Free Desire Unleashed by Layne Macadam

out. A hare’s breath later, Liz laughingly came up beside him shaking the salty water from her hair. It was evident she was a strong swimmer as she had reached him easily.
    “Not bad for a girl,” he praised.
    “Ha, how about I race you to the pontoon?” she challenged, pointing to the floating platform about one hundred and thirty yards farther out.
    “Just say the word Red,” he teased.
    “Go.”
    Liz started and struck out through the water catching him unawares. The small head start she gained was no advantage as he caught up and adjusted his stroke to keep pace with her. Stroke for stroke, he matched her over the distance, level-pegging her all the way and only increasing his speed over the last twenty yards to touch the pontoon ahead of her.
    “What kept you, Red?” he taunted as she came up alongside him panting.
    “Showoff,” she accused, thrusting out her tongue in a most unladylike manner.
    He laughed at her antics as he hoisted his ass onto the platform and reached down for her hand. “Like I said before Red, not bad for a girl.”
    They sat without speaking, dangling their legs over the edge of the bobbing platform, the salt water glistening on their skin, an easy camaraderie between them.
    “Kathy’s a good cook,” he broke the silence.
    “Yes she is—you caught me. I fibbed about my culinary skills, can’t cook at all.”
    “I enjoyed the evening immensely, except for the phone call of course, what was that about?”
    “Kathy admitted that they started over a week ago. At first she dismissed them as prank calls, but there was that one last night, another at midnight on Thursday, and another before we left this morning. She said he started out as a heavy breather, but now he’s declaring that they have a future together, that she’s his destiny. To tell the truth, I’m a bit concerned leaving her alone, she doesn’t really know anyone here yet.”
    Hearing what Liz had to say put a different spin on things. “She knows me now, I’m away a bit, but while I’m around I’ll look out for her.” He scanned the water trying to spot where she was as he spoke.
    Liz pointed to the shore. “I told you last night she can’t swim.”
    “Seriously, I thought you were joking.”
    “I was joking when I suggested you teach her to swim, because there’s no way that will happen, you’ll be lucky to get her out past her knees.”
    Ice enjoyed a good challenge and lithely got to his feet. “We’ll see about that shall we?”
    “Don’t bully her,” Liz warned.
    “Never.” He laughed and executed a perfect dive off the pontoon. Slicing through the water like a porpoise, he swam toward the shoreline and Kathy. She had her back to the horizon, frolicking in the cool shallows with the gentle waves lapping her thighs. He easily closed the distance and came up alongside her grinning. “How about a swimming lesson?”
    Uncertainty flickered across her face, and she gave a vigorous shake of her head.
    “Come on Kathy, the water’s calm,” he encouraged.
    “No it’s okay, you go back to Liz, it looked like you were having a good time and I’m fine here.”
    “Kathy, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but one way or another, you have to learn to swim.”
    “But I’ve changed my mind.” She squeaked her objection.
    Ice ignored her, and without another word scooped her into his arms and waded into deeper water. She clung to his neck like a vine, protesting all the while and pressing her breasts hard up against his chest.
    “I won’t let anything happen to you I promise, and you’ll be able to touch the bottom, so don’t be scared.”
    He lowered her smoothly to her feet, the undulating waves lapped her breasts like a lover’s caress, but she acted afraid and gripped his arms tight for support. “It’s too deep.”
    “Relax, you’re safe with me,” he whispered into her ear. “Just lie on your back and float while I support your weight,” he instructed.
    “I don’t know