Yes, a slow but pleasant crossing

Did she mean that the way it sounded to you? With Cassia's promise ringing in your ear, you take her by the hand and wade rapidly into the cool water. You have become accustomed to the chill, but you can see goose bumps forming on Cassia's arm and can hear her gasp as the water reaches the tops of her legs.

"It will be easier to swim now I think." You tell her and together you hold onto the oiled leather armor and kick yourself forwards through the still black water. When you reach the first two walls of tangled roots you are able to cut a hole through the curtains that block your path, but at the last barrier there is no way through the tangled roots.

"Hold on here, I'll be right back." You tell her and taking a firm grip of your armor you dive down and through the passageway you found earlier. It is harder because of the bulky armor but once through you take a deep breath and dive back to where Cassia is waiting.

"Is that you Adonis?" She asks nervously. After her last experience you can understand her hesitation.

"It's me Cassia." You assure her, but still she backs away.

"How can I be sure?" Her question is a good one, but you can't think of a good answer. "Unless..." She seems to get an idea because Cassia approaches you slowly until she is only inches away. "Kiss me Adonis, I know what the demon's kiss was like, I'm sure I'll be able to tell the difference."

Before you can protest, she presses her lips to yours and suddenly you are no longer cold.

Just as you start to recover from the shock, she pulls away from you.

"That was nice, much nicer than the last kiss." You see a flash of darkness on her face and try to comfort her with a hug, but Cassia just laughs and pushes you away playfully, and hands you her stuffed suit of armor. The dive across is even quicker than before and you return again to where Cassia is waiting.

She doesn't even speak to you; your lips find hers and this time you slip your tongue into her welcoming mouth. Under the water your naked bodies touch sending urgent waves of desire through you intensifying the kiss. This time when you pull away it is Cassia who is **** to stop.

"That was nice too." She murmurs with her lips so close to yours that you can feel the warmth of her breath on your face.

"Ready?" You ask her and when she takes your hand you dive into the water guiding her through the tangled roots. You swim side by side your bodies occasionally touching as you pull yourselves through the gaps in the roots. Cassia looks like a water nymph as she swims, and you have to concentrate on not getting distracted by her beauty. When she surfaces on the far side once again her lips find yours in a gentle kiss.

"What was that for?" You ask, pleased but a little surprised.

"To thank you for swimming with me, it wasn't bad at all with you at my side." Then without another word she turns away from you and starts pushing her floating armor to the water's edge. You follow her closely stepping to the front when you get close to the bank, aware that at least two of the demons are somewhere around here.