Chapter 58

An hour or so later, I was wondering if Thor was ever gonna stop the ship so I could get on with the getting lucky portion of our day. I was once again plastered against him from behind, but he didn't seem to be getting the message. What did a girl have to do to get her some hot Viking loving?
"Where are we headed, Baby Thunder?"I peered around Thor's side just as a dolphin broke the surface of the water in front of the boat. "Look, look!"I pointed.
Thor laughed and put an arm around my shoulder; bringing me up beside him. "They're playing in the froth. Do you want me to stop the ship so you can join them?"
"Uh, no; I prefer to play with you."I smiled nervously.
"Are you scared of dolphins?"He looked as if he was surprised I'd be scared of anything.
It kinda made me fall a little harder for him.
"No, just a little paranoid of deep water."I looked away; worried that he'd take it badly.
"You're afraid of the ocean?"He was astounded.
"I don't like my legs dangling into someone's backyard,"I tried for a light tone. "Especially when that someone has sharp teeth. I just feel like bait."
"Bait?"Thor laughed, and it was his booming, glass-shaking laugh. I glared at him, but it only made him laugh harder. "You live on an island."
"I didn't say I couldn't swim,"I crossed my arms and huffed. "I just don't want to frolic in the deep blue."
"Oh, you're going to frolic."He pulled me against him; crossed arms and all. "You'll frolic with me in the deep blue, and you'll like it."
"Anyone ever tell you you're a pompous jerk?"I kept my arms crossed even though he was pulling me tightly against his chest and it was getting uncomfortable. That'll show him.
"Vervain, nothing will hurt you when I'm in the water with you."Thor shook his head at me as if I was being silly. "The predators can feel my presence and will keep their distance."
I heaved a sigh. "I know you're right but paranoia doesn't make sense; that's the whole point."
"It'll be all right, you'll see."Thor kissed my forehead.
Then Thor let me go so he could stop the boat. Great; this so wasn't what I wanted him to stop the boat for. He took me by the hand and led me down to the back of the ship. I looked at the ledge hanging off the back of the boat, slapping the water with each wave, and blanched. I could feel my breath coming faster, and I was pretty sure I was shaking but everything took a back seat to the sight of all that blue I was about to get into. Blue, huh; I guess there was more than one I didn't like.
There were things in all that water; things that liked to nibble on the toes of stupid humans who dangled their feet into someone else's territory. The ocean was so deep that we couldn't explore it all. Deep sea was like deep space; who knew what was down there? Who knew what could come up at any moment for a look see? Or a light lunch.
"Ah."I tried to pull away, but I was weak from terror. "You just go ahead, and I'll watch from here."
Thor frowned and studied me. I don't think he understood the depths—no pun intended—of my paranoia.
"You really are afraid."He blinked at me.
Nope, he just didn't get it.
"No, I'm a compulsive liar."I snorted; my hands clenched tightly at my sides.
"Darling, nothing will hurt you, I swear it."Thor held both of my fists in his hands.
"Sure."I nodded a little too quickly. "I believe you."
"Okay."He let me go and started towards the ledge. "I'm going to go in, and I want you to come and just sit here."
"Yeah okay."I walked over slowly.
Thor jumped in, splashing me, and I even laughed at that; I was so relieved that I wouldn't have to go in. He smiled at me as he tread water and then looked over his shoulder at the pod of dolphins swimming nearby. They immediately swam closer. I watched in amazement as they approached him; nudging him with heads and flippers. Thor swam almost as well as they did, and the dolphins seemed to enjoy his company.
After awhile, Thor came back over to my ledge and a dolphin trailed after him. I laughed like a little girl when it popped its head up next to me; clicking and chirping in its secret language.
"What's that, Flipper?"I leaned toward the dolphin as if I could understand it. "Someone's in trouble?"Thor's smile looked confused, so I explained. "It was an old TV show with a little boy who was friends with a dolphin."
"Well, I think you've got a new friend."He stroked the high gray forehead, and the dolphin dipped underwater and then came up a little closer. "Come in with us, baby."
Oh, crap. I should've known this was where it was headed. I stalled by reaching out to the dolphin. It jerked its head up and tapped my hand with its snout. I laughed and a little of the fear eased away. Two more heads popped up around us and loud chirping sounds filled the air. I didn't know dolphins behaved like this without being trained.
Most people would have loved to have been in my shoes. What was wrong with me? I looked at Thor, smiling brightly, the sunlight rebounding off the water to coat him in gold, and all those beautiful mammals swimming beside him. I was about to relent when the soundtrack to Jaws started playing in my head. Duh-nah . . . duh-nah, duh-nah.
"Darling, even if I weren't here"-Thor laid back into the middle of the pod and more heads broke the surface—"you'd be safe because of them. Dolphins can kill sharks and their mere presence will discourage attacks."
Thor was telling me things I already knew. It didn't help. You can't reason with paranoia. Why do people always try to fix you with reason? I frowned and hugged my knees against my chest. I didn't need fixing. I just needed to be left alone. On the boat.
"I'm fine where I am, thanks."I scanned the horizon for more fins. "Discourage doesn't mean they won't attack. Sharks have no fear."
"Vervain."Thor swam up to the boat again. "I want to feel your soft skin rubbing against mine. I want your legs wrapped around me while we swim together."He held onto the ledge and caught me in a piercing, lightning-filled stare. "I want to feel the heat of your mouth on mine while the ocean cools us."
As quickly as that, the fear was gone; replaced by hot desire. I held Thor's gaze as I stood and the look on his face was pure sex. Tingles of excitement rushed through me as I undid the sarong and flung it behind me. It fluttered to the deck as Thor swam back a little to give me some room.
"Oh, you're good."I dove into the water and came sliding up against his chest. "I give up. I'm no match for centuries of sweet talk experience."
Thor's breath was warm and fast against my neck when he pulled me tighter against him and whispered, "I love your surrender almost as much as your conquest."
"Conquest?"I wrapped my legs around his waist, just as he wanted, and let him tread water for the both of us.
"You know I'm yours."He kissed his way up my neck and met my gaze with such heat that I was grateful for the water's chill.
"Are you?"I was suddenly out of breath. "For how long?"
"As long as you want me."Thor silenced any further questions by putting my mouth to much better use.
I felt a long, silky body slide along my back and stiffened for a second before I remembered the dolphins. I almost giggled, I was so excited. I leaned back and reached out to them. A head surfaced beneath my hand and big, dark eyes regarded me with amazing intelligence. The long mouth opened and an excited clicking came from it.
I let go of Thor, and he gently pushed me toward the dolphin. Slick, thick skin flowed under my hands as the dolphin dove. I caught its dorsal fin, and it pulled me along with it under the water. I grabbed on tightly with my other hand as we broke the surface and then shook the water out of my eyes. Thor laughed, and I felt so carefree that I joined in. Where had all my fear gone? A small part of me knew this was Thor's doing in more ways than one, but I didn't care. I was having too much fun.
Have you ever rode a horse? Felt the power of a beast beneath you? Known the exhilaration of being carried along by the speed of another creature faster than yourself? Had the kinship of being connected to an animal you'd previously thought of as untouchable; too wild to be near? Riding a horse is wonderful, but it pales in comparison to riding a dolphin.
Never before had I felt so honored; befriended by an animal whose grace and intelligence set it apart from other species almost to the point where it became otherworldly. Sliding through the water with them, I felt the lure of the ocean for the first time. The beauty and power of a separate world within our own; a world in which these creatures ruled. A world into which I was being welcomed.
The dolphin brought me in a complete circle, and I ended up in front of Thor again. I reached for him, and he pulled me back in against his chest. He felt so good; all slick and solid. His bright, red hair was plastered to him and glittered darker than when it was dry. He had a permagrin plastered on as well, and I realized how important it was for him to share this with me.
"I knew you could do it."Thor licked the salt from my lips. "Nothing scares my girl for long."
I kissed Thor deeper, and he groaned as he pressed up against me; hard and ready. The dolphins splashed around us; chattering and sliding against our skin. I leaned back and wrapped my legs around Thor so I could float on the surface but still be connected to him. His hands slid up my waist and over the mounds of flesh that rose out of my blue bikini top. I sighed and rubbed little circles over his forearms; amazingly content and happy.
Then Thor reached behind me and undid the tie that held my top on. He quickly pulled it from me; tossing it on board the ship before I could protest. I screeched; covering my chest with my arms and sitting back up against him. The water gushed up between us.
"There's no one here but us and the dolphins."Thor laughed. "I don't think they're interested in you like that."
"Anyone could sail up."I scanned the horizon for ships.
"By the time they got close enough to see you, we'd already have you covered."He slid a hand between us and twirled a nipple with his fingers. "Let me see you. I've been dreaming about what your body would look like surrounded only by the sea and me."
"You're slick, you know that?"I gave him a Mona Lisa smile and lay back into the water slowly; drawing my hands down his arms as I went.
I felt my hair float out around me; swirling like seaweed. Thor's face went still, and his chest rose faster.
"You make reality so much better than fantasy."He stared at me; his eyes flashing brighter and brighter.
Then Thor's hands were sliding over me, stroking my breasts before going lower, and I tightened my legs around him to keep myself lifted. One of his hands reached under to support me so I could relax my grip, and I briefly wondered how he was staying afloat without kicking.
"Relax, darling."Thor leaned over and licked first one and then the other breast as I sighed in delight. "My magic is holding us; just let go."
So I did. I let go of my fears and inhibitions as Thor held onto me and changed my mind about the sea.