The water was refreshing, and the woman on my shoulder clung to me like a floatation device. We popped back up, and the raindrops picked up, falling onto our heads. The only noises echoing around the pool area were the droplets on the water surface.
“What the hell is your problem? I fucking hate storms. They terrify the shit out of me, and I especially don’t wanna be in water while one is happening. This is how people die!”
She tried to get off me, so I let her but not as she might have wished. I tossed her ass into the deeper side. She came up from underneath with murder in her eyes.
This I could deal with.
“There is no lightning around. It’s just rain. You’re safe. Now, tell me what’s really going on,” I demanded, moving slowly toward her. Carefully treading water.
“Are you kidding me? This was completely out of line.” She tried to swim toward the ladder that would let her out, but I grabbed her, feeling desperate for her to let me in.
I did the only thing that came to mind.
My lips crashed against hers, and I pulled her body close to mine in the shallow side, only our heads above the water.
Her movements to escape had left her, only wide eyes and shock at our connected touch keeping her in this pool with me.
My hands ran up her back, soothing her as I kissed her again and again.
When her lips began joining mine in finding comfort in one another, I felt unimaginable joy clench my chest. Just this woman’s kiss and sensual touch, as innocent as our touch was, lit me on fire inside. I wanted more. Like an addict, I craved her smile and, now, her lips. She was not without passion in her life; it was all there. Locked away and was ready to be set loose.
I pulled back and softly kissed her, letting her know we had to separate.
“What happened, Mia?” My hand rubbed her back while the other kept her pressed against me.
Her bottom lip wobbled as she looked up at the sky and then back at me. Droplets fell from her long eyelashes, and I wished I had a camera to capture how beautiful she looked right now. She was deciding whether or not to trust me and reveal emotions, all while having reddened lips from our gentle kiss.
She wanted out of the rain as well as whatever she was dealing with in her head. It was easier to retreat back inside herself than face the unknown.
“Best thing you can do when it rains is to simply let it rain, Mia. You can’t control anything but yourself. Open up to me, Mia. Share the pain.”
