Third Half (25 page)

             
"It's so fresh and clean.  Do you think I could . . .there aren't
piranhas or anything in it are there?"

             
"I don't think so."  He winked.  "But I'll stand guard."

             
"Why don't you come in too?  We could both use it."

             
His smile grew.  "Are you trying to tell me something?"

             
"No."  She blushed.  "I only meant it's hot.  Any water will
help cool us."

             
"I don't know if skinny dipping with you, even in ice water,
would cool me."

             
"Who said skinny dipping?  These clothing could use a
washing, too."  With that, she dove into the water.  It was cold, but
she didn't care. 

             
"You're crazy!"  he said with laughter as he slowly unbuttoned
his shirt.

             
Liane surfaced in time to see him about to remove his pants,
and turned from the sight.  She felt a fluttering sensation in the pit of
her stomach and knew she had to resist the urge to watch him.

             
She waited for the splash, but it didn't come.   Slowly she
turned just as a water darkened head surfaced in front of her.

             
She stared dumbly as he shook the moisture from his head.  To
her eyes he was the vision of Neptune.  The water was so clear she
could see he was naked, yet boldly she watched as he turned to swim
around her.

             
"Are you going to swim, or just gawk at me?"

             
Once again she dove beneath the water, hoping to hide her
embarrassment, yet nearly swimming directly into him as she did.

             
She surfaced to face him again, but it was deeper there and she
had to tread water.

             
"I'm sorry."  He flashed her an easy smile.

             
"Why?"

             
"For embarrassing you."

             
"Don't be silly, you didn't . . ."  She began to deny the truth,
but felt her cheeks growing warm.  "Okay, I'll admit you did.  But it's
silly; I'm a grown woman."

             
"Yes, I know."  His dark eyes again deepened to near-black as
he looked at her intently, his smile fading slightly.  "I only wish you'd
allow me the same freedom I've given you."

             
"What?"  She forgot herself and went under, swallowing water
as she did.

             
His firm hands lifted her from the water as she choked for air. 
"Are you all right?"

             
She nodded, reaching out to hold on to him for balance.  His
wet skin felt warm beneath her fingers.  She allowed herself to slowly
lean against him as he pulled her toward the edge of the stream.  She
could feel his beard on her brow, and the damp curls of hair from his
chest against her chin.

             
"You know you'll have to take these off to dry,"  he whispered
as he pulled her out of the water with him.

             
"I know,"  she replied in a voice so husky it didn't sound like
her own.  She gave no resistance as he reached for her buttons and
undid them, first one, slowly, then the next.

             
When he finished, he waited a long moment, as though giving
her a chance to change her mind, before slipping the shirt from her
shoulders and down her arms.

             
He tossed it onto a nearby bush and stared down into her face
before lowering his head to kiss her lips.  It was a gentle kiss. Still testing her reaction.  But as it deepened his fingers found their way to
the webbed belt holding the pants to her thin waist.

             
Slowly he released the belt and the baggy pants slipped down
her slim form to the ground.  She shivered, but he held her close
against his solid frame, warming her with his caresses.  Next, he
opened her lacy bra and laid it in the bushes, then quickly followed
with her bikinis.

             
Finally lying naked in his arms, she threw back her head to
allow his lips better access as they made a warm trail along her neck. 
She arched her body, pressing herself closer to his naked form,
knowing how right this all felt.  How natural.

             
She remembered what her brother had once told her about
knowing the right time to make love to a man.  The way it was now. 
But the thought of her brother, why they were here, and their
predicament made her tremble.

             
Todd pulled her closer.  "Are you cold?"  he whispered against
her ear, misunderstanding her shiver.

             
"No . . .I . . .I"  She pushed gently against him, ready to tell
him the truth, not wanting things to begin like this.  But she saw his
face contort with pain.  "What's wrong?"

             
"Nothing,"  he lied, but she could see him press his arm to his
ribs.

             
"Let me see."  She insisted looking at the freshly bruised mark
across his side.  "You're hurt."

             
"Only a bruise.  I hit the controls when we crashed."  She had
to push away the vision of the other man pierced by the controls.

             
"Are you sure nothing is broken?"    

             
He laughed.  "Quite sure.  I've had broken ribs before and I'd
hardly be here now, wanting very much to make love to a beautiful
woman, if they were."

             
She gently touched the discolored flesh.  "Are you sure you're
all right?"  she asked, then lowered her lips to kiss the bruise like she
would comfort a child.

             
His body tensed.  "I don't know if I'll ever be all right again." 
He pulled her back to him and kissed her lips with uncontrollable
passion.  "Never again,"  he nearly groaned as she opened her lips to
allow his tongue its own intimate exploration of her mouth.

             
Their breathing quickened as her tongue seemed to entwine
with his, sending a message of her need. 

             
She moaned softly as his fingers found her taut nipples and
teased them relentlessly before lowering his lips to take their place. 
She arched closer, pressing her lips against his hard male form.  She
could feel his desire matched her own growing desire.

             
His hand slowly made a trail across her flat stomach, down the
outside of her hips and thighs and slowly ascended again, this time on
the inside, stopping at the soft curly mound, feeling the moistness of
her need for him.

             
"Oh please, please," she groaned, as he took his time, arousing
her to heights she never thought possible. 

             
He pulled away a moment and stared down into her eyes, as if
to question if she was sure. 

             
"Yes, yes," she replied, arching closer still, spreading her legs
for him to enter.

             
He moaned as if in pain then unable to resist any longer he
slowly entered her, with ease at first, then thrusting more deeply as
her motions began to match his, until finally she trembled in his arms,
going nearly limp, just moments before he, too, reached that climatic
moment of total satisfaction.

I

             
Liane watched as Todd got up from the ground and walked
toward the water's edge.  Suddenly, without warning he dove in,
swimming briskly to the middle before coming to the surface.  Not
one word had been spoken as they laid in each other's arms in the
aftermath of making love.

             
She thought it gave them time to reflect on what had
happened.  Now, as she watched him ignore her, she wondered if it
might really be time to regret what happened.  Did he wish now that it
hadn't?"

             
If anyone has a right to regret what happened, it's me.  I
waited so long to give myself to a man.  I waited for the right moment. 
Then when it comes, it's with . . .with . . .
  "A murderer,"  she said
aloud.  "An ex-con, a smuggler, a gun runner,"  she mumbled getting
up from the ground.

             
She walked to the water's edge and slowly lowered herself into
its refreshing coolness, hoping to wash away her tears, wanting to
cleanse herself of everything she had to do with this man, yet knowing
she wouldn't get rid of the memories as easily.

     "It gets dark quickly in the jungle.  If we don't go back to the plane
it could be dangerous,"  Todd finally said from on shore.  He was
already dressed and she hadn't even realized he'd gotten out of the
pool.

             
"Yes, being out here can be dangerous,"  she said, then swam
to the side.

             
As she dressed, she watched the man with his back to her. 
Quiet and brooding. 

             
She wondered what he was thinking. 
Why doesn't he say
something?  Anything! If only he'd smile, or come to me.  If he'd put
his arms around me.  Tell me it will be all right.  Tell me he . . .

             
Sadness turned to anger as Liane thought about what had
happened.  Todd Marshal had used her; taken advantage of the
situation.  A man and woman alone in this tropical paradise
–
a
woman who would be totally alien to the ways of men.  One willing to
listen to his carelessly spoken,
Trust me.

             
Oh yes, inexperienced, naive, and . . .she suddenly
remembered the real Mary Catherine.  "Oh, M.C., what would you
have done?"  she whispered. 

             
"I know . . .Not what I did."   Liane got up after slipping back
into her shoes.  "Who did I say was naive?"

             
"Did you say something?"  Todd asked, turning to look at her,
a blank expression on his face.

             
Two can play this game, Liane thought as she flashed angry
green eyes his way.  "Shouldn't we be going?"  She stomped toward
the surrounding jungle.  "You said it gets dark quickly here."

             
"I'll lead,"  he snapped, before turning in another direction. 
"Who knows where you're likely to lead us?"

             
Liane turned and followed, glad he didn't see the look of defeat
that had to be on her face.  The whole day had been terrible.  The
whole week for that matter.  She thought again of her brother Jack,
wondering if they'd every find him, and if they did, would he be all
right?

             
She was tense as the shadows increased.  Somehow the
paradise was turning into a frightfully foreign place.  She had to be
careful of her footing, yet not lose sight of Todd as he walked swiftly
ahead of her, his leather flight jacket flung over his shoulder.

             
He was getting further ahead of her than she liked, but she
refused to ask him to slow down.  Not for anything did she want to
speak to him.

             
Angry, she increased her pace, nearly stumbling over a vine. 
She grabbed a tree for balance before looking up to make sure she
hadn't lost Todd.

             
He was nowhere in sight, but still she refused to call him. 
There were marks on the trees and, as long as it was light, she'd find
them.  They would mark the way, and besides, she was certain they
had to be near the plane.  She didn't remember walking this far.