2011 Worlds, Tokyo, Japan
Aly Raisman sat on the edge of the metal ice bath with her head against the wall and her legs plunged into the depths of the water. She was exhausted; mentally, physically, emotionally. She'd fallen 8 out of the 10 times she tried to connect on the beam, hitting the mat with a resounding and mocking smack each time. She could tell Mihai was nervous. Competition was tomorrow. This was no time to crap out.
She tapped her forehead against the plaster wall in drained frustration. All of this, and she was halfway around the world, not even sure what day or time it was. She knew it was late because the other girls trickled out of the gym at least an hour ago, retreating to their beds for a rare early night in to rest up for the big day. Aly didn't believe in rest, and right now, she hated that part of herself.
She heard the door open and footsteps walk into the small room. Mihai was probably coming to tell her to pack it in and hope for the best. She made a half hearted attempt at kicking her feet and focused on the few cubes that floated around.
She felt a small hand grip her ass. It was definitely not Mihai.
She felt the hot breath on her ear before she heard the words and knew.
"When you sit on the tub like that, it makes your ass stick out over the edge and I just couldn't help myself."
Mckayla's whispers ticked Aly's ear, and she felt her body rev up like an engine. She turned to Mckayla's wild toothless grin and that killer stare, and pulled her from the neck into a searing kiss.
"How did you know I was here?" Aly asked, her lips barely an inch away and catching on Mckayla's every few words.
"You always sulk in the ice bath like a loser at odd hours of the night. The concept of relaxation is lost on you, Aly Raisman," Mckayla replied, stroking the back of Aly's hair where her bun was coming undone.
Aly giggled and closed her eyes, resting her forehead against Mckayla's and letting the moment calm her down. Mckayla indulged her, and then lifted one leg after the other to climb into the tub, settling on the opposite side and smirking at Aly.
Aly cocked her head to the side, "What's gotten into you, Mac? You're more energetic than usual," she asked. Mckayla shrugged.
"Pre-worlds jitters, I guess? I don't know, I'm just... Gah, I'm just really excited. I need to cool down, though, or I won't sleep," Mckayla said, her wiggling around causing a little current in the bath.
"Well, the ice bath would be the place for that," Aly replied with a little cheek. Mckayla rolled her eyes, and the two settled on staring at each other from across the tub. Taking the other one in, more like it. Mckayla's eyes raked down Aly's tense body as she leaned almost rail straight against the edge of the tub, her heels keeping her upright. Aly watched Mckayla's eyes intently, noting her pupils doubling in size and her lip finding it's way in between her teeth.
"Mac," Aly said, nodding at her.
"Yeah?" she replied, her gaze flicking up to meet Aly's and liquid fire trickled down Aly's spine.
"C'mere. Take my mind off of all of this," Aly asked, her voice nearly pleading. Mckayla never broke their gaze, and walked purposefully towards her across the small span of the tub until she was standing before her, greeting Aly's outstretched arms. She parted her legs only slightly, slowly walking up the length of Aly's legs until their torsos were a few inches apart. If she advanced any further, she would be straddling Aly's lap.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" Mckayla teased, running her fingers up Aly's abs, over her chest, and hooking them onto the peaks of her shoulders. Aly rested her hands on Mckayla's hips. She leaned up into a kiss, a slow and soft one, that she couldn't help but sigh into.
