Ashes in the Wind

       What in the world had come over her?
       Serafina ran up to the blankets and grabbed a towel, hugging it to herself. If the truth be told, she was angrier at herself than David. She'd let her guard down around him. Again. She never did that. At least not with strangers.
       What was it about David that got under her skin? How could he get her to forget herself so easily? And why did he seem almost . . . familiar?
       Serafina rubbed the towel down her legs. It must have been too much wine and sun, a lethal combination when it came to her.
       She groaned inwardly. My God, I practically groped the man. How desperate am I?
       Hearing him come up behind her, Serafina wrapped the towel around her shoulders and escaped to find her clothes behind the rocks where she had changed earlier. Her pants stuck to her damp legs and she winced as she slipped on her blouse, already feeling the sting of the sunburn on her shoulders.
       She must have dressed faster than she thought and David must have packed the picnic up before changing his clothes because when she came around the rocks the sight that met her eyes took her breath away.
       As the sun set over the Bay of Naples, it painted the sky with vivid streaks of red and gold, illuminating David in a soft, bronze glow. He stood on the beach staring out at the sea looking as only God could make a man. Tall, proud and . . . naked.
       Serafina felt her mouth go dry. Her heart pounded in her chest and her blood pulsed in certain lower areas where it had no right to be pulsing. Not for David.
       But she couldn't deny he was beautiful. That was the only word to describe him at this moment. Tall and tan, the sunlight kissed every curve and muscle, gilding each hollow and ridge on his body with a golden hue. He looked like she would have imagined Adam to have been--perfect, beautiful and . . . naked.
       Serafina ducked back behind the rocks before he caught her ogling him. Placing her hand against her thundering heart, she tried to catch her breath. Dear God, there was only so much a woman could stand.
       She stood, not quite certain if her legs would hold her, and tried to pull herself together. Oh come on, you've seen naked men before, she chided herself.
       Yes, a little voice inside her head chimed in, but never looking like that.
       Almost afraid to leave the safety of the rocks again, she finally emerged to find David fully clothed and waiting on her.
       Was that a pang of disappointment she just felt?
       The tan shirt and brown pants did little to erase the memory of what was just underneath.
       Sera squeezed her eyes shut. But try as she might, she had a feeling the image of David naked on the beach was going to be permanently burned into her brain for the rest of her life.

© 2004 Lori Dillon