Torn (Connections #2)(32)

"We don't. That's not what I meant."

He goes back to sit in his chair. He scrubs his face with his hands before picking up his nearly empty beer bottle and swallowing the rest of it down, but he never breaks his unnerving eye contact with me.

As he continues to stare at me in a way I haven't seen before, I decide I need my old River back before we can keep talking. I don't want to let him slip away, but don't know what to do. Averting his intense stare, my eyes dart to the stillness of the water and I know that is where I can find peace. So I strip off my pants and dive into the pool, wanting to wash my body of the sand and bottled-up emotion. Tranquility shoots through me as my skin meets the coolness of the water. Surfacing, I swim to the side and gesture to him to join me. He sits there, his pants unzipped, and shakes his head no.

Splashing water in his direction, I goad him, "What? Are you too drunk to swim? Because there sure as shit are a lot of empty beer bottles next to you."

He crosses his arms and smirks at me and I can tell he's trying not to laugh. A few more seconds pass. When I splash him again his expression changes and this time he smiles. "I could swim laps around you with all these bottles tied around my waist."

"Prove it. Come on. Don't be chickenshit. I bet you tomorrow's coffee run you can't beat me in your condition. In fact, I'll even throw in a hold-your-breath contest." I figure even though he always swims faster and can hold his breath longer, I doubt he can best me at either now. And honestly, I don't care if I win or lose-I just want him back.

"I'll take that bet and I'll have a double espresso, but it doesn't mean I'm not still mad as hell at you."

Without another word he stumbles slightly as he removes his jeans and boxers, then dives in. He swims to the opposite end of the pool and grabs the ledge. I stay where I am, giving him his distance.

"So how's this contest going to go?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "Hold your breath first works for me."

"Okay, why not. Let's do it. On the count of three. One. Two. Three," I say and then I plunge underwater. 

When I come up, I'm not even sure he went under.

"Guess I win," I say, gasping a little for air.

He nods but says nothing, his stare more intense with every passing second.

"Okay, what's next? Laps? First one to the end wins."

"Sure," he answers.

And with that, I say go and just take off. I feel him swimming near me as we pass each other somewhere in the middle of the pool.

When I finish my laps, I look for him but he's not swimming, he's standing next to me, watching me. He does his best to keep a straight face, but my exhaustion must be apparent. Through the glow of the moonlight I catch his expression.

"Stop smirking. It's not funny."

"It kind of is," he says as he hoists himself up and out of the pool.

I study his perfect naked body and he catches me when he turns to extend his hand. Helping me up, his grip doesn't falter. I eye him as he watches me steadily, a slight hint of amusement in his face. Once I have both feet back on the ground he takes a step back. He drops his head and I can tell he's trying to contain his laughter.

Looking up, he grins and with a hint of smugness says, "You look tired."

I frown. "You cheated."

"That's a matter of opinion. I was the first one to your end of the pool. I finished my lap. You didn't say we had to return."

"Whatever," I silently dare him to go on, but he doesn't.

He just stands there and his closeness makes my pulse race. He's taking me in and I can tell. I take a step closer to him. I see his chest rising and falling a little more rapidly. I brace my hands on his shoulders.

"What do you want?" he whispers.

"You. I want your lips on mine. I want you to kiss me."

Maybe it was the touch, maybe it was my answer but whatever the reason he swiftly picks me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer to me. I tilt my head back and his lips attach to my neck. They are warm and soft. When they meet my mouth, it falls open to let him in. As water drips from our naked bodies, he carries me toward the stairs heading to our bedroom. With my arms draped around his neck, I rake my fingernails along his shoulder blades and he shivers. He hastily sets me down on one of the steps and hovering over me he asks, "What else do you want?"

Gasping, I manage to answer, "You. Just you."

He grabs me, yanking me forward, and I know we're not going to make it up the stairs. He takes my hands, raising them above my head, and locks our fingers together. He traces my mouth with his tongue and tugs on my lower lip. Freeing one hand, he runs it past my stomach down to my slick flesh. His touch sends an instant feeling of exhilaration through my body. My breathing speeds up and I work my tongue up his neck, wanting to taste every inch of him.