He was instantly at her side, examining the painful cut on her leg. "You need to wash that off." He took her hands and helped her to her feet and then swooped her into his arms. "There's a spring in that clearing ahead."
She squirmed, her face growing warm. Perspiration ran down the back of her neck. "Put me down. I can walk by myself, you know. It's just a stupid little cut. I'm not an invalid."
It was bad enough that she probably smelled, but the warmth from his body combined with the excitement of his proximity left her feeling a little nauseous.
He lowered her feet to the ground and she limped toward the sound of water. Not even a slight breeze stirred the hot air, but the trees seemed to be swaying. She staggered and wiped an arm across her hot dry forehead. Heat stroke? How stupid not to bring water along on a hike. Heat waves distorted the side of a small bluff and water surged from its shiny black ledges and plunged into small pool choked by watercress.
Justin leaned across the pool and cupped a hand under the stream of water. Her mouth felt dryer each time he drank from his hand. The water smelled so delicious - sounded so soothing. A slight breeze tossed a spray of water in the air, cooling it immediately. It was miserably hot again. Was it safe to drink directly from the spring? She frowned.
"How do you know it's not polluted?"
He flipped some water at her. "How do you know your well water isn't polluted?"
She dodged the spray of water. "Well?"
He grinned. "Just because it comes out of a spigot doesn't mean it's been treated. Did you think you had city water clear out here?"
She blushed "I guess I never thought about it. I didn't have to haul it up with a bucket, though."
He laughed and drank another handful of water. She licked her lips. "Is it good?"
He stepped back, making room for her. "Try it."
She leaned forward and he held her waist as she washed her hands and formed them into a cup. The water was cold and had a metallic taste she liked. She splashed some of it on her face and its coolness took her breath.
Justin tugged her back into his arms. "I didn't say to take a bath in it."
Overwhelmed with fatigue, she relaxed with her back against the solid support of his body. Her head throbbed with the heat and she leaned it back on his shoulder. Was she going to faint? His arms circled her waist and he pulled her close, leaning his head forward to kiss her neck. His warm breath on her neck and the added heat of his body made her feel nauseous again. She jerked away from him, reaching for more water. She should have told him she needed to go back to the house when he offered to show her around.