Page 16 (2/2)

"Okay I think I can stand now" Gripping the trunk of a tree nearby, I slowly proppedfor it to pass

When I opened theain, I could see fine My knees were a little shaky, but nothing that I wouldn’t recover froh

I realized only now thatall this ti fewer clothes…

Caleb rose withthat Annora do the saets dark We’ll have to find somewhere up in the trees, near a streaht, so I think I knohere to look first"

I stared at the thick jungle lining the beach Then I looked down at my bare feet I looked at Annora’s feet She wore no shoes either

"I’ll have to carry you both," he said, following ht "We should leave now"

Annora approached hi her legs around his waist It left me no choice but to cliainst hers as roughly as I could as I climbed onto him

Caleb was tall and sturdy--but both Annora and I were also fairly tall and with both our ars wrapped round hi space would have been an understatement I hated that I had to twine h as Caleb launched forward into the jungle

I just hoped he would hurry and get us there as soon as possible Especially when Annora pressed her lips against his neck I scowled at her and restedface was out of view

It was lucky for Caleb that the jungle was dense The trees shielded him from most of the sun’s rays

As it turned out, what Caleb had seen the night before was more than a stream It was a beautiful, crystal-clear lake I breathed out in relief as it ca Both Annora’s and ainst each other As soon as Caleb stopped, I ju any concern for modesty--Caleb had seen me bare already, and I didn’t care what Annora saw--I stripped to my underwear and dove in I realized as I was already underwater that I hadn’t considered the possibility of dangerous creatures lurking in these waters But at that moment, I couldn’t think about that It was just a relief to have fresh water I scrubbedaway all the sticky sea salt and sweat

I wished I had so flowers nearby Hoping they weren’t poisonous, I reached up and grabbed therant I crushed theainst my skin They smelled better than any bodywash I’d ever used

By the ti like a flowerthe bank She hadn’t bothered to even keep her underwear on