Thanks so much for all your kind words. Writing is proving a good distraction from grief.

Because we seem set on torturing ourselves for a while longer, we don't go straight back to my place after dinner. Instead, Bella talks me into heading back down onto the beach. We head the opposite direction this time, towards the less inhabited end. When the distance between houses starts to increase, Bella stops and unzips her denim skirt. She pulls her singlet over her head, then reaches behind her back and undoes her bralette.

I quirk an eyebrow. 'You're not worried about sand getting, uh, everywhere?'

Bella slips off her underwear and tosses the scrap of black cotton at me. 'We're not having sex here,' she says. 'Not tonight, anyway. We're going skinny dipping.'

'What ab—'

'If you say anything about sharks right now, I'll bite you myself. You've got more chance of being trampled by an elephant than bitten by a shark.'

I would argue that, because there aren't any wild elephants on this continent, and there are definitely, definitely a shitload of sharks in the black expanse of water rippling in front of me. But they're probably mostly Port Jacksons and Grey Nurses, and Bella's basically right—they don't want me for dinner. I also don't want to waste time arguing with her while she's standing in front of me without a stitch of clothing on her ridiculously strong, sexy body. So I pull my shirt over my head, step out of my shorts and underwear, and grab Bella around the waist. She giggles as I propel us both towards the water. I let go of her as the waves tumble around our knees, not wanting to cause her to overbalance and fall.

We wade out into the water, arms flapping like chicken wings as the cool water swirls around our waists. A wave rolls in; I push off the sandy ground and launch myself over it while Bella ducks beneath it. She emerges with her eyes closed, her face tilted towards the sky. I follow her out past the breaking waves, relieved it's still shallow enough to stand. I'm a competent enough swimmer, but I wouldn't like to have to tread water in the dark for too long.

Warm arms land on my shoulders as Bella jumps on my back. She kisses my neck and wraps her legs around my waist. I tuck my hands under her thighs while she rests her chin on my shoulder. I can feel her tits pressing into my back.

'The water's nice tonight,' she says.

'There aren't any blue bottles, are there?' The ramifications of swimming naked dawn on me slowly. I've never been stung, and I'd really like to keep it that way.

Bella shakes her head. 'Nah. They'll usually come in on a nor'easter, so we're good.'

'Good.' I twist around until Bella and I are face to face, her legs still hooked over my hips. She knits her fingers into my hair and pulls my mouth down to hers. Her lips are salty and chilled but her kiss is heated. She groans into my mouth as I slide my hands down her back to cup her arse and grind into her. Her legs tighten around my waist as I tease her, trailing my fingers across her butt, under her thighs, between her legs. She squirms against me, and it's my turn to groan as she rubs herself all over my dick. I palm her breast then pinch her nipple, harder than I would instinctively because I know that's what she likes. She breaks the kiss, head falling back as she pants and wriggles in my arms and she's right there and it would be so easy to push inside of her. I don't though, because I'm pretty sure the water would make it uncomfortable for her, and also because it's dark and we're mostly underwater and the first time I fuck her, I definitely want to be able to watch her every expression.

So I just keep kissing her, groping her, grinding against her until we both start to shiver. Teeth chattering, we stumble out of the waves. We drag our clothes back on over wet skin, sand clinging everywhere as we steal kiss after kiss.

'Do you need to go home tonight?' I ask as we trek back across the sand towards the street. 'Or can you sleep over?'

'Um, I'm supposed to start work at six.'

'I can drive you. Or you can drive; we'll log the time.'

Bella stops in her tracks, head tilted as she studies me. She sighs and takes my hands and I'm preparing for her to turn me down when she says, 'Would it be too much trouble if we swing past my place first? I need some clothes for tomorrow. And my pyjamas and some make up remover.'

I can't contain my grin. 'Definitely not too much trouble…' I bite my lip and press on. 'Maybe we should swing by the supermarket, too. Grab like, whatever shampoo and body stuff you use so you can leave them at mine?'

The streetlight above us flickers weakly, the light sparkling in Bella's eyes as she smiles up at me. 'That sounds like a plan.'