AN: Ok so not much E/B the last two chapters, but I think this one totally makes up for it. I'm really happy with how it turned out.
One thing before we get to swimming action. I wrote a one-shot for the Dirty Talking Edward contest (link on my profile), and it's called PUTTING LESSONS. Check it out and make sure to vote for me in the preliminary round! Voting is open until Midnight on October 31.
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
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EPOV
No doubt about it, I knew what had happened to my goggles before the final 200 free swim. Of course, I could simply ask to see the security footage, and my inquiry alone would prompt a massive investigation—probably before they even knew what they were looking for.
I knew what to look for. A simple step, in the right place, at the right time, and I knew just who's foot it had been, too. But, I'd decided not to pursue it, mainly because it had been such a cheap shot and it would have taken so much more to derail me. I felt like a train with a full head of steam and a full belly of coal. A pair of busted goggles couldn't halt all momentum that four years of nonstop training—and Bella—had built behind me.
I tried not to look impatient as the medal ceremony moved slower than I ever remembered it could. I was really anxious for my cooldown and everything it would entail. I had a special surprise for Bella, and while I was a bit apprehensive at her reaction, I so wanted to give her this opportunity.
I didn't want her to learn from anyone else but me.
Finally, the national anthem drew to a close and I was forced to shake that dog's hand, but even better, he was forced to shake mine. I could almost feel the baring of his teeth as he did so, his hand sliding out of my grasp like he couldn't bear to touch me longer than he had to.
Well, the feeling was mutual.
I wanted to grind him into the ground, slowly and painfully. But instead I gave him a brief smile, all teeth, that never made it to my eyes. A camera-only smile.
Finally, after the interminable interviews with the press—none of whom was the one reporter I wanted to see—and, with microphones still being stuck into my face, and surrounded by way too eager fans, I finally reached the barrier that led to the cooldown pool.
Carlisle and Esme were waiting for me, the former with a stern pride, and the latter with tears in her eyes.
But they weren't who I was dying to see.
My eyes moved fast, searching the cool-down areas, looking for Bella. Had she not come? My heart fell to my feet. She'd promised.
Okay, well, if I was being honest with myself, she'd promised to be at every final of mine. She'd been in the stands—I'd seen her face with my very eyes. I wondered what had stopped her from coming down to see me after the race. I hoped that security hadn't stopped her at the door. If they had, someone was going to die. Metaphorically, of course.
I had to go find her. That was the only thought in my head—I had to make sure that she hadn't been turned away. I had to make sure that everything was alright between us. I couldn't bear the thought that she was unhappy or lost or. . .
I felt someone's hand tap on my shoulder in the middle of my panic, and I whipped my body around towards the entrance.
Bella was standing right there, and her smile was nearly breaking her face in two, it was so large.
"Edward," she said, as she moved closer towards me. Standing on her tippy toes, she rested the palm of one hand on my cheek, and slowly, inexorably, pulled my head towards hers.
Right before our lips touched, and the whole room disappeared, she whispered, "I'm so proud of you."
In that second, every moment of eye pain induced by my water-filled broken goggles, every moment of uncertainty, and every moment of burning muscles as I pulled ahead of Jacob Black, was worth it. The gold medal around my neck was certainly a nice prize for a swim like that, but Bella's reaction, with her eyes glistening with happy tears? That was priceless, and worth a thousand swims like the one I had just had.
The kiss was brief, but I knew from the look in Bella's eye that it was only a promise of things to come later. Inwardly, I rubbed my hands together with glee—she had no idea of what I'd planned for us, but her plans seemed to fold in together with my plans almost flawlessly.
Carlisle and Esme came over then, and the next fifteen minutes was spent in vague boredom, with everyone gushing over me and offering their over-enthusiastic congratulations. Finally, the well-wishers and sycophants began to dissipate and as they drifted away, Bella looked up at me questioningly with those dark brown eyes of hers.
She didn't even have to ask—I already knew what she wanted to know. It was as if in a matter of a few mere days, Bella had become so near and dear to me that all I had to do was look into her eyes to know exactly how she felt.
It was a strangely heady feeling, and I felt lost in it.
"What is it?" I asked her quietly, ducking my head down to her shoulder obstinately to hear her response better, but really so I could get a good whiff of her hair. Nothing in twenty four years had ever smelled as good as Bella's hair.
And yeah, that totally makes me certifiable.
"Where is everyone going?" Bella's voice was quiet but held a hint of uneasiness.
No doubt she'd be more than a little uneasy soon, but before that moment came, I wanted to allay her fears about everyone leaving. She'd been around the ends of my races long enough to know that nobody ever just left. The room was nearly empty and we were never alone while we were together at the Water Cube. Okay, we were very rarely alone together ever.
That's why I'd made the deal with Carlisle. Bella and I needed space, alone, and there was something in particular I wanted to do with her; an opportunity that she needed if we were to ever have a future together.
"They'll be back," I reassured her, worried that she wasn't happy about spending time alone with me. Panic welled in the base of my stomach before Bella's bright smile dispelled it completely.
"Really?" A frown creased her brow and she looked doubtful, like she wanted them to all stay away. "Do they have to come back?"
I sighed. "Unfortunately. But we have a few hours before they do."
"What?" she teased, "Carlisle's going to leave you alone for five seconds?"
I felt the growl of need rising in my throat as the last person disappeared out of view. I had such a tenuous hold over my control at this moment that it was hard to believe I was Edward Cullen, famous for his self-control.
I had to kiss Bella and I had to kiss her now.
After what seemed like an eternity, the minor official on the US Swim Team finally ducked out of room we were in, which led right to the cooldown pool.
I didn't waste a second.
Grabbing Bella, I dragged her toward me, holding her against me, wishing I could somehow get under her skin and knowing that even that wouldn't be close enough.
As my hands ran up her back, and I kissed her with as much enthusiasm as I thought she could handle, I heard a low chuckle behind me.
Damn it. I would know that voice anywhere.
Reluctantly moving my lips from Bella's, I turned around and looked right into the eyes of my biggest rival.
I felt Bella stiffen next to me, and I slung one arm around her and pulled her to me, trying to be as reassuring as I could, all the while flinging mental daggers in Jacob Black's direction.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying desperately to hold onto my temper. I wanted to take apart his brain and scrub away any images he had of me and Bella embracing. Those were our private moments—moments he would never be privileged enough to witness.
"I thought I'd stop by, and say hey—and meet your new squeeze." Jacob's gaze ran lazily and completely over Bella's body, not missing a single cell it seemed. I felt a shiver go through her and I realized that she hated him almost as much as I did.
"This is a US Swim Team room," I said carefully and calmly, despite wanting to break every bone in his body, "you need to leave."
Jacob ignored my request and leaned against one of the tiled walls. "You know, that was just sheer luck today. You shouldn't have won that race," he sneered, clearly still angry about the result.
I could ignore him. I could choose to say nothing about the broken goggles. Or I could gloat. I supposed I could also call security, but that seemed like a last-ditch option with no opportunity to torture Jacob.
"But I did," I said simply, with a smile that I knew wrenched him to the core.
His eyes focused on the gold medal still hanging around my neck. "That should have been mine," he continued ranting, obviously choosing to ignore reality and the facts of the situation.
"It isn't though. It's mine." The triumph rang out in my voice and Jacob's face contorted in anger.
"You're a cheater," Jacob growled.
"No," I told him with finality. "And now you need to go. Now."
To my relief, he shoved off the wall and turned to go. I pulled Bella a little closer, as if being in the same room with that dog could possibly contaminate her innocent flesh.
Unfortunately, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes swiveling back towards Bella and I.
"You know, one of these days I'm going to catch you."
I lost it. "No," I nearly yelled. "One day I'm going to catch you. And I swear if I ever see you near my goggles again, I will dismantle you."
Jacob threw his head back and laughed, the evilly vicious sound filling the spaces in the room until I wanted to cover my ears, and Bella's too.
But he was leaving, and when he did, Bella almost sagged against me.
"I don't like him," she said quietly and I let out the breath I was holding, chuckling at her vast understatement.
"Me either, sweetheart," I told her, pulling her close to me all over again. "Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted." My lips descended towards hers, but at the very last moment she pulled away.
"Don't you need to cooldown?" she asked, glancing pointedly towards the pool behind us.
I congratulated myself at the brilliance of my plan. I hadn't even had to bring it up!
"Why yes I do," I grinned and I grabbed both of her hands with my own. "But first, I have a present for you."
"A present? For me?" Her voice was disbelieving and I wanted to shake her until she realized just how special she was.
"Yes." I drew her over to one of the tables, where I'd stashed the gift bag I'd clumsily assembled the night before when I'd had my brilliant idea.
"For you," I presented her with the bag a bit shyly.
Bella took it, and she shifted around the tissue paper until one hand emerged holding what I'd hidden in the bag.
Biting her lip, Bella lifted her head towards mine. "A swimsuit?" she exclaimed, looking just about as pleased as I thought she'd be.
"Yes," I said with the excitement in my voice barely contained. "You're going to do my cooldown swim with me!"
There was more lip biting—gah she was so adorable—and finally she spoke up. "Edward, I don't know if you remember me telling you, but I'm afraid of water. Of swimming. I can't go with you. I'm sorry."
I wanted to gather her into my arms and wipe away the tears that were beginning to shimmer at the corners of her eyes. She hated telling me no, I could tell. She hated the thought of disappointing me and I understood exactly how she felt. I'd rather walk over burning coals than ever let her down.
And though right now she probably thought I was either forgetful or an insensitive ass, later she'd thank me. I'd laid up half the night thinking of the right gift to give Bella—a gift that would somehow demonstrate to her how I felt.
Finally, at about 2 AM, I'd finally come up with a good idea. I wouldn't give her a tangible item. All those seemed too tawdry and cheap and replaceable when it came to my Bella. I wanted to give her something unique and different and original. That's when I'd decided I would give her an experience.
The gift may have seemed to her like a swimsuit, but in reality, it was something I couldn't wrap in tissue paper; I was going to take away her fear and give her back her freedom in the water.
"Bella," I said slowly, rubbing one of her small hands with my big thumb, "I know you're scared. I know you hate the water and that it would nearly kill you to get in, but I want you to. For me."
She swallowed hard and I knew I had her. "For you?" she asked and her voice was so quiet, I could barely hear it.
"Yes. Because if you don't come with me, I'm not going to cool down."
Her eyes opened wide and she opened her mouth like she was about to argue. I put one fingertip on her lips and shook my head.
"No arguing. It's up to you."
She grabbed my hand off her mouth and glared angrily. "You're being stupid. You have to cool down, or else your muscles won't be right for tomorrow."
"I know," I told her simply. She had to understand how important this was to me. How much I'd be willing to put on the line for her.
She sagged against the table, the suit limply hanging from her hand. "You can't do this to me," she said with fear and desolation warring in her voice. "You know I'd do anything to make sure you swam the way I know you can."
I nodded. "I promise that you can stay in the shallows at the end. I just want you to try. I'll be with you every bit of the way."
Turning to look at me, Bella's expression was so plaintive I had to remind myself again why I was doing this. Her long-term happiness was so much more important than her short-term feelings.
"You swear?"
"I swear," I whispered as she melted into my arms, her lips meeting mine for a desperate, hungry kiss that went on for a good few minutes, with her body moving against mine in the most incredibly arousing way. Finally I realized that she was using the kiss as a way to delay the inevitable, and I grudgingly broke away.
"None of that," I told her with a teasing voice. "You're distracting me from the task at hand."
"Which is what?" she smiled, rubbing her hand against my thigh. Even though I was wearing a warmup suit and the skintight swimsuit underneath it, the electricity of her touch shot through my body.
I groaned. "Getting you to the locker room to change."
She pouted, sticking out that gloriously plump lower lip of hers and I was nearly lost.
But of course I wasn't called the king of self-control for nothing.
I managed to usher her and myself to the locker rooms, separately, and while she changed into her swimsuit, I decided to change out of the uncomfortably restraining full bodysuit and into something a little more. . .comfortable for our swim.
Clearly Bella had not been expecting me to change, and when she exited the locker room, towel wrapped tightly around herself, her jaw nearly dropped.
It was hard not to preen and pose for her. I knew my body was nice—I'd been told so many times I just glossed right over it—and I knew that it was effective as a swimming weapon, but the look of feminine appreciation for it in Bella's eyes was a totally new experience. A really, really great experience.
In fact, I never wanted to have her look away. She seemed to be following the line of every muscle with her eyes, and I nearly asked her if she wanted me to turn around so she could catalogue those too.
"Uh," Bella finally managed to get out. "Is that what you're going to be swimming in?" She lifted a finger and pointed at my red, white and blue Speedo. I almost looked down at it, wondering if somehow it had gotten arranged wrong and . . .something. . .was showing. But no, everything felt right enough.
Then it hit me. She was not a swimmer. Regular guys wore board shorts a mile long and in a million years wouldn't dream of wearing something as skimpy as I was. Of course to me, it was totally normal. Just another day at the pool. But to Bella, it was obviously a big deal.
"Do you want me to take it off?" I asked her, only realizing after the words left my mouth that I probably should have added something about putting another type of swimsuit on, but she replied before I could correct my mistake.
"Oh, no no no. That's . . .fine," she smiled up at me.
"Are you ready to go then?" I asked her.
She shook her head vehemently. "Not at all, but I don't suppose I can change your mind."
"Nope," I replied cheerfully. "We're going swimming."
She groaned a bit over-dramatically and I couldn't help but laugh and be secretly glad inside. Maybe this would go well and she could get over her fear in only one session. Then we could go swimming together all the time. I liked this idea.
Unfortunately, Bella kept her towel wrapped tightly around her as we walked to the cooldown pool, and I could only see the tops of her shoulders, and below her knees.
I couldn't deny that the very male part of me that was eager to see much more of Bella had enjoyed this idea very much, and that part might have been the one who ended up picking out the particular swimsuit I'd given to Bella. And that might be why her towel was so firmly entrenched around her glorious curves.
Maybe I'd been a trifle. . .enthusiastic about the idea, and had picked something out she wasn't comfortable wearing. But hey, I was nearly naked—there didn't seem to be a good reason she shouldn't be either.
We reached the pool again, and Bella stared moodily into the water, clearly not wanting to do this. Hesitantly, she dipped one elegant little foot into the pool, and pulled it out just as quickly as she'd put it in. I found her actions strangely fascinating. I had never been scared of the water—in fact, the water was where I found the most freedom.
"You want to go into the shallows?" I asked her, reaching for her hand and weaving her fingers in with mine.
"Yes," she replied, her fingers suddenly working towards a death grip.
"Okay," I told her as nonchalantly as possible.
As we walked towards the shallows, I gestured with my other hand towards her towel.
"That's going to have to go," I teased, interested in her reaction.
She grabbed it even tighter.
"What's wrong? Does the suit not fit?"
"No, it fits . . .fine. It's just a bit skimpier than I'm used to." Her voice was low and quiet and she was looking at the ground.
"Is that okay?" I made sure my voice was nice and concerned but inwardly, the testosterone-laden frat boy inside of me was groaning in agony at the thought of not seeing Bella in the suit I'd picked out.
"No, it's fine," Bella said with sudden determination in her voice, and she whipped the towel off, clearly before she decided to change her mind.
Even though technically I was ready for the sight of Bella in the bikini, as I'd seen it on the hanger, really, nothing could have adequately prepared for the vision in front of me.
She was stunning. The bikini itself wasn't cheap or tawdry, but despite exposing a significant amount of Bella's flesh, she made it seem. . .classy.
The fabric was a navy blue with white polka dots, and the color made her pale skin glow under the lights of the pool. Every part of her was smooth and sweetly curved and I wanted to bury myself inside of her and stay forever.
Suddenly, I realized that changing had been a bad idea, because just seeing her in that suit was causing some. . .difficulties for me downstairs, and this suit left little to nothing to the imagination. Bella was going to look down and die of embarrassment—as was I.
Frantically I tried to think of anything, anything at all, that would help me reduce the noticeable bulge in my Speedo. Curling, Jacob, Dancing with the Stars. The thoughts flitted through my head, but nothing took hold and nothing helped.
Thank goodness Bella choose that moment to turn around and start walking towards the shallow end of the pool. One, because she might actually miss my attempt at busting out of my swimsuit, and two, because I got an amazing look at her ass, which was . . .knee-weakening.
I just prayed that she wouldn't turn back around anytime soon because the view was causing me even more difficulties. Really I just had to get into the water so that I could hide how incredibly turned on I was. If Bella was nervous about wearing the suit, she'd no doubt be even more nervous that I liked it as much as I did.
I walked up behind her, and carefully keeping my distance, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders.
"You ready to get in?" I asked softly, knowing she was facing her own demons to do this. I was in awe of her bravery. Swimming the fastest in the world day after day wasn't easy, but it was nothing compared to what she was attempting.
"Yes," she replied and she scooted down to the edge of the pool, dangling her feet and legs into the water. "Is this enough?" she asked coyly, glancing up at me.
Part of me wanted to tell her it was; that she could sit there, in that adorably sexy polka dot bikini, watching me while I swam my laps. That was the frat boy talking.
Nice boy was telling me that I had to suck it up and help her because it was not only the right thing to do, but because I wanted to help her get over her fear. That's what this was all about, after all.
So I shook my head, and inside, the frat boy was banging his head against the wall. Unfortunately, that was the only thing he'd be banging for awhile.
"Do you want me to help you?" I asked, slipping into the water before she notice that my Speedo was fitting a hell of a lot different in the last ten minutes.
"Yes," she said, her voice full of apprehension. I waded over to her and let frat boy take over momentarily as I slid my palms up her legs and gloried in the feeling of my fingers finally being on her flesh.
"Close your eyes," I whispered, and they fluttered shut, her head tilting back a little as I moved my hands higher, until they were resting against the smooth curved skin of her waist.
As gently as I could, as her skin shivered against mine, I lifted her into my arms and let us drift into the water a little. It lapped up against my hands that were still around her waist, and I felt her grip on my shoulders tighten and her head sink lower against me.
Bella was shaking and I paused before going deeper, taking the opportunity to move her floundering legs around my waist. No matter that my swimsuit was nearly bursting off of me at this point—having a wet, writhing, and nearly naked Bella wrapped around me was the best thing I'd ever felt. I wouldn't give it up even if I was being held at gun point. Blue balls seemed like a relatively minor thing to suffer compared to what I was being allowed to do.
Really, this was the most brilliant idea I'd ever had.
Of course, I had to make sure that Bella's legs and . . .crotchal area. . .were situated well above any kind of danger zone—both for her protection and for mine. I didn't want to embarrass myself or her and I didn't want to totally lose control and start humping her in the pool either.
"Are you okay?" I whispered in her ear, the strands of her long hair tickling my neck.
She nodded tightly, but I sensed that all was not well. I was having the time of my life, but she was scared shitless.
I had to do something before this ended—before Bella decided that I had pushed her into something she couldn't handle. Because that was something I couldn't handle.
"Bella, sweetheart," I murmured, softly, "open your eyes. Look at me."
Her eyes opened slowly, almost as if she would be afraid of what she'd see. The pupils were dilated with what I knew was fear. She was terrified. And I'd dragged her into this. I wanted to flog the frat boy for his inane stupidity.
I rearranged her slightly, so that both legs of hers were hooked around my waist and I was supporting her with one arm only, so I could trace the delicate skin of her cheek.
"Bella," I said again, "I want you to look at me. Look right into my eyes." She did and I felt her relax just slightly, until I felt like I wasn't totally taking advantage of her. I brushed her lips with mine and I wasn't surprised to feel her latch onto me and kiss me a lot harder back.
No doubt that she'd much rather be distracted by what was rapidly flaming out of control between us than focus on the water surrounding her.
I broke away momentarily and whispered hard, "I've got you, Bella, I'm not ever going to let you go." I didn't elaborate over whether that meant now, in the pool, or in my life. I didn't want to scare the hell out of her. Instead, I just kissed her back, as passionately as I could, letting my tongue drift against hers.
The kiss went on and on, was only broken by our gasps for air, and as Bella became more and more absorbed in me, I began to move us a little farther into the pool.
I was surprised at how little Bella reacted to the water level rising on her body, but honestly, we were both so lost in each other it was probably a wonder she could even remember we were in a pool.
Gently, carefully, I finally moved my head away from hers, and I watched her eyelids flutter open and her mouth drop.
"Edward," she said with awe in her voice, "we're in the middle of the pool."
"Yes," I breathed slowly, just waiting for her to totally lose it.
That's when it happened. She smiled so hard that I almost felt knocked backwards from the force of it. I was knocked backwards from her arms suddenly being thrown around my neck as she giggled fiercely and giddily.
"You did it," she gasped, "you helped me get here."
I chose not to mention that I was currently treading water while holding both of us and it would be easier if she moved as little as possible. After all, the gift I wanted to give her had come to pass. I couldn't exactly complain, could I?
"I did," I said to her and it was hard, really really hard, to keep the gloating edge out of my voice. I wanted to shout to the rooftops that I'd given my . . .my. . .Bella a gift that she'd remember forever.
"Thank you," she mumbled, burying her head into my neck.
"You're very welcome. Can I take you back, so I can finish my cooldown?" I asked, hoping that she wouldn't be offended. It really wouldn't be good if I waited any longer.
"Yes, please," she said softly, and wrapped her arms around me again, and I couldn't breathe or think as her lips were on mine again.
Frat boy told me to make the trip back to shore as slow as possible. I concurred, and the trip back was lazy, and full of long, slow kisses that I never wanted to end. I gently placed her back on the ledge, and she dangled her feet in the water, arms reaching for me again.
"Can't you stay," she begged, trying to twine her fingers around my arm.
I also felt the loss of her skin next to mine, but I knew I couldn't buckle. There was only so many ways I could stretch the rules until they broke, and not doing my cool down after a major race would be breaking them so much that I shuddered to think what Carlisle would say if he knew I was even contemplating it.
I shook my head. "No, but I'll be back in a few minutes. Will you be warm enough, do you think?"
"Yes. Now shoo!" Bella smiled reassuringly and I pushed off the side of the pool to begin my laps.
Fifteen minutes later, we were done, and walking towards the door, me wrapped in a towel, Bella dwarfed by my warmup jacket.
I was about to suggest some food when there was a definite ring coming from the bag Bella was carrying. She blushed and started digging for her phone. Glancing at the screen she quickly turned off the ringing and stuck it back in her bag without answering it.
"Did you need to take that?" I asked worriedly. I didn't want her to ignore her life in favor of me, no matter how much I wanted her attention and support.
"No, no. It's fine. Just my boss." She laughed it off, but I had a feeling that there was more to it than she was telling me.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Starving," I smiled back.