“Since when do I need a guardian in the water?” Her curious frown sent a buzz of need through him, and he was already needy enough.
“It’s a precaution, and it won’t hurt you to take it.” The waves bumped them together and he caught her around the waist. “Please, Saria.”
“I gave you my word. No time together outside of the bedroom. Let me honor that. Send Tyler out to watch me if you’re that concerned.” She popped her snorkel back in and kicked away. Damn it, he needed this, to remain with her. He’d certainly had enough of missing her when she was so close.
It was time for them to speak about it. He dived. Colorful fish darted about as he searched for her within the deep blue. A partial reef between them and the ship formed a natural underwater reserve, one she loved snorkeling along. That could be where she’d gone. He surfaced, wiped his eyes and got his bearings.
“Ben!” Saria screamed his name from a hundred feet away.
He was off, powering through the water toward her. He grabbed her arms as she dropped beneath the waves. Blood sloshed all around as he hauled her close and removed her mask. “Where are you hurt?”
“My back, up high.” Her eyelids fluttered shut, and a stingray splashed the surface and shot away.
Heart pounding, he swam them both back toward the shore.
“What happened?” Tyler raced into the water as he carried Saria in, Lydia right behind him. On her front, Ben laid her down, her head carefully turned to the side.
Blood oozed from a gaping wound on her back. “A stingray attacked her.” He pressed the ragged edges together.
Lydia fell to her knees and checked Saria’s breathing. “She’s out of it. Open your eyes, sis.”
She remained unresponsive and Ben nudged Lydia. “Get the first aid kit. Some clean water and towels. Everything should be in the inflatable. Move quickly.”
“I won’t be a sec.” She raced, yelling at Liam to keep Nico away.
Tyler inspected the wound. “For her to suffer a strike so high on her body, the stingray had to have been swimming above her. She would have been caught unaware.”
“I saw it splash away along the water’s surface. We’ll wrap this up, take her straight to the doctor. Can you go and get the boat ready for me?”
“Sure thing.” Tyler dashed off.
Saria moaned and squirmed. “Ben?”
“I’m here, baby. Stay still.”
“It hurts.” Her eyes flickered open and she squeezed his leg where he knelt near her head. “You’re pressing too hard.”
He eased back on the pressure, but only a touch. “That better?”
“A little. How bad is it?” Her chilled fingers shook on his thigh.
“The wound’s a couple of inches long. Tyler’s getting the inflatable ready, and we’ll take you straight to the doc.”
“I’ve got everything.” Lydia skidded in, unscrewed the bottle lid and gently splashed water over the wound, rinsing the fine grains of sand away. “Trust you to take on a stingray, Saria Sands.”
“I didn’t even see it.” Saria poked Lydia in the leg with a wobbly finger. “I’m hurt here. Don’t grump at me.”
“You scared me.” Lydia kissed her cheek. “I’m allowed to get grumpy when that happens. I love you.”
“I love you too, sis.”
“I’m going to bandage the wound. It might hurt a bit.” Lydia dabbed the area dry with a clean white cloth. Flinching, Saria closed her eyes and gripped his leg. He desperately wanted to hold her, to take away her pain.
“It’ll be okay, Ben.” Lydia nodded at him as if understanding what he felt. “Move your fingers out of the way as I bind it.” He did and she carefully taped Saria’s flesh together, applied a sterile pad and fixed it firmly in place. To her sister, she said, “What I’ve done should hold until the doctor can stitch it.”
“Thank you.” Saria glanced at him. “Can you help me put my shorts on?”
“Sure.” He slid them on then scooped her up, and mindful of her back, carried her high against his chest to where Tyler waited with the inflatable. On board, he cradled her in his lap as Tyler revved the motor and sped them out of the bay toward the resort. He kissed the top of her head. “How does your back feel?”
“Better now it’s taped.” As they bumped over the waves, she cringed and tried to hold still. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get hurt. I just wanted to keep my promise.”
“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have let you swim away. We need to strike a new deal.” He tipped her chin up, melded his mouth to hers and luxuriated in the feel of being with her. “I can’t lose you.”
“I guess it wouldn’t look so hot on your résumé if you lost a client.”
“I didn’t mean—” The craft crested a massive wave. He lifted her as the hull slammed down. The impact knocked the wind from his lungs, but thankfully, he’d kept her from the brunt of it.
“Are you okay?” She fluttered her fingers over his chest as spray blew over them.
“I’m fine. Hold tight. Tyler’s in a hurry.”