DARK HORSE: SUNSET SWIM

1

She walked in slowly. The river ran cold, soothing hands over her skin, washing the day away. She lay back, floating, totally at ease, listening to the high whine of a far off motorboat. She thought about Rabu wheeling away from her when Ms Smith approached. She was beginning to suspect that Rabu didn’t like Ms Smith.

She remembered how he’d pushed his head into her chest before that, the satiny texture of his neck, the soft huff of his breath and how that moment had stretched out like elastic.

So perfect….

Something gripped her ankle like a vice. Cordy flailed upright in an uncharacteristically awkward thrashing of limbs, her heart racing.

“Relax,” came a lilting voice. “It’s just me.”

Dylan’s eyes flashed emerald in the setting sun as he smiled at her. He’d approached so quietly she hadn’t heard him at all.

“Dylan! You scared the life out of me.” Cordy wiped water out of her eyes. “Do you do anything other than prank people?”

Dylan’s smile faltered. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. And… sorry about the other day too.” His eyes met hers steadily. There was no hint of mockery in them. He seemed completely sincere.

“It’s Ro you should be apologising to,” Cordy pointed out.

“Maybe, but right now I’m talking to you,” Dylan said. “You came to the house today.”

“You saw me? Your aunt said you weren’t home.”

2

“I was there. I wasn’t ready to see anyone. I’m glad you came though.” He smiled again.

Cordy trod water, acutely aware of how beautiful he was. His black hair lay sleek against his head and his eyes dazzled in the golden light. She could see the perfect musculature of his shoulders and imagine the rest of him beneath the water. She wanted to touch him as if he were hers—but he was not.

“I came to see how you were after…,” her voice trailed off.

“I’m fine.” His smile lengthened at one corner and took on a teasing edge. “You know, it’s much nicer without your bodyguards around. How is it you’re alone?”

Cordy turned a slow circle in the water, letting her eyes take in the sunset sky, the glassy pink and blue water and the dark, forested cliffs around them. “It’s the perfect time for an evening swim,” she said, waving a hand at everything.

“It is. And there’s more than just us agree.” He nodded to the water behind her.

She turned and her breath caught in her throat. There was a fin. A big fin. Too close. It sliced the water cleanly, as though a ton of muscle did not lurk just below it, carrying a razored gape of a mouth.

“Tiger shark,” Dylan said conversationally. “Fine big one, too.”

“Shark!” The cry came from the beach.

Cordy hardly heard the warning over the pounding in her ears.  She started for the shore but Dylan’s long fingers circled her wrist.

3

“What are you doing?” he asked. He sounded confused, as if the idea of fleeing a shark had never occurred to him. “She won’t hurt us.”

The fin passed slowly. Cordy could see the dark body of the shark under the surface. It was huge. Its mouth would be huge too. She wanted to struggle, to rip Dylan’s hand from her wrist, but she was certain the shark would turn on her the moment she moved.

Dylan searched her face, brows drawn together. He looked mystified. His expression cleared abruptly. “You haven’t swum with sharks before, have you?”

She shook her head stiffly. He pulled her toward him, turning her so that her head rested on his shoulder.

“It’s okay.” He spoke into her ear, his voice smooth and low. “She won’t hurt you.”

“How do you know?” Cordy whispered.

“Because I’ve swum with sharks before,” he said. “Lots of them. Trust me.”

The fin passed them again.

“See? She’s just curious.”

Cordy’s alarm increased. “Don’t they get curious with their mouths?”

Dylan laughed. “Don’t worry. If she was going to attack it would’ve happened already. Tiger sharks get close and then pounce.”

Anger built inside Cordy. How can he possibly know what a shark will do? It could do anything. She wanted to make for the shore but Dylan’s arm held her tight against his chest.

4

“Let go of me,” she grated.

“I will,” he said. His arm didn’t move. “In a minute.”

The third time the fin passed them, Dylan reached out and let his fingers trail along the shark’s body.

“What are you doing?” Cordy thought her heart was going to explode.

“Touch her,” Dylan urged, his breath warm on her ear.

Cordy shook her head but even as she did so she reached a trembling hand toward the huge fish. She let one finger brush its skin, ever so lightly. She gasped. She’d expected the texture of sandpaper but it was smoother than that.

The shark didn’t seem disturbed by her touch. Cordy’s fear abated as it swam around them again. There was no attack, though Dylan continued to trail his fingers along the shark’s flanks. After what seemed like aeons, the fin flowed away toward deeper water.

Cordy’s awareness of other sensations grew as the fin receded. Dylan’s body was hard against her back and the arm that held her against him was a band of steel. Just as she registered the heady feeling of his body pressed to hers, he released her.

She whirled to face him. “I can’t believe you did that!” She let the memory of anger sharpen her tone. She struck out for shore. 

It wasn’t until she reached the sand that she discovered he hadn’t followed her. He was swimming away along the beach with that effortless speed.