Page 63 of My Darling Clementine

Distracted, her mind wandered, wondering what sin tastes like. Sweet like champagne, or bitter as sacramental wine?

Clem’s lips lowered until they hovered just above Kizzy’s, regaining her attention. “Would you like help undressing?” She stayed where she was.

Kizzy didn’t move either, her lips parted a breath’s distance from Clem’s. She undid the buttons of her denim vest, stood on tiptoe, then closed in for a kiss.

A long moment later, Clem pushed the vest down her shoulders. It landed in a heap on the rocks. She tugged Kizzy’s blouse free of her skirt’s waistband, running cool hands across her heated skin, bare belly tingling in the night air.

Clem pulled her shirt up, held her arms high over her head, and stared at her breasts.

“I can’t finish undressing while you’re holding my wrists.” Kizzy sent her a look that made Clem grin and toss the blouse aside. Shimmying as her arms dropped, she grinned as Clem’s eyes once more focused on her breasts. “Now, you better get started, because I’m almost in the water and you’re still dressed.”

“Is this a race?”

“It is now.” Kizzy grinned. She loved a challenge and had no problem taking advantage of her head start. With deft fingers, she undid the skirt button at her waist.

“Wade in up to your knees,” instructed Clem, her vest and shirt off, long johns unbuttoned and dangling from her waist, “but wait for me before going farther.” Unwinding her wrappings while kicking the boots from her feet she said, “I can swim.”

“Wonderful!” cried Kizzy, dropping her skirt on the pile along with shoes and socks, bending to untie her holstered pistol. “We can race across.” She put the gun down with care, then tugged on the drawstring of her bloomers, but they tangled. Struggling with the stubborn knot, she watched as Clem dropped her pants, then shoved the rest of her long underwear down. “Hey wait. I’m stuck, that’s not fair.”

Clem reached over with a chuckle and gave the drawstring a sharp tug. It came undone, and Kizzy’s bloomers dropped around her ankles. “There you go.” Her hungry eyes swept over her.

Naked, Kizzy took three light steps and jumped, landing with a splash. “Oh!” she cried, shivering. “It’s cold. Get in here and warm me up.”

Clem made a comical face as she waded into the water up to mid-thigh. “Brrr… I never like getting in.”

“You get used to it pretty quick.” Kizzy laughed, watching her hop closer, using her muscular arms to push the water behind her, propelling herself forward.

“Did you bring the soft soap?” Clem asked, reaching water deep enough to swim, using an easy breaststroke to stalk Kizzy.

She swam away, still floating on her back with both bare breasts glistening in the pearl gray light of dusk, keeping out of arm’s reach. “I did, but it’s all the way over there in the basket,” she said, pointing. Then she gulped some air, used a stone underfoot to launch herself as high as she could, and arched forward into a dive, darting past her surprised lover. A few swift butterfly strokes, making sure her bare bottom flashed up and down in the water, brought her to standing depth.

“Now that’s swimming,” conceded Clem, moving closer. “And showing off.”

“No, I didn’t,” laughed Kizzy, climbing out of the natural pool. “I could have held my breath and stayed down for almost a minute, but…” she looked down in the pool at Clem staring up at her with admiration, “I didn’t want you to worry, and then drown trying to ‘save’ me when I was just showing off.”

“Saving me from myself, huh?” Clem shook her head. “You already know me better than I know myself.” She laughed, watching naked Kizzy empty their basket. “Come on, clever woman. We’ve got a lot of trail to wash off.” She ducked her handsome head backward, wetting her hair and shaking it, grinning through the droplets running down her face.

Does she know how good-looking she is? Kizzy stared at that magical smile. Sometimes she couldn’t believe Clem was her lover, let alone her husband.

With some squealing, a little tickling, and a lot of kissing, they managed to clean themselves and each other. After lathering, they spent an enchanting few minutes under the waterfall rinsing, kissing, and repeating. Once clean, they swam a few races to warm up, both impressed with the other’s skill. They floated in each other’s arms as a waning crescent moon ascended into the dark sky.

“Let’s go, my beauty,” said Clem, swimming toward the shore. “We need to get dry before it gets too cold. I’ll brush your hair.”

“That sounds nice,” said Kizzy. She followed, toweled off, and then pulled fresh clothes from the basket. As she started to dress, though, Clem stopped her.

“Not those,” she said, taking her fresh bloomers from her. “These,” she held out the scandalous French wedding pantaloons.

Kizzy blushed and looked up.

Even in the muted moonlight, Clem’s eyes glittered. “Please wear these for me.”

“You want me to look like a slut?” She shook her head.

“I want you,” Clem ran warm hands up and down her arms, making Kizzy tremble, “to tease me. Only you and I will know what you’re wearing under your skirt.” She pulled her close and whispered, “I love how you look in them.” Clem nipped her earlobe while patting her bottom, making her moan.

Kizzy stepped into the legs of the frou-frou undies, tied the front strings, and reached for the two in back.

Clem’s firm hands brushed hers away and tied them. “I don’t want any tangles later.” The same hands circled around to cup her breasts and hard nipples, squeezing them with a familiar light touch.