Her smile faded, and her shoulders slumped. The pride she had felt at the success of her work vanished like smoke in a breeze.
“You need to learn to use your feet,” Christian advised.
“Sage said I needed to kick them.”
Christian nodded. He took both of her hands into his. “Lean toward me and stretch your body out behind you.”
Willow stared at him incredulously. “If I could do that, I would be swimming.”
He stepped closer, and the ripples in the water echoed his movement. “Put your hands on my shoulders. Like yesterday.”
She did so without hesitation.
His hands were steady, resting firmly on her waist. “I’ll keep you up,” he promised.
Before she could protest, he took a step back, and her body rose to the surface, her feet trailing behind her. She floated in the water, supported by his sturdy arms. A wave of jubilation ran through her body as she clutched his shoulders. “Ha! You did it. I’m swimming.”
“No,” Christian said. “If I let go, you would sink.”
Her hands tightened around his neck. “Don’t.”
“Never,” he promised. “But this way, you can kick your feet.”
Tentatively, she lifted her legs up and down. Christian held her securely, supporting her as she moved her legs more confidently. She glanced back at her feet as if she couldn’t believe they were kicking.
“Now, take your arms from my neck and move them through the water,” Christian advised.
Her fingers squeezed his skin. “No.”
“I have you, Will. I will never let you go.”
Her body floated in the water as Christian dragged her along. Gathering her courage, she allowed her hands slide down his rock-hard arms and paused as apprehension gripped her. He nodded in encouragement, and she slowly took her hand from one of his arms, stretching it out to the side. Her heart raced with desperate hope and fear.
His grip tightened around her waist.
She knew he wouldn’t release her. Although she trusted him completely, it wasn’t easy to give up the safety of his arm. Finally, she forced herself to let go, peeling her fingers from his skin.
Christian’s eyes sparkled with pride, and his encouraging smile was reward enough. He pulled her through the water. “Now kick and move your arms,” he instructed.
She followed his advice, her feet paddling and her arms cutting through the water.
“I’m going to move my hands to your arms. But I won’t let you go,” Christian said with gentle reassurance. “Keep kicking.” He slid his hands up her arms.
Despite her nerves, she continued to thrust her legs back and forth, her head dipping closer to the water’s surface with every stroke. Her chin tilted slightly upwards as she fought the urge to panic and breathed, “Christian...”
“I have you.” He swerved through the water, back and forth, taking steps. “You’re doing it.”
She felt a surge of confidence but soon realized that the water was dangerously high—up to Christian’s neck. She froze, her fear quickly rising and her legs slowly sinking.
“It’s well,” he said softly.
She gripped his arms tightly again and strained to reach the bottom of the pond. Panic flared inside her like the lighting of a candle. “I can’t touch the ground!”
“I can. Relax.”
“Take me back,” she ordered.
“Willow,” he said firmly. “This is your last chance to learn to swim.”
