Sink or Swim Read online

  Heat drove through his body. He didn't think it was possible, but his cock got even harder. A growl rumbled up from his chest as he nuzzled at her satin-covered pussy and breathed in the erotic scent of her. Testosterone surged. His heart raced, pulse pounding like a bass drum inside his head. He couldn't wait any longer.

  Sliding one hand out from under her bottom, he pushed aside the crotch of her thong. The musky perfume of her cream was even stronger, curling about his brain. Hungry now for a taste of her, hand shaking, he tugged at the scrap of fabric until the string broke. Until he exposed the red-gold curls shaped in a dainty triangle that disappeared between her thighs.

  She whimpered, a sexy, needy sound that lodged in his brain and drove the heat higher. Dropping his head, he laid a string of wet kisses around the outline of her pubic hair.

  Oh God, not enough! He needed both hands free. Grabbing another of the towels, he bunched it up under her ass. Then he stroked his tongue along the length of her sex, parting the swollen labia so he could learn the intimate contours of her pussy.

  Samie let loose with a long, keening moan, her hips arched up towards his mouth in invitation. His breathing became harsh and laboured as excitement zapped through his blood, tightening all the nerves in his body.

  Eager to take the sensual feast to the next level, he flicked at her clit before taking it into his mouth. Samie cried out, driving him to release her engorged clit and plunged his tongue deep inside her.

  He felt her internal muscles spasm and knew she wasn't far off coming. Increasing the speed of his movements, he thrust hard and deep. The taste of her filled his mouth. The tension clawing at his gut upped another notch as he struggled to hang on to control of his own needs.

  Suddenly, pain hit him. It felt as if someone had kicked him. “Ah, shit, nooo,” he cried out and drew back from his banquet to clutch at his side.

  "Wh-what's wrong?” Samie struggled up on her elbows and stared at him. “Hell, what a time to stop. I'm so close to coming it isn't funny."

  He crawled out from under her leg, and still holding his side, scrambled to his knees. “Shit, I've got a cramp.” He was huffing as he massaged his side.

  Samie burst into chuckles. The laughter took hold and she grabbed at her own sides. “Oh crap, I don't believe it. Here I am, naked as the day I was born and flat on my back on a wet bathroom floor ... thong shredded. Legs apart. Pussy exposed. A sexy stud going down on me. And you get a cramp?"

  He glared at her. Did she think he'd done this on purpose? He gave her a dirty look as, convulsed with laughter, she curled onto her side facing him, hands wrapped about her stomach.

  "Samie? Samantha, you home?"

  Shock rocketed through Jonah at the sound of someone calling Samie's name. He twisted to stare at the bathroom door then just as quickly looked back at Samie.

  "Oh crap, Grand Central Station.” Chuckles still tumbled out of her mouth. “Some friend she is, turning up at the wrong time. Never figured sharing an apartment would create this type of problem."

  She scrambled to her knees and grabbing the wet towel from under her butt, twisted it about her. “Hang on, Kally Anne, I'll be out in a minute."

  Shuffling forwards, she slid her arms about him and leaned her forehead against his.

  "Told you we should have moved this to the bedroom,” she whispered.

  Chapter Four

  "Come on, Kally Anne, let's get the doors open before the hordes break it down.” Samie grinned. Not that there was a crowd waiting. Just a couple of surfer types, probably after wax for their surfboards or something simple like that.

  It had only just gone nine, but already the day was heating up. Bit like her. All she had to do was think of that interlude in the bathroom yesterday and her blood felt as if it were boiling. Damn, why had she taken so long to put the hard word on Jonah?

  With a shake of her head, she unlocked the security bolts on the plate-glass doors and opened them wide, stepping outside to enjoy the morning sun. Dragging in a deep breath that threatened to dump her breasts out of the tiny triangular cups of her bikini top, she savoured the salt-laden air.

  God, she loved living right on the edge of the ocean. The surf, the sun, the tourists chasing the laidback lifestyle at the seaside—she loved it all. She'd miss it when she had to go live in the water. It wouldn't be the same at all.

  Looking down at her legs, she inspected them for any signs of change. Nothing. Not even one little fish scale. That was the scariest part. Not knowing when the change would take place.

  She sighed. This wasn't helping matters any. She turned to go back into the shop, suddenly pausing. “Freakin’ hell, will you look what they've done now?"

  "Who? What?” Kally Anne came barrelling out of the interior of the store, skidding to a halt beside Samie. She groaned as she spied the graffiti sprayed across the plate-glass windows. “Just once I'd like to catch them at it,” she spat out.

  "I'll bet you your last dollar it's those two teenagers who've been giving me grief, damn ‘em. All because I collared them shoplifting. They're just lucky I didn't report them to the police. Little shits! I catch them and I'll kick their butts for them."

  She released a frustrated breath. “Get me a bucket of soapy water and the scrubbing brush, will you, Kally Anne? I'll get rid of this if you go deal with the two guys inside.” She tilted her head towards the interior of the shop.

  Calling to the customers that she wouldn't be long, Kally Anne returned with the hot water and brushes. Samie got to work, scrubbing the paint from the glass. Her arms ached and sweat ran down her body by the time the glass was sparkling clean again.

  She swiped the back of one hand across her forehead. Thank God that was finished. At least for this time. Who knew how long it would be before her graffiti artists struck again? Bending down, she grabbed the handle of the bucket. Time to get to work—her real work—but before she retreated, she couldn't resist a glance over at the surf lifesaver's tower.

  Her surf clothing and beach necessities shop occupied the ground floor of the apartment block she'd inherited from her mother. Set right on the boardwalk in front of the area flagged for swimming safety, the tower was highly visible. So, too, was the lifesaver.

  "He sure fills out those dick togs, doesn't he?"

  Samie jumped, spinning around to find Kally Anne right behind her. She'd been so engrossed in watching Jonah climb down from his tower to herd the swimmers back between the flags, she hadn't heard a thing. And yeah, she had noticed the skimpy little swimsuit in the distinctive red and gold of the Aussie surf lifesaver.

  "Shouldn't call them dick togs,” she said, turning back to the beach. “It sounds kind of—"

  "Sexy? Come on, they're fabulous. They show off every little bump and bulge.” Kally Anne grinned and pointed to Jonah. “Look, you can tell exactly how big—"

  "Get your eyes off Jonah's package, girlfriend."

  Didn't mean to say she couldn't cop an eyeful of Jonah's ... attributes. “Damn,” she whispered, forgetting for a moment Kally Anne stood beside her, “he looks like he's hung like a horse."

  She shivered at the idea of peeling those stretchy bathers off him and exposing him in all his glory. Then she'd give him a taste of what he'd given her in the wet bathroom.

  Although, given the bulge outlined by the stretch of the fabric, the odds on getting all that into her mouth was slim to none. But she'd never been a quitter in her life and she wasn't about to start with this. If at first you don't succeed ... She grinned. She's just have to try again. Trying could be the most fun she'd ever had in her life.

  Kally Anne suddenly burst out laughing, digging Samie in the ribs with her elbow. “Oh my, if you could see your face. You look like you're about to start drooling."

  Samie gave her a sheepish grin. “Can I help it if he turns me on?"

  "Hell, girl, he doesn't just turn you on. You're in love with the guy. Have been for months. You plan on telling him?"

  "Uh-uhh, no way.”
Samie moved back into the shop. “I'm not dumping that on him."

  "Well, did you at least ask him? About being your fuck buddy until you ... you know."

  "Until I turn into a mermaid?” A chuckle surfaced. “He didn't believe me. He thinks it's just another way to let him know I want to screw his brains out."

  Kally Anne busied herself getting two sodas out of the refrigerator in the luncheon room at the back of the serving area. “Hell, I wouldn't have believed you either if I hadn't seen your mum the day she walked into the sea and disappeared. Man, that was just too bizarre."

  She handed over a drink to Samie. “So did he bite?"

  "No, we never got to the biting part, but he sure can make those lips of his work. And I gotta tell you, your timing stinks, my friend. You could have stayed out just five minutes longer.” Samie placed her drink bottle on the counter and turned to the paperwork laid out on the glass top.

  "Come on, don't leave me hanging here,” Kally Anne begged. “What happened?"

  "None of your business.” She waggled her eyebrows and gave a cheesy grin. “Now get to work, you slacker. You might be inheriting the shop and apartment complex, but not until I'm gone, so for the moment I'm still the boss. Get your mind off what happened with Jonah and onto swim shorts and surf wax."

  Samie tucked her head down and tried to concentrate on the figures. She wanted to get the books sorted out before Kally Anne took over. Shame the only figure she could see was the one clad in microscopic swimming togs that did little to hide his natural assets.

  * * * *

  Jonah used his red and gold lifesaver tee shirt to wipe the sweat off his face before he entered Surf's Up. Pausing just inside the door of Samie's shop, he glanced around. Not too many shoppers. Probably all gone to lunch or taking an afternoon nap after soaking up the sun all morning.

  Thank heavens his shift was over. The number of idiot parents who let their kids swim outside the flags was astounding. With the big warning sign posted on the beach about the strong rip running to the left of the flagged idea, you'd think they'd have better sense. He'd already had to swim out to haul two teenagers back in before they got caught in the rip.

  Well, at least he could forget about it for the rest of the day. He wasn't on again until the day after tomorrow. Time now for a bit of relaxation, not that he thought teaching Samie to swim would be conducive to a calm mind and relaxed body. Hell, he only had to think about her and his cock decided to sit up and take notice.

  His head was suddenly full of pictures of Samie sprawled on the bathroom floor, legs spread to show him the swollen lips of her—

  "Hey, Jonah, you looking for Samantha?"

  Jonah jumped as Samie's friend and co-worker came up behind him and patted him on the butt. “Oy, hands off the merchandise, woman."

  He smiled as he turned to face her. He'd known Kally Anne as long as he'd know Samie. Not only did she work with Samie, she'd moved in to share the apartment when Samie's mother had left. She was a lot of fun, but a bit outrageous at times.

  "If you don't want women ogling you, you shouldn't wear those little dick togs, my friend. They don't exactly leave a lot to the imagination.” She lifted one eyebrow and gave him a cocky grin.

  Kally Anne strode across to the counter at the back of the shop. After checking to see if Samie was around, Jonah followed her. “So where is Samie? We're supposed to be going for a swimming lesson."

  "She's getting ready now.” She pointed at the storeroom behind the counter. “She shouldn't—"

  "You ready to go, Jonah?"

  Samie strutted out of the storeroom clad in the tiniest bikini Jonah had ever seen. The bottoms were nothing but two tiny triangles tied by cords over her hips. The top wasn't much better. Two scraps of fabric that barely covered her nipples, let alone her breasts.

  The only other thing she had on was the gold chain about her waist that he'd never seen her without. Friggin’ hell, how on earth could he concentrate on the serious business of teaching her water safety when she was all but naked?

  He cleared his throat. “Ah, I'm just going up to change out of my uniform and then I'll meet you over at Shark Cove and we'll get this swimming lesson under way."

  "Aww, do you have to?” Samie leaned against the counter and struck a pose. Idly trailing the tip of one finger across her bare stomach, she let her glance slide down to the front of his swimsuit.

  Jonah gulped. Heat shot through him. He wiped his hand across his forehead where beads of sweat had broken out again, and this time he couldn't blame it on the hot weather. Oh, it was hot all right, just not that type of hot.

  He felt light-headed, as if all the blood had drained from his brain and pooled in his feet. Feet, nothing! He knew damn well where it had gone. Right to his cock. Even now, he could feel himself growing hard, his erection pushing at the stretchy fabric of his swimsuit.

  A wash of heat flowed across his face. Yeah, he wanted Samie, but he didn't want to be so blatant about it. He crossed his arms over his chest, his tee shirt hanging down so it hid his cock.

  "We're not supposed to wear our uniform except when we're on patrol, but I guess I could buy a pair of board-shorts to cover them. Then no one can say anything about it."

  Kally Anne, silent up until now, eyed him up and down. “Hmm, a medium I'd say. One pair of boardies coming up.” She pawed through one of the racks before dragging out a pair of black shorts. “These do?"

  "Ah, yeah, perfect,” he said, grabbing them from her and stepping into them without dropping the tee shirt. When he was decently covered, he slung the tee shirt over his shoulder. “I'll fix you up for them later, Samie. Don't have my wallet on me at the moment."

  "They're on the house,” Samie answered as she turned again towards the storeroom.

  "Hey, where are you going? Thought you said you were ready."

  She grinned over her shoulder. “One final thing. Won't be a minute.” She disappeared, Kally Anne scuttling after her.

  Jonah frowned. What the hell else did she need? She already had a swimsuit on. He was the one who needed a suit of armour to protect him from his own wayward hormones. These black board-shorts weren't actually going to afford him any protection.

  "So you got everything?"

  He opened his mouth to answer then realised Kally Anne wasn't talking to him. He cocked his head and listened.

  "Sunscreen, hat, towel, keys for the scooter. Check. Yeah. I don't think there's anything else I need."

  "Don't forget the gift I bought you,” Kally Anne said.

  Jonah heard the crinkling of paper then Samie's awed voice.

  "Holy shit, a jumbo pack.” She started to chuckle. “I'll wear it out if I use up all these."

  "Nah, we're built for speed and endurance, but just remember, men take longer to recover than we do. Might take a while to get through them all."

  He frowned. What the hell were they talking about? If he didn't know better—

  "Okay, let's get this show on the road."

  Samie stepped from the storeroom and Jonah took one look and started to chuckle. Within seconds, the laughter had gathered hold and turned into a full-blown belly laugh.

  "For crying out loud, you don't need that,” he managed in between bouts of laughter. “I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

  "But what if a wave knocks me over. Or a storm blows up and I can't get to shore. Or a tsunami threatens Shark Cove. Or—"

  Jonah wiped his face clean of all signs of hilarity, although his mouth still had a tendency to twitch. He'd forgotten she was afraid of the water. “None of those things will happen. It's a beautiful, calm day out there. And to start with, we'll be close in to the shore, the water no more than waist high."

  "What if—"

  "Samie, you cannot learn to swim wearing a thick, cumbersome lifejacket."

  Chapter Five

  Samie clung to Jonah's waist as he revved the engine on the quad bike. She'd intended to use her scooter to get down to Shark Cove,
but Jonah has insisted on her going with him.

  Truth be told, she was glad. The scooter was fine as long as she only travelled on the hard-packed sand at the edge of the water. The rest of the time, it just bogged down in the soft sand and she ended up having to push it. Hell of a job in the middle of the day in the Australian heat.

  "Hang on tight. I'm going to take ‘er up a bit,” Jonah yelled over his shoulder. He twisted the hand controls and the speed increased.

  "Yee-haw!” Sliding closer, Samie tightened her grip, hands clutching at the hard muscles of Jonah's stomach. She leaned into him. He hadn't bothered with a T-shirt and the feel of his hot flesh against her breasts made her nipples harden into throbbing points. She squirmed, rubbing herself against him.

  Pressed as close as she was to him, Samie felt the sharp breath Jonah took. His gut muscles tightened and she could have sworn he'd shivered. She grinned. Hah, one more reason to ride pillion with Jonah. And a perfect opportunity to further her plans.

  She slid one hand up over the left side of his chest. She felt his heart pounding, the thumping hard against her palm. The other hand she allowed to slip further down his stomach, sliding her fingers under the waistband of his board-shorts.

  "You given any more thought to getting horizontal with me in the time I've got left,” she called over his shoulder, tucking her head into the curve of his neck.

  It was the only way he'd hear her, what with the sound of the engine and the wind rushing past, but while she was there, she figured she might as well make the situation work to her advantage. She flicked her tongue up the length of his neck before reaching a little higher and running the tip around the furled edge of his ear.

  Jonah shuddered as the wet heat of Samie's mouth sent a burst of fire rocketing through his blood. His hands shook on the controls. He throttled back a few notches, dropping the speed. “Ah, Samie, maybe this isn't a good idea while we're on the bike.” His voice was a low, gravely growl.

  "Oh, I don't know, seems as good a place as any,” she said and ground her hips against him. “Captive audience, you might say. You just keep steering and I'll do all the work."