esemaywinterhere,buttheswanswillgobaatamuskeet."

    Noahpaddledhardasdarkcloudsrolleddirectlyoverhead.Soonraiofall,alightsprifirst,thengraduallyharder.Lightning,apause,thenthunderagain.Alittleloudernow.Maybesixorsevenmilesaway.MorerainasNoahbegantopaddleevenharder,hismusclestighteningwitheverystroke.Thickerdropsnow.Falling...Fallingwiththewind...Fallinghardandthick...Noahrowing...ragthesky..,stillgetti..,cursingtohimself..,losingtoMotherNature...

    Thedownpourwassteadynow,andAlliewatchedtherainfalldiagonallyfromthesky,tryingtodefygravityasitrodeoerlywindsthatwhistledoverthetrees.Theskydarkenedalittlemore,andbigheavydropsfellfromtheclouds.Hurriedrops.

    Allieeherainandleanedherheadbaomenttoletithitherface.Shekhefrontofherdresswouldsoakthroughinacoupleofminutes,butshedidntcare.Shedidwohough,ifhenoticed,thenthoughtheprobablydid.Sheranherhandsthroughherhair,feelingitswetness.Itfeltwonderful,shefeltwonderful,everythiwonderful.Eventhroughtherain,shecouldhearhimbreathinghardandthesoundarousedhersexuallyinawayshehadinyears.

    Acloudburstdirectlyabovethem,andtheraioedownevenharder.Harderthanshedeverseenit.Allielookedupwardandlaughed,givingupanyattemptatkeepingdry,makingNoahfeelbetter.

    Hehadntknoasfeelingaboutit.Eventhoughshedmadethedecisiontoe,hedoubtedthatshedexpectedtobecaughtinastormlikethis.

    Theyreachedthedockacoupleofmier,andNoahmovedincloseenoughforAllietostepout.Hehelpedherup,thengotouthimselfanddraggedtheoeupthebankfarenoughnottodriftaway.