by Erin Wade
Darke had to admit that Carter Winthrop was a perfect specimen. He was tall and fit, and his muscles flexed as he pulled himself up on the skis. When she turned to see if Eden was watching her fiancé, Darke was surprised to find Eden staring at her instead. Darke looked away. The unguarded look in Eden’s eyes was directed at her. Darke knew that look well. She had encountered it many times during her lifetime. It was pure unadulterated lust.
A warm hand rested on Darke’s thigh, and she flinched as Charity scooted closer to her.
“I think your friend has the hots for you.” Charity giggled. “It’s understandable … so do I.”
“You’re with Myron,” Darke reminded her. “You should act like it.”
“Myron.” Charity snorted the name. “Myron is in love with Carter.”
“Are his feelings reciprocated?” Darke asked.
“No, Carter’s determined to nail Eden.”
Darke grimaced at the woman’s choice of words.
“Is he in love with her?”
“Who knows?” Charity grinned. “I think the fact that she keeps turning him down has bruised his male ego. I did hear him say that if he gets her pregnant she’ll have to marry him, give up her foolish idea of graduating from UT, and settle for going to college here.”
The thought of Carter Winthrop impregnating Eden sent a wave of anger and nausea through Darke’s body.
Charity’s hand rested on Darke’s thigh again. “While the boys play, why don’t we go below deck and entertain ourselves?”
“What about Eden?” Darke asked.
“What about her?” Charity huffed. “She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. We could invite her to join us. I’m not opposed to a three-way.”
“I think not,” Darke said as she removed Charity’s hand from her leg.
Myron cut the engine as Carter dropped the ski rope and swam toward the boat.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Eden said, getting to her feet as Carter climbed aboard. “I do want to ski.”
Darke scanned the lake. She couldn’t see a shoreline anywhere and wondered how far one would have to swim to reach land.
“The sun is going down,” Darke pointed out. “It’ll be dark soon. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to ski now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Carter scoffed. “She can ski for thirty minutes. Then we’ll head for The Point and dinner.”
Eden hung her legs over the side of the boat and slipped into her skis. She slid into the water as Myron revved the boat’s engine. She caught the ski rope as it went past her.
Myron didn’t wait for a signal. He steadily increased the boat’s speed as Eden rose from the water.
Darke couldn’t keep from admiring the beautiful young woman. She was tall and athletic. The way she filled a swimsuit was a sin.
Darke was jerked from her reverie as the boat stalled and then shot forward. Eden fell into the water. Darke ran to the back of the boat and searched the water for any sign of the woman.
When Eden failed to surface, Darke dove into the water and swam toward the last place she’d seen Eden. The water was murky, and visibility was limited. Darke made dive after dive searching for Eden. Her lungs felt as if they would burst as she dove even deeper.
Time is running out , Darke thought as she kicked into the darkness again. This time, something soft and solid hit her leg. She grasped for the object and was relieved when her hand encircled a small wrist. She fought the desire to inhale and kicked toward what she hoped was the surface.
Fire seared Darke’s lungs as they begged for oxygen. She fought the dizziness that threatened to overtake her and kicked faster. Just as she was certain they would drown, she shot through the surface of the water and gulped in the precious, cool air.
She pulled Eden’s head above water and squeezed her chest, forcing her to exhale. Eden sputtered, vomited water, and then struggled to breathe.
Darke kept them afloat as Eden gasped for air and clung to her. Darke looked around them for the boat, but it was nowhere in sight. Did they really leave us to drown?
“What happened?” Eden whimpered.
“Your fiancé just tried to drown us.” Darke’s bitter tone sent a shiver through Eden’s body.
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” Darke said, treading water, “but I intend to find out.
“Can you swim long distances?” Darke asked.
“I’m a strong swimmer,” Eden said, “but we only need to make it to the shore.”
“I have no idea where that is,” Darke said. “Be still. Give me a moment to get my bearings.”
Eden watched as the brunette sniffed the air, turning her head in every direction.
“That way,” Darke said with a nod in the direction of the closest shoreline. “If you get tired, tell me immediately. I can swim for both of us, but I don’t want you to slip beneath the water again. I don’t think we would survive another diveathon.”
“Darke, I—”
The agent silenced her. “Save your breath. We have a long swim ahead of us.”
Eden was dumbfounded that no search boats were looking for them. She couldn’t believe Carter hadn’t called in the lake patrol to help locate them.
They had been swimming for hours when Eden placed her hand on Darke’s shoulder. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“Just hold onto my shoulder,” Darke said. “I can get us to shore, but you must hold on.”
Exhaustion overtook Eden as the first rays of the sun painted the horizon a soft magenta. Her hand slipped from Darke’s shoulder.
Darke grabbed Eden’s hair to keep her head above water. She could tell the younger woman had done all she could do. Darke treaded water as she tore one of the straps from Eden’s bikini and tied it to her own swimsuit strap. She said a silent thank you for her one-piece swimsuit. She made certain Eden was floating on her back, and then began dog-paddling toward the shore, silhouetted by the rising sun.
##
The midday sun beat down on the two bodies on the beach. A small dog bounded toward them as an elderly woman called him to return to her.
“Oh dear Lord, Tank,” she cried as she fell to her knees beside the women. “What have you found?” She felt for a pulse on the dark-haired woman and was relieved to find it beating strong and steady. She couldn’t find a pulse on the other woman who was lying on her stomach.
“Are you all right, dear?” the woman asked as the brunette stirred. “Should I call an ambulance?”
Darke pushed herself up on her elbow and looked around. “We made it. Oh God, we made it.”
“You did, dear.” The old woman’s sad expression made Darke’s blood run cold. “I’m afraid your friend is dead.”
“No!” Darke sobbed. “No, she can’t be. She … I …”
Darke ripped off the strap that bound Eden to her. She turned Eden over and knelt beside her. “She can’t die on me. Not now.” She checked Eden’s mouth for any obstruction and then gently blew air into her lungs. She took a deep breath and repeated the action over and over.
Darke paused to catch her breath, her forehead resting on Eden’s. Please come back to me .
Suddenly, Eden reached up, her soft hand pressing against the back of Darke’s neck until their lips met again.
Chapter 14
“You’re alive! Thank God!” Darke cried as she pulled away from Eden.
“What happened to you two?” The old woman helped Darke lift Eden to her feet.
“Our boat sank,” Darke said, glancing at Eden and hoping she’d follow her lead. “We were the only ones on it.”
“Poor dears. You’re lucky my home is right here on the beach. You can call someone. I’m sure your family is worried to death about you.”
“Do you have any clothes we can borrow until we can get home to our own things?” Darke asked.
“Of course, of course. My daughter is about your size. Not as tall, but just as slim and busty.”
Eden sn
ickered.
“My name is Elsie.” The woman offered her hand to Darke. “What are your names?”
Eden pretended to faint and Darke caught her. “Clothes, please?” Darke followed Elisie into the house as she cradled Eden in her arms.
“Place her on the sofa,” Elsie instructed. “It’s faux leather. Your wet clothes won’t hurt it. I’ll get the dry clothes.”
“Good call,” Darke whispered in Eden’s ear as she carried her to the sofa. “We should be dead to the others for a while.”
Elsie returned with two sets of jeans and T-shirts. “Here are some flip-flops too.” She handed the clothes to Darke. “Is your friend going to be okay?”
“We swam from the center of the lake,” Darke said. “She’s just exhausted. May I borrow your phone?”
“Oh, certainly. I should have offered it sooner.” Elsie pulled her cell phone from her pocket and handed it to Darke.
Darke keyed ten numbers into the phone. “What’s the address here?” she asked.
Elsie gave her the address, and Darke repeated it slowly into the phone. “Thank you,” she said as she handed the phone back to Elsie. “A car will come for us soon.”
“You can dress in the guest bedroom,” Elsie said, motioning for them to follow her down a hallway. “I’ll make some lemonade and sandwiches. You must be famished.”
“Thank you. That sounds wonderful,” Darke smiled. The woman scurried away, and Darke closed the door and locked it.
“You saved my life,” Eden whispered as she tiptoed to place her lips against Darke’s.
Every bit of common sense in Darke told her to stop, but she couldn’t resist pulling Eden into her arms and kissing her. A soft, tender kiss quickly escalated to one that threatened to set both women on fire. “God, I want you so much. I was terrified that I’d lost you,” Darke murmured as she captured Eden’s lips again.
They were lost in each other when Elsie knocked on the door. “It looks like your car is here.”
“Thank you, Elsie. We’ll be right there.” Darke reluctantly released Eden and turned her around to unfasten her halter top. “Quick,” she whispered as she shed her own swimsuit and handed Eden a T-shirt.
“You look so much better.” Elsie’s smile was warm and honest as the women rejoined her. “Let me get a comb for your hair.”
“We’re fine,” Darke said. She caught Eden’s hand and pulled her toward the door. “We just need to get home and shower. Thank you so much for your help.”
They hurried from the house to find Tess waiting for them. As they approached, the car doors lifted and Caz darted to the two women. She whined as she licked Darke’s hand. “We’re fine, girl.”
The doors closed and locked as Darke, Eden, and Caz slipped into the car. Seconds later, they were on their way.
Chapter 15
“Where are we?” Eden asked as she surveyed the underground parking garage. By her calculations, they had driven at least three levels below ground before parking beside an elevator.
“My apartment,” Darke replied.
Tess opened the doors, and the three headed for an elevator whose doors opened at their approach.
“How’d you do that?” Eden asked as the doors slid closed behind them.
“If I tell you, I’ll have—”
“To kill me?” Eden smirked. “Will you always treat me like a child?”
“No! No, the thoughts I’m having about you are anything but childish.” Darke looked away as the elevator doors opened into the most beautifully decorated room Eden had ever seen. “You can shower in the guestroom. It has a private bathroom.”
“Or we could shower together.” Eden slipped her arms around Darke’s waist.
“Eden, before we get too deeply involved, you need to know more about me.”
“I know I love you,” Eden declared. “That’s all I need to know.”
“Aren’t you just a little afraid of me?” Darke watched as Eden’s eyes darted from her face to her cleavage and then back to gaze into her eyes. A smile flitted across Darke’s lips.
“Sometimes you terrify me,” Eden whispered. “Other times—like now—I know I would give up my life to be with you.”
Eden tightened her hold on Darke’s waist as the taller woman lowered her lips to hers. “As you wish,” Darke murmured against the softest lips she had ever touched. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Darke undressed Eden as she moved her toward the bedroom door. Eden paid no attention to her surroundings. She was only aware that clothes had fallen away, and Darke’s warm, soft breasts were touching her own. She gasped as Darke pulled her tight against her. She felt light-headed as she savored the feel of Darke touching every inch of her.
The shower began to run and Darke moved Eden beneath the warm stream of water. Eden ached all over. Her body screamed for Darke to take her in every way possible. “Please,” she whimpered.
“Everything is better,” Darke hummed against her ear, “when one is dying to get it.” She turned Eden to face away from her and began to lather her back and shoulders.
“Doesn’t that feel good?”
“Oh God, yes,” Eden cried. “Yes.”
Darke moved down to the small of Eden’s back and soaped between her legs. She dropped to her knees and kissed down Eden’s back.
“Darke,” Eden moaned. “Please?”
Darke spread Eden’s legs and massaged the foaming soap down each leg. “You’re so perfect,” she murmured. “So beautiful and so perfect.”
Unbidden, Eden turned to face Darke. Darke looked up at her. Up past the little tuft just barely visible. Up past the flat stomach to the point where Eden’s ample breasts formed a little valley. Eden smiled down at her and then grasped her hair and pulled Darke into her.
Darke sat on the shower floor and pulled Eden onto her lap so their lips could touch. “I need you, Eden. You make me feel alive. I need you to make me feel human.”
Eden pulled Darke’s lips hard against hers. Her tongue forced its way between swollen lips and challenged Darke to meet her desire.
Darke trailed soft, warm kisses down Eden’s neck and captured an erect nipple. She pulled on it and Eden threw back her head and gasped Darke’s name.
“Everything,” Eden pleaded. “I want you to do everything to me.”
Eden clutched Darke’s hair and ground into her. “Everything you’ve ever dreamed of doing with a woman, I want you to do with me.”
“Loving you will only end in heartache for me, but that’s the sacrifice I’m willing to make to have you in my life for a little while,” Darke murmured as she slid her hands down Eden’s thighs.
##
“What day is it?” Eden purred as she entwined her legs with Darke’s.
“Wednesday,” Darke said, her deep voice even huskier than usual. “We should probably get out of bed.”
“Not when you still want me.” Eden kissed the top of Darke’s breast. “I can tell you do from the sound of your voice.”
“Then we might never get up,” Darke said with a chuckle. “I’ll always want you.”
“I’ll always respond,” Eden promised as she straddled Darke’s waist. “I want you to teach me to please you as much as you please me.”
“Oh, Eden. You do please me, darling. You truly do.” There was no doubting the honesty in Darke’s voice.
##
“You sneaked out of bed,” Eden said as she wrapped her arms around Darke’s waist and kissed her lover’s back.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t let me go,” Darke teased. “You were sound asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. You must be exhausted.”
“You’ve given me the workout of my life,”—Eden bit Darke on the shoulder—“and I loved every second of it. I never dreamed it could be like that.”
“Neither did I.” Darke cleared her throat. “It’s better when love is involved.”
“You’ve never made love to someone you were in love with?” Eden said, astoun
ded but pleased.
“No, I’ve never allowed myself to fall in love with anyone,” Darke whispered. “Other than Caz, I’ve never truly loved anything.”
A slight tremor shook Eden’s body.
“Are you cold, darling?” Darke said, wrapping Eden in her arms. “I may have the air down too low for you.”
“No, the air is perfect. It was a shiver of pleasure,” Eden admitted. “It makes me happy to think that I’m the only woman you’ve ever fallen in love with.”
Eden laid her head on Darke’s chest and listened to the steady beat of her lover’s heart. “I love you,” she whispered.
##
“What do we do now?” Eden asked as she placed the dishes in the dishwasher.
“Turn on the TV and see if there’s any mention of our drowning,” Darke said. “I want to know what story Carter is telling the world.”
To her surprise, the local television channel was conducting a live interview with Carter. “Mr. Winthrop, how do you feel about the authorities calling off the search for your fiancée and her friend?” The reporter shoved the microphone in front of Carter’s face.
“I’m devastated,” Carter said. “I do understand, but that’s like admitting they’re dead.”
“Are you up to telling us what happened?” the reporter asked.
“The authorities are still investigating the incident,” Carter said. “They’ve asked me not to discuss it.”
“That’s enough,” Darke thought out loud as she clicked off the TV. “I need to contact Chief Canton. He’ll be investigating our disappearance. Let’s shower. Alone. Otherwise, we won’t leave here all day.”
“Um, I’m afraid I can’t argue with that.” Eden wrinkled her nose.
Darke pulled Eden into her arms. “Are you aware of how I’m affected by that little nose wrinkle you do? It drives me crazy.”
“Maybe,” Eden whispered as she pressed her lips to Darke’s.
##
“I knew they couldn’t kill you!” Chief Canton said when he answered the phone, his voice overflowing with relief. “What about Miss Daye? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Darke said. So fine!
