A/N: Khloe's bathing suit up above. ^^^

Khloe's POV:

I stood in front of one of the many mirrors that this closet had, trying to psych myself up with the bathing suit I had chosen.

Nico had already changed and headed over to the bathhouse to get it ready.

Thanks to him, half of this closet was dedicated to me, and he also had it filled with a variety of every single piece of clothing you could ever think to want.

Including a variety of bathing suits that I'm guessing Nico chose himself.

There were too many to choose from.

One-pieces, bikinis, tankinis, strapless, and so many more that I didn't even have a name for.

After looking over nearly all of them, I settled on the one I had on, a black two-piece suit with small patterns cut into the fabric at my chest and the front sides of my hips.

I was originally going to settle on a one-piece but decided that I should probably try to step out of my comfort zone. At least when I'm with Nico.

He held me on such a high pedestal and never failed to remind me how beautiful he thought I was.

I didn't want him to feel like his compliments were going to waste.

So even though it made me a little uncomfortable, I settled with this, figuring that he'd like it.

Plus it's not like he can get a clear view of my body while were in the water.

With that thought, I stepped out of the closet and over to the bathroom.

I could feel the air around me ever so subtly increase in temperature as I walked through the bathroom and opened the door to the bathhouse.

My jaw fell as I stepped into the room.

I had been in this room only once out of curiosity, but I couldn't locate the light switch so I just left it alone.

But this was far more than I was imagining.

It was like I had stepped into a totally different setting.

Small puffs of steam rose from the mostly filled bath.

Well, It looked more like a modified pond more than anything.

Rocks and boulders sat all within the pool, making each part of it a differing level of deepness.

The whole pool looked more natural than man-made, save for the crystal clear water flowing into it from the flat stone waterfall on the far side of where I was. Aswell as the stone steps that led safely into it.

Floating idly within the pool sat a rectangular, wooden float, holding a variety of soaps and shampoos from what I could tell.

The smooth concrete felt cool to my feet as I took another step in, admiring the polished cobblestone walls, and the flickering torch-like glow that the lights above were giving off.

A wave of relaxation washed over me almost immediately by the calming heat, humidity clinging onto my skin and the sound of that waterfall.

Finally, on the far corner of the room, I spotted Nico wearing nothing but a pair of dark green swim shorts.

I bit the corner of my bottom lip.

I rarely saw Nico without a shirt.

Unfortunately.

As I approached, I saw that he was looking through the immense amount of items kept on shelves within a little indent of the wall.

The faucet that seemed to control all of this seemed to be there as well.

I couldn't exactly see what he was looking at with the distance, but it looked like he made a decision on whatever it was when he grabbed something and tossed it in the water.

I gasped whatever it was quickly made the water around it turn a dark shade of blue, slowly overtaking the entirety of the pool.

The faintest smell of peppermint began wafting through the air.

"Wow," I heard Nico speak breathlessly, turning my head towards him and seeing that he was stepping towards me, "You look amazing." He said with a loving smile.

I blushed as I always did with him, glancing at his bare torso as he got close.

"You don't look too bad yourself," I responded.

He chuckled softly as he grabbed my hand.

"Why thank you," He said, placing a kiss on my knuckles, "I didnt think you were gonna pick that one."

"Did you have a bathing suit in mind?" I asked.

I didn't stop myself from taking a small step closer to him, catching his scent among the others in the room.

"A couple. I went ahead and guessed which one you were going to pick," He began, tucking away some hair that sat in front of my face with his free hand, "But they were all a one-piece."

He knows me too well.

"I almost did choose one of those," I admitted, "But I thought you'd like something like this one instead.

A satisfied noise rumbled in his chest, his grip on my hand tightening as a grin made its way to his face.

"So you wore this for me?"

I nodded.

"You're ditching your work for me, of course, I'm going to wear something for you."

That sound rumbled again in his chest as he leaned down towards me.

"Maybe I should ditch work more often."

I shook my head with my own smirk, whispering my next words.

"Just this once, remember?"

I giggled lightly at his disgruntled sigh.

"I'm starting to regret that statement," He stated plainly.

"Then why don't we make the most of it while we can?" I offered.

A soft smile replaced his grin.

"Yeah," He began, releasing my hand and taking a step back towards the edge of the water, "I guess we can start with that."

Without another word, he jumped backwards into the water.

My eyes went wide as I hurriedly stepped to where he was just standing.

I just hoped he knew by heart where the deep parts were.

My small worries disappeared once I saw him emerge facing the other way.

The muscles in his back shifted before he turned towards me.

He ran a hand through his wet hair before flashing me a fanged smirk.

I took that as my cue to head in, so I carefully stepped over to the steps, seeing that Nico was following me.

He offered me his hand as I took the first step in.

The warm water was just warm enough to not be considered hot.

And somehow the icy smell of the peppermint seemed to trick my mind that it was colder than it actually was.

It was perfect.

I quickly took his hand and stepped the rest of the way in.

Exhaling a deep breath, I submerged myself just deep enough that my nose was still above the water.

I just stayed like that for a few moments, letting the warmth soak into my skin.

My eyes shut as I let the steam cloud my mind for just a moment.

That is until I felt a pair of strong arms find their way around me and I was pulled back against a very nicely built man.

One of his hands went to tuck all of my hair onto one of my shoulders before I felt him place a kiss on the other side of my neck, earning small squeal from me.

He released me with a victorious snicker soon after, allowing me to turn and face him.

This time I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him against me, which he seemed to enjoy just as much.

I rested my head just below his chin, the water making his usually cool skin feel warm.

It was weird feeling physical heat whenever I touched his skin. Weird enough to make me mindlessly drag my fingers against the skin of his back.

With the scent of him and peppermint filling my senses, and the heat of the water around us, I closed my eyes again.

"This was a good idea," I admitted.

"I'm glad you think so," Nico replied, "Although I do still think it would be better if we were naked."

Despite the water, I felt a blush crawl up my neck.

"Maybe next time," I said, knowing that he wasn't expecting that kind of response.

Judging by the new tension in his body I was right.

"Oh really," He practically purred.

I shrugged, setting my hands on his chest and pushing back just enough so that I could meet his eye.

"Maybe," I said, "But since this was just this once, I guess next time is gonna be a while," I teased.

I smirked as the look on his face fell to one of disappointment.

He let out an exaggerated groan as he sunk his head down into the water.

I laughed at his reaction before he remerged just inches from my face.

"You're really making me eat those words, aren't you," he asked, droplets of water falling from his hair and face.

I just smiled innocently, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I'm just seeing if you'll stick to your word," I responded in a whisper.

Something flashed in Nico's eyes before he scooped up my legs and had me wrap them around him.

"You're such a tease," he spoke.

"Thanks," I responded, "I get it from you."

It was his turn to laugh.

"Khloe if you think what I do to you is teasing, then you have another thing coming."

I blinked at him.

"Is it not?" I questioned.

He sucked in his bottom lip as if to keep himself from laughing anymore.

Finally, he shook his head.

"No. I give you everything you want in that aspect because I feel like if I did actually tease you, you'd get pouty and mad at me and although that in its own way seems cute, I much rather prefer to keep you happy and not mad at me."

I blinked at him a bit more.

Was teasing really that bad?

I had read about it in one of the books I had, but I guess I misunderstood it.

It didn't seem like something I would get mad over...

"I don't think anything in that aspect could make me mad at you," I said.

"You'd be surprised, babe."

My brows drew together.

Maybe I needed to reread that part of the book...

I unhooked my legs from him, but kept my arms where they were.

"You seem to know a lot for someone who's never been in a relationship with anyone until me," I said.

He shrugged, "Just because I've never had sex with anyone, doesn't mean I'm not fully aware of how it works. Animalistic instincts and years studying the anatomy of the nervous system tends to enlighten you when the time comes."

"A-and the time has come?" I asked some of my prior courage apparently disappearing.

The corner of his mouth tilted up.

"Yup," He chimed before lowering himself to my ear, causing my hands to set on his shoulders while one of his found bare skin on my side. He spoke his next words in a gruff whisper, "Every single time I have you under me and my lips on that soft body of yours, hearing those soft little pants and moans you make, that time comes."

My face had to have been beet red by the time he pulled back with a grin.

I knew he most definitely heard the hitch in my breath and felt my body tense up at the thought of those moments.

"So I'll stand by my previous statement, my love. You're such a tease." He spoke normally.

I just watched as he gave me one last smile before turning.

His eyes spotted the wooden float before he swam over there to retrieve it.

My heart sank just a little as I watched.

I remembered a little bit more about the book.

Mainly the fact that when the main girl used that phrase, she meant it in a negative way.

Even though Nico didn't say it like that, that thought still lingered in my mind.

He said it in such a way that it just sounded like he was messing with me and that he didn't actually mind.

I honestly didn't know I did that to him...

Compared to a lot of the boys I've read about in books, Nico was so... patient with me when it came to this.

Even though I was apparently a tease, he still didn't push it.

I turned to him again, seeing him checking over the soaps one by one to see which one he wanted.

Was he annoyed with how long I've made him wait?

I mean we've only been together for a couple of weeks, but some of the characters in the books have-

I cut my own thought off.

I really needed to stop comparing Nico to book characters.

If he was actually annoyed with me, then he didn't show it at all.

He seemed like he was truly ok with waiting, but that seemed so unrealistic.

Maybe the guys I've been reading about haven't been the best influence on me...

Pulling my thoughts together, I waded through the water to him.

Coming from the back, I wrapped my arms around to his front, my head resting between his shoulder blades.

"I'm sorry," I spoke, causing him to immediately turn his head, "I didn't know I was doing that to you I just-"

"Woah Woah Woah," Nico cut in, somehow managing to turn himself around in my grasp. There was the smallest bit of worry in his eye as he cupped my cheek, "Sweetheart, I was just kidding. I didn't mean anything by it."

"W-Well yeah... I know I just..." I shook my head, deciding to get out what I was really getting at, "Thank you... for waiting and being patient with me," I said staring at the water below.

There was a silence between us as I continued looking down.

I immediately looked up again when he began chuckling again.

He dropped in the water so that he had to look up to face me.

"Khloe as long as you're comfortable and smiling, I don't care what we're doing. As long as I'm with you in some way, there's no other intention in my mind than keeping you happy. Deep down, yes, I do want to have sex with you. I want to love and cherish your body that way, but my need to keep you comfortable trumps any sexual desire I may have and I'm fine with that. Until I know that you're ok with it, I'm not going to try to push it. Waiting isn't a problem." he explained.

I stared at him for a long moment.

Yeah. Ok, Nico was so much different from those guys in the books.

I slouched into the water with a relieved breath, now being eye-to-eye with Nico.

"How on Earth did I get lucky enough to get you to love me?" I asked.

Maybe after all I've been through in the past, the world finally took pity on me.

But even after all I've been through, I didn't think I deserved something as perfect as him.

"Through whatever fate lead me to go to the pet shop that day." He replied.

What a strange fate.

"Now," Nico stood to his full height from where he was,"Come over here so I can wash your hair?" he offered.

"Only if I get to wash yours after." I quickly replied.

"Deal."