I start to slip my dress off, a black bikini becoming exposed.
“It’s too late to swim, Blair,” Ben says.
I ignore him.
The dress pools on the sand and I run to the sea, ignoring his single call. The water embraces me as it does every time, lapping over my skin, the shock of the cold waking me. I dive into the waves and take big strokes into the depths of the water, then pin my arms by my sides and dive under, opening my eyes to the fish and coral. I can hold my breath for a while now, and I push myself through the sea, further out, knowing that I was chasing space.
We were outside, only us on the beach, but something felt claustrophobic. Too much isn’t being said. I come up for air, treading water. The sun has almost gone. A quick look towards the beach and I see dark seas, the lights from the land twinkling.
My scream breaks the silence of the night and I stun myself with its volume. Warm skin pressed against my back and arms encase me.
“Shhhhh.”
Ben. It’s just Ben. And Isaac, who’s now in front of me. Both are treading water.
I pull breath into me, kicking out to keep myself afloat even though Ben’s got hold of me. Indignance and rage hit me.
“I’m perfectly capable of swimming out here. Why the fuck…” I realise Ben’s naked behind me.
Isaac’s shirtless. The faint light that’s left lets me see the darkness of his features, his eyes glistening.
“We didn’t see you for ages, Blair.” His English accent isn’t that of a politician, especially now. “We watched you swim out and then you dived and didn’t come up.”
Ben’s hand is on my breast under the water. I don’t know if it’s purposeful or just because he’s clutching on to me.
“I’m a good swimmer.”
“I know.” Ben murmurs into my ear.
I feel his heart race against my back.
“But it’s dark and the ocean drops quickly here.” His hand is now under my bikini top, cupping my breast.
Isaac is watching us, watching how Ben holds me. There’s no way he doesn’t know Ben is more than my security lead.
“I know the ocean. I swim out every day.”
“But not at night. Don’t argue with me, Blair. I’m meant to keep you safe. Let me do my job.”
“Then if you’re doing your job, why is he here?” I nod towards Isaac.
“If something had happened, two people would’ve been better. I apologise if I’ve overstepped.”Your highness. He doesn’t add the words, but he may as well have.
We move towards the shore, the night turning blacker. Ben won’t let me go and if I thought I was just a fuck, I now know better.
“It’d be easier if I swam back myself.” I manage to get the words out through my annoyance.
“But then I can’t feel your tits in front of someone else.” His words are quiet enough to not be heard. Isaac is slightly in front of us. “I’ll see you in your room when we get back. Join me for a whisky.”
For his nerves.
“Don’t bother with clothes.”
He didn’t need to add that last part.
* * *
My bikini is in disarray when I climb out of the ocean, my nipple exposed. Isaac is already on the sand, facing us and pulling shorts onto his dripping body. The lack of light gives us all privacy to a degree but I can’t help think and silently laugh about how my brother would react if he knew what’d just happened.
