Rio struggled to remember where they were and the danger they were in. She had a way of sweeping away sane thoughts and replacing them instantly with urgent hunger and need. Very carefully he lowered her feet into the rushing water, reluctantly lifting his head as he did so. It was the only way to breathe and keep his sanity and wits.

“I’ve got you, Rachael.” His arm around her waist steadied her as he looped a rope around her and secured it around his own waist. “I’m not about to lose you. We’re going to wade out where the water is moving faster, lift our feet and travel downstream with the current. We don’t want anything to let him know what direction we’re going. A leaf, the bottom of the river near the banks disturbed, anything at all can be a clue. We’ll travel downriver for some time.”

“Let’s do it then.” She didn’t want to lose her nerve. She grinned at him. “At least I know you’re not attracted to me because I look great.” She swept a hand through her hair and took the first step. Her injured leg, even with the support of the water, didn’t want to take her weight so she stretched out full length and began to swim.

Rio went after her, pride welling up at her courage. The moonlight fell across her face as she swam, and he watched the beads of water pour off of her. She used sure, strong strokes, cut cleanly through the water, almost as silent as he was. There it was again, that strange disorienting feeling of familiarity. He had been swimming with her before. He had seen an exact image, he knew the moment she would turn her head and take a breath of air.

The current was stronger in the center of the river and took them both with little effort, carrying them downstream. Rio caught her hand and held tight as they both bent knees and lifted feet to avoid rocks and snags as they were swept along. It was a dizzying experience, looking up at the night sky after so many days seeing nothing but canopy overhead. Stars, scattered across the dark backdrop, glittered like gems in spite of the clouds. The rain fell lightly, a fine mist, more than an actual shower so that Rachael turned up her face to feel the spray.

The river wasn’t nearly as ferocious as when it was raging in the storm. There were no dragging undercurrents trying to pull her down. Rachael found she rather enjoyed the experience after lying in bed for so long. Rio stayed very close to her, hovering protectively, which made her feel cherished, something she’d never experienced. It was like a dream. Neither spoke as sound traveled great distances at night on the river.