The Stella I Remember

18| On the Count of Three

"Swimming? You want to go swimming?"

I knew I was staring at Stella like she was an alien, but she shocked the hell outta me. Clearly that was something she loved doing.  

"Yes," she replied smugly. "And you didn't answer my question. Do you know how to swim?" 

I opened and closed my mouth. "Uh, yes, I do. But I don't under—"

"Great!" she interrupted. "That settles it. We're going swimming." 

She's gone mad. Yeah, that was it. The New Orleans air has gotten to her, and she's gone mad. That was the only explanation for this. 

As much as I loved to swim—usually in an ocean or a pool—this river wasn't the ideal place. No one ever swam here. People who lived in this part of Louisiana tended to swim in the Gulf. 

"If it's the alligators you're scared of, Elliot, I can protect you." 

I threw my head back and laughed. "Please! I'm not afraid of anything." 

I knew that was a lie before it left my lips. But it wasn't the alligators I was afraid of. 

It was her. Stella. Everything about her terrified me. The past, the present, and all the possibilities of a future. 

Not knowing if she was going to be apart of it is what scared me. Losing her once was nearly killed me. I wouldn't survive it again. 

"Good," she said with a satisfied smile. "Let's go then." 

"We don't have any swimsuits." 

It was a lame excuse, but it was also true. There was no way in hell I was going to skinny-dip with Stella. I was a gentlemen, but there was no way I could handle that without wanting more with her. 

"So what?" 

When she reached for the bottom of her shirt to pull it over her head, I spun around faster than I thought possible.  

My heart started to race at the possibility of what might happen here—and I didn't mean sex. Sex wasn't even on my mind right now. What was on my mind was the fact that I was about to see Stella half naked. 

"Stella, I don't think—"

"Elliot, stop thinking. Stop feeling. Just have some fun."

Even though she couldn't see my face, I rolled my eyes. "It's hard not to think or feel anything with you getting naked behind me," I mumbled. 

Obviously I didn't mumble quiet enough. 

"I'm not naked! A bathing suit is basically the same thing as undergarments."

I wasn't so sure about that. Matter of fact, I wasn't sure about much lately. 

"You can turn around now, Elliot." 

It took me a good twenty seconds and a couple deep breaths before I could face her. And when I did? 

Biggest. Mistake. Ever. 

Stella wasn't in undergarments. She was wearing a matching black set of lacy lingerie. 

And my-fucking-god did she look stunning. 

No, not stunning. Delectable was a better word. 

The Stella I remembered was petite and slim. Still beautiful, of course, but this Stella had definitely filled out. She was still slim, but now she was a little more curvy in all the right places. And I tried my hardest not to look at the other parts of her. Specifically, the parts that would over flow my hands.