Shadow Lake Vampire Society - Wendi Wilson Page 0,26

shut. True followed right behind me.

“There aren’t really leeches in here, are there?” I whispered in her direction.

“No,” she laughed. “I was only messing with you.”

“Swim out until you can’t touch, then tread water,” Sasha instructed before heading out with confident strokes.

Soon, nearly a dozen heads were bobbing just above the lake’s surface.

“Okay,” Sasha said, as she positioned herself in the center of our circle, her arms and legs moving gracefully below the surface without making waves. “First, we’re going to practice tows. It’s the skill you’ll need most often if a camper needs assistance. Your job is to get yourself and your camper back to the beach safely. You’d likely have a rescue buoy, but you should know how to do it without one just in case. Who remembers how it’s done and is willing to show us?”

Lars and Naveen’s hands shot up, eager to please Sasha. Who wouldn’t be? She was gorgeous, and it seemed those two might have a thing for older women. Yet, her eyes traveled around the circle until they landed on her preferred pupil. “Levi can show us how it’s done.”

He gave a curt nod as he too treaded water like it was second nature. He was a strong swimmer. That was clear by how easily and gracefully he’d made it to the middle of the lake.

“And now we need a victim.” Sasha twirled around, her eyes scanning everyone. Micah’s hand slinked out of the water, a silent volunteer. I wasn’t surprised. Of course she wanted Levi’s arms wrapped around her, his body tight…

“Piper.”

I startled out of my thoughts. “Me?”

“Sure,” Sasha said lightly. “You need to learn the proper technique, and Levi is my best student. He’ll demonstrate.” Her eyes shot to him and something passed between them. A secret order from her to him, willing him to obey? He didn’t argue, but he didn’t seem happy about the idea, either.

And how could I protest without making the entire situation more awkward than it already was?

“Okay,” Sasha said, her voice overly light. “It’s simple. Levi will rescue Piper. Piper, you just go limp, and let him swim you to shore. The rest of you watch Levi’s technique. We’ll discuss it when they get back. Got it?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me. I gave a single nod, wondering if a person could have nervous sweats while submerged underwater.

Levi swam up, closer and closer until he was only a couple of feet away. His gray-green eyes took me in, seeming to note every emotion running across my face in a single second before his deep baritone voice cut the tension.

“I’m going to have to put my arms around you.”

“I know,” I said, sounding like an imbecile.

“Okay,” he answered. But before he moved in, he gave one more glance to Sasha who gave him a nod. His brow furrowed before he cut the distance between us in half.

“Let’s get this over with.” His arm slid around me, and he pulled my body in line with his.

I tried to go limp as he dragged me against him, but I was suddenly hyper-aware of every inch of my skin. My mind noted his hands as they slid up my shoulders, his forearms brushing my chest, his palms on the sensitive skin of my neck. He pulled me against the hard muscles of his chest and began to kick, drawing us through the water.

Could he feel my heart pounding against him? Did he know the effect he had on me?

As he swam us away, my eyes scanned the group one last time. True was beaming. I half expected her to give me a thumbs up, but thank God she had enough sense not to. Sasha watched with keen interest, as did Micah. But, while Sasha looked pleased, Micah looked angry enough to kill.

Her eyes narrowed, and I knew at that moment, there would be no friendship between us. She wanted to press her body close to Levi’s, and I’d taken that chance. Now, she’d do anything in her power to make sure I paid for it.

Levi’s gruff voice cut through my inner monologue. “Can you stop putting your hair in my face?”

“Oh, sorry.” I tried to move my head but only managed to connect our bodies more since it now rested against his strong shoulder.

Some of the gruffness left his tone as he continued to swim us back to shore. “Are you… all right?”

“Yeah, fine.” Was I all right? All I could think about was each time my backside brushed against