Clear As Day

by Babette James

She would be happy. They would talk. She would sort out her mind.

  Don’t worry, be happy.

  She slipped on her leather sandals and picked up her sunhat, sunglasses and beach bag. “All set.”

  As Kay and Olivia arrived at Spider Camp, Nate was talking and taking casual shots of Dave sitting on his boat. Dave waved. Nate stopped talking the moment she came into sight, his attention fixed on her in a way that rushed heat through her and kicked a happy tumble in her heart.

  He waved. “Hey, babe!” He raked his gaze over her. “Stop right there.” He raised his camera and made swift adjustments. “Okay, move.” Rapid shutter clicks followed his order. “Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Slower. Perfect.”

  He met her halfway and kissed her hot and hard. “I was about to track you down. You look great.”

  “And you look happy.”

  “Life is good.” He gave her another quick kiss. “I took some awesome shots today.”

  Be happy. Kay smiled. She just needed to practice. Starting now. “Want a beer then to celebrate?”

  “Sounds great.” Nate slid an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Damn, I love this suit on you. Why does it always make me want to peel you out of it?” He caressed his hand down over her bottom, holding her close. He softly nipped her earlobe. “Between this one and that yellow-dot one, I am one happy man.”

  Desire twisted and heated through her. Wanting him was so easy. That, at least, she never doubted.

  “Let’s go swimming, so I can play. Hmm?” he murmured, with more little nips. “Please?”

  Go on, practice being happy. Go swimming. Play. Relax. Enjoy. Love.

  What was so hard about all that?

  Nothing.

  Kay tugged the knot of her pareu free and tucked the wrap into his hand. “Okay.” She pulled away from him and strolled off, slipping off her shirt and tossing it, her sunglasses and hat on a chair as she passed, kicking off her sandals as she reached the damp sand.

  Running feet pounded up behind her, and Nate scooped her up in his strong arms. He charged laughing with her into the water and threw them both in, the cool shocking splash against her sun-heated skin driving a giggling shriek from her.

  Laughter and friendly catcalls rang behind them from their friends.

  Nate tugged her to her feet, his body hard and warm against hers. He shook the water from his hair. A big smile, alive with affection and delight, lighted his face. Mischief danced in his eyes. “Come on, follow me.” He swam with lazy strokes toward the moored boats and flipped around, floating on his back, waiting. When she followed, he kicked farther on, putting Lloyd’s and Dave’s boats between him and the shore. She caught up with him. The water here was breast deep. He snagged her wrist and drew her close.

  ****

  “Alone at last.” Nate chuckled and kissed her lightly, dry-brushing his lips over hers. She softened into him with a smile. Pleased to hold her, he slid his hands over her back. The cool lake water lapped about them, the current swaying them together.

  What a day. Life was good. The sun was shining and he had a smiling Kay in his arms. Life was damn good. He grinned and kissed her shoulder, licking at the sparkles of water on her skin, grazing up to nibble and taste and just tease her wild. Her hands caught at his shoulders, fingers gripping. He liked when she held on tight.

  Taking her mouth again in a deep, all-the-time-in-the-world kiss, he let his hands caress over her until he clasped her bottom’s sweet curves, pulling her close, riding his hard-on against her, easy and lazy, tantalizing them both.

  Just hold me tight, babe, don’t let me go. I’ll make this work. Just give me a chance here.

  “The way you looked, sauntering down the beach like that…” He nipped her earlobe, toying with the tender flesh. Kay sighed and threw her head back, giving him room to play his kisses over her lovely, sensitive throat. Oh, yeah, and those little hungry noises of hers had him good and hard.

  He eased the bikini strap from her shoulder, following the strap’s fall with more kisses. Slipping the scanty blue fabric aside, he cupped her breast, caressing lazily, the nipple tightening to a rosy, sensitive point. Damn, but he loved touching her. She had the prettiest, most responsive breasts. His mouth watered and his groin tightened.

  “Nate! Someone could come swimming out…A boat could come by…” Kay’s protest came out more as a needy sigh. Her eyes closed and her lips softened into a dreamy smile.

  It was good to see her smiling. How could she not see how right they were for each other?

  As if his thoughts had startled her, she flinched in his hands.

  He cut off any further chance of protest with a kiss, before her sharp, logical mind could overrule feeling. He slipped his hand under her bikini bottoms, caressing the soft, bare cheeks of her lovely, lovely ass while he made love to her mouth. Needing her closer, he lifted her to wrap her legs around him. The hot air, the cool water rocking and lapping about them, his straining hard-on riding against her core, the tantalizing chance of discovery in the false privacy of the water and the boats sheltering them, all drowned him in sensation.

  They broke apart, panting. Kay’s face was flushed and her blue eyes darkened. She sank under the water and rose back up, water streaming over her face, her breasts bare and tempting in the water, her top drifting around her waist.

  He surged forward in the water and caught her, dragging her up to close his mouth over her breast, suckling and teasing with his tongue. She gripped his shoulders, and he moved to her other breast and she arched in his embrace, biting back her gasps of pleasure.

  So good, so good, but if he didn’t let go now, he was going to be inside her in about thirty seconds.

  With a groan, Nate dragged his mouth away and let Kay stand up. He drew her straps back in place and reluctantly tucked her breasts back in their cups, giving each a last, longing caress. “This is killing me right now, and how I’m going to get back on shore with any dignity, I don’t know, because this water is nowhere near cold enough, but the upside is I still get to peel you out of these cute scraps again later.”

  “Mmm, you think?” With a teasing sparkle in her eyes, Kay ran her hand over his chest and down the tense muscles of his belly, and to the waistband of his swim trunks to tug at the strings.

  “Kay.”

  Ignoring his half-hearted warning, she slipped her fingers beneath the elastic, sliding the trunks down until she’d freed his erection, and delicately cupped him, her tracing fingers sending every drop of blood in his body south.

  Dizzy with pleasure, Nate sucked in his breath sharply. “Oh, yeah.” Her caresses felt too good to tell her to stop. If he had half a brain cell working, he should stop her, because he just wanted to get inside her, and damn, she was right, any of their friends could come on out.

  “Babe.” His voice cracked thick and guttural. Her hand massaged over his balls, and his brain tripped and tangled over stop and don’t you dare stop. He wanted to laugh for the sheer bliss, and he wanted to drag her close and bury himself in her sweet body.

  “You wanted to play,” she whispered and wrapped her hand around his straining shaft. She kissed his shoulder and stroked him.

  His breath hissed out, and he greedily surrendered to temptation. “Kay…Oh, yeah, harder. Babe…”

  He was already close, and she knew how to play him so well. He was going to go over fast. His eyes shut and the world contracted to pleasure, Kay, and love. It didn’t take much more of her grip sliding over him, of their bodies rocking together, before his body seized in bliss and he went off in her hand with a gusty, choked “Yes!” of relief.

  They stood embraced, sharing little kisses as he collected himself.

  “I owe you.” He grinned ruefully and hiked up his shorts. At least he could get out of the water now. And he definitely looked forward to that payback.

  Promise and want snapped in her grin. “Oh, yes, you do, and I fully intend to collect tonight.”

  They swam lazily, relaxin
g, and letting the cool water settle their nerves before joining their friends.

  “Ready for that beer now?”

  “Very ready. And chips and guacamole. If they haven’t scarfed it all down without us.” She glanced over to the shore, blushed, and rolled her eyes. “They’ll no doubt have a good idea we’ve been fooling around behind the boats.”

  “Probably.” He grinned and caught her in his arms for a quick kiss. “So don’t think about it.” Thank you, God, for keeping everyone all hanging out on the beach.

  “Don’t think about it? Oh, right…Easy.” With a wink, she arched her body against his, drawing another sweet shudder from him. “Nope, won’t think of that or this at all.”

  “Damn, babe.” And yeah, good thing for baggy swim trunks, because he’d be thinking plenty, all the way until they were alone again.

  Her teasing smile grew pensive, and she settled in his arms. “If we go on this trip to the City of Rocks, do we camp or motel it?

  She was seriously considering the trip? Relief and excitement rushed through him. “Both, either, whichever you want.”

  “It would be nice to stay in a motel.” She leaned back in his embrace, lazily fanning her hands through the water, thoughts flicking through her blue eyes.

  “Hot showers. Privacy.”

  Her eyes brightened. “Hot showers are awesome.” She draped her arms over his shoulders, hands loosely clasped behind his neck, her smile soft and bemused.

  “A bed. A king-sized bed.” Potent images of what they could do with showers and beds flooded his brain.

  “An excellent idea.” She frowned. “You know, it’s going to be awkward, both of us driving separately and towing boats.” She paused, decisions flickering over her face. “One would make more sense. Give us more time together? More time to…talk and everything. More time.” She looked up with pleading in her eyes and a nervous smile.

  Yes! He held his breath and comments. Please, please let this be progress.

  But the logistics—she’d have to go all the way to his parents with him, and then he’d have to bring her all the way back.

  So? Your time is open-ended now, and you wanted more time together. You already decided you wanted this.

  Damn the logistics, his truck, her truck, a rental, that didn’t matter. He’d go for it in a moment if she agreed. “Sounds good.”

  She nodded thoughtfully. In her eyes, Nate could see her weighing, calculating and making her mental lists. “I have maps in my truck. Next time we go to the marina, I’ll grab them and we can make plans.”

  Yes! Relief, adrenaline and joy pounded through him, and he kissed her. “I love you, Kay.” Maybe if he just said it again and again and again, she’d finally believe him.

  A shy, enchanting smile curved her lips, and she lifted her mouth to his for one more kiss. “I know.”

  ****

  Kay waded out with Nate, hand in hand. Be happy. She was, in that moment, happier than she could ever recall being, despite everything being essentially unresolved. Maybe that was a sign for things to come.

  “There they are. Have a nice swim, kids?” Patti called out.

  “Lovely.” Kay couldn’t help her fiery blush.

  “Nothing like a hot swim on a cool day,” Nate said casually, his eyes on her. Then he flushed deep red and rolled his eyes as he realized what he’d said.

  Laughter burst from their friends. Kay couldn’t help herself, and she joined in.

  Nate busied himself wrapping a towel around Kay and drying her off, his own shoulders shaking with suppressed chuckles. “Oh, hell, can’t believe I said that,” he muttered in her ear.

  She caught his face in her hands and kissed him. “Being with you is never boring.”

  After throwing on her shirt and pareu and finger-combing her hair, Kay got her beer and sat in the chair between Nate and JoAnn. His trip idea was good. Nate was so patient. He was giving her time. With time, she could untangle her mind and insecurities and sort out the valid from the neurotic. They would talk. Work it out.

  She scooped a dollop of guacamole with the tortilla chip and popped the bite into her mouth, savoring the salty crunch with the buttery avocado, tart lime, and pungent cilantro. A cool sip of beer followed to wash down the tasty mouthful.

  Simple pleasures, surrounded by friends, conversations and laughter—this was what made the lake so right.

  When she had been little, sitting on a beach like this, on an evening like this, it had been Fritos, onion dip and grape soda pop, the grownup conversations and joking around then so strangely the same as now, all about fish and work and boats and dreams.

  Nate leaned forward, snagged a chip, scooped more guacamole and fed her the chip. He caught the smudge of dip on her lip with his finger and playfully dared her to lick it off.

  She did, closing her mouth over his finger, sucking slow and teasing. Nate’s eyes darkened and his smile heated. Kay’s focus zoomed close and fine: Nate’s rich gray eyes, his fingers’ slide against her tongue and lips, salt, lime, the beat of her heart.

  “Oh, get a room.” Lloyd cracked a laugh and pitched his fishing cap at Nate.

  Nate grinned and whaled the cap back at him. The two broke into shakes of laughter like goofy boys. Nate was so good at just rolling with the moment.

  After supper, Nate drew her aside. “Want to take a walk? Watch the moon rise?”

  “Sure.” No hesitation dogged her mind this evening. Maybe her decision-making ability was finally coming back online. She wanted to spend the time with him, alone. They could start talking about…well, start talking about talking.

  After saying their good nights, they gathered their towels and beach bags and headed out under the lingering light of the sunset. They agreed on the longer walk at the trail fork. Although the air temperature had eased off, heat still radiated from the stony ground.

  “Great night tonight.” Nate slid his hand into hers. The trail here widened enough to walk side by side. “Hey, did I tell you Dad’s taken up a new hobby? He’s taken to cooking like a duck to water and expanding his horizons beyond barbeque.”

  “He’s enjoying his retirement.”

  “Loving it and driving Mom insane in the exact opposite way she guessed he would. She was always afraid he’d turn into a couch potato.”

  They paused to let a chattering covey of quail strut across the path, their topknots bobbing.

  “I think he’s going to go overboard on the barbeque plans when I get home this time.”

  Kay tensed up, wondering if he was going to press for more of a commitment to the trip. But honestly, getting tense was foolish, since she was mostly decided on going. “In your e-mails their barbeques have always sounded like fun.”

  Nate rubbed his thumb over her hand. “Always fun. I’m looking forward to finally living close and seeing them as often as I like, without having to rush my visits. I went straight from getting the key to the house to picking up the Whisper and my truck from Lloyd to here. I feel like I’ve been running on a treadmill for the last eleven years. It’s really good to get off.”

  “I’m happy for you. I know how you’ve missed them.” Kay felt kind of dizzy that he’d come to see her even before his parents. “So…when we get up there, what’s the plan? In Oregon?”

  “Well, beyond the barbeque, we can play it by ear. Hang out, sightsee, whatever feels good to you. No pressure. There’s plenty of room to stay with my folks. Too bad you won’t get to meet my brothers and sister this time.”

  “Danny and Gabe should be home from their deployments soon, right?”

  Stay with his parents? No pressure? Oh, boy.

  The soft glowing apricot and lilac deepened across the sky into star-flecked ultramarine. The trail narrowed, and she had to let go of Nate’s hand.

  He let her take the lead. “Both home before Thanksgiving, if all goes well, and Callie’s coming home at Christmas. This will be the first Christmas with all of us together in six years.”

  “That’
s great.” The last Christmas spent with her family intact flashed into her mind and tore like rusty tin. She swallowed hard and shoved the painful chaos away. Not going there.

  The moon rose pale and a sliver shy of full. They found a cozy spot to sit. Kay leaned against Nate’s chest, his arms around her waist. He hummed faintly, an unknown melody this time. Cicadas creaked in their bushes. A coyote sang nearby. Another answered far off.

  “Tell me more about Oregon,” she said, surprising herself.

  He told her about the house on its wooded hillside, the neighborhood, the Siuslaw National Forest, the people he’d met, some of the history and legends, the green, the rain, the summer fog, the fishing, the studio work he’d be doing, the marina that might become a homeport for the Whisper. And all through, his storytelling voice and excitement drew her in, making her curious, making her want, making her dream…

  She shifted uneasily in his arms. “It’s so different.”

  “That it is.” He smiled broadly, supremely confident.

  Out of nowhere, clammy, claustrophobic panic ambushed and skittered through her. Not just Oregon. Everything. She had let Nate get too close in her life.

  I don’t know what to do. She forced herself to stay put in his embrace. “I wish I could be sure. It’s just so different,” she blurted.

  “I’m sure.” He firmed his hug.

  Her claustrophobic reaction exploded and she pressed her hand against his thigh, needing to tear herself away and fighting the urge.

  “That isn’t enough,” she whispered. I’m not sure, and I hate this feeling of being out of control. I need to be sure of me again.

  He stiffened and a chill pause opened between them.

  “What is then, Kay? I asked you to come live with me, because I meant it. I asked you to marry me, because I love you. You’ve shown me the world you love. Come with me and let me show you the world I love.”

  “I’ve always lived here in the desert. It’s hard to…Oh, it’s just not that simple.” Kay yanked free from his arms and scrambled to her feet. She snatched up her bag. She needed to walk.

  Nate rose, shaking his head, his mouth a firm set line. “Of course it’s not. I know you love the desert, but think of the new places we can see together.”