Almost

It took Randy several seconds to react to Charlotte’s bold leap from the cliff ledge. She was fearless; as she flew through the air he admired the way she controlled her jump splashing into the water a third of the way across the deep pool. Swearing under his breath he removed the heavy belt that held his weapons and took the time to kick off his boots and pull his shirt over his head. By now she was half way across the pool and the current had pulled her well downstream of the falls. She was no novice swimmer, each of her strokes pulled her closer to the far bank, only the long flowing dress kept her from cutting through the water - each time she kicked the fabric swirled around her legs and kept her from gliding to safety.

Randy dove headfirst into the pool covering half the distance to his fleeing captive with the energy from the high dive. He pulled after Charlotte gaining on her rapidly as his bare torso and tight leggings offered much less resistance than her ankle length dress. Even with this advantage Charlotte was rapidly approaching the grassy bank on the far side of the pool by the time his hand could grasp a handful of the flowing skirt.

Just as Charlotte reached for handfuls of strong grass to pull herself from the water she felt a violent tug on her dress that pulled her feet from under her. How had he closed the gap so quickly? Her hands clung to the bank and she kicked with both her feet trying to pull free of his grasp before he could improve his hold on her. She felt her heels connect, but it was like kicking a concrete wall. A second jerk on her dress nearly pulled her grasp from the bank, and the bodice of her dress pulled dangerously lower spilling even more of her soft swells from the lace.

It wasn't fair! Her plan should have worked. Where would this commoner even have learnt to swim at all, and how could he have caught her with the lead she had. His grip moved up her body, one bare arm encircling her waist while the other reached for her shoulder. Charlotte took a deep breath, the noise from the falls had diminished now that they had been carried well downstream perhaps someone would hear her screams for aid. Before she could cry out, she was spun in his arms against his uncovered chest and her mouth was covered with his.

Randy doubted anyone would be able to hear her yells for help, but he was taking no chances. Charlotte was wiggling in his arms like a fish and afraid to loosen his grip anywhere he used his mouth to swallow her scream. The warmth and softness of her lips surprised him as his mouth mastered hers, using the strength of his grip to keep her from pulling away. After an initial frantic attempt to free her lips from his, he felt her resistance fade and his intentions changed. No longer needing to dominate her, his kiss softened and Randy began to relish the way the heat of her flushed skin felt pressed to his body, as the two of them stood waist deep in the cool river water.

Despite Charlotte's best intentions, her small mouth welcomed his tongue, opening herself to the devastating kiss of this outlaw. She could not fight this man, he clearly was both stronger and faster than her or any man she had ever known, but she should remain passive as he assaulted her. Instead her mouth opened like a flower to a honeybee, her hands which had at first pressed futilely against his chest now were exploring the expanse of bare skin. Finally, as his kiss deepened one arm climbed to the back of his head, gripping a handful of his golden locks fiercely she pulled his head down against her lips unwilling to let his intimate embrace end.

God forgive her, her tongue played with his darting past into his broad mouth and tasting a man for the first time ever in her twenty years of life. She was now kissing him with the same passion that he used with her. Her nipples hardened, her lips tingled and the same secret warmth that she felt when she rubbed herself late at night was growing stronger between her thighs. Even soaking wet, standing waist-deep in the cool water of the pool, Charlotte felt a fire burning from within her core and heating her in a unfamiliar way.