Sink or Swim 1/1
Title: Sink or Swim
Author: truthlostmsr
Rating: PG-13 for sexual innuendo
Word Count: 3,769
Pairings: John/Elizabeth, Ronon/Teyla
Spoilers: Dive Right In
Summary: What do pools, prostitution, girl talk, and ruined suits have in common? Elizabeth Weir.
Disclaimer: These characters, despite their circumstances, are not owned by me, so in that vein, please don't sue me for playing with them. I'm not hurting them, really!
Notes: This is the second story in a little AU that I created, where John is Elizabeth's pool boy. It is not entirely necessary that you read the first one, but I'd really like it if you would!
Thanks to featherjean for putting up with my need to sit and write, as well as for telling me that it was a good plan to actually write more! Thanks to spacefiend as well, for seconding the assurance that it was not bad.
Many, many thanks to trinity1986 for the fabulous beta as well!
Though the water was on the cool side, after the day she had had, it was more than just right. Elizabeth sighed, sinking farther down into the water. Rodney had been, well, himself all day: moody, sarcastic, pushy and obnoxious. Although he had not filed the paperwork she needed for a deposition, it was her fault for not hounding him enough to get it done. Of course, when she tried to get him to fill the paperwork out, he stalled long enough to thoroughly piss her off. She wasn't sure if Rodney would be speaking to her for some time, but it wasn't really her top priority. Once she finally got that taken care of, it was time to actually go into the deposition, where she spent the rest of the day arguing point and counterpoint with the California Committee for (or maybe against, she wasn't actually sure by the end of the day) Nuclear Power. Sometimes talking to those people was like sticking your head in a meat grinder. Or at least it left you wanting to.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, dipping her head underwater and letting the cool sink into her skin and infuse her with calm. Suddenly she realized why so many people in this state had pools. They were fantastic for stress relief. Idly, she began to swim laps, pulling herself through the water gracefully, although nowhere near skillfully. Competitive swimmer she was not. She already felt better by the time she emerged above water. The frustration that she had felt for most of the day was nearly gone by the time she completed her seventh lap. She appeared above water at the end of her tenth lap to find John Sheppard squatting next to her hands, a sly, almost lecherous grin on his face.
"Hey, you."
"Hey," Elizabeth echoed, pushing herself halfway out of the water so that their lips could meet. Somehow, John managed to keep from falling into the water with her as her arms wound around his neck and she happily soaked his t-shirt. His hands felt warm on the water-cooled skin of her back, and his embrace was tight and comforting.
John broke the kiss, but he did not let her go, instead offering to help her out of the pool. She shook her head, sinking back into the water. John pressed a hand against her cheek.
"How's the water?"
"Little chilly, but good. The chlorine feels a little strong, though."
John nodded. "I'll check that first, then."
Elizabeth paddled around while he unpacked his supplies and went for the kit in the shed. Swimming up beside him, she reached out and ran a damp finger up the top of his foot. John grinned, kicking off his flip-flops and sitting, dipping his feet along with his arm into the pool. After allowing him to take his water sample, Elizabeth nudged his knees apart and moved between them, draping her arms across his thighs and smirking, daring him to comment. She let herself bob while he squirted chemicals into the sample and waited for a reaction.
"Long day?" he asked, still studying his water.
"Something like that," she replied absently, resting her chin on his knee.
Having grown tired of holding it, John set the pH measure down on the even part of the concrete. That left his hands free to settle on her, and sift through the damp curls on her head. Although his talent was mostly self-proclaimed, she was able to corroborate that John Sheppard gave excellent massages along with being a fantastic, undeniably sexy pool boy. Their relationship was hardly typical. Less than a week after meeting, she was unable to practice the self-restraint she usually took pride in having, and gave her new pool maintenance manager a kiss that left her eyes crossed. Though it led to more work for John, he didn't seem to mind. Two and a half months later, they flirted and dated, and had incredible, mind-melting sex, but that was pretty much all they did. She knew very little about what made John Sheppard tick; just what made him moan and gasp.
John tugged gently on the end of a curl, trying to get her attention while amusing himself with the bouncy nature of her hair.
"Hmm?"
"You said it was a hard day. Wanna tell me about it?"
Although they always made conversation about their jobs, hers in an office dealing with Rodney McKay, and his up high in the sky, he hardly ever seemed to actually want to know her problems. His focus always seemed to be on easing them, kissing her neck in such a way that she didn't remember her name, let alone Rodney's obnoxious comments, or tickling the bottoms of her feet until all the built-up tension of walking in heels had escaped via her laughter. Though she enjoyed having the release, she was also glad to be able to talk to him.
Elizabeth dipped her head and pressed a kiss to his knee, noting the red spot her chin had made. She took a deep breath and settled her hand where her chin had been, resting her face on that. "Let's just say that it was one of those days where I was reminded of the utter joy involved in being a lawyer."
John chuckled, "Something tells me you didn't settle a multi-million dollar case."
"Not really, no. Dealing with the California Committee of No Actual Decisions About Nuclear Power is a lot like running around in circles chasing your tail."
"And I'll bet Rodney didn't fall over himself to make things easier."
"Rather shocking, isn't it?"
One of John's hands moved out of her hair, reaching over to inspect the pH measure. He nodded and went back to massaging her head.
"What's it say?"
"What?"
"The pH thing."
"Oh. Chlorine's within normal levels, but if you want me to step it down, I will."
"It's your call." She shrugged. "You know I know nothing about this stuff," she added.
"Okay," he murmured.
John's thumbs massaged her temples. The sensation was enough to make her eyes slide shut.
She nearly cried out when his ministrations slowed and his hands left her hair. She didn't have a chance to pout, though, because his gentle fingers cupped her cheeks.
"Let me know if there's anything I can do to make your day better, okay? You know: massages, dinner, kinky sex?"
Despite his light-hearted tone, his thoughtfulness touched her, and she used his legs as counterweight to meet his mouth halfway. She kissed him until her arms began to shake, threatening to give out and leave them in a position she preferred to only use in their bedroom. Not that she hadn't done that before, she just preferred not to go down on him during the middle of the day; at least not by the poolside. Unless of course, he really wanted her to, she surmised, quirking a grin at her own dirty thought.
"Thank you, John," she said as she slipped back to her draped position. "I can think of one thing you can do, though."
"Oh?" he asked, grinning as she dug her fingers in his cargo pockets and removed his cell phone and wallet. She handed them to him, letting him push them off to the side and toss his shirt on top of them for extra protection from any splashing water. Elizabeth's eyes were bright as she slid her palms up his legs, grinning when he caught her fingers and tangled his hands with hers.
"Yeah."
She squeezed his hands, planting her feet on the wall of the pool.
"You can come in with me."
She pushed off and used their clasped hands to pull him into the water.
John used the advantage of his extra body weight to sink to the bottom and tug her under with him. Though she couldn't laugh, she did grin and let him tug on her arms, maneuvering her to where, when he stood, she was draped across his shoulder.
Between giggles, she tried to negotiate with him to put her down. Instead, he turned his head, rubbing his nose along her ticklish side.
"John!" she shouted. She was more than glad that Teyla was out with Ronon, helping the young man find some place to live. Otherwise, her friend would have something to say. And she had certainly squealed loud enough to intrigue a few neighbors. "Put me down, John!"
John nibbled lightly at her belly, making her laugh even harder. Taking advantage of her distraction, he shifted his hold on her and tossed her across the pool. He was at her side when she emerged, sputtering and breathing heavily. One of his hands reached for her elbow.
"You okay?"
She nodded, murmuring, "Did a belly flop. Those are a lot more painful than I remember."
John disappeared below water, brushing soft kisses along her reddened skin. Despite his gentleness, she laughed anyway. Sometimes it was a pain being so ticklish. He stood and she moved easily into his embrace. His arms helped to steady her in the water until his mouth made her weak all over again. Even the chill in the water was not enough to disguise his desire. Elizabeth smiled into his kiss, pressing her hips into his even more. The buoyancy of the water helped to even out the difference, albeit small as it was, in their heights.
"You know," Elizabeth murmured, pausing to lick her lips and ghost another small kiss across his lips, "I feel as though I'm paying you to sleep with me instead of to handle my pool maintenance."
"I remember sleeping with you of my own free will."
John's head dipped to run a gentle series of kisses along her jawline before he continued, "Money didn't enter into it."
"That comforts me, really. I'm being serious, John."
"So 'm I," he muttered, nipping at her pulse point. She sighed, raising an eyebrow at him. John caught her hint and lifted his head. He didn't let her waist go, but she was satisfied enough that she had his attention.
"I'm not sure that our 'just happening' to sleep together is a good idea. I sign your check, and I sleep with you, and regardless of the fact that the two don't happen at the exact same time, anyone with a law degree could say that it sounds a lot like prostitution."
John laughed, "Our sleeping together is considered prostitution because I'm considered an employee of yours?"
His fingers massaged the small of her back.
"Elizabeth, that is such a lawyer thing to say."
"Funny how that works out," she replied dryly.
"If you're concerned, then just fire me. It won't hurt my feelings to know I'm a better lover than a pool boy."
"John, no. You're doing your job here. You shouldn't lose money just because I don't want to keep my hands to myself," she admitted, wondering what had even possessed her to bring up the subject.
"There are plenty of other people to pay me to ogle their wives while I clean their pool. Not getting paid to run a net through the water and check the chlorine levels in yours isn't going to break the bank."
She looked at him dubiously. It wasn't that she thought he was lying. John Sheppard just had a habit of telling her what she wanted to hear, or what he thought she might want to hear if it meant she'd let a subject drop and get naked already.
John must have sensed her reticence, because he poked her in the side.
"If you want to put a stop to this, Elizabeth, we will. It's your call."
"Okay."
He released her waist gently, letting her float away from him. Nodding in acceptance, he waded over to the side, lifting himself out of the water and squeezing the dripping ends of his pants. He reached for his t-shirt, pulling it back on. She smiled slightly when his hair went back to being spiked all over the place.
"You're right. The chemicals do seem a little strong."
~ * ~
A tall glass of red wine and a TV dinner hadn't been her anticipated meal of the evening, but she didn't have the energy to handle anything more lavish. After their impromptu serious conversation, John had continued about his work, tossing the occasional flirtatious glance at her, though she did not reciprocate. In the end, she gathered her towel and thanked him, retreating into the solitude of her bathtub.
"You seem troubled tonight, Elizabeth," Teyla observed, taking a sip of Elizabeth's wine and seating herself on the couch across from Elizabeth's chair. Elizabeth shot her a semi-dirty look.
"Long day at work."
She tried to take the glass back.
"Surely John could help you feel better," Teyla teased.
When Elizabeth didn't respond, Teyla made an “aha” sound and passed the half-empty glass back.
"Then he is part of the problem, I assume?"
"I'm not sure," Elizabeth admitted. "I spent the better part of a day having my professional choices picked apart, and when I came home I did the same thing to my personal ones."
"I'm not sure I follow you."
Elizabeth bit her lip, thinking about how to phrase it before she explained, "I feel as if from a legal standpoint, I'm paying him for sex instead of the services he should be providing, since we don't always limit our time together to when he isn't working."
Teyla nodded. "And so the relationship seems like a conflict of interest?"
"Yes."
"Is there a way to fix that?"
Elizabeth looked at her friend thoughtfully. "John wants me to fire him," she offered.
"But you do not?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment. "Part of what made him so attractive was that he was off-limits," she confessed, taking a deep breath. "I could look, but not touch. You know?"
"And you worry that if he is no longer off-limits-"
"I won't be as attracted to him," Elizabeth confirmed, her voice low.
Teyla regarded her silently for a few minutes. Although her friend was close to seven years Elizabeth's junior, Teyla had always been a source of advice and wisdom when Elizabeth needed it.
"I suppose comparing our relationship to yours and John's won't work, will it?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm not sleeping with you, Teyla."
Teyla wiggled her eyebrows, looking less like a fountain of wisdom and more like the twenty-nine-year-old she was. Elizabeth laughed, tossing a throw pillow in Teyla's direction.
"If you are truly uncomfortable with your current positions, you should change them. You will not know how attracted you are to him unless you make the effort. But do not let the first man that has made you smile since you began dating Simon slip through your fingers."
Elizabeth scowled slightly at Teyla's mention of her ex. Nevertheless, she let herself ponder her friend's words.
"What about you?" she asked, changing the subject. "How are you and Ronon?"
"Ronon and I are just friends."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip of her wine and smirking at Teyla. Teyla threw the pillow back at her.
"Has he found a new place yet?"
"He has found several possibilities. I think he enjoys his current nomadic life, somewhat."
"It does allow certain freedoms."
Teyla nodded.
"If he needs, or would like a place to stay, he's welcome to stay here," Elizabeth offered. "Only if you don't mind, of course."
Teyla rolled her eyes, but Elizabeth could only grin.
"Go make up with your boyfriend, Elizabeth. But keep the noise down if you could, I do need to get some sleep."
Elizabeth resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at Teyla. Instead, she settled further into her chair and reached for her glass. Teyla stood, grabbing the almost empty wine goblet from her.
"I'll get more."
"Coulda let me finish what was in it first," Elizabeth groused.
Teyla returned with two full glasses and handed one back to Elizabeth. Once they were both settled again, Elizabeth turned on the stereo. Neither she, nor Teyla had particularly cared much about having a TV in this room, but both of them had agreed that a small stereo would make lounging much more comfortable. Though the music was mostly her collection of classical concertos, Teyla had also added some smooth jazz to the mix. Teyla held up two fingers and that was the CD Elizabeth chose.
"I know next to nothing about him, Teyla," she blurted, even surprising herself. "I think today was probably the second serious conversation we've had since the day we met."
"Most men do not encourage serious conversations. Since they seem to be closely tied to commitment and other such things that men fear."
Elizabeth opened her mouth to mention Simon, but thought better of it. Simon had never had an issue with serious conversations. In fact, Simon seemed to relish in them. Not much with Simon wasn't serious, though, and that had been a major reason for their break-up. He thought her move out to California was too spontaneous, even though she began to plan it months in advance. He thought she should be happy with the status quo, with doing the same thing every day and every night, and she wasn't. No, Simon really wasn't the best example.
"You think I'm being silly."
Teyla smirked, but said nothing.
"We're nothing alike, you know."
"You both have very similar hearts, Elizabeth. Even so, what happened to the idea that opposites attract?"
Elizabeth sighed. "You don't have to be right all the time, you know."
Teyla laughed, "I know, but I like it."
"Your modesty is impressive."
The two women laughed together. Teyla was right, Elizabeth conceded. Even being dissimilar was better than being unhappy, or bored because her partner was too much like her.
"Fine," she groaned, "But he's still going to take care of the pool."
Teyla smiled. "It is quite attractive," she agreed.
~ & ~
"I just want the record to state that you were the one that jumped me."
"I was not. And since when did you become the lawyer here?"
"Uh huh." John nodded. "You most definitely were. I was just minding my own business, doing my job, and the next thing I knew, you had pounced on me and we were soaking wet because we'd fallen into the pool."
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head, damp hair brushing against his shoulder.
"That is not what happened. I merely came over to make conversation and you grabbed me," she emphasized her words by poking him in the chest.
John snorted, massaging the back of her neck.
"I did not. I was told you wanted to keep things professional and so I was."
"By-" Elizabeth cut off. Though she remembered his arms wrapping almost two-fold around her waist, she did not completely remember who had moved first once her words had sunk in.
"John, you're fired."
"Fine," she agreed. "I blindsided you by coming over. But I did not jump, or pounce, or whatever word you feel like using to describe the fact that you grabbed me."
John's hand moved away from her neck, running down her back and stopping just above her waistline. He snorted, retorting, "How did we fall into the pool, then?"
"You and I both lost our balance. It was wet, after all."
"Or could it have been because I was off-balance because you were all over me?"
She looked up, grinning. "You know, you would make a good lawyer."
John kissed her softly, brushing a soft kiss across her nose when they moved apart.
"You're just saying that to be nice. Giving me career ideas and all, since I am out of a job. I did catch that much before you decided we should take a swim in our clothes."
"I decided nothing of the sort. You lost your footing and pulled me in with you."
"But I wouldn't have lost my footing if you hadn't been all over me," he repeated.
"I was not!"
They both laughed at the triviality of their argument. She sat up on the couch, tugging an afghan down to drape over their bodies. John squeezed her waist, shifting his hips and pulling her closer.
In truth, she probably had been the one to act. It had taken most of her pent-up courage to fire him, but the shell-shocked, yet still knowing look on his face had only helped give her the nerve to reach out and grab his face. She had nearly completed a tonsillectomy before he even reacted. Their fall into the water, though, was clearly not her fault. She had already been slightly light-headed from the euphoria of her actions, and when his hands had curled around her waist, she had practically melted. Nevertheless, he had been the one to trip. So it was really his fault that her five-hundred-dollar suit was currently draped over the towel rack in the downstairs bathroom; dripping dry and hoping that its first wearing wouldn't be its last. Of course, John's cell phone had been in his pocket at the time they fell, and it too was currently drying out. She hoped that after the water evaporated, his rugged cell phone would actually come back on and stay that way. Otherwise, she would be replacing an expensive suit and a top of the line cell phone.
"You're not angry, right?" she asked suddenly, drawing her knees closer to her chest.
"That I've got one less pool that I have to clean twice a week, even though I've gotten up at 4:30 to get to the air field and be flight-ready by 6:30? Yes. Of course," he deadpanned.
"Ahh, so I really just did you a favor."
"You did. Of course, I assume you'd still like my help with the pool anyway, right?"
"Well, yes."
Elizabeth squirmed beside him, brushing her lips over his five o'clock shadow. "I find it really hot after all," she purred into his ear.
He turned his head, catching her mouth and running the tip of his tongue over her lips. Elizabeth opened herself up to him, snaking her own tongue out to do the same. He was a really good kisser. She had forgotten how well he was able to bring about weakness in her knees with just a slip of the tongue. Of course, he was good at other things as well, as she had been reminded just previously.
"Elizabeth, are you home? I thought we could do some water aerobics today and- oh!"
The End
Author: truthlostmsr
Rating: PG-13 for sexual innuendo
Word Count: 3,769
Pairings: John/Elizabeth, Ronon/Teyla
Spoilers: Dive Right In
Summary: What do pools, prostitution, girl talk, and ruined suits have in common? Elizabeth Weir.
Disclaimer: These characters, despite their circumstances, are not owned by me, so in that vein, please don't sue me for playing with them. I'm not hurting them, really!
Notes: This is the second story in a little AU that I created, where John is Elizabeth's pool boy. It is not entirely necessary that you read the first one, but I'd really like it if you would!
Thanks to featherjean for putting up with my need to sit and write, as well as for telling me that it was a good plan to actually write more! Thanks to spacefiend as well, for seconding the assurance that it was not bad.
Many, many thanks to trinity1986 for the fabulous beta as well!
Though the water was on the cool side, after the day she had had, it was more than just right. Elizabeth sighed, sinking farther down into the water. Rodney had been, well, himself all day: moody, sarcastic, pushy and obnoxious. Although he had not filed the paperwork she needed for a deposition, it was her fault for not hounding him enough to get it done. Of course, when she tried to get him to fill the paperwork out, he stalled long enough to thoroughly piss her off. She wasn't sure if Rodney would be speaking to her for some time, but it wasn't really her top priority. Once she finally got that taken care of, it was time to actually go into the deposition, where she spent the rest of the day arguing point and counterpoint with the California Committee for (or maybe against, she wasn't actually sure by the end of the day) Nuclear Power. Sometimes talking to those people was like sticking your head in a meat grinder. Or at least it left you wanting to.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, dipping her head underwater and letting the cool sink into her skin and infuse her with calm. Suddenly she realized why so many people in this state had pools. They were fantastic for stress relief. Idly, she began to swim laps, pulling herself through the water gracefully, although nowhere near skillfully. Competitive swimmer she was not. She already felt better by the time she emerged above water. The frustration that she had felt for most of the day was nearly gone by the time she completed her seventh lap. She appeared above water at the end of her tenth lap to find John Sheppard squatting next to her hands, a sly, almost lecherous grin on his face.
"Hey, you."
"Hey," Elizabeth echoed, pushing herself halfway out of the water so that their lips could meet. Somehow, John managed to keep from falling into the water with her as her arms wound around his neck and she happily soaked his t-shirt. His hands felt warm on the water-cooled skin of her back, and his embrace was tight and comforting.
John broke the kiss, but he did not let her go, instead offering to help her out of the pool. She shook her head, sinking back into the water. John pressed a hand against her cheek.
"How's the water?"
"Little chilly, but good. The chlorine feels a little strong, though."
John nodded. "I'll check that first, then."
Elizabeth paddled around while he unpacked his supplies and went for the kit in the shed. Swimming up beside him, she reached out and ran a damp finger up the top of his foot. John grinned, kicking off his flip-flops and sitting, dipping his feet along with his arm into the pool. After allowing him to take his water sample, Elizabeth nudged his knees apart and moved between them, draping her arms across his thighs and smirking, daring him to comment. She let herself bob while he squirted chemicals into the sample and waited for a reaction.
"Long day?" he asked, still studying his water.
"Something like that," she replied absently, resting her chin on his knee.
Having grown tired of holding it, John set the pH measure down on the even part of the concrete. That left his hands free to settle on her, and sift through the damp curls on her head. Although his talent was mostly self-proclaimed, she was able to corroborate that John Sheppard gave excellent massages along with being a fantastic, undeniably sexy pool boy. Their relationship was hardly typical. Less than a week after meeting, she was unable to practice the self-restraint she usually took pride in having, and gave her new pool maintenance manager a kiss that left her eyes crossed. Though it led to more work for John, he didn't seem to mind. Two and a half months later, they flirted and dated, and had incredible, mind-melting sex, but that was pretty much all they did. She knew very little about what made John Sheppard tick; just what made him moan and gasp.
John tugged gently on the end of a curl, trying to get her attention while amusing himself with the bouncy nature of her hair.
"Hmm?"
"You said it was a hard day. Wanna tell me about it?"
Although they always made conversation about their jobs, hers in an office dealing with Rodney McKay, and his up high in the sky, he hardly ever seemed to actually want to know her problems. His focus always seemed to be on easing them, kissing her neck in such a way that she didn't remember her name, let alone Rodney's obnoxious comments, or tickling the bottoms of her feet until all the built-up tension of walking in heels had escaped via her laughter. Though she enjoyed having the release, she was also glad to be able to talk to him.
Elizabeth dipped her head and pressed a kiss to his knee, noting the red spot her chin had made. She took a deep breath and settled her hand where her chin had been, resting her face on that. "Let's just say that it was one of those days where I was reminded of the utter joy involved in being a lawyer."
John chuckled, "Something tells me you didn't settle a multi-million dollar case."
"Not really, no. Dealing with the California Committee of No Actual Decisions About Nuclear Power is a lot like running around in circles chasing your tail."
"And I'll bet Rodney didn't fall over himself to make things easier."
"Rather shocking, isn't it?"
One of John's hands moved out of her hair, reaching over to inspect the pH measure. He nodded and went back to massaging her head.
"What's it say?"
"What?"
"The pH thing."
"Oh. Chlorine's within normal levels, but if you want me to step it down, I will."
"It's your call." She shrugged. "You know I know nothing about this stuff," she added.
"Okay," he murmured.
John's thumbs massaged her temples. The sensation was enough to make her eyes slide shut.
She nearly cried out when his ministrations slowed and his hands left her hair. She didn't have a chance to pout, though, because his gentle fingers cupped her cheeks.
"Let me know if there's anything I can do to make your day better, okay? You know: massages, dinner, kinky sex?"
Despite his light-hearted tone, his thoughtfulness touched her, and she used his legs as counterweight to meet his mouth halfway. She kissed him until her arms began to shake, threatening to give out and leave them in a position she preferred to only use in their bedroom. Not that she hadn't done that before, she just preferred not to go down on him during the middle of the day; at least not by the poolside. Unless of course, he really wanted her to, she surmised, quirking a grin at her own dirty thought.
"Thank you, John," she said as she slipped back to her draped position. "I can think of one thing you can do, though."
"Oh?" he asked, grinning as she dug her fingers in his cargo pockets and removed his cell phone and wallet. She handed them to him, letting him push them off to the side and toss his shirt on top of them for extra protection from any splashing water. Elizabeth's eyes were bright as she slid her palms up his legs, grinning when he caught her fingers and tangled his hands with hers.
"Yeah."
She squeezed his hands, planting her feet on the wall of the pool.
"You can come in with me."
She pushed off and used their clasped hands to pull him into the water.
John used the advantage of his extra body weight to sink to the bottom and tug her under with him. Though she couldn't laugh, she did grin and let him tug on her arms, maneuvering her to where, when he stood, she was draped across his shoulder.
Between giggles, she tried to negotiate with him to put her down. Instead, he turned his head, rubbing his nose along her ticklish side.
"John!" she shouted. She was more than glad that Teyla was out with Ronon, helping the young man find some place to live. Otherwise, her friend would have something to say. And she had certainly squealed loud enough to intrigue a few neighbors. "Put me down, John!"
John nibbled lightly at her belly, making her laugh even harder. Taking advantage of her distraction, he shifted his hold on her and tossed her across the pool. He was at her side when she emerged, sputtering and breathing heavily. One of his hands reached for her elbow.
"You okay?"
She nodded, murmuring, "Did a belly flop. Those are a lot more painful than I remember."
John disappeared below water, brushing soft kisses along her reddened skin. Despite his gentleness, she laughed anyway. Sometimes it was a pain being so ticklish. He stood and she moved easily into his embrace. His arms helped to steady her in the water until his mouth made her weak all over again. Even the chill in the water was not enough to disguise his desire. Elizabeth smiled into his kiss, pressing her hips into his even more. The buoyancy of the water helped to even out the difference, albeit small as it was, in their heights.
"You know," Elizabeth murmured, pausing to lick her lips and ghost another small kiss across his lips, "I feel as though I'm paying you to sleep with me instead of to handle my pool maintenance."
"I remember sleeping with you of my own free will."
John's head dipped to run a gentle series of kisses along her jawline before he continued, "Money didn't enter into it."
"That comforts me, really. I'm being serious, John."
"So 'm I," he muttered, nipping at her pulse point. She sighed, raising an eyebrow at him. John caught her hint and lifted his head. He didn't let her waist go, but she was satisfied enough that she had his attention.
"I'm not sure that our 'just happening' to sleep together is a good idea. I sign your check, and I sleep with you, and regardless of the fact that the two don't happen at the exact same time, anyone with a law degree could say that it sounds a lot like prostitution."
John laughed, "Our sleeping together is considered prostitution because I'm considered an employee of yours?"
His fingers massaged the small of her back.
"Elizabeth, that is such a lawyer thing to say."
"Funny how that works out," she replied dryly.
"If you're concerned, then just fire me. It won't hurt my feelings to know I'm a better lover than a pool boy."
"John, no. You're doing your job here. You shouldn't lose money just because I don't want to keep my hands to myself," she admitted, wondering what had even possessed her to bring up the subject.
"There are plenty of other people to pay me to ogle their wives while I clean their pool. Not getting paid to run a net through the water and check the chlorine levels in yours isn't going to break the bank."
She looked at him dubiously. It wasn't that she thought he was lying. John Sheppard just had a habit of telling her what she wanted to hear, or what he thought she might want to hear if it meant she'd let a subject drop and get naked already.
John must have sensed her reticence, because he poked her in the side.
"If you want to put a stop to this, Elizabeth, we will. It's your call."
"Okay."
He released her waist gently, letting her float away from him. Nodding in acceptance, he waded over to the side, lifting himself out of the water and squeezing the dripping ends of his pants. He reached for his t-shirt, pulling it back on. She smiled slightly when his hair went back to being spiked all over the place.
"You're right. The chemicals do seem a little strong."
~ * ~
A tall glass of red wine and a TV dinner hadn't been her anticipated meal of the evening, but she didn't have the energy to handle anything more lavish. After their impromptu serious conversation, John had continued about his work, tossing the occasional flirtatious glance at her, though she did not reciprocate. In the end, she gathered her towel and thanked him, retreating into the solitude of her bathtub.
"You seem troubled tonight, Elizabeth," Teyla observed, taking a sip of Elizabeth's wine and seating herself on the couch across from Elizabeth's chair. Elizabeth shot her a semi-dirty look.
"Long day at work."
She tried to take the glass back.
"Surely John could help you feel better," Teyla teased.
When Elizabeth didn't respond, Teyla made an “aha” sound and passed the half-empty glass back.
"Then he is part of the problem, I assume?"
"I'm not sure," Elizabeth admitted. "I spent the better part of a day having my professional choices picked apart, and when I came home I did the same thing to my personal ones."
"I'm not sure I follow you."
Elizabeth bit her lip, thinking about how to phrase it before she explained, "I feel as if from a legal standpoint, I'm paying him for sex instead of the services he should be providing, since we don't always limit our time together to when he isn't working."
Teyla nodded. "And so the relationship seems like a conflict of interest?"
"Yes."
"Is there a way to fix that?"
Elizabeth looked at her friend thoughtfully. "John wants me to fire him," she offered.
"But you do not?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment. "Part of what made him so attractive was that he was off-limits," she confessed, taking a deep breath. "I could look, but not touch. You know?"
"And you worry that if he is no longer off-limits-"
"I won't be as attracted to him," Elizabeth confirmed, her voice low.
Teyla regarded her silently for a few minutes. Although her friend was close to seven years Elizabeth's junior, Teyla had always been a source of advice and wisdom when Elizabeth needed it.
"I suppose comparing our relationship to yours and John's won't work, will it?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm not sleeping with you, Teyla."
Teyla wiggled her eyebrows, looking less like a fountain of wisdom and more like the twenty-nine-year-old she was. Elizabeth laughed, tossing a throw pillow in Teyla's direction.
"If you are truly uncomfortable with your current positions, you should change them. You will not know how attracted you are to him unless you make the effort. But do not let the first man that has made you smile since you began dating Simon slip through your fingers."
Elizabeth scowled slightly at Teyla's mention of her ex. Nevertheless, she let herself ponder her friend's words.
"What about you?" she asked, changing the subject. "How are you and Ronon?"
"Ronon and I are just friends."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip of her wine and smirking at Teyla. Teyla threw the pillow back at her.
"Has he found a new place yet?"
"He has found several possibilities. I think he enjoys his current nomadic life, somewhat."
"It does allow certain freedoms."
Teyla nodded.
"If he needs, or would like a place to stay, he's welcome to stay here," Elizabeth offered. "Only if you don't mind, of course."
Teyla rolled her eyes, but Elizabeth could only grin.
"Go make up with your boyfriend, Elizabeth. But keep the noise down if you could, I do need to get some sleep."
Elizabeth resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at Teyla. Instead, she settled further into her chair and reached for her glass. Teyla stood, grabbing the almost empty wine goblet from her.
"I'll get more."
"Coulda let me finish what was in it first," Elizabeth groused.
Teyla returned with two full glasses and handed one back to Elizabeth. Once they were both settled again, Elizabeth turned on the stereo. Neither she, nor Teyla had particularly cared much about having a TV in this room, but both of them had agreed that a small stereo would make lounging much more comfortable. Though the music was mostly her collection of classical concertos, Teyla had also added some smooth jazz to the mix. Teyla held up two fingers and that was the CD Elizabeth chose.
"I know next to nothing about him, Teyla," she blurted, even surprising herself. "I think today was probably the second serious conversation we've had since the day we met."
"Most men do not encourage serious conversations. Since they seem to be closely tied to commitment and other such things that men fear."
Elizabeth opened her mouth to mention Simon, but thought better of it. Simon had never had an issue with serious conversations. In fact, Simon seemed to relish in them. Not much with Simon wasn't serious, though, and that had been a major reason for their break-up. He thought her move out to California was too spontaneous, even though she began to plan it months in advance. He thought she should be happy with the status quo, with doing the same thing every day and every night, and she wasn't. No, Simon really wasn't the best example.
"You think I'm being silly."
Teyla smirked, but said nothing.
"We're nothing alike, you know."
"You both have very similar hearts, Elizabeth. Even so, what happened to the idea that opposites attract?"
Elizabeth sighed. "You don't have to be right all the time, you know."
Teyla laughed, "I know, but I like it."
"Your modesty is impressive."
The two women laughed together. Teyla was right, Elizabeth conceded. Even being dissimilar was better than being unhappy, or bored because her partner was too much like her.
"Fine," she groaned, "But he's still going to take care of the pool."
Teyla smiled. "It is quite attractive," she agreed.
~ & ~
"I just want the record to state that you were the one that jumped me."
"I was not. And since when did you become the lawyer here?"
"Uh huh." John nodded. "You most definitely were. I was just minding my own business, doing my job, and the next thing I knew, you had pounced on me and we were soaking wet because we'd fallen into the pool."
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head, damp hair brushing against his shoulder.
"That is not what happened. I merely came over to make conversation and you grabbed me," she emphasized her words by poking him in the chest.
John snorted, massaging the back of her neck.
"I did not. I was told you wanted to keep things professional and so I was."
"By-" Elizabeth cut off. Though she remembered his arms wrapping almost two-fold around her waist, she did not completely remember who had moved first once her words had sunk in.
"John, you're fired."
"Fine," she agreed. "I blindsided you by coming over. But I did not jump, or pounce, or whatever word you feel like using to describe the fact that you grabbed me."
John's hand moved away from her neck, running down her back and stopping just above her waistline. He snorted, retorting, "How did we fall into the pool, then?"
"You and I both lost our balance. It was wet, after all."
"Or could it have been because I was off-balance because you were all over me?"
She looked up, grinning. "You know, you would make a good lawyer."
John kissed her softly, brushing a soft kiss across her nose when they moved apart.
"You're just saying that to be nice. Giving me career ideas and all, since I am out of a job. I did catch that much before you decided we should take a swim in our clothes."
"I decided nothing of the sort. You lost your footing and pulled me in with you."
"But I wouldn't have lost my footing if you hadn't been all over me," he repeated.
"I was not!"
They both laughed at the triviality of their argument. She sat up on the couch, tugging an afghan down to drape over their bodies. John squeezed her waist, shifting his hips and pulling her closer.
In truth, she probably had been the one to act. It had taken most of her pent-up courage to fire him, but the shell-shocked, yet still knowing look on his face had only helped give her the nerve to reach out and grab his face. She had nearly completed a tonsillectomy before he even reacted. Their fall into the water, though, was clearly not her fault. She had already been slightly light-headed from the euphoria of her actions, and when his hands had curled around her waist, she had practically melted. Nevertheless, he had been the one to trip. So it was really his fault that her five-hundred-dollar suit was currently draped over the towel rack in the downstairs bathroom; dripping dry and hoping that its first wearing wouldn't be its last. Of course, John's cell phone had been in his pocket at the time they fell, and it too was currently drying out. She hoped that after the water evaporated, his rugged cell phone would actually come back on and stay that way. Otherwise, she would be replacing an expensive suit and a top of the line cell phone.
"You're not angry, right?" she asked suddenly, drawing her knees closer to her chest.
"That I've got one less pool that I have to clean twice a week, even though I've gotten up at 4:30 to get to the air field and be flight-ready by 6:30? Yes. Of course," he deadpanned.
"Ahh, so I really just did you a favor."
"You did. Of course, I assume you'd still like my help with the pool anyway, right?"
"Well, yes."
Elizabeth squirmed beside him, brushing her lips over his five o'clock shadow. "I find it really hot after all," she purred into his ear.
He turned his head, catching her mouth and running the tip of his tongue over her lips. Elizabeth opened herself up to him, snaking her own tongue out to do the same. He was a really good kisser. She had forgotten how well he was able to bring about weakness in her knees with just a slip of the tongue. Of course, he was good at other things as well, as she had been reminded just previously.
"Elizabeth, are you home? I thought we could do some water aerobics today and- oh!"
The End