"Yeah. Let's hike this one down. It doesn't look far."

And it wasn't. They took their bikes with them a short ways, tucking them into the forest beside the trail before heading down. They could hear the water splashing on the rocks long before they got there, and it was as the brochure promised—a freshwater swimming pool at the base of a four-hundred foot waterfall.

"Oh, my God," Jay said as she turned in a circle, her head looking up to where the falls began. "Tell me again why the hell we don't have a camera?"

Drew grinned. "That's a rhetorical question, right?"

"Who comes to Hawaii without a camera?"

"Apparently us," Drew said as she pulled off her T-shirt, her tiny red bikini top barely covering her breasts.

Jay stared. "Red is definitely your color."

"Yeah? And what are you wearing today?" She came closer, lifting Jay's shirt up, exposing her tanned belly.

Jay stood still, letting Drew pull her T-shirt over her head. She stood in front of her, her black top covering nearly as little as Drew's. She watched Drew's face, saw her eyes darken. Drew's eyes traveled over her, leaving her breasts, meeting her own gaze.

"You wore a bikini," she said quietly. "That is so not fair."

Jay took the shirt from Drew's fingers with a smile. "Paybacks are hell."

"I only hope the water is cold."

And it was, both of them gasping when they jumped in. Jay moved into the sun, but the pool was deep. She finally found a rock to stand on as she treaded water, lifting her face skyward.

"Cold, but so refreshing." She shook her hair out. "This is beautiful."

Drew swam over, moving into the shallow water, watching her. Jay saw her gaze slip to her breasts, saw her lips part slightly. It was then she realized what held Drew's attention. Her nipples were rock hard. From the cold or Drew's nearness, it didn't matter. She could feel them straining against her black bikini top, could feel Drew's eyes on them.

"Drew Montgomery, behave yourself," she teased, splashing water at Drew.

Drew laughed. "Sorry. I'm a pig, I know." She ducked under the water again, swimming away, giving Jay room.

Jay took a deep breath, her hands cupping herself, squeezing her breasts, feeling her nipples dig into her palms. She and Drew were getting closer. Every day, every glance, every innocent touch... they were getting closer. How long could they deny what was so painfully obvious? How long before they lost their resolve? How long before they touched... kissed?

How long?

She growled in frustration and sank under the cold water, moving her arms slowly as she glided, trying to get herself under control. Because frankly, her body was on fire.

You 're a pig, you 're a pig. Jeez.

Drew swam into deeper water, feeling the power of the falls as it crashed around her. She surfaced, gasping for breath. She spotted Jay floating on her back out in the sun. Again, her glance locked on her breasts and she shook her head, sinking again under water.

Pig.

But she couldn't help it. She'd been waiting for Jay to come into her life for far too many years to be patient. Her hands itched to touch her, her mouth begged for a kiss, and her body longed for the feel of Jay's pressed against her.

And she didn't know how much longer she could wait.

They didn't say another word to one another, they didn't even swim near the other, but Jay was acutely aware of where Drew was at all times. And she assumed the same was true for Drew. She could feel Drew's eyes on her.

And her body was numb from the cold water.

She glanced over her shoulder, finding Drew, still swimming in deeper water. She moved to shore, carefully stepping over the rocks to hoist herself to the edge. She pulled herself up, shivering. Her feet were bare and the smooth surface of the rocks was warm against them. Brushing her hair back from her face, she turned into the sun, feeling the moisture drying on her skin.

She heard the water splash behind her, heard Drew pull herself out. She turned slowly, watching as Drew pulled her hair together, shaking out the water before slicking it back off her face. Her body was exquisite. Her face flawless. And those eyes... God, she could fall in and drown there.

And it was those eyes that held her now, warming her much more than the sun could. She didn't move as Drew came closer. She wasn't even aware if she was breathing or not. She couldn't move away, she couldn't even think.

And she couldn't stop herself as she took a tiny step toward Drew, her hands reaching for Drew the same instant Drew reached for her. Their mouths met in a wild and hungry kiss. Their first kiss. Jay heard the moans coming from her throat, but she couldn't stop them. Her mouth opened, letting Drew inside, her own tongue sliding wetly across Drew's.

God, they were out in public but she didn't care, didn't protest when Drew grabbed her hips and pulled their lower bodies together. All she could do was strain to get closer, her hands moving at will across Drew's hot body, her legs opening, gasping as Drew's strong thigh pressed against her.

The jolt that pierced her core brought her to her senses. Here they were, practically groping each other, their mouths still fused together, their moans mingling as they were within seconds of becoming very intimate in a very public place. And a part of her didn't care in the least. How could she? Not when Drew's hands were slipping up her waist, not when her nipples were so hard she didn't know if she could stand it when Drew finally touched them. And not when she felt like she was seconds away from an orgasm as Drew's thigh moved against her. But when Drew's hand closed around her breast, her fingers rubbing across her nipple, when she heard Drew's moan, she knew she had to stop.

She tore her mouth from Drew's, turned without looking and flung herself back into the cold spring water, surprised that it didn't boil as her heated body entered.

Oh, God, but did that feel good or what?

How long could they wait?

Not any longer.


CHAPTER THIRTY

Jay floated lazily in the pool, her eyes closed against the bright sun, one hand moving through the water to put her in motion again. She tried to keep her mind clear, tried not to think... but damn, that kiss.

And really, could it be called just a kiss? Had their hands not roamed each other's body? Had their breasts not been pressed together? And God, had Drew's thigh not been between her legs, separated only by a very thin—and wet—piece of cloth?

And had she not wanted to rip that piece of cloth away?

She rolled off the float and into the water, submerging in the somewhat cool water. Cool, but not nearly cold enough to douse the flames.

They'd done so well, keeping everything light between them, keeping everything in perspective. But really, did they think they could see each other every day, all day, and continue? And did she really think she could wait until things were resolved with Katherine before exploring any type of relationship with Drew?

She swam to the end of the pool, climbing the concrete steps and moving to a lounge chair in the shade. She saw Eleu approaching and was thankful. She'd rather have idle conversation with the innkeeper than be alone with her own thoughts.

"You are enjoying the pool instead of the beach today?"

Jay smiled and motioned to the chair next to her. "Yes, just relaxing after our bike ride. Why don't you join me?"



* * *

Eleu sat down, looking around the pool. "Where is your friend Drew?"

"She had a message from her work, so she needed to call in."

"It's strange not seeing you two together." Eleu leaned back in her chair. "It's none of my business, of course, but I'm slightly confused by your lodging arrangements."

Jay laughed. "That makes two of us."

"I thought you and Katherine were together."

How did she answer that? "Technically, yes. We've been together a number of years. Eight, actually." She rubbed her damp hair with her towel, then brushed it back. "But it's over. We just haven't officially ended it."

"Because of Jenna?"

"No, Jenna's not the cause. We just weren't meant to be. There are a lot of reasons. Their affair is just a sign of the end, that's all."

Eleu nodded. "My mother always told me to watch people. You learn more from their actions than their words. Katherine and Jenna, their affair is physical only. It goes no deeper than that." She smiled at Jay. "You and Drew, your affair is spiritual and very deep, although I suspect not yet physical."

Jay felt a blush creep across her face. "So if I told you Drew and I are just friends, you wouldn't believe me?"

"No, I would. Friendship is a necessity. Physical love will only take you so far. True, long-lasting love is not between two people, it's between two souls."

Jay stared at Eleu, absorbing her words. "I think you may be right."

Eleu smiled and pointed to the giant cedar tree that towered next to the pool area. "Has anyone told you the legend of Okalani and her tree?"

"No."

Eleu nodded. "It started with a forbidden love. But as we know, we can't help who we fall in love with. Neither could Okalani. She was the daughter of the ruling king, you see. Her impending marriage was all arranged. She had no choice. But she had fallen in love, in love with the son of a common laborer. When the king found out, he forbid the laborer and his son to come near the palace. So, the son took to the seas, vowing to bring back the greatest treasure to his love. A year passed before he returned, and the princess had married. But the son, now a pirate, brought back riches of gold... and a lone sapling. The cedar tree. He presented it to his love. He said as long as the tree lives, so would their love. He said after a rain, I'll send you a sign so you'll know I am with you. And Okalani planted it here, in secret, so her father wouldn't find it. And it grew and grew. And after each rain, the rainbow would appear, circling the tree, reminding Okalani of their love. And each year, the pirate returned, asking for Okalani to join him, to leave the island, and each year she declined, bound by her duties here. Their affair lasted for years, long after Okalani had married, long after the pirate had grown gray. She bore three sons. Legend has it that all three were sons of the pirate.