The Nerd and the Swimmer

To those with courage to act

-----[]---[]-----

I was one of those girls who was plain and ignored in high school. Not a single date.

I was a good student and loved math and chemistry. Nearly straight A's. A genuine nerd. I applied at MIT and was awarded a full scholarship.

I loved college for at least two reasons. The intellectual environment was wonderful. I was surrounded by other students who had excelled in high school. A high concentration of nerds, some would say, and yet there were so many who didn't fit in that category. There were amazingly athletic guys from all kinds of sports backgrounds. I was drawn to the swimmers, with their powerful shoulders and chests. They got my juices flowing.

My second reason is that's where I became a beautiful woman. I didn't know it was happening, but starting in my sophomore year, I was asked out a lot. I looked in the mirror one day and saw a gorgeous 20 year-old with a killer figure.

How did that happen? Part of it was a roommate who took me to have my hair styled and showed me how to use makeup better. Part of it was nature. My body grew up.

-----[]---[]-----

I was drawn to the men who had been competitive swimmers for a reason. The reason's name was Brett Isaacson.

Brett and I lived on the same street starting in grade school. By the time we were in high school, I was in love. Unfortunately, I don't think he knew my name. I dreamed the phone would ring and he would ask me on a date. It never rang.

I went to all his home swimming meets. He swam the sprints, 100 and 200 yard freestyle, and won most of the time. I heard he got an athletic scholarship to Michigan.

Brett was smart and was also in my math classes. I often sat behind him and dreamed of him asking for help on a problem. That never happened. He also never asked me out. I don't think we ever talked.

-----[]---[]-----

It was the start of summer after my sophomore year, and I was back at home. I could hardly wait to dive in our pool. I loved to swim as well, although I had no athletic ability. I just loved the water.

After a couple of weeks, I lost my winter-on-the-east-coast paleness and had the beginnings of a nice tan. I also started running again. I was enjoying how I looked and wanted to be in better physical condition anyway.

One evening, I was running down our street, heading back home after about a 5 mile run. I approached Brett's home and saw him in the front yard, mowing the lawn. No shirt. I was still turned on by him, but I didn't dare stop to talk. Even though I had been dating in Cambridge, I was completely unnerved at the thought of talking to Brett.

Two nights later, I had returned from running and had showered. I was drying my hair when the doorbell rang. My parents weren't home, so I ran to the door and opened it.

Brett Isaacson!

"Brett. It's been a long time ... well, a long time since I saw ... had a class with you ..."

I was a total mess. Nervous. I couldn't talk. He did that to me.

"Heather, I heard you were at MIT, but home for the summer. It's good to see you. I saw you jog by a couple of days ago and thought you looked familiar. Tonight, I saw you again and realized it was you. I wanted to say hi."

"I look a little different than I did in high school."

"You do. That's why I didn't recognize you at first. You look amazing."

"Thanks. I heard you were swimming for Michigan. How's that going?"

"Would you like to go get a burger or something? We probably have a lot of catching up to do."

"I'd like that. Let me grab my keys and drag a brush through my hair. Come in and sit down. I'll be ready in 5 minutes."

We drove to a burger joint a lot of us hung out at in high school.

"I haven't been here since we graduated, but I always loved their burgers. Let me guess, you want a double cheeseburger with barbecue sauce. I'm paying."

"How did you know what I liked?"

"I listened to you order a few times. Always the same. I tried it and loved it."

"You knew who I was?"

"Ouch! Was I that bad?"

"I don't ever remember talking to you. I always wanted to, though."

Brett looked at me for a moment and then looked down. He was shaking his head.

"Heather, you intimidated me in high school. You were the smartest person in our school, and I was always afraid of saying something stupid around you."

"I wasn't even pretty then."

"Yes, you were. I mean, I thought so. I really wanted to ask you out, but it's one of my regrets I never did."

"I intimidated you? How is that even possible?"

"I remember in calculus, you always knew the answer. There was one test when you got 100% and I got 63%. I saw your score. Even in History, when we were sophomores, I raised my hand to answer a question. After my answer, Mrs. Miller was obviously not satisfied, so she asked you. I remember your answer blew me away. I felt like my answer was a 2 and yours was a 10. Yeah, I was intimidated."

"That's why you never asked me out?"

"Yeah. I had no idea what we would talk about or whether I would even understand."

"But, Brett, you are incredibly smart. ... Do you know I went to every one of your swimming meets?"

"Did you really?"

"Yeah. I loved watching you swim. You won almost every meet."

"I never knew. Of course, in any sport, athletes are concentrating and not wanting to be distracted. You being there would have distracted me a lot, if I had known."

"Brett, this is really embarrassing to tell you, and I could never have told you this back then. I had a serious crush on you."

"Did you really? For how long?"

"Since 8th grade. Isn't that ridiculous? In all that time I watched you, went to your meets, sat behind you and I never spoke to you.

"What's changed? Confidence, I guess. You're definitely more confident now."

"But Brett, something's changed with you as well. You just told me I intimidated you, so you never talked to me or asked me out."

"I thought about you a lot at Michigan."

"About me? Why?"

"I wondered how you were. When I saw you the other day, I felt those pangs of inadequacy, but then decided I had to come and see you. Maybe confess to having a crush on you."

"Wait, we each had crushes on each other, and both of us were too scared to even speak?"

"Pathetic, but I think that's a good summary."

"Well, you were an athlete. One of the cool guys. I was a nerdy, mousy looking girl no one noticed."

"I noticed you. You know I did, because I knew your favorite burger."

We talked for a long time. Long after we ate our double cheeseburgers with BBQ sauce.

I learned he was majoring in math with a minor in statistics. His goal was to get a masters and then a PhD and teach at a university.

"Tell me about your swimming career."

"I'm still swimming 100 and 200 free. I typically finished in the top four in each meet my first year. Didn't make the finals at the Big 10 meet."

"And this year?"

"I was first or second in almost every meet. I finished fourth in the 200 and third in the 100 at the Big 10. I went to nationals, but finished farther back."

"Wow, I wish I could have been there. I would have loved watching you."

"Why were you so fascinated with me?"

I could feel my face turning red. I looked down.

"I've always thought you were one of the hottest guys I knew. I didn't know anything about swimming at first. I just liked seeing you in your swimsuit. ... I'm so embarrassed!"

"It was your raw intelligence that both impressed and intimidated me, except now, you might be the most beautiful girl I know."

"Do you really think that?"

"I do. I wouldn't say it if I didn't."

"Brett, does your family have a pool?"

"No, our back yard is kind of weird, and there's an easement that prevents us from digging for a pool the only place that would fit."

"Didn't your parents know that when they bought the house?"

"Sure. They didn't know they would have a future Olympian swimmer."

"Is that your goal?"

"It is. The timing is perfect. I've already talked to my coach. I'm going to time my training to peak at the trials two years from now, so I probably won't compete much in dual meets that year. Coach thinks I'll be one of the favorites to make the team."

"Brett, that's so exciting! I know a future Olympian!"

"I'm not there yet. Just planning to make it happen."

"Since you don't have a pool, would you like to come over and swim in ours tonight?"

"You have a pool? I'm so jealous. Yeah, that sounds like fun."

I wanted to see Brett in his swimsuit. I realized he probably wanted to see me in mine. I was thanking myself for having bought a sexy suit the week before.

-----[]---[]-----

I showed Brett where to change and went in my room to change as well. I was wearing a cover-up, but I was definitely checking Brett out and feeling aroused. He was still a magnificent specimen.

I took a deep breath and pulled off my cover-up. My suit was a one-piece, but really sexy, with high cut legs and almost a thong cut front and back.

I knew Brett was watching. This was so surreal! Brett Isaacson drooling over my body.

We had a good time swimming lazily around each other as we talked. He asked me about my studies.

"I think the most exciting frontier in science is the work being done in genetic engineering, so I've decided to major in biology. The two leading labs are in Berkeley and in Cambridge. I'd love to work for one of them, but they only hire post-docs, so I'm years away from that."

"That's exciting. It's no surprise to me that the smartest person I've ever known is steering in that direction. Where the greatest challenges are."

"You do realize that describes you, as well?"

"I suppose it does."

We continued to slowly circle around, but we were silent for a couple of minutes, until I stopped and started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking about what we're doing. Silently circling around each other without talking."

Brett started laughing.

"A metaphor for high school?"

"How do we break that habit?"

"How about this?"

Brett swam over to me, took me in his arms, and kissed me. Brett Isaacson actually kissed me! It was wonderful.

We stood and held each other.

"We're kinda doing this backwards, aren't we, Heather?"

"Kissing before a first date? Perfectly consistent with our weird relationship for years. If only we had some way of straightening that out."

"Heather, would you go with me on a picnic tomorrow?"

"I'd love to."

-----[]---[]-----

Brett and I went on our first official date the next day--unless we counted the burgers the night before. We stopped for some sandwiches and soft drinks to take with us, but my favorite part was holding hands as we walked.

We found some swings and Brett pushed me, so I got going really high. That's something I hadn't done in years. Then we took turns going down the slide as we both laughed. A couple of kids again.

Over the next few weeks, we found lots of fun things to do together. Mini golf, horseback riding, dancing (in my living room), and dinner. We even ran a couple of nights each week.

We were both working. Typical jobs for summer. Crappy pay and not full-time. Twenty-five hours was about the max either of us had found.

On the positive side, we had time to date. Some evenings we streamed stuff on Apple+ or Netflix. We made out a lot, sometimes in the pool and sometimes while streaming. One evening, we sat side by side on swings at the park. Brett stood and walked over to stand in front of me. He held out his hands and I took hold of them. He pulled me to my feet, so we stood, facing each other.

"Heather, I love you."

"I'm so happy to hear that. I love you, but I was afraid to tell you. That's my theme. Silent due to fear."

Suddenly the summer was nearly over. We were in the pool and Brett had his arms around me.

"You're headed back to Michigan on Sunday and I'm leaving the next day. I'm gonna miss you so much."

"I know. I wish ... well, maybe we can find a way to get together a couple of times. I've always wanted to see Boston."

"I'm sure I can find someplace you could crash on a sofa for a couple of nights. I'd love it if you could come and see me."

-----[]---[]-----

The next week, he was in Ann Arbor, and I was in Cambridge. We texted and talked almost every day. He wasn't even part of my life when I left Cambridge in the Spring. By Fall, I missed him so much it hurt. Brett had become part of me, and his absence was hard for me.

I loved it when he called, or when I called him. We talked about our classes and what excited us. I wanted to hear about his training. In one of our calls, I told him I was being asked out every week, but I refused to date anyone else. I wanted him to know that.

One night in early October, Brett asked if he could come and visit the first Thursday evening in November and leave on that Sunday.

I was so excited he was coming! I found an apartment nearby where one of the guys, a good friend from the biology department, was going to be gone for a week and volunteered his bedroom.

That evening, I hopped on the Red Line by campus and took the shuttle from South Station to Logan Airport. I was so excited, I could hardly stand the wait.

When Brett came out of the secure area I screamed and ran to him. We stood there kissing. It felt wonderful to be in his arms again.

"I've missed you so much, Brett."

"That flight seemed to last forever. I took the bus to Detroit and then a non-stop here, but I was so excited I was going to see you again."

We talked all the way to my apartment. When we walked in the door, he asked the obvious question.

"I thought I was staying at another apartment."

"You are ... that is, you can, if that's what you want. I wondered whether you might just stay with me. In my bed."

"Are you sure? I said early on I would never push you for this."

"Brett, I'm ready, if you are. My flat mate is staying at her boyfriend's this weekend, so we have the place to ourselves."

We went into my bedroom and wasted no time. We were undressing each other, kissing, trying to hug ... really all a tangle. We were laughing and then we kissed. We were both naked, holding each other tightly.

"Come on, baby, let's get into bed."

As we made out in the bed, I had to confess something.

"Brett, I need to tell you something. I'm a virgin."

"Are you sure you want this here, this way? We can wait if you want."

"I asked you, because I'm ready. I started on birth control the day after you called. Please be gentle with me, but I'm pretty sure my hymen is gone. Taken by a horse."

He gave me a funny look, wondering what I meant.

"That first time horseback riding. A horse popped my cherry."

We were both laughing, but he silenced me by kissing my neck and sucking on my earlobe. I was quivering as he kissed my collarbones, but when he took a nipple in his mouth, I was suddenly wet, drenched.

I was full of emotion at how Brett made love to me that night. He was patient, making me come twice, once by playing with my nipples and once by going down on me. That alone was intense, but then he moved over me, looked into my eyes, and placed his hard cock at my entrance.

I was gasping for air, both excited and scared. He slowly entered me a little and paused. He moved in and out and then plunged steadily until I felt his balls on my ass. I was moaning loudly as he plunged into me. The feeling was incredible.

He waited, looking into my eyes.

"Are you ok?"

"I feel wonderful."

"I'm going to move now. Tell me if anything hurts."

Hurt? Nothing at all hurt. It was simply the best thing I'd ever felt as he thrust in and out of me. My arms were around his back, and I pulled as he thrust, rotating my pelvis in time with his rhythm. It wasn't long before I came again and then Brett pushed harder and deeper and stopped there. He groaned, and I could feel his cock pulsing inside me.

Then he went limp, lying on me. I loved holding him.

A few minutes later, he pulled out. Even that made me whimper at losing that full feeling. He put his arm around me and pulled me next to his side.

"Are you ok?"

"I am so much better than ok! That was amazing. How soon can you do me again?"

"I'm still hard. Mostly. What position have you heard about that sounds exciting to you?"

"Doggy."

"The thought turns you on?"

"The thought turns me into Jell-O. What do I need to do?"

He had me get on my hands and knees, but said he thought I might like it a little better if it was knees and elbows. Something about the angle.

He got behind me and I expected him to line it up and enter me. Instead, he kissed my butt cheeks, then kissed his way down the back of a leg.

"Spread your knees a little wider."

I obeyed, and he kissed my pussy. I cried out at the surprise. He was caressing my ass and thighs, and I was moaning. Then he sat up and got behind me.

I could feel his cock at my entrance again. He slid into me and pulled back out, then plunged suddenly deep into me.

I was shocked at his size and depth, and I screamed. He felt bigger and he was certainly deeper than the first time. As he thrust into me I was overwhelmed. I couldn't do anything but wait for each impact.

Then he grabbed a fist full of hair and pulled my head up.

"Doggy can be gentle or dominating. I'm going to make this one a little on the rough side, but only if you promise to tell me about anything you didn't like."

I nodded.

He held my head up and thrust several times. Then he let go of my hair and spanked me. I yelped. He spanked the other cheek.

"Yes!"

He spanked both sides. Then he started pounding harder. I was crying loudly with each impact. He paused and gently kissed my back. He lulled me into this tender feeling and then spanked me again!

This time he was thrusting faster, and I came with a cry. Brett shoved that hard beast deeper into me and came inside me again. I couldn't stay up any longer and collapsed on the bed. He was deep within me, pinning me to the bed.

I loved it. I loved everything about it. I loved Brett and how he made love to me. I also discovered how sexy it was when his strong arms wrapped around me and held me close.

We soon fell asleep in each other's arms but woke up a few hours later. As we kissed and caressed, without saying a word, he laid back and pulled me onto him.

Then he spoke two words: "Lift up."

He showed me how to hold him and find my entrance. I slowly descended that hard pole of his and wailed as I hit bottom.

I knew it was cowgirl, but I had no idea how wonderful it felt. I was in control now---how deep, how fast---and I could see his face.

After a few minutes of experimenting, I found a rhythm that forced him deep into me and out again, just by sliding my pelvis. Soon, he was breathing erratically, gasping. Somehow I knew he was close. I pinched his nipples, and he groaned, then lifted up into me. I could feel him pulse inside me.

The next day, I took him into Boston and showed him the historical sites, including the Freedom Trail. Old North Church, and Faneuil Hall, where we had lunch in the Marketplace upstairs.

We often stopped to kiss and held hands as we walked. I was so happy to be with him.

That evening we were back in bed. Naked. Gasping for air after making love again.

I turned on my left side, my right arm over Brett, my right leg over his. My head was on his chest.

"I love your body, Brett. Classic swimmer physique and you really get my fire going. After making love, I know why. Strong legs for thrusting and strong arms to hold me tightly."

"Well, if we're going to talk about bodies, yours is so hot. I love your soft curves. I swear, I'm hard most of the time I'm with you."

"I like that, hard and ready."

"I wish I didn't have to go back tomorrow."

"Yeah, me too. Are you going home for Christmas?"

"Yeah, are you?"

"I am. We can spend about two weeks together, but I'm not sure where we'll have sex."

"I think we need to talk with both sets of parents and see if they're both cool with it."

"You're right. I'll talk to mine."

"Heather, there's something else I want to talk about. Do you ever think about marriage?"

"You mean, with you?"

"Hopefully I'm the only one you would think of that way."

I laughed. "Yes, I've thought about marriage with you."

"I've thought about it, too. I'd like to get married, but I don't know how we could do it."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm at Michigan. I'll be there the rest of this school year and then almost all of the next year, until the Olympic Trials. The 2016 Trials are in Omaha, and the Summer Games will be in Rio.

"Meanwhile, you're at MIT through graduation that year, and I'm graduating as well.. Then you'll go somewhere for a masters and then somewhere for a PhD. I don't know how we can make all that work."

"And you'll go somewhere for your masters and PhD in math. Look, marriage is a partnership, a commitment to each other. It's about sacrifices. First of all, if you make the Olympics, I want to be there. Heck, I want to go to the Trials.

"I think if we marry, we'll figure it out. There are lots of places I can do graduate work in biology."

"What about children? Do you want children?"

"I do, but timing is something we'll need to figure out."

"I'm not ready to rush into a decision, but I really appreciate you speaking so openly with me about this."

"I'm glad you're thinking about it. I know I am!"

I went with Brett to the airport Sunday. It was hard to say goodbye, but we knew we would see each other in about seven weeks. I cried as we kissed. Then I went home and got into bed and smelled Brett on my sheets.

-----[]---[]-----

The following week I made a phone call.

"Mom, there's something I need to talk to you about. I need your advice."

"How was Brett's visit?"

"Wow, you have some kind of intuition. It was fabulous."

"I know how much you love him."

"I do, Mom. More than I ever thought possible to love someone. Is that how you felt with Dad?"

"Absolutely. I was hurting all over when we were apart."

"That's how I feel."

"Were you safe?"

"How did you know?"

"I hear it in your voice. How was it?"

"Yeah, we were safe. I mean, sort of. I'm on birth control. Mom, it was so wonderful."

"I'm glad. Have you talked about marriage?"

"We have, and we want to figure out how to make it possible. Neither of us wants to just live together, but he's going to be training for the Olympic Trials and hopefully going to the Rio games. We both want graduate programs."

"How did you leave it?"

"I told him we could figure out how if we wanted it enough, that marriage means compromises."

"That's good advice. It sure means that."

"Mom, we're going to be together again there during Christmas break."

"Ahh, I see. You want to sleep together."

"We do. Would you object to us being together in my room?"

"I'll talk to your father, but I think he'll agree with me. I'd rather have you here than sneaking around and having sex in the back of a car."

"That sounds kinda hot."

"Heather!"

I was laughing.

"Just thought I'd mess with you. Thanks Mom."

The following week I called Brett to tell him I wanted him to sleep with me in my room.

"Promise to take down the Barbie posters?"

"I took those down a long time ago. Now it's photos of you."

"Seriously?"

"I just have one photo of you, next to my bed. One of those selfies we took of the two of us."

"Mom also said it was ok to use my bedroom."

"Maybe we should spend one week in each."

"Get them both broken in."

"Keep them awake with my screaming."

"I'm counting the days until we get to make love again, Heather."

"I want missionary again, like our first time."

-----[]---[]-----

Brett arrived before me but waited at the airport. When I came out of the secure area, he was there to hold me and kiss. I felt more at home than ever. I realized home was where he was.

Mom had dinner ready when we walked in the door. It was the first time Brett had dinner with both of my parents. I don't know why I was nervous. Mom and Dad were wonderful to Brett and asked a lot of questions about his swimming career.

Brett and I insisted on doing the dishes.

It was only about 7, so we sat in the family room and streamed a Hallmark movie. Cheesy, but it made me cry. I was in the mood for romance.

When the movie ended, Brett motioned for me to stay seated. He dropped to one knee in front of me and I lost it. Tears everywhere!

"Heather, when we talked about marriage last month, I saw nothing but problems. You saw opportunities. Choices. You helped me see we can shape our future together. I want that.

"Will you marry me?"

I dropped to the floor and hugged him tightly. I whispered in his ear.

"Yes, Brett. I want to be your wife and have you as my husband."

"Could we go shop for an engagement ring tomorrow?"

"I can't think of any better Christmas present."

"We need to tell our parents."

"Let's do it tomorrow. Right now, I need you to make love to me."

-----[]---[]-----

In some ways, that night with Brett was better than anything that went before. He was no longer my boyfriend and lover. He was my future husband. We were going to be one in more meaningful ways than just joined in sex.

We held each other afterwards. I think both of us sensed the significance of the choices we would make together.

It was fun telling our parents. None of them seemed to be surprised. Of course, that led to a discussion of when we would marry.

"I can complete a B. S. in Biology anywhere, but Brett needs to spend next year training with his coaches. What if I complete this next semester at MIT and then transfer to Michigan for my last year? We could get married this May."

I surprised myself when I said that. I loved MIT and was proud to have been admitted there. Yet here I was offering to leave that to make Brett's preparation for the Olympics my top priority.

I looked at Brett and there were tears in his eyes. We hugged. All four parents just smiled and waited for us. Then our mothers started planning our wedding.

-----[]---[]-----

Brett and I had a lot of fun that Christmas vacation. We bought my engagement ring. It was then I learned his grandfather had died a few months earlier and had left Brett $50,000. It seemed like a fortune back then.

That was a snowy Christmas, so Brett and I and a couple of friends went tubing. We came home and had hot chocolate followed by hot sex. I think we made love every day of that vacation, especially our last night together. Twice.

Brett took me to the airport to fly back to Boston. I cried in his arms.

I decided to send my transfer paperwork and then go visit Brett and the University of Michigan during a short spring break we had.

I was distracted, having difficulty concentrating. I missed Brett. We talked every day but, of course, that's not the same as being together. Still, I was working hard in a couple of tough upper division biology classes.

I sent my application to Michigan and was quickly accepted. I included a cover letter explaining that Brett and I were marrying and we needed to be there while he trained for the Olympics. He thought that would grease the skids, as he put it.

I said something like there was something else I wanted to grease. It was so lame, probably a measure of how much I wanted to be with him.

In March, I flew to Ann Arbor. It was my first trip there, but I had scheduled a meeting the next day with the department chair for biology.

First things first though, Brett and I made love twice that night. His roommate had cleared out for a few days, staying with relatives who lived close by. I was glad, because I screamed when he took me doggy style. I almost always did.

My interview with the department chair was wonderful. I told her about my plans for graduate studies and the area I wanted to focus on. It turned out she was close friends with one of the key people in the Berkeley team.

I went back to Brett's apartment and told him all about my meeting. Then I gave him a blowjob. I hadn't done that much, but I had sought some advice from a girlfriend in Boston, and I was excited to try what I had learned from her. Brett was gasping for air as he came in my mouth, and I was amazed at how much there was. I chickened out at the last second and let it all drain out of my mouth. He still loved it and then went down on me. I was soon orbiting the earth.

I was on a high when I arrived back in Boston. My transfer to Michigan was going to happen, and Brett and I would be married in two months.

I finished the semester and shipped several boxes home. Next, I was on the plane, headed home to Brett. I cried a little when I left Cambridge that morning, but I knew leaving was necessary to begin my life with Brett.

I was flying home two days before Brett, so Mom met me at the airport. As soon as I got home, I put on my swimsuit and dove in the pool. I wanted more of a tan before my wedding, and I had ten days.

Two days later, I was in Brett's arms at the airport. I knew we would not be apart again, except for training next year, but that was part of a great adventure for both of us.

There were some last minute things to take care of before the wedding, but Brett's tux was ready, and I had my wedding gown. Every day, Brett and I went swimming and laid out in the sun for a while. Every night we made love.

-----[]---[]-----

I was nervous, but Dad calmed me and held out his arm. I put mine through it and he kissed my cheek.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded. The music began. It was time. I took a deep breath.

As we walked together, I looked ahead and saw Brett. He was handsome and smiling at me. Dad handed me to Brett. It was a simple thing, but symbolic. Brett and I from then on.

What followed was a blur, until Brett kissed me.

I was Heather Isaacson. Brett was mine. I was his.

-----[]---[]-----

I didn't know whether Brett had anything special in mind for our wedding night, but I definitely did. I was on the bed and on my knees between his knees, wearing my sexiest lingerie, with Brett's hard cock in my mouth. This time I wasn't going to bail, and when he erupted, I swallowed. The first time. I was elated and Brett was totally without strength. I snuggled next to him, smiling.

"What's the matter, baby?"

"That was incredible. So erotic!"

He knew he needed recovery time, so he went down on me, and soon had me quivering under his touch and his kisses, but quivers became quakes as he licked me tenderly. When I came it was shattering. I could hardly breathe.

In that moment, Brett entered me, paused, and then drove powerfully into me. I screamed. He drilled me, pounded me, overwhelmed me.

I was gasping for air. He was relentless, pushing me higher and higher. He pulled out, turned me over and pummeled me doggy style until I cried out and came. Seconds later, Brett roared and came as well.

Afterwards, we snuggled together.

"Well, Mrs. Isaacson, how was your first time on your wedding night."

"I had a wonderful time. Swallows from now on, but baby, the way you did me tonight was life-changing."

We snuggled for a long time, until kissing and gently caressing became urgent desire. Brett moved on top of me and slowly entered me. I thought I knew how this would go.

I was wrong.

He spent at least ten minutes sliding slowly in and out of me, refusing to go faster. It felt wonderful, but after a few minutes, I wanted him to use me, drive me, ravish me. But no, he continued at his pace.

He kissed my neck, nibbled on my earlobe, and ran his fingers through my hair. In the background, those thrusts, deep and slow.

Suddenly I thought I was approaching an orgasm, but I needed more of a push.

"Just a little faster. Please, make me cum!"

Slowly in and out.

I wanted release. "Let me cum," I screamed inside. I was clutching at him, urging him to move faster. Crying out in frustration.

I pushed him over and climbed on him, inserted him inside me and violently drove us both to climaxes.

Later, as we snuggled, he was laughing.

"Did I drive you crazy?"

"I needed to cum, and you drove me nuts. I decided I had to take over and finish."

"You did it well."

"I had to. I was getting dry."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. I'm so sorry."

"Babe, it was fabulous. We're still learning about each other."

I was snuggled next to him. My favorite place.

"Where are we going to live in the Fall?"

"I found a great apartment. One of my swim friends got married about a year ago. He was a senior, so he graduated and is headed to graduate school in Texas. We coordinated things with the landlord, and I got it. I start paying rent July 1st. I figure we'll move there sometime in August."

"Tell me about the apartment. Is it furnished?"

"It is. It's a two-bedroom, which is unusual. Washer and dryer as well. I think you'll love it."

I was holding Brett and thinking about how fun it would be. Adulting seemed such a grown up thing.

-----[]---[]-----

We worked again that summer, at home. We split our time between my house and Brett's and swam at my house a lot. It was a magical time, but we looked forward to being in our own apartment.

The second week of August we packed up some boxes and shipped them the day before we flew to Ann Arbor. We got in mid-day and went to the apartment. I loved it at once, but we needed to stock it with food, including the basics, like flour and sugar. Within a few days, our boxes arrived, and we started to feel we were in our own home.

I loved school. It was so different from MIT, but in the most important ways, it was the same. My classes were great, and I was confident I would be at the top of grades again.

Brett was in upper division math classes and loving it. He was also taking statistics classes for his minor.

Each night we came home from classes and made dinner together. We studied together, shopped together, and made love.

I attended my first football game at Michigan Stadium, the Big House. I couldn't believe the size. The game was a sellout, or awfully close, with a crowd of just over 100,000. We lost to Michigan State.

Brett started his training for the Olympic Trials. Since he was peaking late, he would probably not compete in more than one or two dual meets in the Winter semester.

His mornings started early, leaving at 6:30 every morning. I asked a lot about training, how it was going, when the season started. I could hardly wait to see at least one swim meet.

Brett told me to make sure to attend the Ohio State meet, which was a home meet for Michigan this year. It wasn't until January, but he said one of the favorites for the Olympic team in his events was at Ohio State. He was going to compete.

We were only able to go home for about ten days at Christmas. We both had finals on the last possible day, and Brett needed to return to training.

I could tell Brett was tense during the week of Ohio State.

"Look, baby, the meet doesn't decide anything. The trials are still five months away. Don't sweat this, because even if you place last, I will still love you and give you a blowjob."

Brett laughed until he was wiping away tears.

"Thanks for the perspective."

-----[]---[]-----

I was so nervous sitting in the stands for the Ohio State meet. All I could do was wait for Brett to swim. It was up to him.

Finally, the meet started, and it wasn't long before the 100 yard free came up on the board. Brett came out in his full warm-up gear and began to get ready. He and the others knelt by the water to wet their goggles and put them on.

The tension was killing me. As they went to the blocks, my heart was pounding. The swimmers all dove at the sound and the race was on. Down and back.

On the first turn, at 50 yards, Brett held a lead of about a tenth of a second. The sound was intense as people were screaming near me. I was screaming for Brett.

As they came toward the wall, they looked dead even. They touched, and I looked up at the board. Brett won by 0.15 seconds.

I was screaming for joy.

Thirty minutes later, Brett was back for the 200 yard free. His main rival wasn't entered in this event, but when the race started, there was someone else from OSU keeping close to Brett. Brett led at 50 and 100 yards, but the OSU swimmer led by 0.05 seconds at the final turn.

They were so close at the end I didn't know who won. I was watching the board. Brett lost by 0.05 seconds. Then I looked at the time. Brett's time was a personal record.

Brett came to find me. Got me soaking wet, of course.

"Are you disappointed?"

"Not really. I won the 100 and had a PR in the 200. I didn't make any mistakes, but I haven't peaked yet. Everything will be different anyway at the Trials, because it'll be meters, not yards."

That night I gave him a flawless blowjob.

-----[]---[]-----

The NCAA championships were coming up and Brett was training hard. He would only compete in both distances again. He already had qualifying times for the Trials, but he was a legitimate contender for two national titles.

I had a flight to Iowa City so I could be there. Because of the size of the field, there would be several heats, plus the semifinals, and then the final.

In the 100 yard freestyle, Brett coasted through the first round heat and won his semifinal as well, although the winning time in the other semifinal was a little lower. It was a guy from Florida.

It was similar in the 200, except Brett had the fastest semifinal time.

That night I asked Brett whether it would relax him if we made love. We did. I rode him to a climax, preferring to do the work rather than him. We slept naked that night with his arms around me.

The next day were the two finals. I was so nervous I was going crazy. Brett was in lane 4 for the 100. Down and back. One turn.

At the first turn, it was a virtual tie between Brett and the guy in lane 5. They were clearly in front of the field as they raced to the finish. I had a fleeting impression Brett had timed his final stroke better. I started at the screen. Brett won by 0.17 seconds. Another PR. I was screaming, so happy for Brett.

He came running up in the stands to find me and I was drenched and loving it. My husband was a national champion!

The final later that day in the 200 was like a repeat, except this time Brett one by almost a half second! Another PR. He was a national champion in two events. I hugged his wet body and kissed him.

That night we made love and Brett was all over me. He put a pillow under my pelvis and did me doggy style. Another PR in my opinion! I screamed, of course.

-----[]---[]-----

We both graduated with highest honors in early May, and Brett was training for the Olympic Trials.

Back in January, we had both applied to two schools for our master's work. Harvard and UC Berkeley. We put a cover letter on each application explaining that we were both applying and would attend where we had both been accepted. Both schools accepted us in their graduate programs, but Harvard offered us full scholarships and some stipend money. I loved that because it meant returning to Cambridge in the Fall.

June 26th was circled on our calendars--the start of the 2016 U. S. Olympic Trials, held in Omaha. I had never attended anything that big before, so I was kind of blown away by the size of the crowds.

The short and sweet (or not so sweet) summary was Brett competed well. However, this was Michael Phelps' final Olympics, and he was slotted for most of the relays, where Brett thought he had the best chance to make the teams. It wasn't to be. He placed 6th in the 100 meters and 8th in the 200 meters. Both with personal record times.

He was philosophical about it. The U. S. is the dominant swim team in the world. Brett competed well, but there were a lot of swimmers in their second or third Olympics, not just this year's college crowd.

I thought he might be disappointed, but he was upbeat. He talked about what a thrilling experience it was to compete against Michael Phelps, to meet him and all the other swimmers, and to know he gave it his best effort.

I was surprised when he told me he didn't plan to continue swimming competitively. He wanted us to pursue our graduate degrees, and he said something else that surprised me.

"Heather, can we talk about starting a family? I hate to wait until we're both through with PhD's, but this affects you more than me."

"Ya think? You get to have fun, knock me up, and kick back for nine months. But I do want you to knock me up. What if I got pregnant in early October? Then I'll be due in early July. I would deliver 2-3 months after the end of Winter semester, and 1-2 months before the start of Fall semester. Of course, we would still need to figure out parenting of a newborn."

"That timing makes sense, Babe. I guess we can try to work out schedules so one of us can be home, but it should be easier, because we don't have many classes to worry about. Do you want this, too?"

I hugged Brett.

"I'm so excited to be a mother. We'll figure out the rest. It's the first week of August, and I want to get pregnant in October, or even late September. I guess mid-September I should stop birth control. Then it's up to you to fill me with swimmers. Hey! A swimmer as a source for swimmers!"

-----[]---[]-----

We started our classes in the last week of August. One nice thing about a master's degree is few classes but involvement in research and writing a thesis. Brett and I had more time studying at home than we expected.

I stopped taking birth control a week before my next period in September. Two weeks later, Brett and I made sure to make love at least once every night. I never got my period in October, and in November, my home test showed positive.

Brett and I hugged each other, and we were so happy we cried. Then we made love again.

A few weeks later I was throwing up. Brett wanted to come in the bathroom and pat me on the back. I made sure he understood a testicle was at risk. Then I apologized. Barfing makes me cranky.

A few weeks later, we were trying to make sense out of a sonogram screen. We were having a girl!

-----[]---[]-----

Both of us did well in our classes in the first semester. We stayed in Cambridge for Christmas to save money, and for the first time, we had our own Christmas tree. It was a mangy looking thing; a student's budget won't buy much. But it was ours.

After decorating it with cheap LED light strings, Brett and I sat on our sofa and stared at it. Then we made out and that led to sofa sex. Something else not possible if we had gone home.

I was past morning sickness by then and feeling good. I was just starting to show, and I was proud of my little baby bump. Brett liked to kiss it when we got in bed. Sometimes it tickled, but usually it got my motor running.

By the time the end of Winter semester came, I was nearly seven months pregnant, getting rather large, but still excited to be having a baby. Mom and Dad wanted us to come home and have the baby, but once I got closer to my delivery date, I couldn't get on a plane. They decided they would come to Boston when the baby was born.

My due date was July 4th, of all things. That would be memorable. I could tell our daughter the fireworks were for her birthday.

One night, Brett and I were lying in bed and talked about baby names. I looked up a web page listing popular names and we joked about some and considered a few. We got it down to Ava and Mia but decided to wait until we looked into her eyes.

By the time I reached mid-June, the fun was rapidly diminishing. I felt huge and mostly waddled. Brett kept telling me I was beautiful, but I told him his recent lying was troubling.

I gave Brett a blowjob a couple of times a week, but sex was off the table for me.

On June 29th, we slept in. When we got up to make brunch for ourselves, my water broke.

Brett hugged me. "Game on, Babe. Let's go meet our daughter."

I didn't know precisely what to expect, just that it would hurt. I guess it wasn't as bad as I feared, but it wasn't like walking through a park. The only similarity was holding Brett's hand, but even that was painful--for him.

As I crushed his hand in mine, I screamed as I pushed with all my strength. Brett kissed my forehead when he saw our daughter.

"She's beautiful."

"I want to see her."

One of the nurses said they were getting her APGAR scores and cleaning her up, but she would bring her to me quickly.

I was soon holding her in my arms. I pulled the little blanket down and looked into her face.

"Ava. What about you, Brett?"

"I like that."

She was so beautiful. I was looking at her perfect tiny fingers and toes. And her little nose and those cute ears. I started crying, although I couldn't explain why. Brett put his arm around me and told me he loved me. I knew that wasn't a lie.

Just a little while later I was in my own room and a nurse was showing me how to nurse Ava. It was another emotional moment for me.

The next morning, Mom and Dad walked in to my room. I was holding Ava, so I handed her to Mom, who was wiping away tears. Dad hugged me. He eventually got his turn holding her.

They were staying at a hotel, since all we had was our bed, Ava's crib, and a sofa. Brett brought me home the next day. I was still a little unsteady walking, so he carried Ava and had his other arm around me. Once I was seated on the sofa, he handed her to me.

That little gesture, handing Ava to me, made me realize we were home and a genuine family.

A few minutes later Mom and Dad showed up.

"Heather, Dad is flying home this afternoon, but I'd like to stay for a few more days, if that's ok with you. I also brought you a huge box of Huggies. You won't believe how quickly Ava will go through them."

"I'd love having you here. I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of questions."

Mom was pleased with that answer. I kissed Dad and wished him a good flight home.

-----[]---[]-----

Mom was great and showed me a few tips, like how to make sure a diaper wouldn't fall off. That happened to the first one Brett put on. Mom also gave me a tube of lanolin nipple cream. When I gave her a questioning look, she told me I would understand soon enough. She proved to be right.

"Did the doctor give you a sheet about sex following childbirth?"

"Yeah, I haven't read it yet."

"You're probably looking at about a four week wait. Remember Brett, ok?"

I gave her blank look.

"What are you talking about?"

She opened her mouth, then just stared at me.

I couldn't keep a straight face any longer and busted up laughing. Mom laughed too, relieved she didn't have to explain any more.

Brett heard us laughing and walked in from our bedroom.

"What's so funny?"

"Mom was telling me to take care of you sexually."

"That solid advice, Helen. Thanks for visiting."

Mom turned bright red. Worst embarrassment I'd ever seen.

-----[]---[]-----

As we guessed, we figured out how to be home for Ava that year. We were both working on our theses, so we had to share laptop time. We finished our course work in April and turned in our theses.

We had already been accepted at UC Berkeley for our PhD work. Since our academic records were so strong, we got great offers.

Ava was a year old at the end of June. We were busy getting packed up for our move, and Mom flew in to help. We needed to move out by June 30th, but we couldn't get into our Berkeley apartment until August 1st, so we were flying home for a month. We shipped the boxes there.

We were back in my old bedroom, but with Ava. Mom was a huge help, because she wanted to spend time with her. That gave us a break, and we even got away for a weekend of nearly non-stop sex.

Brett had just laid me out, face down, on a dining table in our Airbnb rental, and had entered me from behind as I screamed. My favorite position.

A few minutes later I was snuggled inside his arm, playing with his chest hair.

"I think I want another baby."

"October again?"

"Now. I'm ready to stop the pill. We don't have classes to worry about, just research for our dissertations. I have to meet with my advisor to discuss that, but I can be pregnant anytime."

"Are you telling me I'm on duty again? Send in the swimmers?"

"I know it's such hard work, baby, but yeah."

I figured I would be fertile about the third week of July, so we marked our calendars. As a joke, I took Brett out for oysters on the half shell on the night before the first date we had marked.

The oysters did their job, and so did Brett. Two weeks later, my period was late.

This time, we learned we were having a boy. Brett was smiling from ear to ear. I was thrilled, too.

My due date was April 20th. By March, I had selected the topic for my dissertation, and was doing lab work to populate tables I planned to incorporate. Brett was helping me with some math on the theoretical structure I was analyzing.

I was also reaching that difficult final month. That same month, Ava started walking. It was one of those good news/bad news deals. Exciting that she's walking. A lot more work for us.

On April 20th, right on schedule, Sam became the new member of our little family. Brett and I had settled on Samuel but agreed he would be Sam for short. Ava was thrilled to have a baby brother, and spent a lot of time "helping" me care for him.

Brett was also working on his dissertation, having to do with statistical approaches to generating prime numbers. He explained to me that prime numbers were often used in error correction, data encoding and pseudorandom number generation. I was also interested in prime numbers due to the way they had a habit of showing up in biological structures.

Three weeks after Sam was born, I seduced Brett. It wasn't hard, but he protested ever so slightly that we were supposed to wait another week. He was so on edge after almost two months of no sex, there was a lot of cum running out of me afterwards. And that was despite me giving him at least one blowjob a week, and often two, during those weeks.

-----[]---[]-----

We were both working hard on our research for our dissertations, but this was the 2019-2020 school year, and the interesting news about a nasty new virus in China became something far worse. Worse than we ever imagined. We also had no idea how it would affect us personally, but it was frightening.

Since we were at Berkeley and both had skills helpful first, to identify the virus, second, to develop a test for it, and third, to find a novel way to develop a vaccine, we were asked to join a large working group. Brett was far more surprised than I when we were asked to join, but his math insights were needed, despite knowing little about biology.

That year, 2020, became a pivotal moment for both of us. We had amazing experiences. Brett worked in a discipline where it was difficult to see how his work helped individuals. Now, it was sadly apparent, sometimes heart-wrenching, but we knew we were contributing to solutions, even though we were on the edge and not in the middle of events.

Brett and I had discussed having another baby a few months earlier, before the pandemic, but decided to wait until we finished our doctoral work. Now we were glad not to have that worry. We arranged work so one was working from home each day and taking care of our babies. It was such a worry for everyone.

A year later, both of us wrapped up our dissertations and had our oral defenses. Both were accepted, and we had our PhD graduation by Zoom. Both of us were offered positions at Berkeley, and the genetic team asked Brett to take two specific biology classes so he would have a better feel for the mathematics involved. I got to help him in his studies.

-----[]---[]-----

It is now 2022, and the pandemic appears to be largely behind us. The recent mutations have generally weakened the virus, and Brett and I have decided to have another child. Ava is five and Sam is three. Brett and I are finally making serious money and even bought a home.

We are breathing easier about COVID and thrilled to be getting rid of masks. We had been wearing effective masks during the pandemic, mostly unavailable to the public. Ours were good, but we knew the ones in public use were insufficient to provide much protection. However, we were all asked never to say that in public. Europe mandated a better mask than the U. S., masks virtually identical to the ones we wore. I never understood why the U. S. didn't.

It's time to get on with our lives. I just stopped birth control again and told Brett to recruit swimmers. It's funny to us both how we think in terms of swimming. It was the center of our lives for many years.

I had a crush on Brett because of his swimmer's physique, even in 8th grade. That's where it all started. Of course, his version is different, claiming to be intimidated by my intelligence, yet here we are, two post-docs, both of us considered brilliant.

All I know is we still have a wonderful love life. I dreamed for years of just having a date with him. Now he's the father of our children, with at least one more to come.

Last night we sat in our hot tub and made love. I will never tire of my swimmer!