Find Me Under the Waterfall

The clear, tropical blue water thundered down a cascading waterfall, swishing loudly over the rocks below. Hermione gasped in astonishment as she took in the lush scenery, entranced by the water plummeting around forest-green plants that were growing nearby. The natural hot springs provided a drizzling spray that dazzled Hermione as she blissfully watched from the thermal pool she was treading in.

Costa Rica was an absolute paradise.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Hermione jumped and turned swiftly, hearing the sound of the water sloshing around her as she moved.

Oh goodness.

The person behind the voice had to be one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. She wasn't usually attracted to red hair, but his hair matched with his ocean blue eyes sent her heartbeat a flutter. The man was grinning from ear to ear, and she felt instantly comforted by his friendly persona. She couldn't help but let her gaze travel down to his bare chest that, although pale and freckly, was quite toned. Little droplets of water were speckled about his shoulders, adding an extra shimmer to his form.

"Oh, hi." Really Hermione? That's the best response you could come up with?

The man chuckled. "M'sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

He was British, too, she surmised from his accent, and a roll of pleasure rippled down her spine.

"Oh, no, you didn't," Hermione was quick to clarify. "I just wasn't expecting anyone else, that's all. It's fairly early in the morning still."

"Best time to go to the pool, in my opinion. Especially before all of the kids wake up." He sent her a wink that jostled the butterflies in her stomach.

"Agreed!" She giggled back before sighing deeply and relaxing her head back slightly, letting her brown curls float in the water around her. "Gosh...it's absolutely stunning here!"

"What brings you to the resort?" He inquired as he glided horizontally through the water, his hands extended forward, kicking his feet behind him.

Despite being in a thermal pool, Hermione couldn't help the shiver that ran through her from his closer proximity. "Well, I'm a travel writer. Right now, I get sent to resort destinations all around the world to review them — and this particular resort is absolutely breath-taking."

He nodded, squinting his eyes up to take in the view of the spouting water. "It really is. So…" His eyes shifted back towards her, "...you're here alone, then?"

Hermione felt the corner of her lip twitch — he wasn't subtle, but her excitement surged. "Yes. What about you?"

"Same." He looked quite pleased by her response, and she found herself unable to look away from his watchful gaze. "Actually, it's funny that you say you're a travel writer, because I kind of am too. Instead of reporting on the ins and the outs of the resorts though, I'm here for the food."

Hermione raised her eyebrows curiously. She hardly knew this man, but reporting on food seemed to fit his personality very well. "And what is your impression so far?"

"I only just arrived yesterday, but so far everything has been...divine." Hermione didn't miss the twinkle in his eyes, and a rush of heat filled her body that was most assuredly not from the thermal pool she was submerged in.

"What a coincidence," Hermione hummed, skimming the palms of her hands along the surface of the warm water. "I arrived yesterday, too."

When she glanced back up at the beautiful stranger, his eyes were trained on the movements her hands were making in the water. Suddenly, his cheeks grew pink, realizing that she had caught him staring.

"Really? Well, we could probably work together, then...if you wanted to," he added quickly at the end, and Hermione found it adorable to watch him blush again.

The steam was rising from the depths of the water, creating a foggy mist around their bodies. The man waded towards her now, causing the water to undulate between them.

Once he was almost an arm's-length distance away, he stopped and held out his hand. "I'm Ron...Ron Weasley."

Hermione took his hand, inhaling sharply as their fingertips brushed together. "Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure."

Ron threw her a lopsided grin, but didn't release her hand. Instead, he intertwined their fingers together, watching as their joined hands bobbed up and down in the flowy pool. "So, Hermione Granger, have you ever swam underneath a waterfall?"

Breathlessly, she whispered, "Can't say I have."

Ron dropped her hand suddenly, moving to float completely on his back. He kicked his feet with a splash towards the watery cascade.

"Catch me if you can!"

Hermione laughed wildly as Ron disappeared beneath the tumbling stream. She pushed aside her nerves, summoned her courage, and swam under the water source, letting the cool liquid shower down on her head. It was like endless rain, she thought, as she closed her eyes in contentment.

After taking a moment to relish in her relaxation, she placed her palms on her face to push back the tendrils of wet hair that stuck to her skin before opening her eyes to find Ron directly in front of her. He was gazing at her with an unreadable expression on his face, although Hermione hoped it to be a look of longing.

"I found you," she dared to whisper, barely heard over the rushing sound of water.

"It's fascinating to see the waterfall up close, isn't it?" Ron hoarsely asked.

"Y-yeah." Hermione's body trembled as he inched closer to her. His fingers gently grazed her bare arms.

"Hermione…" He spoke her name so sweetly, breathing heavily, "can I…"

"Yes." Her reply was hurried, an answer she was able to give without requiring a second thought. That seemed to be all the reassurance he needed before bending his head low to kiss her soundly on the lips.

A wave of pleasure instantly shot through her body. She could feel Ron grin against her mouth, opening his own in order to deepen the kiss. His tongue plunged into her mouth with a similar force as the water that was plunging down on top of their heads. Hermione moaned at what she considered to be an embarrassingly loud volume as she clutched his shoulders, feeling blind with the desire to be as close as possible to him. She never wanted the euphoric sensation to end.

Hermione let out a small whimper from the back of her throat as Ron's hand's started to move, wrapping around her backside — his fingers were now playing with the ties on her bathing costume.

"More," she encouraged him.

Ron breathed against her lips, "Yeah?"

"More."

"Fuck," he cursed, effectively releasing the ties with one pull.

Hermione curved her hands around Ron's neck, jumping up so that her legs were now wrapped around his waist, pressed into a part of his body that was hard — hard for her.

Ron groaned noisily as she pressed her breasts against his chest. He kissed her firmly, with increased urgency, one hand sliding down to cup her bum while the other snuck underneath her top. His thumb had just reached the curve of her breast when boisterous commotion broke them from their stupor.

"Perhaps we should…"

"Yeah…"

The pool area was starting to fill up, and Hermione quickly unraveled her legs from around Ron before repositioning her top as secretively as she could. They moved through the water so that they were no longer under the direct hit of the falling stream, and instead let their backs rest against the rocks lining the sides of the pool.

Ron bit his lip as he met her lustful eyes, appearing to hold back a chuckle. "That was...I mean...wow."

Hermione giggled at his flustered words.

"I think we've gone about this a bit backwards, but...would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" Ron asked, looking hopeful.

Hermione could barely suppress a smile, overflowing with happiness. "I'd be delighted to."

"Brilliant!" Ron gestured towards the swim-up bar that was just opening, "Fancy a drink?"

As they swam together towards the bar, Hermione made a mental note to write a rave review about this very lovely waterfall pool.