The Slave (Free Men, #1) (Completed)

Part 10

                 

The suns beat down mercilessly on the stone flags of the terrace, the light blinding as it bounced off the surface of Master's pool. I squinted as I adjusted to the brilliant light. Beside me, Kai let out a shout of joy as he spied the water and hurried to dip his toes. I smiled.

The silence in his bedroom had become oppressive, too weighted with subtext and meaning. I didn't venture out often, but the garden held an illusion of space and freedom I thought Kai would appreciate. A curious guard appeared at the sound of Kai splashing; I nodded to him, and he retreated into the wider compound behind the plants that bordered the terrace, creating a private little oasis in the middle of the exposed, dusty landscape.

I settled on the edge of the pool, swishing my legs slowly back and forth in the water as I watched Kai jump fearlessly into the deepest part. He emerged in an eruption of spray, laughing, and swam over to me with strong strokes. The liquid glistened on his skin and in the spikes of his shorn hair as he treaded water before me.

"Aren't you coming in?"

I shook my head. "I'll watch. You have fun."

He caught my ankle and tugged playfully. "Come on, you must be roasting."

"No, really." I braced my hands against the stone flags in case he decided to pull me in.

"Why not?"

"I'm happy here." I gave him a tight smile. "You have fun."

"It's no fun on my own." He swam to the edge, resting his arms on the flags and kicking his legs lazily behind him. He had nice legs, delicate ankles and finely turned calves stretching upward to slim, toned thighs, dusted with dark hairs.

"I can't swim." The admission shamed me, confronted as I was by his fearlessness in the water, his easy grace and fluid movements.

"Really?" He blinked. "Why not?"

"I never learnt, okay?" Growing up in the desert, I'd not exactly had much opportunity.

He looked at me incredulously. "But.... You've got this pool. You've lived here since you were twelve. How can you not have learnt?"

"I can doggy paddle," I offered weakly.

"You're scared of the water?"

"Not really."

"What does that mean?"

I sighed. "I used to be," I admitted. "When I first came here... I'd never seen so much water before. It was like a miracle. Some of the other slaves tried to teach me to swim, but it terrified me, the thought of drowning in it." I laughed. "Stupid. Like they'd have let me drown."

"Fear doesn't have to be rational," Kai murmured gently.

I nodded. "I know." I lifted one leg out of the pool, watching the rivulets run over my skin and drip onto the sparkling surface below. Kai's legs swayed like ghosts in the depths.

"The truth is, I only felt safe with Master, but he wasn't home enough to teach me. By the time he got back it was always dark, or nearly dark. Too late to go swimming."

"So learn now. I can teach you."

I frowned at him.

"I can," he protested. "I was practically born in the water. Believe me, swimming I know." He tugged my leg again. "Please? Consider it payment for teaching me Thirskan."

I looked over the edge, judging the depth. "I don't know."

Kai seemed to read my mind. "We'll start in the shallow end, okay? I promise I won't take you out of your depth until you're comfortable."