A/N: An AU in which Hydra and Garrett never happened to Ward and Bahrain never happened to Melinda. But these two happen.

Warnings: None. Rated for implied sexual content.

It's the perfect summer night, with just the right amount of cool breeze to keep the heat in the air from being oppressive. They had completed their mission earlier in the night and now they have a stay-over at a run-down motel with a pool. They have four hours until their flight leaves, so of course Melinda wants to go swimming.

"I don't have a suit."

"Won't need it."

He frowns. She smirks.

"Never been skinny-dipping before, Agent Ward?"

"...No."

"Well," she tugs his suit jacket off, "Let's change that."

"I think it's against the rules," he points to the pool rules sign, which, in addition to telling them the pool was now closed due to the lateness of the hour, also had a handwritten sign taped to it that very clearly stated "No skinny-dipping."

"You're too uptight, Grant."

"What if we get caught?"

Melinda actually tips her head back and laughs; it's a mesmerizing sound. "Then we'll just flash our S.H.I.E.L.D. badges. The cops in this town are not going to question government badges."

It's a good point, but logic wouldn't have mattered for long, because she pulls her shirt off next.

She grins at the look on his face and deliberately slides her pants off. She gives him a second to appreciate the view before executing a graceful run-and-jump maneuver into the pool. She disappears in a splash of strongly chlorinated water, hair billowing out on the surface of the water. She surfaces and gives him a look.

And he realizes he is still standing, stupidly, and still fully-clothed. He remedies that, quickly.

The water is cool and he shivers when he surfaces. Melinda drapes herself around him and her touch is enough to drive away the chill. Her hair tickles his neck. He can feel her heart beating comfortingly against his back. He basks for a moment and then gets an unexpected faceful of water.

"Hey!" he sputters and quickly tries to retaliate.

It devolves into a full-on water battle, which Melinda clearly wins.

She just laughs when he protests that they are being maybe a little too loud and that it might get them caught. She shuts him up with a kiss. It makes him want to protest more, just so she'll kiss him again.

Later, she lets him pull her towards the "deep" end of the pool, because it gives him a reason to hold her. She wraps her legs around his, entwines her arms around his neck, smiles as his arms tighten around her waist in response. She leans forward to kiss his shoulder blade, then his neck, and then his lips. He leans into her kiss; she runs her fingers through his hair.

"So, what do you think of your first time skinny-dipping?" she whispers, her breath warm on his cheek.

"It's not so bad," he replies softly, lifting his right hand to play with her hair. He lets his hand trail from her hair down her jaw, and then underneath her chin. He gently pulls her chin closer and then he leans down to touch his lips to hers again.

She breaks the kiss after a minute. He is disappointed.

"We should get out," she whispers, in a husky voice.

He grins then and when he replies the desire in his tone matches hers. "Good plan."

Moonlight streams in, bathing their chlorine-kissed bodies as they lie beside each other in bed. He doesn't want to waste a moment with her, but it's getting late and they should probably both get some sleep.

"Our flight leaves in two hours."

"Good," she leans over and kisses him, gentle, tender, and wanting, "Then we have plenty of time."

He can't argue with that.

-end-