All coherent thoughts had evaded Rachel's mind. As she thrashed up and down the huge swimming pool, she had no time to think of anything except keeping her breathing in time with her fast, powerful strokes. This was just what she needed, something to clear her head completely and stop her stressing out as she had been for weeks now. She felt more herself already and was determined not to stop until she was completely exhausted, to put off having to think again for as long as possible, for she knew when she did, the same thoughts and feelings would come crashing back to once again fill her every waking moment.
Eddie on the other hand was sitting in the sauna, staring into the middle distance. His mind was well and truly occupied with the same thoughts that had been there for the last half an hour or so; what on earth could he do about the Rachel and Melissa situation? He had come to the decision already that to continue his relationship with Melissa wouldn't do any of the three any good. Melissa was happy enough now, but he knew in the long run he couldn't give her the commitment she deserved. As for how on earth he was going to break it off though, he had no idea. He didn't want to hurt her, and got the feeling that walking back to their hotel room to announce he was in love with her sister wasn't going to help him on that mission. And how would Rachel react when she found out? He couldn't exactly go jumping in to a relationship with her five minutes after splitting up with her sister now could he? He wasn't even sure that this would be what Rachel wanted. He knew what a selfless person she was, and how determined she would probably be to sacrifice her own happiness for that of her sister if he so much as mentioned his plan before hand. But he got the feeling from the look in her eyes earlier on in reception, the way she had stumbled over her words, and not been able to explain to him what she wanted to say, he just knew she felt the same way he did. And once he was free to do so, he was definitely going to find a way to coax her feelings out of her, he wasn't just going to fall at the first hurdle this time and settle for second best.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Eddie sighed. This was not helping him to relax at all. He had no idea why he had come into the sauna anyway when he hated them so much. He could never hack more than a few minutes in there before the heat got to him and he began to feel light-headed. So getting up from his seat on the hot wooden bench he decided to try the hot tub instead. Making his way to the outdoor section of the swimming pool where the steam could be seen rising from the outdoor hot tub, he glanced to his left and took in the sight before him. There, looking like she didn't have a care in the world, swimming gracefully up and down the pool as though she may have been born to do so, was the perfect form of Rachel Mason. Eddie's breath caught in his throat and he felt butterflies stir in his stomach as he took in the sight of her, scantily clad in a simple but beautiful black swim suit, her stunning long legs thrashing along behind her in the water, whilst her arms rose gracefully, helping to propel her along. He envied her, looking so carefree whilst his mind was so jumbled, and stood for a long time admiring her athleticism, her skill at this sport being something he hadn't been aware of before.
As Rachel stopped at the far end of the pool and leant on the side gasping for breath, Eddie made a swift exit to the hot tub outside. He didn't want Rachel to catch him staring, indeed he didn't want to see her at all just yet, not knowing how he would react to her having made his decision in his head, but not having put it into action yet. So he sank beneath the bubbles, feeling the combination of these and the steaming hot water begin to relax him instantly, and let his mind drift.
Rachel was still standing where Eddie had last seen her, clutching on to the side of the pool, although her breathing had somewhat calmed now, she was beginning to feel the onset of exhaustion. This was exactly what she had been aiming for; to tire herself out so much that she could no longer think coherently and wouldn't have to worry about her mind being plagued with thoughts of Eddie again. Looking at the clock, Rachel realised she had passed the best part of an hour in the pool. No wonder she felt so tired, it was a long time she had swum so relentlessly for such a long period of time. She calculated however that she had at least another half an hour to kill before she needed to begin getting ready for the party, and decided to treat her tired muscles to a thoroughly relaxing hot tub. Squinting through the window to see through the steam of the outdoor hot tub, she could make out the shape of just one person, so it would not be overcrowded and she could have sometime to chill out and collect her thoughts before the evening began. As she approached the inviting pool of bubbling warm water however, her heart leapt so violently she felt sure it should have left her body, and the butterflies in her stomach once again beat their wings. She realised with an emotion somewhere between terror and excitement that the sole body beneath the water was actually that of the one man she really didn't want to see right now, who she had spent the last hour ridding her thoughts of entirely.
There, eyes closed contentedly, his broad strong shoulders and just a smattering of chest hair all that was visible of him above the water, was Eddie. Rachel stood transfixed and took in the sight of his half naked body, mentally comparing it with the images of him she had seen in her dreams, before shaking herself mentally. He wasn't hers to look at in this manner, she should leave him to it and go and begin her preparations for the party. But she didn't want to, every irrational instinct she possessed was crying out for her to approach him, to lie alongside him in the bubbling depths of the steamy pool before her. As she stood torn in this moment of indecision, it was already too late; Eddie opened his eyes and allowed himself to wordlessly drink in the sight before him. Right now he could not recall ever having seen anyone looking so beautiful. Rachel's swimsuit looked even better close up, clinging to her every curve, with the neckline plunging just far enough to give him a glimpse of cleavage and leave him longing for more.
She caught his gaze and held it for a long moment, trying to determine what he was thinking. Had he really been checking her out just now? She knew he had, could feel his gaze upon her skin, as hot as the water he was lying in. She didn't know what to do or say and so she abruptly turned, cheeks flushed and eyes bright, to leave the pool she had taken more than three steps however, Eddie found his tongue, calling out her name and encouraging her to stay with him, to enter the water and come and speak to him. After a moment's hesitation, Rachel turned around and lowered herself cautiously into the bubbling water of the hot tub, taking care to keep some distance between herself and her deputy. Eddie however had other ideas, and reached out for her arm, pulling her closer to him in the water so he could whisper in her ear and not be overheard.
Rachel gasped at the contact between them and felt the now almost familiar jolt of electricity flood through her at his touch. The combination of this and the assault that the difference between the warm water and cool evening air was having on her senses sent her momentarily dizzy and lost for words. Eddie was feeling the same emotions as Rachel, but he recovered first and knew it was now or never. All his resolve to keep his feelings to himself until he had told Melissa had crumbled to nothing the instant Rachel had stepped into his vision looking divine in her swimsuit. Now he had her so close to him he could resist no longer, he had to talk to her, tell her how he was feeling, pull her close and feel her body next to his.
"Rach," he breathed into her ear as she began to come to her senses, "we need to talk."
"Don't Eddie," she responded instantly, "I can't do this now, I came down here to get you out of my head, to try and force myself to think of anything but you. And it almost worked, I almost managed it. And now I'm here, this close to you, and I just can't do it any more, it's too much, I'm so sorry."
Rachel broke down in tears, the turmoil of thoughts, feelings and emotions that had been plaguing her these last few weeks instantly flooding back, making her feel faint and her eyes fill with tears. Upon seeing this, Eddie pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arm around her and encouraging her to rest her head on his chest.
"Rach," he began again, "please, what you were trying to say earlier, in the lobby, I-"
"No Eddie!" Beginning to panic, she pulled away and interrupted him again. "I was carried away, I was lost in the moment, I didn't even realise what I was saying, I didn't mean-"
Eddie hushed her instantly by placing his hand gently under her chin and forcing her eyes to once again meet his.
"Please don't interrupt me Rach," he whispered, his gaze never leaving hers, trying to penetrate her thoughts and willing her to understand, "can't you see what I'm trying to say? We're beyond explanation now. I know what you were trying to say, I could see it in your eyes, and believe me, I feel it too, I feel exactly the same. And it scares me as much as it scares you. And I know how complicated the whole situation seems, but we can sort it out, we can get through it, I know we can."
"Eddie I…"
But she was lost for words. Silently, he pulled her even closer, his gaze never leaving hers, the hand below her chin moving to cup her cheek as the tears which had been threatening began to spill over and trace their paths down her face. He inched his face closer and closer to hers until she could feel his short breaths on her cheeks, and finally his lips connected with the cool skin of her face, kissing away her tears, trying to communicate everything he felt for her in those feather light touches and reassure her that everything was going to be felt herself melt at the contact. She had imagined this moment so many times, but now she was here, feeling his touch, it was better than she could ever have dreamed. The kisses with which he was peppering her face were forcing her to relax into his touch, whilst the feel of his other arm wrapped around her, beginning to trace reassuring circles on the naked skin of her back beneath the water, was radiating such warmth and electricity that she could hold back no longer. This was all the reassurance she needed right at this moment, Eddie felt the same way she did, there was no doubt in her mind any longer, and leaning back slightly to once again capture his gaze in hers and communicate her comprehension to him, she felt a force as strong as gravity itself pulling her head back towards him.
This time however, it wasn't Rachel's cheeks that Eddie was desperate to kiss, and as their lips connected for the first time, they clung together, arms wrapping tightly around shoulders, backs, waists, wherever they could connect with the body of the other. Each felt as though they were falling through the air, soaring on a tide of pure emotion, pouring every thought and feeling of the last few weeks into that single kiss, finally communicating their feelings to one another. The fact that they were both scantily clad in their swimwear gave instant access to the skin of the other, touching, stroking, caressing, wanting and needing to be close. Limbs entwined as they pulled each other as close as humanly possible, it now impossible to determine the difference between the heat and steam rising from the hot tub, and that emanating from the bodies of the two lovers, clinging desperately to one another beneath its surface. Eddie ran his hands up and down Rachel's back, sides, across her stomach, committing every curve and contour of her beautiful body to memory. She mirrored his actions, feeling the strong muscles of his back and shoulders, running her palms across his well toned chest and back around to entwine her fingers in the curls of dark hair at the nape of his neck. Neither wanted the moment to end.
Eventually, their need for oxygen became too much, and they were forced to tear their lips apart in order to gulp down deep breaths of cold evening air. This short reprieve gave Rachel enough time to come back down to earth and collect her thoughts, and she suddenly felt disgusted with herself. How could she have let this happen? She was sat here half naked with her sister's fiancé, what was she thinking? Eddie saw the change in her immediately and reached for her arm to turn her back to face him and talk about it, but he was too slow. Before he had the chance, she had snatched her arm away, disentangled her limbs from his, and stormed away from the hot tub without a backward glance. He saw her hands subconsciously rising to her lips, where she could still feel the burning sensation of Eddie's administrations upon them. What on earth was she going to do now?