down her back, slick and glossy like a streak of black paint, to the top curve of her buttocks which were just visible above the water.
Alerted to his presence, Bailey, who’d been frolicking happily in the waves, began to bark in earnest causing Ava to turn her head, her midnight eyes locking on his.
He spun around quickly putting his back to her to give her some privacy as every inch of his body grew warm despite the rapidly cooling evening air.
‘Uh sorry,’ he stuttered. ‘I was looking for you, I didn’t mean to intrude. I mean, I didn’t know you were… you know… naked.’
Ava waded across to one of the larger rocks jutting out of the water, where she’d rested her soap and shampoo, and crossing her arms on top of it she leaned against it, effectively shielding her body from prying eyes.
‘It’s okay Kelley,’ she replied, ‘you can turn around. I’m decent… more or less.’
‘I uh…’ he turned his head and found her leaning against a rock like a mermaid, watching him curiously.
He was so cute, she thought to herself, all embarrassed and trying not to look at her.
‘I’m sorry I laughed at you,’ he stuck his hands in his pockets and kicked the sand like a surly teenager.
Definitely cute.
‘I’m sorry I set my dog on you,’ as the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.
‘Well okay then,’ he nodded, trying desperately to resist the temptation to look at her and all her glorious, wet, naked skin, ‘I should probably go.’
‘Why?’
‘What do you mean why?’
‘Does my body bother you?’ she tilted her head as she studied him.
‘Is that a trick question?’ he replied. ‘I don’t think there’s any way for me to answer that without sounding like an idiot or a creep.’
Ava laughed.
‘Kelley,’ she shook her head in amusement, ‘get your clothes off and get in here, the water’s lovely.’
‘I’m sorry what?’ he blinked, pretty sure he misheard.
‘I said, get naked and get in here,’ she laughed again.
‘That’s what I thought you said,’ his eyes narrowed as he stared at her, not sure if she was serious or not.
‘I’m not inviting you in for sex, let’s get that straight now, but seriously, I can smell you from here.’
‘And who’s fault is that?’ he crossed his arms.
‘Yours, for laughing at me,’ she smiled. ‘Come on, I’ve got soap… and shampoo,’ she picked up the bottle and waved it at him.
He had to admit, he wanted the soap and shampoo more than anything at that particular moment. Every time he got a whiff of himself it turned his stomach.
‘And it doesn’t bother you?’ he asked curiously, ‘skinny dipping on a secluded beach with a guy you’ve only just met?’
‘Kelley, I was raised by a bunch of hippies. We spent entire summers naked when we were kids.’
‘We’re not kids,’ he pointed out.
‘I’ll behave myself if you will,’ she grinned, ‘besides we have a giant lumbering wet dog as a chaperone.’
‘A valid point,’ he nodded.
‘Come on then?’ she challenged him, ‘unless you’re chicken?’
His green eyes narrowed once again as he kicked off his shoes and peeled off his socks. Next went the jacket and shirt, followed by his jeans until he stood in front of her interested gaze in nothing but tight black boxers.
She lifted an eyebrow in challenge.
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he shook his head. ‘Turn around, the water’s probably freezing, and I won’t be looking my best.’
She threw her head back with a silvery peal of laughter before turning and diving into the water.
Yanking his boxers down and kicking them off he ran for the water.
‘Shit… cold… cold…cold,’ he chanted until he was far enough out to dive cleanly in and swim out to the rock.
She watched, treading water comfortably while he lathered up and soaped his body, pleasantly surprised to find his tall slim frame, which tended toward lanky, was actually hard and wiry with flat washboard abs and a delicious v which disappeared down below the water line.
‘You know you’re pretty fit for a teacher,’ she mused.
‘Don’t objectify me,’ his mouth curved in amusement, ‘anyway, I may teach English, but I also coach the swim team.’
‘Looks good on you.’
‘So, you do this often?’ he asked as he washed and scrubbed his hair.
‘What? Roll in dead fish guts and get naked with the local teaching faculty.’
‘No,’ he snorted, ‘bathe in the ocean. I have to say, it’s a completely new experience for me.’
‘I’ve done it a few times since I’ve been here,’ she admitted, ‘before I didn’t have an alternative. This