Sacred Waters (20 page)

He kissed her temple. “You’re stunning when you find release. So open and free. It’s what I imagine bliss looks like.”

She smiled, her lips pulling against his chest. She placed a kiss there. “I hate to say it, but I think the others will be getting home soon. It’s almost time for dinner.”

He sighed. “We should probably start heading back.”

Colin didn’t want to go back. He didn’t feel like being around his family. He only wanted Samantha, in his arms, touching his body, conversing for hours on end about nothing and everything under the sun. Damn it all, that their clandestine relationship had to be hidden. Colin wanted to have the right to shamelessly touch her and kiss her whenever the need struck him.

They would return to the house and pretend they were nothing more than polite acquaintances. His brother would have more right to touch her than he. He was suddenly furious with their situation. Not wanting Samantha to detect his stormy mood he nudged her to his side and stood.

“I’m going to take a quick dip to clean up. I’ll be right back.”

The water cooled his temper, but he still wasn’t looking forward to joining the others. As he strode out of the water he caught Sammy with a peculiar grin on her face. Her smile, whatever it was for, was infectious and lightened his mood substantially.

“What are you smirking at?”

“This,” she said sitting on her bottom, feet directly in front of her, and her knees drawn up to her chest. Her palms pattered the shallow inch of water beneath her making soft splashing sounds. She had remained in the water while he swam.

Colin’s grin grew to a full, proud smile. “Well, look at you.”

“I didn’t even realize I was still sitting here until you were gone for about five minutes. Then out of habit I prepared to stand up, but I realized I wasn’t feeling scared or panicky so I stayed and watched you swim.”

His heart pinched with pride. “That’s wonderful, Samantha.”

She grinned at him and they had a moment of quiet reverence for the small, yet enormous accomplishment she’d made. To an outsider it would appear meaningless and laughable, but he knew to Samantha it was like a wall coming down. He understood she’d done more today than she’d been able to do in the past ten years and he was immeasurably proud of her small but incredible victory.

Chapter Twelve

After returning to the house Colin and Samantha slipped passed the others somewhat unnoticed. Luke and Finn were cleaning fish out front while the others helped with other preparations for dinner or disappeared upstairs to get washed up. Colin offered to let Sammy shower first while he remained in the kitchen small talking with his father about the fishing trip and cleaning corn. A while later he went upstairs to shower as well.

As he was drying off he heard the rumble of a masculine voice coming from Samantha’s room followed by her softer tone. He paused to listen and realized it was Braydon.

“I’d rather not put myself through another night of Jen Miller giving me the stink eye as she hangs all over you,” Samantha said.

“She probably won’t even be there, Sam. Come on. We always go to O’Malley’s on Saturday nights. Everyone’s going.”

“Including Jen Miller.”

“Don’t be jealous. I know we haven’t had a whole lot of time together, but you could’ve come on the boat today.”

She scoffed. “Braydon, I am
not
jealous. I just don’t like being made to look the fool.”

“Well, you could always keep me company so that Jen doesn’t get the opportunity to sneak in,” his brother said in a cajoling voice that made Colin frown.

There was some shuffling around and Colin scowled at the door.

“Braydon, don’t,” Samantha said in a patient but stern voice.

“Come on, Sam. We barely spent any time together since we got here. There’s still a while ‘til dinner. Let’s enjoy it.”

Colin pulled in a furious, tight breath and ground his teeth together. He considered busting into the room and interrupting them, but he was still in his towel and his near naked appearance in front of a guest would make Braydon suspicious.

“Braydon, I said I don’t feel like it.”

His brother sighed. “Fine. Will you be upset if I go out tonight?”

“Do what you want. It’s your vacation too.”

“Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?”

Samantha sighed. “No. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep much last night and I’m cranky. Go to O’Malley’s tonight. Have fun. We’ll catch up later.”

A few minutes later when Colin heard the bedroom door click closed and the sound of Sammy’s soft footfalls moving around, he tapped on the bathroom door and peeked in. She was standing in the center of the room with her head flipped over, tying her hair into some sort of knot.

“Hey,” he greeted softly so not to startle her.

She stood, her hair flipping back in an arc of brown. When she smiled at him he fought the urge to kiss her. It would be wise to avoid contact with the family so close by and dinner only a few minutes away.

“Hey.”

“You okay? I heard you and Braydon talking.”

She made an expression that told him she found the whole situation unfortunate. “Yeah. I should really talk to him, I tried, but he doesn’t seem to be listening. There’s this part of me that knows whatever we have going will fade by next month with him here and me back at school. Come fall he’ll be back in class and I’ll be teaching my own. I don’t see the point in hurting him and it isn’t like I can use you as an excuse.”

No, it would be best if she kept his name out of it. Their situation was temporary, but the others were not. They all saw him as a son, a brother, and a priest devoid of any sexuality. It would confuse his family to imagine him as anything else. If his mother found out, she would second guess his path, and he knew he was doing what he needed to do by joining the church. The energy it would take to explain this thing with Samantha to all of them and convince them he was still intending to take his vows was a daunting hypothetical he preferred to avoid.

Rather than say as much, say what she already knew, Colin said, “I think Bray understands how you feel more now than he did yesterday. He’s still your friend, Sammy. If you wanted to go to O’Malley’s I would understand.” But he wouldn’t enjoy her being there with Braydon instead of here with him.

“I know, but I don’t want to go. I meant what I said about seeing him with Jen. I swear I’m not jealous, but because I’m here with Braydon and he does nothing to stop her, he makes me look like a fool. He can do what he wants, but I’m not going to come out with claws over a boy I’m really not interested in, nor am I going to sit there and look like a pathetic doormat. He can take her to bed for all I care, so long as he isn’t flaunting it in front of me and the rest of the family.”

“They have a past, that’s all, Sammy. He isn’t doing it to be hurtful or disrespectful.”

“I know. Maybe their history isn’t as much in the past as they thought. Maybe they need to work some things out. I don’t want to stand in the way either. If he likes Jen he should go after her.”

“Are you always this level headed?”

She smiled. “I giggled like a toddler in a tub today because I sat in two inches of water. You know I’m not of complete sound mind in all matters.”

“You should have giggled. I wanted to. It was a great thing you did today. Don’t minimize it by acting like it wasn’t. I’m proud of you.”

She blushed. “Thanks.”

Like two silly teenagers they watched each other with bashful modesty.

Finally Samantha said, “You better go get dressed. It’s almost time to eat.”

Later that night after the others had gone off to O’Malley’s, and Maureen and Frank disappeared to bed, Colin sat in the den forcing himself to read one more chapter of a book he was too distracted to even remember the title of. It was all gibberish to him anyway.

Sammy was tired. After dinner she had helped the others straighten up and then grabbed a book off a shelf in the den and said goodnight, claiming she had a bit of a headache. Colin’s mother doted over her for a few minutes and then left her to rest. He’d given Samantha a look that promised he’d be up to wake her once the others were all occupied elsewhere. His parents were likely settled in bed by now and the house was quiet, but he needed to wait a little longer.

After fighting back his impatience and rereading the page he was on three more times, he finally closed the book and stood up to stretch. Colin climbed the stairs quietly and entered his room, careful to lock the door behind him. Cutting through the bathroom, he found Sammy curled up under the soft covers and sleeping soundly in the dark.

Without hesitating, he slipped his arms under her body and scooped her up carrying her to his bed. She stirred when he placed her under his covers. Her eyes were soft slits fringed with dusty brown lashes that watched him intently.

Colin removed his shirt and jeans and stood before her in only his briefs and crucifix. She rolled to her back and smiled. Crisp white cotton panties rode low on her abdomen and accentuated her hips. A simple pink tank top covered her upper body, but he could see her nipples pebbling under the worn fabric.

He climbed in beside her.

“How’s your head?”

She giggled. “You know my head is fine.”

He kissed it anyway for good measure. “Are you still tired?”

She made a soft purring sound only a woman would know how to make. “Yes, but I’ll wake up.”

He pulled her to her side. “Don’t. I just want to hold you. We don’t need to talk.”

Her body snuggled in close to his and he reveled in the soft warmth of her in his arms. How would he ever sleep alone again without feeling like something was missing?

He watched her in the low light seeping from the bathroom. She was so incredibly attractive. There was not a bit of makeup marring her face. Her soft brown hair was natural and healthy. With his face so close to hers he could count every freckle that crested her nose and cheeks. They reminded him of sprinkled cinnamon, and he recalled a Natasha Bedingfield song.

He watched her until his eyes grew heavy and he no longer could keep them open. Pockets of warmth filled the hidden places between their curves. The last thing Colin thought before he drifted off to sleep was that he would probably die an old man and still recall exactly how she smelled and felt in his arms.

Colin’s mind roused when he heard a sound, but he didn’t open his eyes when he felt Samantha’s warm body still curled next to his. He pulled her close and nestled his face into the curve of her shoulder and breathed in the soft scent of her hair.

It was his brother’s voice that had him coming fully awake.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Braydon hissed and both he and Samantha jolted upright wearing matching expressions of apprehension and guilt. “What the fuck’s going on here?”

“It’s not what it looks like, Braydon?” Colin said quickly blocking Sammy’s partially dressed form from his brother’s view.

She must have forgotten to lock her door.

“What the fuck is it then? Jesus Christ, are you fucking my girlfriend?”

Before Colin realized what he was doing he was out of bed and grabbing Braydon by his shirt.

“Show some respect!” he seethed, giving him a hard shake. “I told you it isn’t what it looks like.”

“Then what is it, Colin? Because to me it looks like
my
girlfriend’s in bed with
my
brother who is about to become a
priest
!”

Colin loosened his hold of Braydon’s shirt and stepped back. “We aren’t sleeping together,” he admitted quietly. “Sammy’s a virgin and so am I.”

The personal detail about Samantha’s virginity seemed to shock his brother, but he quickly recovered and Braydon’s look of surprise returned to a scowl.

Colin looked back to the bed to check on Sammy. She was sitting up and appeared extremely uncomfortable with the situation. Her cheeks were crimson red as she averted her gaze and clutched the covers to her chest.

“Is this what you’ve been doing? Why you haven’t wanted to spend any time with me?”

Colin was about to answer, but realized his brother was addressing Samantha. She looked at him and anger glinted in her dark eyes. “Don’t act like I’ve been neglecting you any more than you’ve neglected me, Braydon. Since the moment we arrived you had no apprehension about leaving me to entertain myself.”

He scoffed. “That’s not true.” Braydon’s posture turned defensive. “I invited you tubing, to swim in the falls, fishing. You’re the one who refused to spend time with me.”

She looked away and Colin softly confessed, “She’s terrified of water, Bray. She can’t do those things.”

Braydon looked as though that was the most ridiculous excuse in the world. “Well, you could’ve told me that.”

Sammy scowled at his brother with big eyes, her lips firmly pressed together in irritation. “Would it really have mattered, Braydon? Be realistic. You regretted asking me to come the morning after we arrived. I love it here, but all I’m doing is interfering in your free time. We enjoy different things.”

Braydon looked at her, his expression appearing vulnerable and unsure. Both characteristics Colin did not normally see on his sought after brother’s face.

“That’s not true,” Bray whispered. “I like you, Sam. We’re good together. I didn’t know about the water thing. I’ll stay away from the lake for the rest of the week.”

Thankfully Samantha halted him from making more unrealistic promises.

“No, Braydon. I like you too, but as a friend. I know what you’re looking for and I’m not it.”

His brother appeared bewildered by her rejection. Braydon had always been the golden child of the McCulloughs, the one chased after by every beautiful girl in the county. It wasn’t often he was turned away.

“I’m sorry,” Samantha whispered.

When Braydon raised his head all vulnerability was safely hidden away. He glared at Colin. “Is this because of you? Are you even taking your vows now?”

“Braydon, don’t say something you’ll regret,” Colin suggested. “This isn’t personal. It isn’t about you—”