Chapter 74
Killian:
“Do you want to go down to the beach?” I asked, smiling as I saw Eleanor looking out the balcony as she smiled.
“I don’t know how to swim,” she said, and my eyes softened.
“I can teach you if you want?” I asked, looking at her and her eyes widened in surprise.
“You would?” She asked, and I nodded.
“I don’t see why not,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. Having prepared the house with everything for her, I knew that she would be finding a few swimsuits that she might like. And though I knew that she didn’t want to talk to Natasha, I had to admit that the woman chose them with me.
The two of us walked toward the dressing room and I opened the drawer that contained her swimsuits, and she blushed. I smirked and pulled a bluish black one, handing it to her. She bit her bottom lip, and I winked.
“You have other options, but I think this one would give me a sight to see.” I said, and she laughed, shaking her head at me. “Though, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind you being naked.”
“Killian!”
“What?” I asked, and she laughed. She playfully slapped my chest, and I smirked, running my finger over hers. “You can wear whichever one you like, and there are dresses and shorts to cover you as you go down if you don’t feel comfortable walking with the swimsuit.”
I knew that giving her such options made her feel more content and comfortable, especially considering the fact that I knew that she wasn’t even allowed to wear undergarment as she pleased because of the fucker, and though I planned on making him pay for that, I wanted her to know that she could feel comfortable in her own skin. It was going to start with small steps, and though I knew that we made great progress so far, I knew that it was going to take a long while before she fully managed to heal.
I opened my side of my closet and pulled out a pair of swim shorts before walking toward the bedroom to change. It wasn’t that I needed to, but I knew to give her the privacy that she needed to change. It was a rule that I had, and one that my mother taught me. Unless invited, I would give my woman her privacy when she needed it. Be it in the bathroom to shower or get dressed, it was important for her to know that she could have it when she needed it.
I smiled as I heard the closet door open as she clearly searched for what she wanted to wear, and I couldn’t help but find myself feeling more content as I knew that my mate and I were having our moments together. I knew that this was going to be enough to help build our relationship in a way that we both wanted it to be, and considering the fact that we didn’t start as normally as other couples might have, but then again, being who we were, I doubted that it would have been possible anyway.
However, I was still thankful for the way that we managed things between us.
All I had to do now was find the right time for the two of us to make it official…
***************************
“Relax,” I said, putting my hand under her back as I had her lay on her back in the water. I watched as she floated, and I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my face when I saw her looking at me. “Just easy breaths and you would float. The main issue would be if you try to resist and paddle randomly, the panic could lead you to harming yourself.”
I didn’t want to tell her that she could end up drowning so as not to scare her on her first time in the water, but I knew that she understood the message.
“Won’t the current drag me deeper into the water if I keep laying this way?” She asked, and I nodded.
“Yes, it would” I said, and she frowned, wanting to move; however, I put my hand under her back, stopping her. “I just want you to relax yourself now, know how to float, then I am going to teach you how to paddle and move around. And you should know better than to think that I would let the current drag you, plus, you can still stand if you want. The water isn’t deep just yet,”
She took a deep breath and I smiled when I saw her relaxing. Her eyes met mine and I leaned in to kiss her. Her heartbeat was calm and she took deep and slow breaths. I put my hand on her stomach, gently pushing it down. “I want you to let your breath out of your stomach, keep yourself light on the water. Your breathing should be easy and slow, no fast breathing.”
“Alright, but I am talking…” the current picked up, hitting her face, and she closed her eyes as she held her breath before standing on her feet as she coughed. I chuckled and shook my head at her. “That wasn’t very nice,”
“Well, this is the beach, baby, we don’t control the current.” I teased, and she rolled her eyes at me. I smirked before wrapping my arms around her waist. I pulled her down to sit, and she frowned in confusion as I kept my hand around her waist. “Hold your breath and the two of us are going to get under the water.”
She nodded and I waited as she took a deep breath before holding hers. The two of us got down, and I opened my eyes underwater to see that she was completely still, her body stiff before I pulled her up with me.
“You need to relax, baby, your body is stiff.” I said, and she shook her head in question before I turned her to face me. I took a deep breath before diving in. I swam around her and could see as she turned to follow me. I stood in front of her and her eyes widened before I splashed her with the water. She closed her eyes, taken by surprise before I wrapped my arms around her waist, lifting her in my arms. She wrapped both her arms and legs around me, and I smirked, putting my hand under her butt. She giggled as I squeezed her butt gently.
“Allow yourself to relax, baby. I am right beside you and I will be sure to pull you out if you find yourself losing control.” I said, assuring her.
“Do you promise not to leave me alone if I do?” She asked, and I connected my lips with hers, letting my lips linger against hers for a few seconds before pulling away to look her in the eye.
“Not now, and not in a million years,” I said, and she blushed before unwrapping her legs from around me. She stood on her feet in front of me, and I took a step back. “Now, on three…”