Bobbing to the surface, Ellen coughed, spat and found her footing. The wave had propelled them a few feet closer to the shore. Standing once more, she ran her fingers through her hair.
The crimson colors of sunset bathed Jim as he stood up and wiped the worst of the saltwater from his eyes. The teasing smile on his face, the predatory look in his gaze made her laugh with the pure joy of living. In that moment, Ellen felt like a child again, free and willful, unafraid to follow her heart.
This time, she boldly walked up to him. As she drew close, he snaked out his arms and slid them around her waist. The sudden warmth and strength of his male body against her feminine form made her sigh. As he lifted her upward, Ellen framed Jim’s face with her hands.
Without a word, she closed her eyes, leaned over and captured his mouth with hers. The sounds of the ocean broke around her. She heard the waves crashing as she pressed her mouth wantonly to his. His body was hard and insistent against her belly. Lifting her legs, she wrapped them around his hips. Deepening the kiss, she slid her tongue inside his mouth, and felt him groan.
The salt water mingled with the wetness of their mouths. She felt him shift her, until he brought her down upon him ever so slowly. For a moment, Ellen tensed. It had been so long since she’d made love. And Jim was sensitive enough to understand that.
The cooling water lapped around them, between them. The world was turning a deep purple, chased by the night. As Ellen lifted her lashes and looked deeply into Jim’s stormy eyes, she used the power of the next wave to move down upon him and absorb him into her.
The union of water and heated flesh matched that of their throbbing bodies. Another wave lifted them, flowing powerfully, like cooling hands against their skin. She felt Jim anchor his feet and brace himself as the next wave surged.
Smiling against his mouth, Ellen moved her hips in suggestive, rhythmic movements. His groan was like a drumroll crashing through her. Holding him, kissing his mouth, his closed eyes, licking his lower lip all conspired to release her in a way she’d never experienced before. The ocean seemed to breathe with them. The water, cool and invigorating against the enflamed heat of their bodies, urged them to new heights of abandon in the embrace of Nature herself.
Moments later, Ellen cried out. She tensed like a tightly drawn bow against Jim’s body. He held her, moved within her, prolonging her climax until she moaned in relief and exhaustion, her brow resting against his. Only then did he groan and hold her tightly—so tightly the air rushed from her lungs. And then yet another wave caught them and they were swept off their feet.
Laughing as she came up for air, Ellen was dragged back into Jim’s arms. He laughed with her. Splashing out of the ocean, their arms around one another, they raced up the dark, spongy beach, where the foam looked like a white necklace of lace in the darkening dusk.
“Fantastic!” Ellen cried, grinning as she walked toward the blanket where their clothes were spread.
“More than that,” Cochrane said. He squeezed her and smiled.
The breeze was softer now. Ellen felt overheated, her body tingling, the flow of life once more surging through her. She had thought her life was over when Mark had died, but that wasn’t true. As she and Jim dashed up the dry sand toward the blanket, she laughed joyously. Gazing at him, she realized how much younger he looked. No longer was there that seriousness and sadness in his eyes. For once she saw only happiness.
As they dressed, Ellen thought of Susan Kane. Perhaps this was the best way to acknowledge her life—by taking risks and daring to live themselves. Susan had been a risk taker in some ways, but in others, she had remained a prisoner. While Ellen pulled on her clothes, she silently said goodbye to the courageous female aviator who had truly been a role model for so many girls with similar dreams.
Ellen knew that those girls would grow up to live their own dreams. That was the best accolade to give Susan Kane. Women who would walk in her footsteps. Aspire to the stars.
“Hey, how about stopping at that hot dog stand at the other end of La Jolla? I could use a mug of hot coffee.”
Turning, Ellen looked at Jim, then stepped into his embrace. It felt good to have his arms go around her, hold her and rock her. Running her fingers through his damp hair, she pushed several strands aside.
“I’d love nothing more.”
“A cup of coffee, a hot dog and thou…”
“A man who can quote Shakespeare. You gotta love him.”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-0919-3
SILENT WITNESS
Copyright © 2005 by Eileen Nauman
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Silent Witness Page 28