I’m counting down in my head, and I haven’t even got to five when he grabs me.I’m pulled upward, and I only put any effort in myself just before I break the surface.
I can’t read Colin’s expression as I wipe the water from my face.His eyes look me over, in shock and then pissed off as he realizes I was testing him.
“Oh, no, it’s an emergency,” I imitate him.His hands are still gripping my arms.
“What the hell, Olive?”he snaps.He’s never spoken that seriously to me before.Something stirs in my belly.“D’you think that’s funny?”
“Doyouthink it’s funny?”I retort.After all, it was him who just pulled me in.
For a few seconds, we face each other, then seem to become aware that we’re only centimeters apart.He’s right in front of me, and he’s wearing practically nothing.Tanned skin that looks so outrageously smooth I want to touch it to find out how it feels.His muscly arms, his wet chest.
I push myself away, and Colin immediately snatches back his hands.
“It was not funny,” he snarls as I turn over to float on my back.
“No, it wasn’t,” I agree.When he doesn’t speak, I glance at him.
“You’re unbelievable, Olive Garden,” he murmurs.It doesn’t sound as snarky as I’d expected, but perhaps that’s just down to the water in my ears.
The graft on my shoulder tenses as I stretch out my arms.I know I’m not meant to be in the water yet, but a few minutes won’t kill me.My jumper’s sodden and it’s pulling me down, but there’s no way in hell I’m taking it off.Even if I wasn’t ashamed of the way I look, I’m really not in the mood for Colin seeing my scars and starting to ask questions.
I dive under, and when I resurface, Colin’s looking at me again.Or else he never stopped.
“What?”I ask, and I’m annoyed at how hoarse my voice sounds.Anything but detached.But then “anything but detached” is exactly how I feel about what’s going on here.I’m in the water.With Colin.
“Nothing,” he says, not taking his eyes off me.He comes over, slowly.“Nothing at all, Olive.”
There’s chemistry between us.It was obvious from the very first seconds we met.From the moment I was standing by that display case and Colin was there.And then he was everywhere, and even if there are times I could launch him into outer space, I don’t want him to leave here now.Because there’s something between us that I’ve never felt with anyone else.It’s the certainty that Colin can see through me.And that’s what stops me pulling away when he closes the last wee gap between us.
He’s right next to me and my heart is beating fast.Very fast.
His mouth, which really is very handsome, is open slightly and his eyes, which really are very handsome, are dark.He’s watching my lips, just for a moment, and then he looks me in the eyes again.
“Are you going to kiss me now?”I ask, because the silence is unbearable.
Colin gulps.“No,” he says.
“OK,” I whisper.So I’ll do it for him.
Colin neither moves away nor comes toward me.In fact, he doesn’t move at all.He’s simply there, a warm body with hot, soft lips.Softer than I thought.He doesn’t move until I let go of him again.Before I can pull back, he reaches for me.His hands find my face, and then he kisses me.And I mean kisses me.Self-assured and tender, but urgent.
Underwater, my hands touch his skin.Warm, smooth, really smooth.They glide over his chest to his shoulders and the back of his neck as I open my mouth.Colin doesn’t hesitate.He keeps kissing me, and I can’t remember how to breathe at the same time.Everything’s gone.
Not that I’ve got all that much experience.Apart from Ludwig from the swimming team, who was, it should be said, a pretty average first kiss, there’s only been Eduardo, on holiday in Andalucía with my parents a few years ago.He was a holiday rep in our hotel, and his kisses were pretty uninspiring too.Colin’s kissing is better.Better than anything.
He pulls me to him and I wrap my legs around his hips.My pulse quickens, my head stops thinking as I pull him to me with my legs, and Colin gives a throaty growl.
Kissing in the water is tiring—I know that from the time with Ludwig.We’re in the deepest part of the pool.Colin pushes me back against the edge and pins me there with his arms.
“Now you’re kissing me,” I say as we briefly come up for air.
“Now I’m kissing you,” he repeats.My stomach lurches as he strokes a strand of hair out of my face.His touch is careful.My whole body tingles.“I bet you didn’t enjoy it.”
I have to grin.“No, I didn’t.”
“Thought as much,” he says, and does it again.
I have to shut my eyes.“Areyouenjoying it?”I whisper, between two kisses.
