Page 68 of Vistaria Has Fallen

“Moredownhill? And following water?”

Nick looked over his shoulder. “It’s worth it.”

There were rough stairs cut into the bank. She followed Nick down the steps. A dozen of the broad steps curved around the base of the waterfall, down to a flat, round apron of close-cut turf edged by rocks, unkempt grasses and bushes. On the left, the rushing stream tumbled over a ten-foot drop of rounded rocks intoa deep, large pool. The water was crystal clear.

The pool had no edge.

Calli looked at it sparkling in the sunlight. There was no bank. She was looking at the edge of another small waterfall. The water slid over the edge without ripple or spray, creating the illusion that the water held itself there.

“Can I go wading?” Calli asked, swallowing with her dry throat, her toes tingling as she imaginedthe touch of the cool water.

“It’s much deeper than you think.”

“You swim in it?”

“Often.” He smiled. “Though it’s not good for laps.”

“Don’t care,” Calli said, pushing off her sandals. She reached for her top and paused, for Nick still watched her. “You’re coming in, aren’t you?”

“In a minute,” he promised.

She hesitated, wondering why he waited. “Why in a minute?” she asked.

He seemedawkward as he answered. “I like watching how you move. Especially when you’re not hidden behind cloth.”

There were a dozen things he might have said that would have been more intimate—that he liked her naked body, that he liked watching a woman taking off her clothes—none of them would have made her blush as deeply as his simple, unexpected answer. She couldn’t think of a response that wouldn’tsound inane, so she took off her top instead. With another small hesitation, she undid her skirt and slipped out of it. She was naked beneath and wondered if he would realize she was bare beneath her clothes to give him easier access.

Her cheeks burning even more, she stepped into the pool. Her foot didn’t meet the bottom when she thought she would and she plunged in up to her neck. She gavea gasping shriek and struggled to find her footing.

“It’s ice water!” she cried.

“Of course. It comes from a glacier.”

She glared at him. “That’swhat you were waiting for.”

“Yes. The rest of it is true, though. I swear.” He laughed.

She splashed at him. “Come and join me,” she said softly.

His laughter was replaced by a smoldering, knowing expression. He understood.

He stripped and walkedto the edge. Excitement spilled through her. Calli let herself float, studying him as he paused on the brink. He was tanned all over, proof that he had not lied about swimming here often. His well-muscled body gleamed with a slight sweat from his exertion climbing the slopes. The sweat emphasized each dip and swell. His eyes were a mesmerizing dark blue in the direct light.

She shivered, frommore than the chill of the water.

Nick stepped off the edge, judging his footfall, so he stood thigh deep, then pushed off into a glide through the water towards her. The water lapped about his shoulders as he stopped in front of her. He pulled her into his arms and she came willingly. His hand slid around her waist and held her against him.

“Gracias,Calli,” he said.

“For what?”

“For forcingthe issue. For insisting on this pocket of time. For knowing I didn’t have the courage to take it for myself.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, the pressure of them painful. She was glad they stood in water and her face was wet, hiding them.

She had to swallow hard to clear her throat enough to talk. The need to speak her heart and mind pushed at her. Her time with Nick was nearly over. Even Nicksensed the end drew near and wanted to tie up loose ends and finish things off properly.

“I was just being selfish,” she said at last. Her voice was thick with the dammed tears. She hoped he would assume it was the touch of his hands and body that caused her thick voice. Before she gave away more than she intended or her voice or face betrayed her, she lifted herself up and kissed him. His armstightened, holding her in place as his mouth opened beneath her lips.