She placed the mug on the chest beside the bed. “Good, then since you’re my best friend, I wish to ask a favor.”
“Anything,” he smiled. “Within reason of course.”
She laughed and shook her head. “What if it’s not reasonable?”
“I’ll consider it but I can’t make any promises.”
She bounced off the bed and took his hand. “Come take a swim with me.”
“You need food and rest,” he argued.
“But I want to take a swim.”
“The water will be—”
“Warm and welcoming,” she finished, and tugged him toward the door.
He stopped abruptly, jolting her to a halt. “Early morning would be better.”
She stood staring at him for a moment, then smiled. “I’ll go myself.”
She was out the door before he could stop her. He stood for a second, cursing her stubbornness, then went after her. She shouldn’t be going off to the river at night by herself. All kinds of danger lurked in the dark.
He had forgotten how swift she was on her feet, and by the time he found her, she had already stripped and entered the water. The partial moon cast a soft glow along the surface of the river, and he watched her swim, her hands and arms skillfully cutting through the water.
She was a vision to behold. Her wet ivory skin glistened in the moonlight and the blond tips of her hair sparkled like stars around her head. She turned, her chest arching as her arms churned in powerful backstrokes, her tight nipples cresting the water just enough to send a flash of heat to his loins.
Join her.
He shot down his wild thought before it could gain momentum. He had no intention of taking advantage of her. She had invited him for a swim, not sex.
Or had she?
Wishful thinking, he told himself. He wanted her, that was a certainty, but he wanted more than just sex from Zia. The more he learned about her, the more interesting and appealing she became, and the more he wanted to know.
She turned again, spotted him and waved for him to join her.
Should he? Was it wise? Could he keep his hands off her?
She bounced along in the river, her persistent wave continuing to urge him to join her.
“Hell,” he muttered, and striped off his clothes.
He hit the water in a run and dove in, coming up not far from Zia. With a few quick strokes he was beside her and speechless. Her wet flesh shimmered like the dew on a blooming white rose and gave her a luscious appeal. His only thought was to touch and taste her.
“Warm and welcoming,” she said.
“What?” he snapped.
“The river is warm and welcoming,” she repeated.
It wasn’t the river he wanted to greet him. He stared at the droplets of water that clung to her lips and thought of licking them off one by one. A quick lick with the tip of his tongue and they’d be gone, and he’d want more.
He played it safe and kept his distance.
“It’s not wise to swim naked with a man.”
“True enough, but you’re a safe man to swim naked with.”
“Why is that?” he asked, not sure if he should be insulted or pleased.
“You’re a practical man I can trust, especially when I’m not being sensible.”
“Like now?” he asked, forcing a smile.
“Precisely. I know you will not do anything improper.” She reached out and patted his shoulder. “You’re a good man.”
“That I am, wife.” His hands shot out and took hold of her waist, dragging her against him.
Their bodies connected with an impact that sent water shooting up between them, and by the time it settled over them, he had his mouth against hers, hot and urgent and looking for more.
She didn’t protest. She returned the kiss with even more fervor.
His hands slid up her midriff until they rested beneath her breasts, and his thumbs began to play against her hard nipples. They felt so good that he had to taste them, and he tore his mouth away as he lifted her up and settled his lips over one nipple at a time.
She dropped her head back with a groan, and it fired his loins to an awful hard ache. He knew if he didn’t stop, if he didn’t put distance between them, that in the next few minutes he would slip inside her and make her his, and permanently.
Passion had quickly consumed both of them, and he could quickly satisfy it, but he wasn’t looking to give Zia a quick romp in the river. He wanted something more with her, something that would last their entire lives and always remain special to them.
He didn’t want only sex with her; he wanted love.
He eased her back down into the water, not daring to let her flesh meet his, and pressed his wet cheek to hers. “Another time, another place, and I’ll make you mine.”