Shay caught her in his arms and lowered her. Wide-eyed, she studied the room. “There has to be another way out. We can’t reach the window.”
“Then we’ll have to swim for it.”
Drowning was not a good way to die, Kelly thought as the water rose to her knees. Swim for the window? They’d die before opening it.
“I was kind of hoping you could shift into a seal. The animal kind, not the navy kind.”
“Listen, sweetheart. You’re going to have to trust me. Look at me, Kel.” He pointed to his eyes with two fingers. “Focus. Right here. Focus on me.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“We can only reach the window when the room fills up with water. I need you to concentrate and stay calm. Panic uses up air. We’re going to float in the water until it gets too high, and then you’ll fill your lungs with air and hold your breath as the water covers our heads. Take a deep, deep breath.”
“Like Rose in
Shay smiled and stroked a finger down her cheek. “Just like Rose.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“You will,” he stated. “I believe in you, Kelly. I’m your Jack and I’m telling you, hold on to my belt and swim out with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
“You can’t hold your breath that long. Neither can I.”
Kelly ran to the sunlit window. Flexing her fingers, she tried summoning her magick with a chant. Nothing worked.
Water rose to their waists now, sloshing around them.
They weren’t going to make it, Kelly thought. Despite Sam’s confidence, she knew it. Her breath came in little gasps.
“We’re going to die,” she choked out.
So strong and dependable, he looked calm.
Shay squeezed her shoulders. “No one’s dying, sweetheart. Thanks to my training, I can hold my breath for a long time.”
“So you’re giving me a crash course? Did I ever tell you I’m not a great student?”
His hands were warm against her cheeks. “You’re a terrific student,” he murmured, smiling. “I remember those lessons I gave you in the cabin and how much you learned so quickly.”
A flush heated her cheeks, and she laughed a little. Their lives were in jeopardy, and Sam made her think about sex.
Amusement and smoldering heat danced in his gaze. “I’m looking forward to teaching you more, Kelly. We’re going to get out of this, because we both have too much to live for.”
Gently he stroked her cheek as the water crept above their waists. “I’m not going to die until I make love to you again.”
Gathering her courage, she looked down. “There’s still time now. I heard sex in the bathtub is kinky but fun.”
Sam kissed her gently, almost reverently. “I’m here and won’t leave your side. We’ll swim upward until we meet the ceiling. Then I’m opening that window, and we’ll climb out. It’s a long drop, so I’ll go first and catch you.”
“I’m not a good swimmer. Remember that time when you saved me in the creek?”
“I won’t let go,” he repeated. “Strip down to your underwear. Clothing weighs you down, and you need to be buoyant.”
Following his instructions, she stripped. Sam gave a cocky grin as he removed his pants, shirt and boots.
“I lied,” he said suddenly.
Kelly licked dry lips.
“I only said that about the clothing so I could watch you undress.”
She sputtered and then splashed him. Flinging droplets from his hair, Sam laughed. “Good,” he said softly. “Now you’re smiling. Keep that smile on. I want to see it in the sunshine.”
As he instructed, she began breathing deeply, learning his hand signals for when they could no longer talk. With every breath, Sam centered his warm gaze on her. His sheer affection fed her strength.
She, too, wanted to live so they could make love again.
Together, they began to breathe in rhythm. When the water reached her chin, he motioned for her to float. At first she sank, but he grabbed her hand.
“Remember what I taught you in the creek that day? You did great. You’re doing great now, Kel. Hold on to me.”
As he treaded water, she wrapped her arms around his muscled waist. “That’s it,” he encouraged. “This is only a big pool, and I’m your giant noodle.”
Daring, she slid her hand a little below his waist. “Giant noodle. That’s a new name for it. As long as it isn’t limp.”
Sam laughed again. His attitude eased her fear. Confidence began returning. He was with her, and she could do this. As the water rose, she let go, treading water. Sam reached out and squeezed her hand.
With him at her side, she could make it.
Kelly believed it, even as the ceiling drew close.
“Remember, don’t panic and follow my lead.” Husky and reassuring, his voice was a life raft.
“Please don’t let go of my hand.”
“I have to, just to open the window. Hang on to my waist and you’ll be fine.”
Water filled the room. Now they were only a foot from the ceiling, high enough to reach the window. Sam tugged her toward it. Legs kicking hard, heart beating fast against her chest, she followed him.
Sam grasped the window and pulled upward.
Nothing happened. He didn’t have enough leverage.
Water covered the window.
Panic pushed at the edges of her mind. Refusing to surrender to it, she clung to her belief in Sam.
“I have to let go, Kel. Take a deep breath while I open this damn thing,” he shouted.
His hand felt so strong and assuring. Oh, how she hated to let go. But she did and then watched him dive beneath the water and fumble with the window.
The ceiling approached. Sam swam upward, took a tremendous gulp of air and dived back down.
Water covered her lips, her nose. She nearly kissed the ceiling and took one last, enormous breath.
She blew out a few bubbles. The window was still jammed.
Her lungs burned. Kelly’s vision blurred. She opened her mouth to get air and gulped down water. Her airway shut as a terrible burning began in her chest.
Darkness engulfed her. She fell into its welcoming embrace.
As Shay kicked at the wooden window frame, he felt something nudge at his back. He glanced over one shoulder. Kelly floated, silky red hair wreathing her grayish face. Shay pushed back panic.
His lungs began to protest, but he grimly kicked again.
The wood cracked this time. Sam kicked harder. Aided by the pressure of the water, the window finally gave way, crashing outside.
The suction nearly pulled him outward. Sam swam back and grabbed Kelly’s hand.
No time to consider the actions of such a fall. Broken bones could be repaired. Legs first.
He’d need his arms and hands to revive Kelly.
