Part: 5/5
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With gasping, panting broken breaths they lay together in the aftermath, her body heavy and his warm over her. She felt wonderful, sighing out loudly as she rested fully into the mattress, and he murmured against her neck as he shifted against her. The warmth filled her body, the air warmer around them, and she relaxed one arm over her head, keeping the other around John's shoulders as he lay partially off her, his cheek against her chest and one leg between hers.
He was still breathing fast, as she was, his breath moving over her breast, the comfort of his head above the other. She ran her hand up his neck to his hair, massaging his scalp as she closed her eyes, waiting for her breathing and heart rate to slow.
Against her, he slid his hand over her stomach, idle wide circles down to her hip and then slipped his hand between her legs, covering her intimately as he sighed against her again.
She opened her eyes with pleasant surprise at his gentle caress at her sensitised flesh, gentle and comforting. His hand stilled, covering her, his body a lovely welcoming weight against her and she lingered her hands over his shoulders, enjoying the moment and delight that the passion from last night had not been a one time event.
She smoothed her hand over his skin, down his back, smiling at the gift of him, a dream fulfilled after so many years. A gift, which had surprised her, but was now fulfilling in a way she had not experienced before with a lover. Lying with him felt very right, and despite the fact that she was aware that this would change much of their lives back in the city, she held no regrets. And she felt a flushing extra warmth at the intimacy they had shared, feeling contented and happy.
Bubbling with affection, she simply ran her hands over him slowly, listening to his slower breaths against her.
She perhaps dozed herself, for she opened her eyes a short time later, aware that she had been dreaming of sitting with him on the edge of one of an Atlantis pier. She looked around the room, the air comfortable and the light bright. She felt rested, warmed deeply and very satisfied. She stretched slightly against the bed and John, and he lifted his head from her shoulder where he had been tucked up against her. He rolled away onto his back with a deeply resonant sleepy groan. She turned onto her side keeping with him and tucked up against his side, his arm sliding around her shoulders.
She took a deep breath of his natural scent, watching her hand slide over his broad strong chest. She felt deeply content and the sleepiness completed receded as she lay against him, watching the sunlight on the opposite wall, past John's steady breathing, his chest rising and lowering. He was warm and comfortable and she felt excessively happy.
His breathing softened with sleep, or very near to it for his fingers caressed her shoulder very slightly still. Yet, she was feeling wide-awake, her body feeling alert and ready to climb from the bed to see the day. However, her position was so comfortable, that she remained, settling her head further over his chest, listening to the soothing thumping of his heart.
At which point she realised that time had been passing without her being aware of the time. She lifted up from John, turning to look back at the bedside clock.
"It is past eleven," she exclaimed, surprised at how much time had passed. "Jennifer will be growing very concerned for me," she realised sitting up beside John.
John's hand slid down her back as she sat up, his fingers sliding over her skin sleepily.
"She probably guessed you hooked up last night," he told her clearly amused.
She looked down at his face to see a sleepy and rather smug expression. She opened her mouth to protest at the amusing comment, only to admit the truth that she had in fact 'hooked up', though the term seemed far too superficial in meaning to apply to what she and John had shared.
She swatted her hand against his leg instead, turning to swing her legs over the side of the bed.
"I need to get back to my room to change before I join her," she glanced back at him, sliding her hand up his arm that still circled around her hip despite her changing position next to him. "Do you still wish to join us by the pool?" She asked, taking in the beautiful sight of naked John in the bed beside her, pleased to see his relaxed expression.
"Sure, sounds good," he replied, but made no motion to sit up himself, and she thought he looked a little too relaxed, wondering if he would be inclined to fall back to sleep when she left. The temptation to settle back against him was strong, but she also wished to head outside, to sit by the pool and enjoy the changes to her life. Besides, she would the anticipation of sharing more passion with him later.
She ran her hand back down his arm to rest her hand over his, which he caught in his. "Since you have managed to remove me from my clothes, there is nothing stopping you from spending the rest of the day on the golf course, if that is what you wish to do," she told him. She did not wish him to alter his plans to please her, for she did not need that from him.
"Tired of me already?" He asked his eyes brighter now.
She smiled down at him. "Far from it, but since we are returning to Atlantis tomorrow, this may be your last chance to play golf for a while."
He shrugged against the mattress under him. "I could do with a day by a pool. Swimming, lounging, you in a bikini."
She smiled at his comment and nodded with pleasure at his choice.
"Then I will go change, into my bikini, and meet you out by the pool?" She asked as she rose from the bed, moving around it to where their clothes lay over the chair.
All of the bedclothes, including the last sheet, had all been dislodged from the bed, forming a sea of material around it. She lifted it all back onto the foot of the bed idly as she sought out where her underwear had ended up when he had removed it from her.
"I'll meet you in your room, or it'll take ages to find you around the pools," he replied.
She found her underwear under one fallen sheet and as she placed the sheet back on the side of the bed, she saw that he had tucked a pillow under his head, enabling him to watch her from where he lay. She realised that she was walking around his room entirely naked without having noted her nudity. She turned from him, giving him a full view of her back, as she moved back to the chair and began pulling on her clothes from last night, which held the telltale grainy feel of sand caught amongst them.
"Do you know my room number?" She asked as she pulled her top on last and slid her feet into her sandals.
"304," he replied immediately and impressed she glanced at him. She wondered if he had simply recalled it from their group check-in, or if he had purposefully noted her room number, the way she knew that his was 116.
"I shall see you in ten minutes then?" She asked as she moved away towards the door, wondering anew if he was going to fall asleep after she left.
"Ten minutes," he repeated as he adjusted himself against his pillow again.
She reached his door and smiled over her shoulder at him again, and before she could be tempted to remain here with him, she pulled open the door. She stepped out with one more exchanged smile with him and shut the door.
She headed down the corridor towards the closest stairwell, feeling slightly conscious that it was clear that her clothes were worn and crumpled from the night before. She glanced back down the corridor to see if anyone had seen her leaving John's room, but there was only one woman present and she was pushing a cleaning cart, intent on her duties.
Teyla made her way up the stairs quickly, running through in her mind the best excuse to give to Jennifer, and then wondered what she could say to any direct questioning. She was still considering that matter as she reached her door, slid the key card into the lock and entered her room.
She stripped out of last night's clothes and underwear, heading into the bathroom to freshen up. There was no need for a full shower, for a dip in the pool would take care of that for her. She brushed out her hair, pulling and tying it up and back, then pulled on her bikini, and a light airy open shirt over it. She collected up her book, a wide-brimmed hat she had been wearing by the pool, and her key card, adding them to the small string bag already containing her beach towel and a bottle of sun lotion. Happy she had everything she moved across the room to open the glass door to the small balcony outside her room. The fresh air rushed into the room, which had been closed up all of last night. She inhaled the faint touch of saltwater to the air and closed her eyes against the lovely strong sunlight as she stepped out into the light to wait for John to arrive, wondering with a smile if he had fallen back to sleep.
The balcony was enclosed on its sides by dividing walls that separated her balcony space from her neighbours on both sides, and through the air, she could hear gentle ill-defined conversations from the other balconies. From below, she could hear the usual sounds of the complex – people talking, laughing, and splashing water from the closest pool below her balcony. Just beyond the pool there was a wide set of tennis courts, across which several games were being played, with the distinctive sounds of the bright yellow tennis balls hitting the rackets.
There was a knock against her door inside. Smiling she turned inside, leaving the glass door open to air her room and hopefully cool it for later. She headed across the room and pulled open the door to find John waiting outside, on time and looking wide-awake.
"I just need to collect my bag," she told him with a smile as she moved away towards the bed.
He was dressed in long dark shorts, the type designed to be worn for swimming that she had seen many men wearing around the pools, an open short-sleeved white shirt, with a repeated pattern design over it, and sunglasses, which he removed. In his hand, he held a book and a beach towel.
"Actually," he replied moving into the room with her, pushing the door closed behind him. "There was something we didn't touch on before."
She picked up her bag, looping the strap around her, wondering at the slightly cautious look he wore, hoping that he had not changed his mind about them in the last ten minutes.
"There is something we did not touch?" She asked with a smile, hoping to make it clear that she was relaxed about things, for she would enjoy whatever she could about this turn of events between them.
He let out a laughing breath at her comment that seemed to flush his cheeks slightly. He moved across the small space between them and leant down to press his lips to hers. She felt relieved at the kiss, touching her hand against his chest through his open shirt. As he pulled back from the quick, yet nicely affectionate kiss, she lightly caught the edge of his shirt, looking down to see that the pattern over it was of small bright coloured pineapples.
"I couldn't find one with lemons on it," he told her.
She chuckled at his joke and released the shirt. She looked up at his face, enjoying that she could stand so much closer to him now, catch the scent of him and the way his eyes were warm and held a nice sparkle of knowing in their depths. He blinked from their smiling gazing at one another and his former caution reappeared.
"Um, I just thought we should maybe talk about a few things," he said.
She was a little surprised that he wished to have this conversation now. She wished to get to the poolside to Jennifer who would be worrying by now, but at the same time she was happy to talk about anything with John. She nodded, keeping her expression open and patient.
"You know we're not going to be able to work together anymore," he told her, his expression somewhere between the sparkling smile still and concern. "On the same team."
She nodded. "I know," she told him simply. Leaving the team was something she had faced before following Torren's birth, and she would miss her place in the team. However, that it would be due to this new change between her and John seemed a very worthwhile reason to leave the team, and besides she would see Rodney and Ronon in the city as much as she could still.
"And you're okay with that," he asked for clarification.
She nodded. "Are you?" She asked, wondering if this would be a problem for him.
He gave a half shrug as he smiled. "Just don't be surprised if Ronon and I kill Rodney without you being around."
She smiled, catching hold of the edge of his shirt again, the softness between her fingers enjoyable. "You will be fine, and besides you will have my replacement to help."
"Don't think there's ever a replacement for you," he uttered, his hand warm at her waist, having slipped inside her shirt to touch against her skin.
She smiled at his meaning and rose up on her toes to press another light kiss against his lips.
He pressed the kiss deeper this time, his hand sneaking further around her back under her shirt.
She pulled back, her hand against his chest. "We need to get down to the pool," she reminded him with a lifted eyebrow.
"Fine," he muttered, but good-naturedly with a smile.
They moved to the door and as they stepped outside his hand fell from her back to click her door shut properly for her. Together they headed down the hallway, their open toed shoes tapping on the hard smooth floor.
They discussed plans for lunch at the small café they had passed through late last night. They reached the ground floor and headed towards the exit closest to the pool beside which Jennifer hopefully still waited. It was hot outside as they left the shade of the hotel, heading around seating areas and a courtyard to reach the correct pool.
The pool before them was not as busy as the one that she had seen from her balcony, but it was still surrounded by people. Some sunbathed, some moving around with drinks and food, some swimming and others diving in or climbing out of the water. The area was full of activity, into which they walked, heading towards the single empty lounge chair beside which Jennifer lay in the sun. Everyone Teyla passed she recognised from the city or from the mingle evening, and everyone it seemed were smiling and happy. She pulled on her hat, sheltering her face from the direct sun a little, as behind her John paused by the poolside to talk with someone who called out to him.
"There you are," Jennifer said as Teyla reached the lounger her friend had reserved for her.
"I apologise, I overslept," Teyla replied, having decided it would be the best explanation.
Jennifer frowned a little, tilting her head, perhaps attempting to see Teyla's expression more clearly under her wide-brimmed hat. "I called your room," she added.
"I am sorry," Teyla replied evasively.
"Colonel Sheppard," Jennifer added as John arrived at the lounger.
"I thought I'd join you guys for a day by the pool," John said casually.
Teyla spread her beach towel over her lounger, and as she did, she was almost certain she could sense Jennifer's attention.
The towel spread out ready, she realised John would have nowhere to sit since all the other loungers were occupied. She turned to him, her first thought that they could share the lounger, but she dismissed it considering where they were.
"There may be some spare chairs," she suggested looking to where some of the smaller white plastic chairs were arranged near the food areas.
"I'm okay," he replied as he set his things down in the shade of her lounger, pulled off his sunglasses and then his shirt.
Trying desperately not to stare, Teyla settled down on her lounger.
"Would you like a drink, Colonel?" Jennifer asked as she indicated the half-full jug of fruit juice beside her. There were two glasses beside it, one half full and the other empty waiting for Teyla.
"I'm okay, thanks. Think I'll enjoy the water for a bit," he replied, his eyes dropping to meet Teyla's for a second with a smile before he turned and headed off around the pool.
"Which dining room did you end up in then last night?" Jennifer asked, but Teyla's attention was on John as he moved away, heading towards the deeper end of the pool.
"Dining room A," Teyla replied simply, without any further information, dipping her head so that the full shade of her hat covered her face as she watched John perform a perfect dive into the water.
"I was in B, they put all us doctors together, guess they wanted us to all brainstorm as we ate," Jennifer muttered.
Teyla pulled her eyes from the pool, where John had surfaced near several people they knew from the city. She reached for the jug of fruit juice and focused on her friend.
"And was there any brainstorming?" She asked as she poured some drink. Jennifer was stretched out in the sun, her arms and face already darker than yesterday.
"Some," Jennifer replied. "I got stuck with Dr Howell again."
Teyla listened to her friend, asking questions as she sipped her refreshing drink. She set it aside and pulled off her hat and shirt. She pulled out her sun lotion and applied it to the exposed areas of her body, glancing to the pool every now and then, trying not to look at John too much where he had been pulled into a water volleyball game.
Protected from the sun and with another sip of her drink, she relaxed back comfortably into her lounger. Jennifer was silent now, her book in her hand and Teyla pulled out her own. She read and watched the volleyball game over the top of it from time to time, the sight of John's wet shoulders and chest rather distracting.
It grew warmer over the next half an hour, though a light breeze picked up across the pool making it more comfortable. The volleyball game over, Teyla focused on her book with more attention, caught up in the story once more. Beside her, Jennifer turned over, browning her back and they started up a conversation again on ideas for more recreation in Atlantis. As they talked, Teyla noticed that John was sat on the opposite edge of the pool talking with General O'Neill, their lower legs in the water.
Her eyes met John's and he gave her a nice little smile that warmed her across the pool. As he glanced away to continue his conversation with the General, she kept her eyes on him, allowing herself to enjoy the view. She decided that she had had enough reading. She set down her book and with a comment to Jennifer, she moved to the pool's edge. She sat down on the edge, retying her hair to hold it further out of the water, feeling John's eyes on her as she did so. Then, she slipped down into the water, the refreshing feel of it far more enjoyable than she had expected.
She turned in the water, making ripples with her arms and kicking contentedly with her legs. She dipped lower in the water, washing it over her head and soaking her hair, cooling the sun's heat further. She kicked back to the side near her seat and wiped a hand over her hair, and somehow felt him nearing her through the water. She glanced round as he arrived, sliding up beside her, and just before he set his arms on the side alongside hers, his hand brushed up over her backside and over her hip.
"Murphy's here," he told her with a conspiratorial smile as he settled his forearms on the side.
Teyla glanced around subtly. "Did she speak to you?"
"No, but I got a look," he replied with a smile.
Teyla turned against the side, looking around the pool and brushing ever so slightly against John as she turned. She finally spotted Dr Murphy dressed in a bright red bathing costume, talking with her colleague from the SGC. Teyla continued her full turn studying all of the poolside as if she had not been looking for the doctor, finally returning to lean back against the side with John.
"I doubt that she will say anything," she considered, glancing over to Jennifer so close, who now lay on her back again. The good doctor was wearing dark sunglasses and Teyla found herself wondering if she was watching her and John. "I do not think Jennifer believed my story," she said quietly to John.
They were far from a compromising position, simply beside each other in the pool, like so many others around them, yet she felt like they were on show. She felt conscious of the way she was looking at him, how close they may seem to each other, and the fact that she really wanted to touch him. The look in his eyes made her think he was thinking the same.
"That you overslept?" John repeated doubtfully.
"Technically it was true," Teyla pointed out.
He grinned at her as he turned, setting the back of his shoulders against the side of the pool. Close by someone jumped into the water, their arms wrapped around their bent legs, creating a massive splash that made everyone laugh. Teyla smiled at the laughter and the relaxed happiness so many were sharing, for they all deserved such relaxation.
"You know," John began, drawing her attention back to him. "There is a way to make sure Murphy doesn't say anything…" She smiled at his comment, which had been with the exact same tone he had used last night whilst they had been hiding outside the dining room. "Since you're gonna to be leaving the team, and we're technically on vacation, there isn't really any reason to hide anything," he had dipped lower in the water and turned towards her a little more. His eyes held that flirtatious sparkle to them again, and she suspected she would be seeing that look quite frequently in the future.
The delight that he apparently had no wish to hide their relationship pleased her greatly.
"There are a lot of people here who you are technically superior to," she pointed out quietly though, wanting to be sure of this decision.
"We're all off duty," he replied. "Besides, General O'Neill and Carter are sharing the same lounger," he pointed out looking off to the other side of the pool where the two military leaders were settled together, smiling and sharing a bowl of fries.
Teyla smiled at the sight and then back to John. "That is true," she replied and glanced off to where Jennifer looked like she was sleeping.
She considered the issue and then set her hands on the poolside and pushed up, sitting herself up on the edge of the pool and looked down at John in the water.
"Would you like to share my lounger?" She asked with a smile, and no small amount of innuendo.
John grinned, his eyes sliding down her bare legs as she got up from the side. She turned and walked to the lounger, sitting down on it to look back to watch the sight of John climbing out of the water.
As he reached the lounger, she sat forward and he simply sat down beside her, one arm sliding around her as she sat back partially within his embrace. They had shared far more dramatic embraces, but this felt momentous since they were sharing it in front of so many public eyes. With this simple act, he showed her that this was far from a simple holiday romance and far from just passionate nights and distant days. A sentiment she shared.
She settled more comfortably against him and as she did, he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Rodney's going to be so annoyed he missed this," Jennifer muttered from their left.
Teyla glanced at her friend, who was smiling, though she remained reclined. Beyond Jennifer Teyla noticed Major Lorne sat under an umbrella eating a sandwich, and he gave her a soft friendly smile before returning his attention to his food. Just beyond his table, a red swimming costume paused, and she saw Doctor Murphy's surprised smile, before she turned away.
Around them people continued about their play, their lives unchanged, yet for Teyla everything had altered over the past day.
She dropped her attention to John's arm around her, his hand lying near elbow, and she reached for it. His fingers intertwined with hers, warm and secure, and she smiled.
Yes, this had been a most perfect vacation, and tomorrow they would return to Atlantis and her life would alter further. She would join another team, yet spend more time than ever with John, and so would Torren. She looked forward to watching Torren and John spend more time together, and in her mind she began to formulate how she would broach the subject of John with Kanaan.
Changes would be made outside in the physical world, perhaps complicating things at times, yet inside, her heart was happy, contented, and she hoped it would last for as long as possible.
She tightened her hand with John's and rested back against him comfortably, closing her eyes and absorbing the sounds of play, the sun's warmth, and John against her.
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THE END
