Chapter 27. The Swim
When I finally wake up Monday morning, I know I will be late for work. I think I got maybe two hours of sleep, as I passed out around six in the morning. It wasn't the nightmares that kept me awake this time—it was Edward. The look in his eyes as he stared at me last night. The feel of his fingers gently tracing over my skin. The taste of his tongue as he kissed me at my doorstep.
I'm rushing out the door, my hair wet from my quick shower; my backpack half-opened swinging from my shoulder. I'm looking down, zipping up my backpack, when the traitor laces of my Vans get caught under my feet, and I'm falling down the steps of my porch, onto Edward's chest.
"Hey!" He catches me with a huff, his hand around my elbow, keeping me up. A surfboard under his other arm.
"Ohmygosh, I'm sorry!" I steady myself, with a hand on his bare, wet chest. I push my glasses up my nose, as I look up at him. Droplets of water run from his hair onto his shoulders, trailing over his freckles and down his arms.
"Hi, good morning," I say with a timid smile. I can feel my face blush from embarrassment made worse by his proximity... and his wetness.
"Bella, what the fuck?" His laugh is so fresh and his smile looks so good on his well-rested face. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah…" I sigh, pushing myself off from his chest. "Just late for a meeting at work."
"Oh…" He sets the surfboard on the railings of my porch and takes a step closer to me. I notice this board looks a little different from his previous one, and it doesn't have the decals that the one that hangs from the ceiling of his van had. Must be a new one. Before I can ask him, he asks me a question instead. "Can I walk you to your lab?"
"Sure," I say before my breath catches in my throat, as his fingers reach for my face, tucking some of my unruly hair behind my ear.
"Hi," he says, his finger pushing under my chin as he licks his lips.
"Hi," I barely get out as he inches closer and his lips are softly on mine, salty from the ocean and tasting of him. I take a moment to breathe as he pulls back, my eyes locking with his, my previous rush forgotten.
"Your meeting?" He gestures with his head toward the labs, a hint of a smug smile stretching on his lips.
"Right…" I say with a sigh and he chuckles as he holds my hand.
"So I was thinking…" He keeps his steps short as he walks next to me. "What time do you get out of work today?"
"Around five."
"Okay, do you think you'd like to go for a swim with me?"
I falter in my step and turn to look at him. "A swim?"
He must notice my hesitation because his face shows concern. "I think… I think maybe it would help? To get in the water, before you go out on the boat for your research?"
I smile because he's adorable; he remembers what I said about my nightmares, and he's trying to help me. But when I think about going in the water again, a shudder runs down my spine. "I don't know," is what I tell him instead.
"Let me show you this place before you decide." He gives my hand a little squeeze while he stares at me.
"Is it one of your spots?" I ask, relaxing.
"Yes."
"Okay." When I smile, he reciprocates, and we continue our walk.
"Okay."
~~o~~
I'm only two minutes late for our meeting, but luckily it hasn't started yet. I quietly slide into my seat in the conference room next to Rose, who gives me a nudge with her elbow.
"You okay?" Her voice is in a whisper as she inches closer to me.
The director of the Reserve Station starts talking before I can reply to her. The meeting is to go over new security plans as the nesting season comes into full bloom. Apparently, once it gets busy, we might not be the only ones on the beach at night; it will be a race between us and the poachers, to see who gets to the nests first.
"Yeah…" I whisper back to Rose. "Just another sleepless night."
"Nightmare?"
"Not this time."
"Surfie?"
I chuckle, and Emmett clears his throat across from us.
During the meeting, a new research group is introduced. Prof. Garrett Peters and three of his students from Fairbanks. Rose and I exchange nods with the three girls as it becomes obvious we will be working on the beach together. We already knew they were coming because Emmett and Prof. Peters know each other from grad school.
Jacob is at the meeting as well, to detail some of the new security procedures they will implement at the beach, with support from the local police. Jacob himself will be leading volunteer night patrols that will go along the beach, hoping to spot egg poachers and alert the authorities.
"We should totally do that," I whisper to Rose.
"Absolutely not." Rose leans over, coming closer to my ear. "Do you think that bitch is eye-fucking Emmett?"
I almost choke and try to discreetly look at one of the girls from Fairbanks—the tall blonde one, who is most definitely undressing Prof McCarty with her eyes, while he rolls up his sleeves as he talks passionately about our project. "I-I don't think so," I lie poorly while Rose scoffs next to me.
"I'm so glad I'm not a blonde anymore," Rose says, pushing her hair—brown with hand-painted natural highlights toward the ends, a balayage I think she called it—behind her shoulders.
After the meeting, we head to the lab and show the facilities to the new girls. Irina, the tall one, Kate, the sweet one, and Tanya, the curly hair one, all follow us around while Emmett and Garrett chat behind us..
Tanya is chatty, asking me about the local male "situation," but I don't have time for gossip. I want to finish work so I can head out to meet Edward.
A little after five, I am rushing out, Rose and the girls behind me, and there he is. In the same spot where he dropped me off. In swim trunks and a T-shirt, with a towel over his shoulder.
"Oh my God, who's that?" I hear Tanya ask behind me, but I don't even worry, as Rose is quick to answer.
"That's not for you," Rose says through a laugh.
"Hi." Edward's eyes are on me the entire time, even while the three girls and Rose walk past, gawking at him. His body bends over me as he pulls me in for a kiss.
"Hi." I melt under his lips, and my hands reach for his sides, pulling myself to him.
"Shall we?" He releases my face, inching back with a sigh, grabbing my backpack, and holding my hand. "How was your meeting?"
"Oh, it was fine." We fall into a slow walk in the direction of my cabin. "There's a new team of researchers from Alaska, and Jake mentioned something about volunteer night patrols."
"Night patrols?" Edward stops in his tracks, turning to look at me.
"Yeah, to catch and expose the poachers."
"That's a terrible idea." He looks at me incredulously with a furrowed brow.
"The new girls will be going. I think it would be cool to participate. Jacob said—"
"Jacob's lost his damn mind." Edward's nose flares and his eyes widen as he shakes his head. "He always wants to think the best of people. He can't possibly think those guys would take something like that lightly and not retaliate."
"So, what? We should let them continue to steal the eggs?"
"I don't know. Why is it up to you to stop them?" He takes a deep breath almost as if he's trying to calm down, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"It's not, but… someone has to do something, right? I just want to help."
"Can't you help in a way that doesn't involve risking your life?" His tone is soft, controlled, but the way he is pulling at his hair makes me think it's taking him some effort to be this composed.
"Do you have any other ideas? If so, I'm all ears." I cross my arms in front of my chest defensively, while he stays quiet, looking at me, unwilling to provide an answer to my question. "I could organize a rally. A protest? We could get more attention from the media."
He sighs in resignation and I step closer to him.
"I organized my first rally against recreational fishing and hunting when I was in the third grade," I add proudly. His face softens and he looks down at me, his lips stretching into a small grin. "I even got my dad and his cop friends to stop doing it."
"Oh, your poor father." He reaches a hand to my face, his thumb softly brushing over my cheek. "You must have made him grey so fast."
"This is important to me, Edward." I place my hand over his. "I can't just stand aside and watch it happen."
"I know." He takes a deep breath, his eyes melted seas of green. "Could you let me talk to Jacob first? Before you sign up for anything?"
"What would you talk to him about?"
"I just want to know what the night patrols entail." His hand drops from my face, and the next words come in almost a whisper, as if he didn't really want me to hear them. "And how he plans to protect you."
"I don't need protection though."
"I know. I know," he says dismissively, but I get the feeling that's not what he truly believes.
"Okay, we can talk to Jacob." I appreciate that he's worried, and it would probably be a good idea to find out more about the night patrols before I sign up for them.
"Thank you." He lets out a soft breath. We remain on the trail to my cabin, and I stare at him, while he seems lost in thought. Probably still worried.
"So… swimming?" I ask tentatively, in an effort to bring him back from his thoughts. I'm still not sure I would actually be able to swim, or even get in the water, but I'm willing to try.
His eyes are back on me and he nods with a soft smile. We continue the short walk to my cabin, and I go inside to change quickly before we're on our way to the beach, and his secret swimming spot, leaving the topic of the night patrols behind us.
~~o~~
According to Edward, the swimming spot is a short walk past the rocks at the end of Tortuga Beach. What he neglects to tell me is that the entirety of the walk consists of going over the rocks. He holds my hand though, my sandals and our towels in his other one, as we make it to the next beach. The rock formation extends into an almost oval shape enclosing crystalline water. The edge of the rocks breaks the waves, leaving a solid stream of water that seeps through, creating a natural pool.
"The tide is low and the current is not strong," Edward says, as I admire the scenery in front of me. "I can reach the bottom, and I can be right there with you. If you want to go in." He tightens his fingers around mine and gives me a smile when I look at him. "What do you say?"
My legs feel a little shaky, but I feel empowered by his hold, by his words, and the thought he has put behind this. "I want to try," I say wholeheartedly, and his smile widens.
He lets go of my hand to lift up his shirt, and I follow suit, getting rid of my shorts and top. When his fingers wrap around my hand again, he guides my steps until we're right at the edge of the natural pool. Smaller rocks are under the water in almost makeshift steps that lead to the bottom.
The water feels cool and refreshing as I dip my toes, and it slowly reaches up my body as I go deeper. I feel slightly nervous as the depth of the water increases, but Edward stays close, with my hand still in his. At the edge of the natural pool, the water reaches me mid-chest, but I imagine it gets deeper toward the middle.
"How do you feel?" The smile has gone from his face; his expression is earnest. He is taking this very seriously.
Honestly? With him right next to me, I feel in control of my fear. I feel safe. Of course, I can reach the bottom and my head is still above water. Going under would be another thing entirely.
I am also a bit distracted by the chest and the freckles and the shoulders in my periphery. I shake away those thoughts with a deep breath and focus on the task at hand.
"I-I think we can go deeper." I tighten my fingers around his, exhaling in preparation. The water looks clear; I can see the bottom from where I stand, and just like he said, the current is not strong.
"Are you sure?"
I turn to him, his eyes already on me. "Yes."
He walks backwards into the deeper area, reaching for me with his other hand, so that he's holding both of mine. As the water reaches his shoulders, my feet no longer reach the bottom, and he pulls me to him.
I wrap my arms around his neck instinctively, my heart beating wildly in my chest. My breath quickens and I close my eyes. Images of darkness, feelings of not knowing which way is up or down, assault my brain.
"I'm here," he whispers, tightening his hold on me. "You're safe."
I focus on his voice, on his touch, on how his arms guard me, wrapped around my waist. When I'm able to take deeper breaths, I open my eyes and release the choke-hold I have around his neck.
I see him take a deep breath as well, and he rubs his hands up and down my back, in the sweetest gesture of support.
With his arms around me, I feel invincible.
I can do this.
My work. My life. Everything about me is tied to the animals that live in these waters. I won't let a day of bad luck—an accident—ruin everything. I need to get over my fear.
"I want to go under," I say, my voice steady, my eyes on his.
"What?" His eyebrows shoot up in his forehead in surprise.
"Can we try going under?"
"You sure?"
"I am, yeah." I release him further, now only my hands on his shoulders and his on my waist.
With only an exchange of looks, and without even having to count, we go down at the same time. I close my eyes instinctively, and my hands grip Edward's shoulders tightly.
My chest tightens but I keep the images from the day I nearly drowned out of my head, focusing only on the present, and on being here, in this moment with Edward.
When we come up for air, I'm ecstatic. I can't believe it. I did it.
I reach for his neck, pulling myself to him, but the laugh catches in my throat as I see the expression on his face. In my nerves and excitement, I neglected to see, failed to think about, what this would do to him—what this would feel like to him.
His shoulders are tense, his jaw set, and that crease between his eyebrows is deeper than I've ever seen before. His eyes are cloudy and unfocused, like he's not here with me. He's somewhere else in his mind—somewhere dark.
"Hey…" My hands cup his face, trying to get him to look at me. "I'm okay," I say again and again. His eyes soften as his gaze meets mine, and he exhales roughly.
"I'm sorry," he says, closing his eyes, and his pained expression disarms me. He did this for me. To try to help me get over my fear. In spite of what it would do to him.
He opens his eyes and takes a deep breath himself, the air coming out of him through puffed cheeks. "Was that too much for you?"
"No," I say in earnest, pulling myself closer to him. "Was it too much for you?"
My question freezes him as he stares quizzically at me. "No. I… fuck."
"Don't think." My hands cup his face. "Just be here with me, please?" His gaze melts, his eyes bright and green, so fucking beautiful yet so sad.
On my cue, we take a deep breath and go down again. This time, I keep my eyes open and our gazes linked. His hands clasp on each side of my waist, his fingers digging into my skin, as he brings me flush with his torso.
I pull his face to mine until our lips meet, until our breaths leave our bodies and bubbles envelop us.
We both gasp when he brings us up in a rush, while his lips devour my mouth. His hands loop under my knees, bringing my legs around his hips, then they roam over my body, like they can't decide what to touch first.
Our kiss is as desperate as our need for air. My back is pressed against the rock wall. His kisses trail down from my jaw to my neck.
"I'm dying to touch you." He groans against my collarbone. "Can I touch you, please?"
Hot kisses pressed on my neck make my head drop back, and I can feel him grow harder under me. Yes, I want him to touch me—everywhere. I am dying to touch him, too.
My fingers fist the hair at the nape of his neck, and I pull his face to mine. I nod against his lips before I kiss him.
His hand comes up from my waist, gentle fingers rubbing over my ribs, until they stop at my breast. I moan as his thumb grazes my already hard nipple over the fabric of my bathing suit.
His other hand roams the length of my thigh, ending at my ass. His fingers dig into my skin as he pulls me even closer, and my thighs press against his hips, wrapping him tightly.
"I'm sorry." He groans against my neck. "This is not what I brought you here for."
"I know," I whisper, my fingers still tightly gripping his hair. "But I do want it. I do want you to touch me."
"Here?" His hand moves up my thigh, and I am not sure if he means the geographical location or the spot between my legs where I want him to touch me.
"Yes," is the answer to both, and I buck my hips instinctively, giving his hand an open invitation.
"Jesus..." His nose nuzzles in my neck while my hands travel down his torso, ending at the strings of his trunks.
My body is already trembling for him when his hand reaches between my legs. The heat of his fingers cupping me over my bathing suit contrasts the coolness of the water, and I can't help but whimper.
I reach for his swim trunks, untying them quickly until I have him in my hands, matching his pace, while my body writhes under him.
"Cannonball!" The loud splash that follows the voice startles us, and I open my eyes to see two kids jumping in the water.
"Fuck," Edward curses under his breath as his hand releases me, to adjust himself back inside his trunks. He keeps his other arm around my waist, holding me up to him. "Want to get out of here?"
"Absolutely." I laugh as he shakes his head, holding my hand and helping me out.
We've accomplished what we came here for and started so much more, but now we need privacy. I'm giddy as we quickly gather our stuff, my fear for the water forgotten, my mind on continuing what we started here.
~~o~~
Cannonball is to cockblock what turtle pace is to slow burn? See you Friday!