Free Azure (Drowning In You) by Chrystalla Thoma Page A

him walk back up to the car, her hand clenching on nothing.
    Pull yourself together or he’ll think he ruined the day.
    She splashed in the shallows, colorful pebbles in the water catching her attention. She bent over, gathering a few in her palm. They shimmered, polished smooth and veined with different minerals. From the corner of her eye she saw his tall form descend once more to the beach and her heart settled into a gentler rhythm.
    When had she gone from trying to make him laugh to making sure he wouldn’t vanish into the sea?
    He left their bags in the shade of a tree and sank next to them, leaning against the rocky cliff and spreading his long legs, crossing them at the ankles. He was looking at her, head tilted to the side, dark hair grazing his brows.
    The pebbles fell from her hand. Her feet moved, taking her toward him, her skin warm from his gaze. She dropped to sit next to him, hugging her knees. He watched her under lowered lashes that hid his eyes.
    She opened her mouth to say something, break the tension, but nothing came to mind. She turned to their bags, rummaged inside. “Want a juice?” she stammered.
    He nodded, took the proffered can but made no move to open it. “You’re very white,” he finally said.
    She winced, glancing down at her pasty skin. “I was in Germany for six months. Haven’t seen the sun in a while.” Unlike him. His skin was like caramel.
    “You should be careful not to get sunburned. Did you bring sunscreen with you?”  
    “Yeah.” It hadn’t been an insult or anything. She relaxed.
    “You should use it now. The shade won’t protect you and your friends will be pissed if I take you back red as a tomato.”
    Lovely image. And more food comparisons . Shuddering, she pulled out the sun lotion and spread some of the coconut-scented cream on her face.
    “You left a spot here,” he said, pointing to her chin, and she rubbed at it viciously.
    Very sexy, having spots of white cream on your face. She poured more cream and applied it behind her neck, under her hair. Ugh, she was getting all sticky.
    “You should spread it evenly,” he said, “otherwise you’ll have white and red stripes. I see it happen all the time, trust me.”
    “I know.” The striped lobster effect. So sexy. She pulled off her blouse, making sure her bikini top was in place, and poured more lotion.
    “I could help you,” he said, his voice going breathy and low.
    It made her look up. His cheekbones were flushed, his eyes so dark they seemed to swallow the light. Under her gaze, he shifted uncomfortably and ducked his head.
    She passed him the sun lotion and turned around. For a moment nothing happened and she held her breath. Then his fingers touched her back, an intimate caress. They were a bit rough, then the pressure gentled and they rubbed in circles, cool with lotion. He flicked her long hair over her shoulder and the breeze kissed her back.
    A pause, then both his hands were on her, moving in symmetry, from her neck to her shoulder blades, then lower, under the strap of her bikini, over her ribs and to the small of her back. She shivered and his breath hitched. He moved closer, the warmth of his body wafting on her exposed skin.
    Then he moved away. “There, all done,” he said gruffly and she turned to find him looking at the sea, a knee drawn up to his chest, his hands smeared with the lotion.
    “Thank you.” She took the lotion and spread more on her chest and arms. His eyes flickered back at her, then focused again straight ahead.
    “Do you live in Germany ?” he asked.
    “No, I was in an exchange program. I was in college in Vermont , but now I want to move to New York City . The paperwork has been horrible, but it looks like I may get the transfer.” She shrugged. It would be a chance to meet different people, forget about the past. “But sometimes I think I should stay in Vermont .” And pay for what I’ve done.
    “I like New York ,” he said. “The galleries and the