Rio went after her, pride welling up at her courage. The moonlight fell across her face as she swam, and he watched the beads of water pour off of her. She used sure, strong strokes, cut cleanly through the water, almost as silent as he was. There it was again, that strange disorienting feeling of familiarity.

He had been swimming with her before. He had seen an exact image, he knew the moment she would turn her head and take a breath of air.

The current was stronger in the center of the river and took them both with little effort, carrying them downstream. Rio caught her hand and held tight as they both bent knees and lifted feet to avoid rocks and snags as they were swept along. It was a dizzying experience, looking up at the night sky after so many days seeing nothing but canopy overhead. Stars, scattered across the dark backdrop, glittered like gems in spite of the clouds. The rain fell lightly, a fine mist, more than an actual shower so that Rachael turned up her face to feel the spray.

The river wasn’t nearly as ferocious as when it was raging in the storm. There were no dragging undercurr ents trying to pull her down. Rachael found she rather enjoyed the experience after lying in bed for so long. Rio stayed very close to her, hovering protectively, which made her feel cherished, something she’d never experienced. It was like a dream. Neither spoke as sound traveled great distances at night on the river.

They were swept around a bend and down a mini waterfall. Abruptly, Rio caught her around the waist and put his feet down. He struggled against the current, walking in the waist-deep water, dragging her with him. Rachael couldn’t help him, other than to try to stroke strongly in the direction he wanted to go. Even with Rio’s incredible strength, it was a battle to reach the small waterfall. He put his mouth against her ear. “Wait just a moment, I’m going under.”

She held her breath as he disappeared. She felt the tug of the rope around her waist, but she was able to hold against the pull of the water. It seemed minutes before he rose up out of the water. She sighed with relief and flung her ar ms around him.

Again he put his mouth against her ear. “You’ll have to hold your breath and duck underwater, we’re going to swim through a tube.”

She nodded to show she understood and went with him, allowing the swirling water to close over the top of her head. It was impossible to see anything and she didn’t even try, hanging on to Rio with all her strength. He pulled her through a small channel, a tube beneath the water. She felt the walls brushing against her shoulders and when she reached above her she could feel the roof inches from her head. She fought back claustrophobia, concentrating on the unexpected feelings she had for Rio to get her through. She detested small enclosed places, and swimming in the dark waters through a tunnel she’d never seen was a true test of her trust in Rio.

How had she come to feel such faith in him in such a short time? It didn’t feel like a short time. She felt the tug on her body indicating she could stand. Rio wrapped his arm around her waist to help her out of the water. Her head broke the surface and she opened her eyes. It was pitch-black. The waterfall was a loud echo matching the continual sound of running water.

“Where are we?”

“It’s a cave. You have to wade through water and keep your head low for a short distance and then we’ll get you settled. I made the tube and hollowed out most of the entrance to the chamber. The chamber was a great find. It seemed a good place to escape to if I was seriously wounded.”

She caught the small bit of pride in his tone and smiled. “It sounds lovely. I’ve always thought being a troll’s lover was incredibly romantic.”

There was a small silence and then he laughed softly. “I’ve been called many things in my life, but troll is a new one.” He swung her into his ar ms. “I’m going to carry you across the threshold.”

“Lovers don’t get carried,” Rachael reminded. His ear was close to her face so she leaned forward and nibbled. “Only brides do.”

“Well then, consider yourself married. And stop doing that thing with your teeth because I’m having one hell of a reaction to it.”

“That sounds like it has possibilities. But I’ve been thinking. Why wouldn’t some horrible reptile have discover ed your handiwork and made a little nest inside your cave? If I were an alligator I’d be happy to use your hideaway. And if you came to visit, all to the good. Meals are hard to come by sometimes.”

He laughed. “You have no faith, woman. I put in a plug to keep the creatures out. I unfastened the locks and opened the door, that’s why we were in the tube so long.”

“You didn’t close the door.”

“I’m taking you to high ground first. That’s the gentleman in me.”

She nuzzled his neck. “I do appreciate it, Rio, I really do, but in this one instance, I’ll be happy to sort of stand here while you go back and secure the tube. I’m not ready for visitors yet, especially reptilian ones.”

Rio caught the little tremor in her voice. “I’ll do that immediately, Rachael. We’re already in the cavern. Fortunately we’re back far enough and the cave opens up into a wide chamber here so we can light a lamp. I brought several with me over a period of time.” He set her down on a flat surface.

Rachael waited anxiously while he lit one of the lamps and hooked it above their heads for maximum cover age. She looked around her. The chamber was fairly large. Roots protruded and water dripped continually from several walls. There was no sign of alligators. Rio had quite a supply of items in the cave.