Page 78 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
She kicked clumsily at the water, holding his shoulders, riding on his back, his body sleek and strong beneath her while he swam, his legs and arms moving like a frog’s legs.
The moonlight glittered on the ripples they created.
The park seemed even more beautiful in the darkness. It felt like a secret beauty.
He turned suddenly, his body floating up beneath hers.
‘Do you want to try and swim?’
‘No.’
‘Wrong answer, darling. Of course you do. Do not be afraid, I will hold your hands, put your legs out straight and kick your feet.’
She did as he bid her; he held her hands and swam backwards while she swam forwards, her feet splashing at the surface.
‘If you keep your feet beneath the surface, it will propel you better.’
She did as he said.
‘I shall let go of your hands, then you must slide your hands backwards, pushing the water out of your way, bring your hands forwards and do the same again.’
Panic caught in her throat as he let her go, but she did as he said, and her body moved without sinking. He swam backwards in front of her, speaking words of encouragement.
‘You said you could not swim, but you can, see.’
‘You said my family would not like you, but they do, see.’
‘Do not make me laugh, I will drown, and then where will you be? There is a river near our property, we can swim often when we live there. Do you not agree it is much better than waltzing?’
‘Yes.’ Her legs kicked hard, as her arms pushed the water back and circled around to do it again.
‘Are you ready to get out? I think this is enough for your first lesson.’
‘How will we get out?’ There were no shallow places along the bank.
‘The boating jetty. Hold my shoulders again and we will swim there.’
‘The boating jetty? How did you know about that? Did you plan this?’
He smiled his roguish smile. ‘I admit I noted the places where the lake cannot be seen from the front of the house after John said they watched us when we sat down here. Then while you rested in the afternoons, I had time to explore the places to get in and out of the water. But the opportunity to indulge never came until now.’
‘You are wicked.’
‘And you love me for it.’
‘Yes, I do.’
The jetty reached out about seven yards from the shore.
‘You climb out first, press your palms down on the wood and I will push you up.’ He pushed on one cheek of her bottom, which had her tumbling onto the jetty in giggles.
His palms pressed on the wood, the muscles bunching in his arms as he rose from the water, the moonlight glistening on his damp skin and hair, highlighting the ridges and hollows of his muscular architecture.
I am a lucky woman.
They walked along the jetty and back about the lake holding hands. She did not care she was naked, because she knew what would come now, and she ached for it to happen. But he waited until they reached the willow tree before he kissed her; his palm embracing her nape and the pressure of his lips warm and strong. She opened her mouth, leading the touch of their tongues. His erection pressed against her stomach and his other hand cupped her buttock, while her hands trailed over his damp skin.
‘I wanted to be patient and slow, Mary, but I cannot.’ His lips lifted to a smile against her lips. ‘I love you too much. I am too eager with you.’
