“Turns out your husband and Leo have become local heroes. They came into this bay to swim and found some local kids mucking about. They kept their distance, not wanting to risk hitting them with the boat, and then one of the kids got into serious difficulties. Completely out of his depth. Your husband and Leo dived in and kept the boy above the surface. The powerboat drifted away from them, so they swam to shore with the laddie. The police and ambulance were called.”
“Is the boy all right?” Gemma was amazed at the events that had transpired while she lounged about on the sundeck.
“It would appear. Swallowed loads of seawater, so they’ll take him to hospital as a precaution. Looks like the locals are impressed. Turns out the boy is the local mayor’s son.” The captain turned his attention to position Sublime ready to receive the launch boat.
Gemma paced by the railings as the launch drew alongside. Jason sprang out of the boat.
“Babe. Don’t cry. I’m fine.” He embraced her trembling body. “We’ve only been gone two hours, not a lifetime.”
“It felt like a lifetime. You said an hour. Then we saw the empty powerboat. Jason, my heart almost gave out.” She shivered against his warm wetsuit. Standing in the sun on the beach had dried him off.
“We had to wait for the yacht to catch up with us. We were sure McKenzie would spot the powerboat, she had drifted almost out of the cove altogether.” He released her from his clutches.
“Look, I have to speak to McKenzie. Go back up and wait for me. I won’t be long. For one thing, I’m sick of this bloody wetsuit.” He gave her a little nudge, encouraging her to let go.
Jason stood in the stateroom and, with Enrique’s help, peeled away the wetsuit. Gemma watched from the bed with her knees drawn up to her chin.
“We’re making good speed. The winds have been in our favour. We are on course for arriving in Croatia.” Jason pulled the T-shirt over his head.
Gemma didn’t fancy eating. She wanted his touch. However, Jason was hungry and ordered food over the intercom. She guessed a strenuous swim to rescue a terrified child had increased his appetite.
“How old was he?”
“Thirteen. Strong currents. Very deceptive. Even I had to swim hard to make it to shore. Leo and I took it in turns to drag him along.”
“I’m really proud of you, Jason.”
“It was…” He hesitated, glancing out the window to the shoreline, then gave a tiny shrug. “Right place at the right time.”
“Would he have died if you weren’t there?”
“Yes.”
“Are you all right?” She touched his hand.
“Yes, babe. Thanks for asking. I’m fine. Unexpected excitement.” He stretched out in the chair, hands tucked behind his head. The cove lay before them, visible through the panoramic window. He didn’t speak further about the adventure.
***
Water dripped from the bath tap. A multitude of glinting bubbles danced about, catching the light, popping with the slightest movement. Gemma leant on Jason’s chest, and he ran his fingers down her belly, resting them on her lap. His fingers then slipped under her bottom and gave her buttock cheeks a momentary squeeze, separating them to allow the water to cleanse her. She groaned—his hands felt sensual and strong. The next place his hands wandered to was her ragged hair, strewn about her face and knotted by sweat.
“Do you want to me to wash your hair?”
“Yes, please.”
“So, how was that lesson?” Jason turned on the taps, and the water shot out of the showerhead, splashing against their skin. “Tip your head back.”
The water cascaded down her back as she sat between his knees. “My legs gave out.”
“I noticed. Poor Maria. You sat on her face.”
“She didn’t complain.” She grinned, recollecting the earlier scene, an educational one intended to improve her sexual versatility. It had ended rather abruptly when Maria’s darting tongue proved too much for Gemma.
“She can breathe through her nose, fortunately. This shampoo?”
“Yes. Your favourite.”
He sniffed the open bottle. “Certainly smells good.” Jason lathered her hair into a white foam.