Okay, perhaps not perfect, but perfection was overrated. Kelly admired Lucy’s sass. Rather than chastise Lucy for answering her back, Kelly took the opportunity to throw some of Lucy’s words back at her.

“I’d peel these off.” Kelly tugged on Lucy’s briefs. “But, I don’t make a habit of going into people’s drawers without their permission.”

Lucy’s lips twitched, confirming her innocent comment had been nothing of the sort.

Thankfully, unlike that day at the café, Kelly could now find humour in the comment rather than have a coronary. Sure, her heart was racing, but that was for entirely different reasons.

The loud snap of elastic on wet skin echoed in Kelly’s ears when she released the waistband. Elation shot through her when Lucy didn’t so much as flinch, just held Kelly’s gaze as if awaiting further instruction.

Kelly put her hands on her hips. “Strip.”

A hint of worry skidded across Lucy’s face. Her gaze flittered left, then right, over Kelly’s shoulder, across the river, to the top of the rockface, then settled back on Kelly.

Apparently, like Kelly, Lucy wasn’t an exhibitionist. As much as Kelly liked the element of surprise, she had no intention of exploiting Lucy’s worries.

Intent on erasing Lucy’s fears, Kelly walked behind her and kissed her shoulder blade. She ran her tongue over a droplet of water that dripped from Lucy’s hair. Her skin was hot and slightly pink, another good reason to get out of the sun.

Slowly, Kelly undid the hooks on Lucy’s bra. One. Two. Three.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tie you up for all the world to see.” She trailed a finger under the crease of Lucy’s left breast.

Lucy shivered, goose flesh erupting on her skin.

“This gorgeous body is for my eyes only.”

Hanging on to Kelly’s every word, Lucy looked incredibly beautiful and vulnerable, the combination was a heady drug. Lucy trusted her. And that was everything to Kelly.

Lucy sucked in a breath and let it out slowly as Kelly slid the straps down her arms.

Questions swam in Lucy’s eyes, but she didn’t voice them, further cementing her trust in Kelly.

Kelly picked up the towel, shook the grit off, and handed it to Lucy.

As if reading Kelly’s mind, Lucy wrapped it around her body, knotted it above her breasts, and kicked her underwear off.

After spreading their wet clothes over an old log, Kelly plucked up the length of rope and grabbed Lucy’s hand, towing her behind her.

“I have the perfect way to pass the time while these are drying. Did you notice the big tree on our way to the riverbank?”

“I did!” Lucy said, her voice shrill.