getting in her way. And for good reason. She was meeting Daniel in a few hours at Asphalt Green Aqua Center, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He’d suggested the Olympic-sized swimming pool as a gentle way for her to ease back into diving. The way she was feeling, she hoped he was right.
Over breakfast, she booted up her laptop and Googled Daniel Costello . She was usually good at remembering people, but his face and name hadn’t rung any bells. Nothing she found explained why she was attracted to him. However, what she did find both surprised and disappointed her. He was engaged to a socialite from a prominent Hamptons family. Well, she thought, disappointed or not, that would make things simpler. She couldn’t afford any romantic complications, not when she was getting back into a dangerous field where there was no room for error.
She went back into the bedroom and pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. What she needed was one successful dive in the deep to calm her jitters. Maybe then she’d sleep better and the old man—whoever he was—would leave her alone.
~~~
As she watched Daniel walk towards her on the deck, she couldn’t help but admire his swimmer’s build—a broad chest, narrow hips and strong muscular legs. She imagined what it would be like to lie down beside him, their bodies touching, glistening with sweat, hungry for that orgasmic release. She stroked the hollow of her throat to subdue her lust. Sure, she pleasured herself, but what was that? Not like being with a man who caressed her and claimed her with a passion she could only dream of.
Daniel put his diving gear down on the bench beside her. He smiled and his eyes traveled over her wet suit. “Looks good.”
“Thanks.” She was glad she’d stayed fit and trim. Her suit showed off her figure well.
He handed her a high-end regulator. “I brought you one of my spares to try out. No point buying one yet.”
When he helped her put on her buoyancy compression vest, their hands touched briefly. Involuntarily, she trembled.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No. Just stage fright.” Damn it , she thought. She was acting like a schoolgirl.
“You’ll be fine. Once a diver, always a diver.”
Forcing herself to concentrate, she secured her mask and adjusted her fins. This first leg in a city pool wouldn’t be difficult, but the idea of where this was heading made her apprehensive. The deep end of a swimming pool was a far cry from the dark depths of the ocean, where anything could go wrong.
As if he’d read her mind, he said, “Don’t think ahead. It’ll mess you up.”
He positioned himself at the edge of the pool and went into the water before her. When she finally jumped in, she was surprised to find her fears quickly replaced by relief. She’d always been a strong swimmer, and her arms and legs responded as if nothing had ever happened to dampen her enthusiasm for the sport. It was odd, but then again, it was a swimming pool, not the sea with an inky bottom. It helped that Daniel stayed within close range. And then, to ease her mind even further, they practiced universal hand signals, shorthand signs of communication that could save both their lives.
Back on deck, Daniel said, “Like I said, once a diver, always a diver.”
She smiled. “Don’t compliment me too soon. There’s still the open water.”
“You know you did well today. We don’t need to do any more confined water dives. I think you’re more than ready for the next step.”
She should’ve been pleased, but it was all happening too fast. Like being on a roller coaster, once on, it was hard to get off even if you wanted to. An email she’d received earlier that day had unnerved her. The diving newsletter—she subscribed to—had reported a couple of tragic deaths. Two brothers had gotten lost in a wreck. They’d run out of air trying to find their way out. The rescue divers found them trapped in a chamber with their gear caught on some
Over breakfast, she booted up her laptop and Googled Daniel Costello . She was usually good at remembering people, but his face and name hadn’t rung any bells. Nothing she found explained why she was attracted to him. However, what she did find both surprised and disappointed her. He was engaged to a socialite from a prominent Hamptons family. Well, she thought, disappointed or not, that would make things simpler. She couldn’t afford any romantic complications, not when she was getting back into a dangerous field where there was no room for error.
She went back into the bedroom and pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. What she needed was one successful dive in the deep to calm her jitters. Maybe then she’d sleep better and the old man—whoever he was—would leave her alone.
~~~
As she watched Daniel walk towards her on the deck, she couldn’t help but admire his swimmer’s build—a broad chest, narrow hips and strong muscular legs. She imagined what it would be like to lie down beside him, their bodies touching, glistening with sweat, hungry for that orgasmic release. She stroked the hollow of her throat to subdue her lust. Sure, she pleasured herself, but what was that? Not like being with a man who caressed her and claimed her with a passion she could only dream of.
Daniel put his diving gear down on the bench beside her. He smiled and his eyes traveled over her wet suit. “Looks good.”
“Thanks.” She was glad she’d stayed fit and trim. Her suit showed off her figure well.
He handed her a high-end regulator. “I brought you one of my spares to try out. No point buying one yet.”
When he helped her put on her buoyancy compression vest, their hands touched briefly. Involuntarily, she trembled.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No. Just stage fright.” Damn it , she thought. She was acting like a schoolgirl.
“You’ll be fine. Once a diver, always a diver.”
Forcing herself to concentrate, she secured her mask and adjusted her fins. This first leg in a city pool wouldn’t be difficult, but the idea of where this was heading made her apprehensive. The deep end of a swimming pool was a far cry from the dark depths of the ocean, where anything could go wrong.
As if he’d read her mind, he said, “Don’t think ahead. It’ll mess you up.”
He positioned himself at the edge of the pool and went into the water before her. When she finally jumped in, she was surprised to find her fears quickly replaced by relief. She’d always been a strong swimmer, and her arms and legs responded as if nothing had ever happened to dampen her enthusiasm for the sport. It was odd, but then again, it was a swimming pool, not the sea with an inky bottom. It helped that Daniel stayed within close range. And then, to ease her mind even further, they practiced universal hand signals, shorthand signs of communication that could save both their lives.
Back on deck, Daniel said, “Like I said, once a diver, always a diver.”
She smiled. “Don’t compliment me too soon. There’s still the open water.”
“You know you did well today. We don’t need to do any more confined water dives. I think you’re more than ready for the next step.”
She should’ve been pleased, but it was all happening too fast. Like being on a roller coaster, once on, it was hard to get off even if you wanted to. An email she’d received earlier that day had unnerved her. The diving newsletter—she subscribed to—had reported a couple of tragic deaths. Two brothers had gotten lost in a wreck. They’d run out of air trying to find their way out. The rescue divers found them trapped in a chamber with their gear caught on some
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