Unclothed, she stood full upright and stretched. Susan, her lanky arms reaching skyward, her face skyward in her unique prayer position. She inhaled deeply, forcing her ribs to the surface and her breasts outward, teasing him in an entirely different way now.

Then in a quick, comfortable motion, her golden body slid into the water. Her fingertips first to touch the glassy surface, then head, body, and hips. Then she was gone, vanished into the depths. Scarcely a ripple marked her passage.

Daniel watched her go, savoring the sight of her, then began to remove his own shirt. He was eager to be in the water, to be with her. Hungry to be in her with the water.

His fingers fumbled at his buttons, unable to force them quickly enough through their buttonholes. Then his zipper while kicking off his shoes, his pants, his shirt. After interminable seconds he flung his last sock away.

He took his own deep breath and prepared to jump. The cool forest air caught in his throat.

Susan had not yet surfaced.