Harvey rolls over in bed away from the blinding light and incessant buzzing of his phone, curling into the warm body beside him. He isn't ready to face anyone yet just wants to bask in the post-coital ache of his muscles and the warm smile on Donna's face when he blinks his eyes open. His lips mimic hers and he grins sliding his hands down her back and tugging her closer.

She palms his chest as she hooks her leg over his, blushing at the arousal pressing against her thigh. "You can't possibly want-"

"You?" He murmurs at the hollow of her neck, "always..."

She laughs, shivering as he lavishes kisses over her skin but she lets out a groan when his phone vibrates again. It's starting to become an annoyance and she exhales roughly, trying to ignore his hand as it moves down to caress her hip. "Harvey... it could be important."

"It's not." He affirms, making no attempt to separate them but she grasps his wrist lightly, a playful smirk crossing her lips.

"We have to deal with them sooner or later." She points out watching him drop his head back with a frustrated huff. In fairness he's the one who's been getting shit from Mike for the last nine years but she glides her fingers over his bare chest in an attempt to persuade him. "How bad can it really be?"

"Mike gloating..." he mutters begrudgingly, "I'd say worse than bad."

The buzz sounds again and he lets out a growl rolling to read the display filled with notifications.

Unread

[Didn't think you could go this long *eggplant emoji*]

Unread

[You guys coming up for air? ]

Unread

[Rach wants to know if you're coming down for lunch?]

Unread

[Seriously, you didn't put you're back out did you old man?]

Unread

[Twenty minutes and we're going to send a search up to find...more]

Harvey throws the device down on the bed with an exasperated sigh but his annoyance wavers as the sheet slides off him collecting around Donna's naked form. His gaze lingers, taking in every detail, and he smiles when she turns her head back to him.

"What?" She fixes him with a look, her eyes unintentionally travelling down and blushing at his attentiveness. It's hard to believe he managed to keep himself restrained for thirteen years and her mouth twitches as he props up his elbow.

"You're gorgeous, you know that?" He doesn't bother hiding his appreciation letting it literally hang between them and watching with amusement as she bites her lip suppressing a grin.

"I did, three engagements remember?" She teases, trying not to let the warmth in his expression entice her back into the bed. If she gives in now they'll never make it downstairs and then they'll have an entourage knocking at their door.

"Well I'm glad none of them worked out."

He says it half-seriously and her eyes soften in response. "For the record, so am I." It falls gently and she can feel herself wavering, forcing herself up and taking the sheet with her. "Come on-" she pats the edge of the mattress with a grin, "get that pretty ass of yours out of bed."

He feigns a look of disapproval rolling onto his back with a sigh. "If I'd known you were going to be this bossy-"

"Thirteenth years mister," she hikes up a playful eyebrow, "can't tell me you didn't know."

A chuckle catches in his throat as she sashays passed into the bathroom and he has no intention of moving until she sticks her head out. "Waiting for something?" She drops the sheet and her naked body drives him up, a grin spreading over his lips as moves to join her. They've both done plenty of waiting.

From now on his motivation is going to be making up for lost time.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

By the time they find their way down to the pool area it's mid-afternoon and Harvey keeps a respectable distance as they near Mike, Rachel and Jessica lounging in the sun. Not that it makes a damn bit of difference. The two tanned women at least try to feign some diplomacy but Mike's shit eating says it all and he shoots the kid a glare instinctively finding the small of Donna's back as they stop.

Mike smirks over the top of his book. "Good night?"

Rachel slaps him, deliberately aiming for the sunburn on his chest, and ignores the protest he muffles in response. She's dying to find out everything but takes a more subtle approach raising an eyebrow at her best friend who merely shrugs with a coy smile.

"I might go for a swim." Donna steers away from the obvious, finding Harvey's hand and giving it a tug. "Want to join me?"

"Is that even a question?" He replies, the mischievous glint in his eye making her blush. He can't help it. In the past twenty-four hours it's steadily become his new favourite hobby and he moves to follow her when Jessica sits up suddenly, lips poised with a relaxed smile.

"It's about damn time you two."

She winks chuckling at Mike's "here, here" beside her and watches with amusement as they both turn the colour of Donna's hair. Seeing Harvey embarrassed is a feat worth savouring but she gives him a reprieve and doesn't say anything else, genuinely happy for the pair.

Harvey ducks his head away from the attention and ushers Donna forward keeping their hands entwined. When they get back to the city they'll have to be more careful about public displays, especially in the office, but here there's no reason to hide and he slips his arms fully around her waist as they near the edge of the pool.

"You know, the quicker you get in the less cold it will be..." he mummers into ear, feeling her start to squirm in his tight hold.

"Harvey, no... don't even think about-"

She let's out a shriek as he pushes her over the side and she lands with a splash, coming up with a gasp in time to see Rachel sneaking with a finger to her mouth. Donna keeps her eyes on Harvey, her mouth twitching when the brunette gives him a quick hard shove and the look on his face just before he topples is priceless. She bursts out laughing and Rachel gives a candid wave calling out over the pool. "You owe me details for that!"

Harvey surfaces spluttering and glares at the amusement still gleaming in Donna's gaze. "Oh, you think that's funny do you?" He swims to where she's treading water and attacks her waist with grin, waiting for her breathless surrender before pulling her flush against his chest to keep them both a float. "Not so funny now, huh?"

"You did deserve it." She points out smugly, catching her breath and kissing the droplets of water from his mouth. He hoists her up in response and she wraps her legs around his hips as he carries her into the shallower end pressing up against the side of the pool.

Her hands settle against his front and he smirks taking in the feel of her body sat snugly around him. If they were in a more private location he would take full advantage of their weightlessness but he can practically feel Mikes gaze boring into them and he shakes the water out of his ear rolling his eyes. "I want to trade, Rachel for Mike. You can keep Louis."

Amusement spreads across her face and her mouth curves in a grin. "If you wanted someone to defend your honour you should have played nicer with the pup." He huffs but there's no real annoyance and she winds her arms round his neck locking them in place. "Besides you really want to spend the next hour gossiping over cocktails?"

"Depend what you're gossiping about?" He raises a mischievous eyebrow pressing his lips beneath her ear, "if it's how good I was last night, I'm sure I can contribute some notes."

She laughs at his unashamed ego, feeling his tongue brush the hollow of her neck and she hums a murmur as he slides his hands down to her thighs readjusting her weight against him. She runs her fingers through his hair in response, letting out a sigh when pulls back with humour in his gaze. "See what we could be doing instead."

She shakes her head feigning a smirk. "You're incorrigible."

"Only around you babe." He flashes a grin prompting her to immediately questions the name.

"Babe?"

"Gorgeous?" He suggests, winding his arms around her with a light squeeze. He's never been one for endearments except to throw them about casually but the way her cheeks flush at the term makes him think it might stick after all.

"Whatever you say, pretty." She winks teasing him back but catches Rachel pointedly tapping her watch over his shoulder and she unlocks her fingers trailing them down the front of his chest. "We have an audience." She whispers, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. "Think you can keep yourself amused for an hour?"

"I can but it won't be as fun without you." He hikes up an eyebrow, bringing his hands round to her waist and skating his thumbs over her hips. "Think you can handle missing out?"

She collects them, holding him still against her stomach as a deterrent. "I'll find a way to manage."

He pouts but she doesn't release her grip and he brushes his mouth over hers tugging at her lower lip. She grins into the kiss, slowly disentangling herself and making smalls waves in the water as she reluctantly breaks the contact. "Why don't you go for a beer with Mike, throw the poor pup a bone?"

He rolls his eyes glancing at the lawyer who isn't even feigning interest in his book anymore. He highly doubts he'll make it through one drink but she's right. He probably owes the kid something and swims after her towards the ladder feeling the warmth of the sun soak into his skin as he follows her up.

They both reach for a towel to dry the off the excess water and he meets Mike's expectant gaze with a pointed look. "One word, you're in the pool next. Let's go."

Mike closes his book so fast it lands on the ground with a thud and Rachel picks it up tossing it the lounger as her husband trails behind Harvey, his words making her grin.

"So... should we start with, 'hey Mike, you were right this whole time' or just skip straight into the apology?"

"Well, it was nice having a husband..." Rachel shrugs at Donna and Jessica, "we had a good run."

A laugh catches in Donna's throat as she prepares herself for her turn. Something tells her they're going to be a lot longer than an hour but for a story thirteen years in the making it deserves to be told properly and with a lot of tequila.

She just hopes Mike survives long enough to get the cliff notes version.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

AN: I think I'm going to have to leave this one here for now. It feels like a good place to stop so I can work on some of my other stories :) Thank you for all the lovely and encouraging reviews! xx