Author's note: This one is for Izzyandlouie - thanks for the prompt, and for always helping me out whenever I want to discuss something!
As always, reviews are very welcome!
Enjoy!
They drifted along peacefully in the bright sunlight, not a sound to be heard except the singing of birds and the rhythmic splash of the oars. The boat rocked slightly with every pull – a mellow, soothing movement that made Jack feel at peace with the world as he rowed steadily onwards, enjoying the quiet, the sun on his back, the flow of the river. He loved the sweep of the oars through the clear water, the effortless, tireless exertion that made the boat glide smoothly over the surface, revealing new delights at every stroke: little silvery fish, a bird taking flight, bright flowers, and luscious trees throwing cool shadows over inviting little grassy spots on the bank. He wondered why he had been so resistant when Phryne had first proposed the outing that morning. This was just what he needed. He felt grateful that she had persuaded him after all.
They drifted along agonizingly slowly in the hot sunlight, not a sound to be heard except some birds chirping in the bushes and the annoying, continual splashing of the oars. The boat rocked with every pull – a lazy, monotonous movement that made Phryne feel restless as she reclined in the stern of the boat, cursing the boredom, the sun in her face, the sluggish pace of the river. Though admittedly the sight was excellent: Jack rowing on steadily in his shirt sleeves, his strong hands on the oars, the muscles on his arms and back rippling deliciously at every stroke. Apart from that, though, there was nothing to see except for some fish and birds, and endless trees and grass on the banks. She wondered why she had been so persistent they take this outing that morning. This wasn't quite as much fun as she had thought it would be. She wished Jack had been more adamant in his objections.
They talked a little, but Jack had been firm from the start that he wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet, and that there was to be no talk whatsoever about the case, the station, police work, or any other daily encumbrance, and he was showing an incomprehensible inclination to discuss mind-numbingly boring things like birds and trees. She sighed as she dangled her fingers in the water. Why had she thought that it would be a good idea for her to be stuck on a tiny boat with nothing to do? Then, to Phryne's relief, the boredom was alleviated somewhat as Jack stopped rowing, rested the oars in the boat, and stretched his back, rolling his shoulders.
'Alright,' he said, 'I'm going to rest for a moment, and I need something to eat. You take the oars.'
She lifted her eyebrows. 'Excuse me?'
'Didn't you say you could row?'
'Of course I can row,' she replied indignantly. 'But I'm really not planning on performing any kind of strenuous physical exercise in this heat.'
He rolled his eyes. 'Fine, then switch places with me and just hold the oars while I eat something, if that's not too strenuous for you. Just push us away from the banks if we get too close and we'll be fine.'
Carefully, they both got up and inched towards each other, the boat rocking precariously as they changed places. Phryne was seized by an almost irresistible desire to give Jack just a tiny little push (now that would be fun!) but with a supreme effort of will, she resisted the temptation and sat down on the narrow wooden bench, resting her arms on the oars as she watched Jack take the cover off the lunch basket that Mr. Butler and Dot had filled with all kinds of delicacies, food and drink alike. The slow current of the river carried them onwards, and Phryne looked out dreamily over the water, not really paying much attention to where they were going. When the boat gently bumped against the bank, Jack looked up from his sandwich with an expression of amused exasperation.
'Really,' he said, shaking his head as Phryne awoke from her daydream and looked around in surprise at the bank they were now stuck against, 'You only had to do one thing.'
He got up to take over at the exact moment when Phryne, looking over her shoulder, took hold of one of the oars and jabbed sharply at the ground, pushing the boat away from the bank with a quick jolt.
The subsequent splash made her look round in surprise – Jack had disappeared, a great ring of bubbles in the water on the starboard side indicating whereto. Amazed, she looked on as he surfaced again, spluttering and treading water, and she tried her best to keep a straight face, but he looked so surprised at suddenly finding himself in the water that she couldn't help it – she burst out laughing. He threw her an annoyed look.
'I suppose that's your idea of fun?'
But all she could do was shake her head, helpless with laughter, and he growled angrily and struck out for the shore, swearing softly under his breath. A couple of yards away, there was a little sandy beach where he could easily go ashore, so he swam there and got out of the river, water streaming off him, shoes sopping. Finally Phryne collected herself enough to take the oars, and with a few quick, strong strokes she beached the boat and jumped out to pull it further out of the water, until she could be sure it wouldn't drift away. Then she turned to Jack, who was sulkily pouring the water from his shoes. She walked over to him, smiling soothingly.
'Now don't be cross, it's just a little water.'
'I'm soaked through,' he grumbled.
'And it's a nice day. We're in no hurry, we can stay here until you're dry again. This is a lovely spot, actually.' She took a moment to appreciate the sight of his white shirt clinging to his skin, then began to unbutton it. 'Let's get this off. If we lay it out in the sun for a while, it will be dry before you know it.'
He shot her a sideways glance. 'Are you sure this isn't just a ploy to get me out of my clothes, Miss Fisher?'
'Now Inspector!' she exclaimed in mock indignation. 'I can't believe you would think I would suggest such a thing out of anything but concern for your health.' And she deftly proceeded to undo his trousers.
A short while later, Jack sat down on the grass wearing nothing but a surly expression and his underwear, which he had stubbornly refused to take off on the grounds of propriety. Phryne spread out the rest of his clothes in the sunny spots on the grass, then sat down next to him. It was a warm day, and though it was cooler in the shadow of the trees, the long hours they had spent on the boat had left her feeling hot and sticky, and the river glistened invitingly. When she started to unbutton her blouse, Jack glanced sideways at her.
'What are you doing?'
'Taking off my clothes.'
He seemed confused. 'Why?'
'I'm going swimming.'
'Did you bring your bathing suit?'
She smiled. He honestly thought she had brought a bathing suit. She raised an eyebrow at him as she got up and stepped out of her skirt, but when she started to take off her underwear, he cottoned on quick enough and got to his feet, protesting.
'You can't go swimming naked!'
'Actually, that works perfectly well.'
'What if someone sees you?'
'Jack, we've been on the river for hours and we haven't seen a soul.'
'But…'
She didn't wait for him to finish his sentence, but deftly removed her underwear and walked to the river.
The water was deliciously cool on her hot skin, and she sighed in contentment as she waded in until she was deep enough to push off and start swimming. She felt weightless and clean as she glided through the clear water, watching her skin shimmer ghostly white under the surface, enjoying the feeling of being completely free without the encumbrance of a bathing suit. She turned towards the bank, where Jack stood hovering uncertainly at the edge of the water, watching her with a concerned expression. She wished he wouldn't worry so much and enjoy himself a bit more.
'The water's lovely!' she called out to him. 'Why don't you join me?'
He frowned, apparently struggling with himself. She swam closer to the bank, trying to incentivize him with glimpses of bare skin under the water, and he smiled knowingly, well aware of what she was doing. She grinned back and treaded water as she looked at him.
'Come on Jack! There's nobody here.'
He was swayed, she could see it. He glanced around furtively before stepping out of his underwear and diving straight into the water. When he surfaced and pushed back his wet hair, she saw that he was laughing. That was the great thing about Jack, she reflected. He wasn't quick to let go, but when he did, he surprised her every time with his capacity for joy, finding pleasure in the simplest things, seeming to enjoy them more thoroughly than she ever could, appreciating them so fully. Like now. He had swum to the middle of the river and now floated there peacefully, a content smile on his features as he drifted along, allowing the current to carry him downstream at a leisurely pace as he enjoyed the sun on his face. She watched him fondly as he flipped and dove, swimming back against the current with a strong, clean stroke. A moment later, he appeared right in front of her, a smile in his eyes.
'Thank you for persuading me.'
'Can I use this for future reference?'
'No. This is a one-time thing.'
'Fair enough,' she replied cheerfully, then grabbed his shoulders and pushed him under. When he surfaced again, spluttering and surprised, she was already several yards away, laughing. He grinned and swam after her, catching her easily and picking her up, threatening to dip her under as well, but she threw her arms around his neck and he relented, settling for a kiss instead. The moment his guard was down, she slipped away again, but he caught her around her waist before she could get very far, and held her close. The water wasn't very deep here, and her feet found the sandy bottom as she leaned back against him, surrendering.
'I've got you,' he whispered in her ear, but she didn't mind. His arms were around her, and she had no desire to change that.
When his hand started wandering downwards from her waist, his other arm still holding her firmly against him, she smiled in delight, and her body tensed slightly in anticipation. She had never known anyone with such clever hands as Jack, his fingers moving delicately yet confidently, never failing to illicit an immediate reaction from her. She didn't know how he did it, how he always sensed what she wanted, how he always found the right spot. Perhaps it was because he played the piano. Perhaps it was simply because he was Jack. But as they stood stationary with the river flowing past them, his skilful fingers stroked her and she didn't care about anything anymore - she leaned her head against him with a sigh that quickly turned into a moan as the pleasure washed over her. She was still amazed every time at how easily he was able to make her body react, taking her breath away, making her knees weak until she had to throw an arm around his neck to keep from slipping down. He nuzzled her ear as he kept up his exploration and she wanted him, she wanted him so, but he wouldn't let her turn around, keeping her pressed tightly against him, and at that moment his fingers found the right spot and she was past resistance. A trembling moan escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes at the delight of his touch, yes, yes, right there. Only moments later she felt the tension build, and she gasped sharply as an intense rush of pleasure shot through her, leaving her breathless and tingling, leaning against his chest.
It wasn't enough. If anything, she wanted him more now.
He turned her around and pressed his mouth to hers, and she responded with enthusiasm, putting her arms around his neck, and he lifted her effortlessly so she could wrap her legs around him. When she guided him in, he groaned and grasped her hips tightly. The water carried most of her weight, so she was able to move as he remained still, keeping them balanced in the moving current, his hands guiding her movements as she took him in deeply, throwing back her head as she found a rhythm. She loved the novelty of the situation, how thrilling it was out in the open, in the river, the wetness of their skin, the weightlessness, the cool water rushing past them, sensations adding to their enjoyment. Suddenly he grasped her tighter, burying his face against her chest, and she felt him shudder and almost lose his footing as he pulled her down onto him one last time, then held her hips so she stilled. He rested his head against her for a moment, breathing hard, then looked up with a smile and she bent down to kiss him.
They spent the better part of an hour in the river, swimming upstream and drifting lazily back downstream, or kissing endlessly in the shallower parts near the bank. Finally she got tired and a little cold, and they decided to get out and see if Jack's clothes were dry yet, so they could start heading back with their boat.
She walked out of the river ahead of him, and she could feel his eyes on her, watching the water trickle down her white skin. When she shivered in a cool breeze that made her nipples harden, she noticed he got that look again, and she felt a tingle when he pulled her close.
'Are you cold?' he murmured, brushing her lips with his as he let his hands wander down her bare back.
She gave him a languorous smile. 'I'm getting warmer.'
He laid her down on the soft grass in the dappled light of the sun that filtered through the canopy of the trees, covering her with his body, and she was grateful for his warmth as he kissed her deeply. Then he moved down, and when his lips closed around her cold nipple, she gasped loudly – his mouth was almost unbearably hot, but the sensation was exquisite, making goose bumps erupt all over her body. When one nipple was thoroughly warmed up, he moved to the other one, making her gasp again as she tangled her hands in his hair, keeping him there as the heat of his mouth against her cold skin made her shiver. By the time he was trailing hot kisses down her stomach, she was already out of breath, and she eagerly opened her legs to him, yearning to feel him.
When he pressed his warm mouth to her, the wave of pleasure that washed over her was so strong, she almost succumbed to it right then and there as she cried out and arched her back, but she wanted it to last. He seemed to sense it, because he pulled back a little and started kissing her on the inside of her thighs, until she was squirming for him to continue. He pushed in his tongue, and she threw her head back with a sigh. Of all the lovers she had ever had, he was the most intent on her pleasure, placing it firmly and continually before his own, rarely allowing his own needs to make him forget hers. Sometimes she wished he would let go a bit more, let himself be carried away by the moment, but on the whole there was no denying that she loved this in him. He seemed to derive real satisfaction and pleasure from watching her, touching her, never seeming to tire of it. Perhaps this was because female pleasure were still so new to him, perhaps he was genuinely selfless – she didn't really care – she was enjoying it too much to care.
He was taking his time, moving up to manipulate her with his tongue until she moaned, then going down to taste her, over and over again until she begged him to stop… no… don't stop, please don't stop – oh – yes, that's… oh! Her hands gripped the grass as she cried out, and before the sensation had fully left her he had moved on top of her, his mouth on hers, greedily, as he pushed in hard and deep, sending her immediately over the edge again as she gripped him convulsively and cried out again and again, and everything was Jack, Jack, Jack.
When she walked out of the river in front of him, he couldn't keep his eyes off her as he watched the water stream down her body, her white skin glistening irresistibly in the sunlight. He saw her shiver in the cool breeze, and took his chance to pull her close, running his hands down her back.
'Are you cold?'
The smile she gave him in return made him swallow hard, and he barely heard her reply as he laid her down on the grass and kissed her hungrily. Her skin was cold to the touch, but he knew he'd get her warm soon enough. Closing his warm mouth around her nipple, he heard her gasp loudly and noticed goose bumps on her skin. He loved having this effect on her, loved to make her body react. After taking care to warm up her other nipple, he couldn't resist the temptation of warming up other parts as well, so he moved down, and smiled as she willingly opened her thighs for him. When he pressed his warm mouth to her, she reacted so violently that he pulled back for an instant, unwilling to have it over so soon, so he kissed her, waiting for her to calm down again before pushing in gently with his tongue. To his surprise, he could hardly taste her – the effects of the river, he realized. Well, that needed to be remedied immediately. He knew where to touch her for almost instant results, where to lick and kiss, and he loved to hear her moan as he struck a rhythm, only to interrupt it at regular intervals to go down and taste her, until she was thoroughly wet and he could taste her again. It wasn't until she begged him to stop moving around that he realized he was teasing her, and with a smile he focused exclusively on the one spot until she begged him not to stop… he could feel her tense… this was the best part… he could feel his own excitement building but he ignored it – just a little longer. When she cried out and convulsed beneath him, he could only keep it up for a few more seconds, then pushed himself up while she was still shivering and covered her body with his, unable to wait any longer as he thrust inside, hard, deep, and she was so warm around him it was an exquisite torment to hold back as she wrapped her legs around him and cried out again, and he was gone from the world as everything was Phryne.