Have a Little Faith

Dakota's POV

Dakota’s POV

The cool water drew past me swiftly as I neared the end of the pool. I could see Levi’s shadow as I took my last breath and slowed down. The tingling burning sensation in my arms and legs made me feel alive and a small smile spread across my lips. I broke the surface and held onto the wall, breathing deeply.

“That was… amazing” Levi said, running his thumb across his bottom lip. I had to suppress a sigh at how attractive he was.

When his words registered I ducked my head into my folded arms and avoided his gaze. “Its nothing extraordinary” i mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

“It is extraordinary. I’ve never seen you so determined when you swim. How long have you been doing it?”

“I started very young up until the accident. Then I stopped for some time because I couldn’t be around water, much less in it, and then i started back up two years ago.”

He nodded his head but I recognised that determined glint in his eyes that i had seen on a couple of occasions already.

“And you said you wanted to learn the basic lifeguarding skills? Because with your swimming skills that clearly wouldn’t be a problem for you” he said, his eyebrows creased while he thought.

I nodded my head again. “I just don’t want to do it in the ocean. Maybe at one point, but not yet.”

I had to squint slightly as the floodlights suddenly turned on and pool was illuminated.

“The pool is open until ten thirty. If you want I can teach some basics now” Levi said, grinning down at me. My heart swelled at his words and a large smile stretched across my lips.

“I’d like that. Thank you” 

He bent down to kiss my lips, tingles shooting through me, before he pulled back and took of his shirt, revealing his toned body. Again i had to stop a small sigh escaping my lips at the sight. He quickly warmed up, stretching his arms and legs - the muscles in his back rippling as he moved. He moved closer to the edge and gracefully dove into the water.

When he surfaced again and shook the water out of his brown curls he turned to face me, wiping water out of his golden eyes.

“Do you know that the side- stroke is?” he asked me.

“I’ve seen you do it today, but I don’t know how to properly swim it.” I said, still slightly embarrassed that he caught me copying his instructions from earlier today. I didn’t want to join the group and then be the only one who didn’t enter the water, so I stayed away.

“Look here. This is one stroke you can use when you are saving someone. It conserves energy and allows you to keep an eye on the victim.” Levi said, his tone serious like it generally was when we began talking about lifeguarding.

I nodded my heading understanding and watched him as he demonstrated it, stroking through the water a couple of meters before stopping.

“Now you try” he said, gesturing for me to copy his earlier movements.

I took a deep breath and tried following his instructions. Although my torso didn’t stay completely afloat I managed to reach Levi who grinned at me.

“Looks good for a first try”

The next twenty minutes were spent, with me trying to correctly swim the stroke and Levi correcting my mistake. By what felt like the hundredth time of practicing it I sighed dramatically and dropped my leaden arms into the water, allowing my body to sink to the tiled floor of the pool.