River & Her Royal Mate novel Chapter 5

River was lost somewhere between a glare and a gawk.

The small lake glistened in the bright, late afternoon sun.

It also glistened off the mostly naked body of the demigod floating far below her in the water. She wasn’t sure if it was the height or the exquisite muscles that had her knees wobbling.

No one had any business looking that good.

Or feeling that good to touch.

She could still feel his skin pressing against her back. It sent a euphoric rush along her thighs that reminded her of a runner’s high.

Kai released River as soon as he felt her tense.

Then he simply smiled, and tossed himself off the cliff with an obnoxious, casual little wave. Like he jumped off forty foot drops all the time. It made her irrationally annoyed for some reason.

Now she stood there with her fists clenched, fighting with herself. Having an audience for her face off with fear was not what she had in mind when she came out here.

On the other hand, who cared? And she couldn't just back down now that he had already done it.

She should just jump.

So jump.

She should just put her clothes back on and go home.

So go home.

She should flip him off.

From this distance she couldn’t quite be sure of the smirk that passed over Kai’s incredible lips. Was he laughing at her?

Her toes curled over the roughhewn lip of rock and she caught a shuddering inhale. She didn’t remember stepping up to the edge. River cast one last glance down to make sure he was watching.

Kai definitely made a face. River definitely gave him the finger.

Then she was airborne.

For a second, it was nothing. There was no fear, no sensation, just a sort of horrified realization that she had finally done it and had to live with the consequences.

The logical part of her brain completely understood.

Every other part of River’s typically overbearing, wary mind shouted that she was a total idiot and tried to retreat back up onto the ledge.

That’s when the gasping surge of falling kicked in and flushed every thought right down the drain.

The rush tightened every muscle in her body, which was good because one instinct was to flail and somewhere in between the high pitched squeal that followed her down she knew flailing would get her hurt when she hit the water.

Forty feet lasted an eternity but was over in a split second.

She forced herself to catch a tiny breath and clamped her eyed shut right before she hit.

Ice cold water surged up around her, enveloping her.

It felt…incredible. Every inch of her skin sang with the impact and the jolt of delicious cold.

The whole experience felt…quenching.

Like she had been thirsty for so long and hadn’t known how to slake her thirst.

Adrenaline coursed through her, heightening her senses. Every nerve felt electric.

Water warbled the sounds of her movements in the water. Much to her surprise, none of the water had gone up her nose.

River opened her eyes to look around. The lake was crystal clear. Rippling light reached the sandy bottom a few feet below her. Details jumped out at her, each and every colorful pebble and boulder littering the bottom of the small lake.

Her hands splayed, dragging along to feel the liquid between her fingers.

Pushing upward, she realized how deep she was and had a mini panic attack. She forced it down, stroked her arms, and kicked up and broke the surface.

She couldn’t resist the grin that pulled so hard at her mouth that her cheeks hurt. A soft chuckle to her right matched her own sputtering laugh.

Kai was hovering nearby, his amber eyes sparkling. Water matted his honey-colored hair to his head, not darkening it much, but accenting the golden highlights. A few short curls still fought free, playfully bobbing around his cheeks.

Without a thought she drifted to him, breathing heavy, but not labored.

In the shallows, shadowed by an overhanging branch he met her gaze. His tongue flicked over his lips.

Was he nervous? No way.

“You did it,” he stated, not sounding particularly surprised, but maybe a little impressed.

“I did.” She didn’t bother trying to hide her pride in herself. Excitement still hopped and skipped through her limbs from the rush.

Kai moved forward a bit, his shoulders poking above the surface of the water. He looked beyond enticing.

Still, she held back from him warily. He floated just a few feet away, circling slightly.

She kept pace, hovering in the shallow waters.

They spun like that for a little while, feeling one another out before he broke the stalemate.

“What’s your name?” He sounded almost hesitant.

“What are you doing up here?” River countered.

“Swimming. Is that OK?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She arched an eyebrow. He let out a little laugh.

After a few moments of thinking he responded, “I like to get away from…all of it.”

“Me too.” River swept away from him, leading. He followed.

“There’s just too much sometimes. Noise. Talking,” Kai continued.

“Right. I get enough of it in my own head. She never shuts up,” River half giggled. Why was she opening up so easily to him? A warning echoed distantly, begging her to be careful. Not to trust.