it, along with my bottoms, and his underwear, then stuff them in the backpack before closing it back up.
He cockily pats his leg for me to get on.
I lie in his arms, and he caresses my back. The river takes us farther into the cave. A screeching, pecking sound suddenly fills the air.
"What is that?" I whisper and snuggle closer to him.
He kisses the top of my head and pretzels his other arm and legs around me. "Bats."
My heart races faster. We stay silent, our breath and heartbeats the only sound, and drift through the cave. It takes about a half hour. When we finally get to the opening, I sigh in relief.
Andre paddles us to the edge. We get off the tube and onto dry land.
