by Mia Ford
"Ten more, I want ten more!" he yelled in her ear as she did push up after push up. With her hands buried in the soft sand, and the sun beating down on her back, it was a wonder she didn't pass out on the spot.
"I want to see you back in this spot in five minutes!" he boomed as she ran into the water, diving through the ocean as she began her fifth swim of the morning. She had five minutes to swim to the buoy one hundred yards out to sea and back again.
She never complained. She never asked for a break. Everything that Clint ordered of her she did with gusto and verve. Even when the session was nearing an end, and Clint asked for more than he had originally intended, she complied. Even when she could barely move, as she fell to her knees mid sprint, or dropped onto her stomach mid push up, she soldiered on. It was a level of dedication that he found admirable and... if he were being honest, slightly arousing.
When Clint had gone to that bar the night before he had not expected to find Olivia there. He knew what she was like and knew that she wasn't the bar going type. So when he spotted her in the parking lot he could not believe it. And when she invited him back to her place, he was shocked to say the least.
But what he had found most odd was how right it all felt. That entire day his head had been filled with thoughts of Olivia. As she sprinted up the beach and swum out in the ocean, he distracted himself with images from the night before and how perfect it had been. He hadn't thought on her in four years and now, like a punch to the face, he couldn't get her out of his mind.
He didn't want to admit it either and he did all that he could to deny it, but Clint knew for a fact that he was starting to fall for the Navy SEAL to be. It was just like the Academy all over again, only this time there would be no leaving. Of that he was sure.
The heart wants what it wants and right then, it wanted one thing...
--
The sex seemed to get better and better. Even after a full day of working out and training, both Clint and Olivia left nothing at the door. What Clint found most amazing was that it was Olivia who initiated it too. He would have assumed she'd have been too worn out, and for that he couldn't have blamed her. But no.
She came out of his shower in nothing but a towel, the steam from the room billowing around her and pouring into the bedroom. Clint, already in his towel and about to go shower himself, never made it that far.
Olivia pushed him back as he tried to step around her, near throwing him onto the bed. As he sat up, she dropped her towel, revealing her near perfect body. Indeed, to Clint it was the epitome of what a woman's figure should be. Her large breasts were perfectly round and seemed to defy gravity; bouncing as she moved toward him. Her flat stomach hinted at the beginnings of a six pack and her hips were a perfect hourglass curve.
Still in his towel, Clint remained where he was as Olivia climbed on him, straddling him as she did.
"Don't move," she whispered in his ear as she kissed him on the neck, softly, passionately, before working her way down his chest and to his stomach. Each kiss was soft and moist and each one moved closer and closer to his towel.
She slid from him, falling to her knees as she dragged his towel with her. Clint lifted his hips as she did this, releasing his now throbbing member for her. He knew what was coming of course, but still braced himself, holding his breath in anticipation as she planted kiss after kiss around his crotch, his thighs, his stomach. Everywhere but where she knew he wanted it most.
The whole time Clint shook, his breathing intensifying as she finally took him in her mouth. He remained on his back as she worked him, his hand running through her hair, gripping it without meaning too. Only when she were satisfied, did she climb back up. And then, without letting Clint return the favor, she climbed on him and slipped him inside of her without hesitation.
Even after a full day of training Olivia held nothing back. She kept her two hands on Clint's chest, keeping him down as she rode him, grinding her hips against his. Back and forth, back and forth. Everytime Clint tried to move, she pushed him back down. That night he was hers to do with as she pleased. And Clint... Clint was perfectly OK with it.
It was all about Clint that night, Olivia made sure of it. And whether she meant to or not, Olivia was all but ensuring that Clint was falling for her all over again.
CHAPTER SIX
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Clint asked without a hint of sarcasm. In fact there was a slight tinge to his voice, like he was choking, that suggested he was on the verge of tears.
"Yeah it's... it's something," Olivia agreed, not too sure what response he was after but knowing that the moment was too serious a one, for Clint at least, for her to make a joke.
The two were currently on a walking tour of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Of the eight battleships attacked during the attack on Pearl Harbor, all but one sailed again. The USS Arizona was struck in the hull by a torpedo, causing an explosion that was said to have lifted the great hunk of metal fifteen feet in the air before sending it to the bottom of the harbor. In commemorance to the fallen and the attack in general, it was decided that the ship would be left where it sunk. Now it acts as both a tourist attraction to those visiting the harbor and a constant reminder of what the soldiers were fighting for.
Two days after their training session on the beach, both Olivia and Clint took a helicopter ride to Pearl Harbor. Clint went because that was where he was stationed. He had only gone across to San Diego to meet with Olivia, and that was only because of the charges he was brought up on. Olivia on the other hand went because she had to follow through with the next part of her investigation, that was interviewing the memebers of the Coast Guard that were present during the submarine incident.
The two days before Clint and Olivia had left, had been spent entirely together. By day Clint would train Olivia and by night the two would catch up on lost times. In fact, as Clint had no official residence, he opted to move in with Olivia. When he asked her if he could it had caught her off guard – yet another act that suggested he was after more than just a casual romance. She was going to deny him at first, not wanting to put herself in a position where he could hurt her again. But eventually relented. She was only human after all
In the end, those two days were the best in Olivia's recent memory. Sure, each day she was pushed to within an inch of her life; even throwing up on several occasions. But she couldn't remember a time when she had been so happy. And it wasn't just that she felt as if she were coming closer to her goal either. It was because of Clint. The two had fallen back into their old rhythms and every day she was reminded of why she had loved him so fiercely in the first place.
Her only fear was that he didn't feel the same about her. For all she knew he was just using her to kill time while he was in San Diego and the moment he went back she would be forgotten. This was a fear that raged inside of her right up until their first day Pearl Harbor.
"When are you meeting with Brian?" he asked as they got off the chopper. He had even opted to carry her bags. It was unnecessary but appreciated.
"Tomorrow," she responded. "Today I'm going to inspect the rig you were on and the equipment you used. Plus I need to look at tidal charts and --"
"Is there any chance that can wait for tomorrow too?" he asked. There was an air of excitement in his voice, and Olivia sensed that something was up.
"Probably. Why...?"
"I have something I want to show you." That was all he would say on the matter too. Even as he helped her to her room. And even as he watched her get changed out of her Navy whites, he kept his mouth shut. All he would say was that he had something he wanted to show her. From that simple exclamation he could not be budged.
It was because of that that Olivia later found herself on the USS Arizona. The great battleship was meant to be closed for the day but Clint managed to get permission for the two to walk through it. Or at least he claimed that he had permission. For some reason she got the sense that he had just snuck them on, not caring what would happen were th
ey discovered.
The moment they were on the battleship though, Clint's demeanor and personality in general totally changed. He was no longer buoyant and carefree. Rather he become stoic and even a little emotional. It was a side of him that she had never seen before.
"Did I ever tell you why I joined the military?" Clint asked. They were standing in the center of the great structure, with the sunken the ship directly below their feet. Clint had stopped moving and was staring down at the hunking mass of metal.
"No actually... I don't think I ever..." It was odd, but Olivia had just realized that she had never asked him why he had. She joined the Navy initially because they offered the best scholarship, only falling in love with the ways of the military after several years. She had assumed Clint was the same.
"My grandfather was on the Arizona when it was hit." He spoke barely above a whisper, as if he were talking to himself rather than her. "It was my father's tenth birthday. The ship went down before 9am. He never even had a chance to call or send a letter or anything. He was never given a chance. My father never joined the military because of that. He blamed the US, you believe that? Me though, I knew who the real enemy was. And it wasn't just the Japs. And it isn't now. It's anyone who threatens our way of life. Anyone who stops a father seeing his son on his tenth birthday. You know?"
"Is that why you joined the SEAL's?" Olivia asked. She too spoke in a whisper, not sure what else to say. Clint's voice trembled as he spoke, indicating he was on the verge of tears. She had never seen him so vulnerable.
"I remember there was this kid in my class who was bragging one day about how if he got good enough marks he would never have to see battle. Like that was a point of honor or something? It was because of that... that was when I realized that I was in the wrong place. The next day I dropped out and joined the SEAL's. At least as a SEAL I can make a difference, a real physical difference. Even if I don't have the title. I've never once regretted my choice either."
"Never?"
"No, not never. My only regret was leaving you." He had stopped looking down now, his body turned to face Olivia. There were tears in his eyes and Olivia couldn't think of a single time she had ever seen him cry before. "I made a choice that day, the military over you. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Hopefully... hopefully it's one I won't ever have to make again."
If there was any doubt as to how Clint felt about Olivia, it was vanquished in that moment. As she watched him, tears near brimming in his eyes, she didn’t know what to say. Or if any words would do. So she said nothing. Instead she walked up to Clint, threw her arms around him and hugged him. And he returned it, holding her in his strong embrace.
And there they stood for an immeasurable length of time. It may have been seconds. It may have been minutes or even hours. It didn’t matter. She was happy to hold him and clearly, he was more than happy to hold her right back.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Brian was already at the café when Olivia arrived. He was sitting alone, sipping on a cup of coffee, his eyes glancing from left to right. He looked nervous, Olivia thought, like he was the one on trial. That was the first sign that things weren't going to go to plan.
Her goal was keep the proceedings as casual as she possibly could. Although she was interviewing the young Lieutenant in an official context, she knew how intimidated soldiers could become by these types of proceedings. And although she was after the truth, wanting to keep emotion out of it, she also knew that Brian and Clint were good friends. As such she suggested the cafe, hoping that would alleviate some of the formality.
But as pointed out, by the way that Brian's knee furiously bobbed up and down as he waited, she guessed that he were as nervous as he would have been had they met in a more offical location. She just hoped it didn't do anything to effect his testimony.
"Brian Fischer?" She asked as she reached the table.
"Yes ma'am," he offered, standing up the moment she spoke. Leapt up more like it. He really was nervous.
"Please, take a seat," she said as she sat down. He followed suit, very quickly sitting down. It was only when he was seated and presumably comfortable that she continued. "So, Mr Fischer, as I'm sure you know I'm here to ask you questions pertaining to the incident that occurred with Clint Reese."
"Yes ma'am. Lieutenant Commander Randall filled me in."
"Excellent. This should be nice and simple then. Why don’t we start with how well you know Clint Reese. Just so I can get a sense of your relationship."
"Oh... well me and Clint we go a little ways back. I actually tried out for the SEAL program the same time he did. Didn't get through obviously. But it was also him that suggested I join the Coast Guard as a rescue swimmer. I was always a good swimmer." Much to Olivia's relief, he seemed to calm down a little as he spoke.
"So you would say you're good friends?"
"As good as one can be I suppose." She was certain but she thought she heard him choke up. Maybe it was just her imagination.
"Excellent. Now, how about you go over that day? Leave nothing out."
"OK. Ah well... We – that is me and the other guys on the Guard had some drills we needed to run. Just some touch up exercises – that is exercises aimed at touching up some skills if you know what I mean?"
"I do," Olivia responded, offering him a warm smile. He was getting nervous again, she could tell.
"We needed to use a submersible and I suggested to Randall – Lieutenant Randall, that we ask the SEAL Vehicle Delivery Team if we could use theirs. Randall – Lieutenant Randall, said that I was going to have to ask, as I knew Clint. So I asked and Clint said it was fine as long as he came along. Just to watch and make sure we treated his vehicle with respect – which is right for him to do."
"It is," Olivia agreed.
"Anyway all was fine. We used it like we said and nothing was amiss. It was nearer the end of the day when the other three guys were doing some diving drills. They came up for air and told us they'd found the Japanese sub."
"And what was the initial response by you? What did you suggest that you and the team do?" She asked.
It took him a moment to answer, as if he were trying to think of the best way to frame his response. "I said we should call it in. Clint explained to us what it was and I thought maybe a salvage team should come and collect it. But when I suggested that, Clint said – I want to get on the record here that Clint never meant for anything to happen," Brian rushed through. "He just thought that... he thought it would be OK if we took a look first and then maybe, if it seemed possible, we could salvage it ourselves."
"And then what happened?"
"Well me and him dove down to take a look. He had a rope with him attached to the rig. We got down there and I guess he thought that it looked safe because he started tying it up with the rope. I swam in to help and..."
"Go on," Olivia urged.
"Well the thing – that is the sub, slipped. Next thing I knew my oxygen tank was wedged between it and the rocks. I was stuck. So Clint pulled out a knife, cut me loose and bunnied me back to the surface. Oh bunnying is --"
"I know what it is," Olivia cut in. She was a bit more short with him on that one than she had intended, but that was only because she was distracted. Unfortunately the story matched the one that Randall had told her. It was one that didn't look good for Clint. "I'm going to ask you something Brian and I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me. Did the submarine look stable when Clint started to secure it? Was there any perceived danger?"
If Brian had looked nervous before, this time he looked like he might pass out. The amount of sweat poruing from his brow was so much that it looked as if he'd just run a mile. Meanwhile his eyes darted across the cafe like he was looking for an excuse to leave. "Ahhhh...." Was all he could get out.
"Brian. I need an answer," she pushed.
"Well... I... at the time I thought it looked a little bit unstable. Plus there were the torpedoes on the side --"
"What torped
oes?" she cut in. No one had mentioned torpedos to her earlier.
"The live torpedos. They were half the reason the submarine was caught. If I was being honest... maybe... Maybe it wasn't as safe as it could have been – but that doesn't matter. I mean I got out of there thanks to Clint. He didn't mean for..."
As Brian rambled on, Olivia stopped paying attention. She felt the blood drain from her face as her heart sank. Whatever way Brian may have tried to spin it, and clearly he was trying to make Clint sound as innocent as possible, it was clear that Clint was as guilty as sin. She knew that he liked to play the hero where he could, but this was something else. In her professional opinion he had put Brian's life in danger. In her professional opinion he needed to be reprimanded.
Unfortunately her professional opinion wasn't as important to her as it would have been a week ago. If it were anyone else she would have prosecuted without a moments thought. But it wasn't anyone else. It was Clint. And because it was Clint she had no idea what she was going to do.
