finally shifted to an electric blue sky.
The trio made it to a shallow place in what appeared
to be the middle of the ocean, and Kai produced snorkeling equipment and led
them through the water, pointing out beautiful fish Sam had never expected to
see in the wild.
They rowed to spectacular cliffs, and even paddled up
a small stream a short way to view a magnificent waterfall before allowing the
current to take them back to the ocean. Sam had to ask to rest once when she
thought her arms might fall off, and Kai tied the boats together and suggested
she and Ethan get into the water and relax. Their lifejackets supported them
enough she could completely relax, until she gasped in surprise and awe as a
dolphin surfaced not ten feet away.
“Just be still,” said Kai from inside his kayak as he
ate from a bag of nuts. “They don’t often get so close to strangers. They like
you, and might put on a show if you don’t act threatening.”
There were four dolphins in all, and they did indeed
put on a show as they played and jumped all around them. One of the younger
dolphins came close enough for Sam to reach out and touch, but Kai cautioned
her as she raised her hand. “No, they’re wild animals and you don’t want them
to get too friendly with humans. We won’t hurt them, but some might.
They’ve given the two of you a huge honor.”
When the dolphins left, Sam and Ethan climbed back
into their kayaks and followed Kai to an inlet. “If you’re up to it, we can
travel up this stream for a while to another waterfall with a swimming hole at
the base. You can swim and play in the falls, and I can call someone to pick us
up just a little ways downstream and take us back, or we can paddle all the way
back if you aren’t finished with your day.”
Sam looked at Ethan for his opinion and Kai added,
“It’s a remote waterfall, the only way to it is via kayak, and I don’t mind
leaving the two of you alone for a while.”
“Sounds like a perfect ending to a perfect day,” said
Ethan, as he aimed his kayak towards the stream.
Sam’s arms were about to fall off again by the time
they made it upstream to the waterfall, but she agreed the spot was totally
worth it. Kai stayed long enough to make sure they were comfortable with the
area and understood the danger zones before saying, “I showed you where we’ll
pull out downstream. I’ll head there now and wait for you. If anyone paddles
this way I’ll come with them, and blow my whistle as we approach. Your cellphones
are in the float bags inside your kayaks; I’ll have mine out so I can hear it
once I get to the landing. Call me if you need me, otherwise I’ll see you
there.”
“Are we getting the extra special treatment because I
tipped him so well Monday?” Sam wondered aloud, as she watched him paddle
around the bend and out of sight.
“Maybe, but he seems to just genuinely want to give
us a wonderful trip and great memories.”
“Yeah. He’s one of the good guys.” Ethan raised his
eyebrows and Sam laughed as she splashed water towards him. “If I were a decade
younger I might be attracted to him, but only if he were kinky, and I seriously
doubt he’s capable of giving me what I need.”
“Well, I have no problems giving you what you need,”
his voice changed, dropping several octaves as he added, “but you need to take
your clothes off, Samantha.”
Sam’s heart skipped a few beats, her body programmed
to react to Ethan’s Dom voice. Her tired arms protested as she pressed out of
the water onto a large, flat rock, but she ignored them and stood to take her
bike shorts off. She didn’t bother with her shirt, thinking he wouldn’t want
her naked, but the look on his face quickly told her otherwise. She looked
around, uncomfortable, but didn’t argue as she pulled the shirt off, and then
the sports bra.
Her nipples pebbled, and she felt self-conscious
standing on the rock naked. Looking around again, she sat, pulled her knees to
her chest,