Chapter 44

"Climb up," Jake instructed her.

"We're going to do it that way?" Sam asked.

"Unless you want to go alone," Jake responded.

"No," Sam shook her head. "I'm not sure I could hang on."

"Climb up," Jake repeated.

Sam climbed up piggy back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

"Ready?" Jake asked.

"Ready," Sam nodded, tightening her arms and legs. Her foot grazed him just as Jake started to swing on the rope, startling both of them.

"Oh," Sam gasped.

Jake didn't get very high, being distracted by her foot and so he told her to just drop off in the lake. She let go of him and he let go of the rope and the two of them landed feet first into the lake.

"Sorry," Sam blushed when she came up.

Jake just shook his head and the two of them swam towards the shore.

They went back up to the rope and Sam climbed up on his back as Jake grabbed the rope. She tried to watch where she put her feet as she wrapped her legs around him.

"Ready," Sam murmured.

"Hang on," Jake took off running towards the lake. Sam screamed in his ear as he hung onto the rope and they sailed through the air. As they reached the highest point, Sam let go without Jake having to tell her and she screamed as she continued through the air. She heard Jake's laughter behind her.

Suddenly she plummeted towards the lake, barely having enough time to hold her nose before hitting and going under. She shot to the surface and Jake saw the huge smile on her face.

"Oh gosh, I had forgotten how much fun that was," Sam swam over to him, grabbing onto him and kissing him.

"Want to go again?" Jake asked against her mouth.

"Hmm, it's a tough decision," Sam murmured, nibbling his lips. "Kiss you or fly."

Jake laughed and turned away from her. "Come on, you can kiss me anytime."

Sam laughed and followed him out of the lake.

She climbed on his back again and Jake ran down, Sam screaming again in his ear as they flew. She let go a bit later and landed awkwardly as she hit the water.

Sam had a surprised look on her face when she surfaced.

"What's wrong?" Jake swam closer.

He saw Sam's blush as she looked around in the water.

"I lost my top," Sam admitted as she searched the water.

"You what?" Jake almost yelped.

"It came off when I landed funny," Sam told him, glancing at him. She froze at the expression on Jake's face. He was looking down at her as if he could see her through the water.

She was in his arms before she knew what happened, her mouth meeting his. Sam felt his hands on her as if he were actually checking to see if her top was gone.

She barely registered that he was carrying her out of the lake to the blankets he had brought for them to sit on near the fire. Jake laid her gently down then lay next to her, their hands stroking the body of the other.

Her bathing suit bottoms were off before either of them realized it and she was tugging on his. Jake quickly discarded them and they came back together, kissing and stroking until both were panting and gasping out the name of the other.

Jake rolled her under him, his mouth leaving hers as he tugged gently on her earlobes, whispering how much he loved her. Sam shivered as his tongue ran down her neck to kiss her where the turtle nestled against her throat.

Jake felt so tender towards her. He couldn't love her more than he did at this moment. She was his, only his.

Still their eyes remained on the others'. Sam couldn't help the tears as they coupled. Jake lifted a finger to wipe away a tear.

The two smiled softly at the other and their lips met once.

"I love you, Samantha Anne," Jake whispered.

"I love you, Jacob Dylan," Sam whispered back.

Their breathing was loud in the valley as they both spun out of control.

Afterwards, Jake collapsed, rolling onto his back next to Sam, bringing her with him. She sprawled over his chest. They were truly one and both of them felt it.