Chapter Six

January 1st
12:05 AM

Air was so totally overrated. So was breathing.

And the concept of personal space was so ridiculous that Olivia was going to laugh the next time Fin launched into a rant about how Lake had no idea that normal, red-blooded, American men didn't let anyone that close to them unless they were female.

Of course, she accepted that she might feel completely differently regarding the whole personal space thing if it hadn't been violated by Elliot.

A spectacularly turn-on Elliot in particular.

She wiggled, delighting in the feel of his hard on rubbing eagerly against her thigh. My, my, she thought, he was quite pleased with the way she'd insinuated herself into his lap. She wanted to smile, but she was too busy trying to suck every last bit of breath out of the man.

She must have succeeded because a moment, and a few unnecessary wiggles, later, his head fell back against the couch. His hands grabbed her ass, pulling her forward until his erection found the warm cradle of her legs. Oxygen-deprived or not, he still found the strength to grip her knees instead, forcing them apart so he could press himself against her center.

Her own head fell forward, smacking into his shoulder. She thought she might come right there. And that was pretty much the only thought she had.

January 1st
12:09 AM

His hands were knotted in her hair, giving him full control of where she looked. Most of the time, she was staring at the ceiling and feeling her chin tickled by his short hair as he worked the skin of her neck so hard she was sure she'd have several bruises in the morning. She didn't mind though because the way his tongue felt as he tasted her skin was liable to make her come too.

Desperate to regain some control, to hold onto some dignity rather than having an Earth-shattering orgasm in the man's arms after he'd only kissed her, she squeezed her legs together around him. His body jerked at the contact, at the grip her body had on him, and she happily heard him moan as his mouth forgot what it was doing.

She looked at him, admiring the pleasure written on his face, amazed that she'd caused it. "What do you say we take this to the bedroom?" Because as much fun as it would be to ride him right where they were, she wanted to be enjoy the inevitable moment when he decided he wanted to be in control and flipped her onto her back, which he wouldn't be able to do without tossing her onto the coffee table.

He groaned as he thrust lightly against her. "Does that mean we have to move?" Because, apparently, he really liked the way they were positioned.

She whimpered, realizing that it might not be physically possible for them to stop long enough to make such a concession. Still, as his hands moved over the top of her thighs, pushing her skirt up further, she knew they'd never have sex while her pantyhose were in place.

Although, she admitted, she doubted the thin nylon would stand much of a chance against Elliot's hands if that was the only barrier.

A sexy grin spread over her face as she forced herself to slide off his lap. "I'll give you some incentive." She hadn't bothered to smooth out her skirt when she stood, so she couldn't count the almost obscene expanse of leg. She went for her shirt instead, loving the way his eyes darkened as her fingers slowly loosened what was left of the knot. His eyes were glued to her hands as she pulled the fabric apart.

She remembered putting on the shirt, the care that had gone into making the knot just right. She made sure she took as much time to undo it, to hold her partner hostage by her methodical movements. She had every intention of giving him a strip tease, of torturing him while her fingers took forever to work each button. But she only got as far as the bottom one.

Because Elliot stood up, taking each of the sides in his hands, and pulling them apart.

There were tiny pings of the buttons as they hit various surfaces in her living room. There was a lighthearted giggle following those that Olivia couldn't hide.

She smacked at his chest playfully. "Hey, this is my favorite shirt!" And it was. Anything that had the result of Elliot ripping it from her body was her favorite.

He smiled as he pushed the shirt over her shoulders, moving his hands over her flesh as he uncovered it. "Mine too." Grinning, he leaned down to let his mouth follow the path of one of his hands, his lips dancing along her collarbone in one direction and then the other.

As he pushed the shirt over her wrists, his hands grabbed hers, and she flattened herself against him, into his frame, delighting in the feel of his considerable size next to her own. She smiled against his shirt from the simple pleasure she found in the feeling of his hands on hers.

"It's ruined now." She pouted when he pulled away to look at her, although the fact that his eyes stayed on hers rather than moving to her chest pleased her.

"I'll buy you a new one." His mouth found hers, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "I'll buy you one in every color if you promise to wear it every day."

She grinned and moved his hands, guiding them first to her waist and then slowly upward over her skin. "That'll get mighty expensive if you rip them all."

His eyes faltered, leaving hers just as she moved his hands to cup her breasts. His mouth dropped open when he watched his hands touching her. When his eyes finally moved back to hers, his pupils were so wide he looked drugged. "At least it'll let Cragen know he's been right about us all this time."

The mention of her boss's name might have been enough to ruin the mood, except that Elliot was softly tracing the pattern of the lace, his fingers circling her nipples time and again without once giving her the thrill of actual contact. Groaning, she pushed her chest forward, asking him without words to hurry up.

He laughed, his hands obeying her command, his thumbs finding her peaks and flicking at them. "And here I was afraid Cragen might be a mood killer."

She couldn't help but laugh and moan her enjoyment at the same time, creating a sound she was sure hadn't really been a turn on for him. Kicking at him, she searched for his eyes, the sight somehow far more sobering than it had been all night.

It hit home so fast she didn't know what was happening. Her stomach rolled, her face fell, her eyes threatened tears.

"Liv?" His hands abandoned her breasts, moving to cup her cheeks instead. "What's wrong?"

She hated herself for saying it, for even thinking it, but she couldn't continue. She wished her blouse was still on her, rather than crumpled on the floor. "You're married." She wanted to run away and hide. She resented that she had to be the one to remind him.

But he didn't look away or disappointed or pissed off. His eyes warmed, as though he'd doubted she'd remind him of such a thing, as though it had raised her further in his esteem that she had. "Do you trust me?"

The question wasn't one that either of them was liable to take lightly. Trust was an important issue in their line of work. Still, she didn't need a moment to think. "Yes."

He nodded, letting his hands move from her face and over her shoulders, pulling her against him in a hug. "Then it's ok."

"How?" She didn't doubt him, but she didn't understand either.

"Later, baby." His lips moved over her hair, dropping kisses along the way. His hands moved as well, returning to her shoulders to slide the straps of her bra down her arms.

And then he was back on the couch, urging her to kneel as his mouth caressed the skin of her chest. She braced herself against his shoulders, thankful for his strength as he helped steady her.

She needed the help a moment later when his mouth closed over her breast, bra and all. As it was, she fell forward and let his hands absorb her full weight.

January 1st
12:17 AM

She could feel the fluid accumulating in her pantyhose. Nylon was no better than the centimeter thick string between her legs at absorbing it and she feared it would be extremely embarrassing when she dripped onto his lap.

Although with the way he was sucking on her nipple much the way she imagined a very hungry infant might, she wasn't sure he'd notice.

She ran her fingers over his head, trying to get enough of a grip on his short hair to pull him away. When that failed, she pushed her weight back, hoping that he'd catch her before she smashed through her coffee table. Her plan worked, distracting him from her breasts while he caught her.

"Bedroom?" As always, he read her mind.

She nodded, trying to find the tension in her legs to stand. Unfortunately, Elliot's attentions had coiled all of the tension she was capable of producing between her legs.

Luckily, he was still able to figure out the problem. He stood up carefully, keeping her in his arms. Being just as skilled with teamwork, her legs wrapped around his waist, anchoring her body to his. He started toward the bedroom blind, with his face buried in her neck.

Gravity being what it was, her weight slipped a little with each step, until she was fairly certain that his erection was doing a lot of the work of lifting her. She started to giggle, wondering if perhaps there was a special workout he did that resulted in a particularly strong dick.

And then she slammed into the wall so hard that the wind was completely knocked out of her. She looked up, stunned at the dark, dangerous eyes of her partner.

"You know, it's hard enough to carry you around with the way you're bouncing up and down on me, but now you're laughing?" He sounded so mad she started to think he didn't like her.

She wanted to explain, but all the humor left her. "The bedroom's awfully far away." And then she squirmed, on purpose, to remind him that he did like her. Very much so.

Having pinned her against the wall allowed him to reach for her skirt, shoving it up to her waist. She hadn't expected anything in the way of romance really, but the idea that he was going to screw her, half dressed, up against the wall was a little upsetting.

But then his hands moved from her waste to her thighs and back again. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He was looking down, quite dismayed at the body that was still wrapped around him. "You're trying to kill me, woman."

She giggled again at the realization that her hose might well be his undoing. He fumbled at her waist, trying to find the top of them. And then she remembered his action with her shirt and her thoughts regarding the pantyhose. Catching his eye, she smiled, deciding that if they're going to fuck up against the wall dressed, then her pantyhose aren't going anywhere. "Rip them."

And to spur him on, just in case he doubted her word, she grabbed his shirt and popped several of the buttons off. As her mouth came in contact with his throat, she felt his hands griping at the nylon.

And then she felt a rush of cold air as he split them apart.

January 1st
12:20 AM

She didn't really care if they had sex anymore. She was having too good a time. After she'd sucked at least three hickeys out of his pale skin, she moved on to ripping off the rest of the buttons on his shirt. Then her lips and hands were free to roam over the skin she'd so desperately wanted to touch for so long.

Elliot had frozen, his hands still gripping her ass, his body still holding hers against the wall. His eyes were closed, his forehead on hers. He was enjoying her touch, allowing his hips to grind into hers to show his appreciation when her fingers found his nipples. Encouraged, she bent her head, trying to get her mouth to the same location.

The movement shifted her weight, causing Elliot to have to bend his knees and pull her into him to keep from letting go.

The movement realigned their bodies just so and all of a sudden, Olivia remembered why she wanted to have sex.

Fuck foreplay.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face next to hers and hissing in his ear. "Are you waiting for an invitation?"

He chuckled, moving his hands over her hips and waist, probably searching for enough fabric to constitute underwear. "Wasn't that the point of your shirt?"

She slapped his back, making sure she kissed his neck in apology. "So what the hell are you waiting for?"

He pulled back slightly as it finally sunk into his brain that his hands weren't finding anything besides skin. "Don't tell me you're not wearing panties."

She smiled and wiggled her hips, knowing they were at the moment she'd been hoping to see. "Oh, I'm wearing panties. Sort of."

His mouth dropped open as he looked at her. Finally, he leaned back to look, hiking her skirt up out of the way. "Fuck, Olivia." He was just staring at her. Well, not at her, per se, but down there. Staring. Like a man who'd never seen the holy land. "Holy fucking Christ."

She giggled. "I take it you approve."

His eyes finally came back to hers. "Oh, I approve all right."

She didn't get another chance to speak because the moment she opened her mouth, his tongue invaded it.

January 1st
12:23 AM

Distracted as she was with his kiss, she wanted to move things along. Not that she wasn't pleased with his reaction to her choice of under clothes. In fact, she'd be happy to let him stare to his heart's content after they finished. Her hands went to work, nails streaking down his arms as she shoved his shirt out of the way.

As soon as he was free of it, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. His scent assailed her again, stronger due to his rising body heat and uninhibited by his shirt.

The feel of his bare chest pressed to hers was as distracting as his tongue and she couldn't do anything but whimper at the sensation. He liked it as well, using his leverage to thrust against her.

She grinned against his ear, appreciating his body's attempt to hurry things along. "I hate to have to explain this, but it might work better if you took your pants off, you know." She wanted to laugh at the growl her comment produced, but she couldn't.

Because he'd unceremoniously reached between them, unzipped his fly, and freed his erection from the confines of his pants in nothing short of record time.

And then he looked at her, a hint of a smirk on his face. "I have five kids, sweetheart, I know how it works." His hips pushed against hers again, that time without any barrier between them, and the head of his penis wedged into her folds.

She bit her lip, refusing to allow herself to scream at the contact.

But, good god, she wanted to.

And she kind of wanted to apologize in advance since she was pretty sure she was going to come so hard and so fast that she'd be sound asleep before he even got all the way inside her.

His head leaned toward her again, his lips skimming over her cheek and ear. "You're so fucking wet, Liv."

"Whose fault is that?" She'd been embarrassed at the thought of it, but he seemed to like it.

He didn't answer, instead reaching between them again, letting his fingers feel their way across her clit. She moaned and shivered and sunk her nails into his back as his fingers tickled the nerves there for only a moment before moving to enter her. It was adorable, she thought, that he was testing her with his fingers, checking that she was ready for him, even when her fluids were probably coating his hand with the obvious answer.

But then his fingers started to move, pumping in and out, his thumb brushing her center as his fingers pressed inside her body. Her nails dug in harder, afraid she'd fly off into oblivion if she didn't keep herself attached to him.

"Jesus, what are you doing?" She was panting and whimpering and thrusting in answer to his hand, all the while feeling his erection throbbing and jerking against her ass.

"Come on, Liv. Come for me." His voice was barely recognizable, forced out between pants. Beads of sweat were popping out across his brow and along his back.

She shook her head, telling herself more than she was telling him. "No, I want you inside me."

His hand thrust up harder and she could feel her body stretching to grant him access. "I am inside you."

When his teeth closed around her earlobe a second later, she felt her whole world explode.

January 1st
12:26 AM

Her head lolled on his shoulder as the fireworks began to fade from behind her closed eyes. "El." She didn't know what she wanted to say. She just wanted to say his name, to assure herself that he was really there.

His lips fell on her cheek. "I'm here, baby."

She smiled without lifting her head. "I never liked pet names."

"Then you've probably about had it with me tonight, huh?"

She laughed, tightening her arms around him. "Then again, you've always been a bit of a rule breaker, haven't you?"

"Not until I met you." He grinned at her, seeming to disregard his own needs to allow her to enjoy her release.

She finally found the strength to lift her head, her arms draping over his shoulders as her fingertips caressed the angry red streaks she'd left on his back. "What are partners for?" To illustrate that she wasn't talking about work, she drew her hands toward her, smoothing over his shoulders and chest. They slowly danced over his skin, marveling in the incredible strength he possessed to be able to hold her like that without appearing to even notice her weight.

Eventually her hands reached his waist, where their path was blocked by her legs, still locked at the ankle behind him.

She hated it, but she unhooked her ankles and slowly lowered her legs. His hands were on her ass, holding her feet a few inches off the floor. She pushed at his wrists, telling him to let her go. As much as she wanted to stay in his arms, she kind of hoped to push him past the point of being able to hold both of them up.

She reached for him as soon as her feet touched the ground, but his hands looped around her wrists and held her still. Confused her eyes darted to his.

"I'm only human, Liv. You touch me and this is over." He smiled ruefully as he started toward the bedroom, stopping now and then to thoroughly investigate the structure of her mouth with his tongue.

And somehow, due mostly to the fact that his tongue was rather gifted, she felt the tension coiled back between her legs by the time they made it to her bed. She barely had time to feel the bed behind her knees before his hands were on her back, supporting her as she lay back. He made quick work of his pants and boxers, especially so since he'd already conveniently relocated the important part of himself outside the constraints.

She watched as his attention became redirected at her, enjoying the view of a completely naked Elliot stripping off her skirt. Her thong caught his eye again, likely because the tiny thing was the only piece of clothing between the two of them.

Slipping his fingers under the lace that formed sides, he smirked at her. "Have you ever worn these to work?"

She could see the wheels turning in his head and she wished she could say she had, because she knew such a response would forever make him wonder what she had on under her dress pants. She shook her head sadly. "I always have to worry what a doctor might think if I get hurt." She shrugged. It was true, a sad fact that all cops had to consider when they dressed. What they wore might be on display to their coworkers or an emergency room staff or, god forbid, the coroner they'd worked with.

His attention was immediately diverted and his body moved to cover hers, his face suddenly level with hers and his finger pressing over her mouth. "Don't talk like that."

"Why not?" Her tongue darted out, swirling around the tip of his finger while her eyes promised him it was only a hint of what she could do if he'd only let her.

He refused to be distracted. "It's bad luck."

She grinned, opting to suck his finger into her mouth, hell bent on distracting him. "I don't need luck. I have you."

"Yes, you do." He pulled his finger out of her mouth without any warning, replacing it with his lips.

January 1st
12:29 AM

If he didn't learn to keep his tongue to himself, he was going to wind up never actually getting off.

And if he had stopped kissing her long enough, she would have told him as much.

Not that she really minded.

January 1st
12:31 AM

She really didn't mind at all when his tongue started lapping at her skin, carefully tracing her body. He worshipped at her breasts, kissing and licking and sucking, until she was practically screaming. And then his body shifted further down, leaving a hot, wet trail along her stomach and hips.

Until he found her panties again.

And once again, he grinned up at her. "These belong in a museum."

She tried to laugh, except her body was way too wound up for it. "Had I any idea what they would do to you, El, I would have modeled them a long time ago."

His fingers found the sides, slowly lowering them as his lips pressed along the newly exposed skin. "Should I ask what other secret weapons you have in your arsenal?"

She did laugh, unable to stop the momentary release of tension. "If you're good, I'll model them all." She didn't have that many, not really, but she had a credit card. As soon as Elliot left, which she prayed wouldn't be for a long time, she was going online and ordering until the Visa fraud people called and asked her what she was up to. And then she'd fax them a picture of Elliot and continue shopping.

The release of tension was terribly short. There was just no way for her to be calm and relaxed as Elliot Stabler removed her panties. There was just no way for her to be calm and relaxed as Elliot Stabler kissed his way down one leg all the way to her toes and then back up the other.

She was getting desperate, pain burning her fingers from the death grip she had on her mattress. She knew exactly what he was intending and, god bless the man, any other time she would have happily spread her legs for him to kiss whatever else he wanted.

But she was ready to go and this time, this one particular time, she wanted to feel him inside her when she came. And not just his hand.

She let go of the mattress with one hand and snagged his ear just as his mouth was moving from her thigh to her hip. It was the only way she'd get him to give up, but luckily, she knew it would work.

His face was unhappy when it moved even with hers and she knew he was about to say something angry. He didn't like being told what to do, or not to do apparently. She silenced him with a kiss, the likes of which he'd been tormenting her with all night. Her tongue plunged into his mouth, dueling with his as she learned the feel and taste of him.

Forget the eye candy, she just wanted to suck face forever.

But then she felt his dick, swollen and hard and throbbing, at her entrance.

Forget sucking face. She wanted to fuck him forever. She didn't even have to try it to know.

Her legs wound around him again, giving him no more excuses. He pulled back from their kiss and looked at her, holding her eyes reverently as he slid home.

It was then that she realized why he'd been so cautious, so insistent that she come first, so pleased to find her wet. He was huge, something she'd always suspected and finally had proof of. Olivia was no saint and had never shied away from sex. She'd had lovers who were average and tiny and large and caring and callous.

But she'd never felt anything like Elliot's dick stretching her body as far as it would go, filling her so completely she wondered if he'd be able to get himself back out. She was afraid as she raked her nails across his back once again that she'd have to tell him she couldn't take anymore, that she was too small for him. And just as the words were forming, she felt his balls touch her skin. His head lowered to hers and he stayed there, buried to the hilt inside her, feeling their connection, for a long time.

She sighed, letting out the fear that she wouldn't be able to please him. Her nails relaxed and her fingers moved to caress the damage she'd done to his skin.

He lifted his head, his eyes full of emotion. "Am I hurting you?"

She shook her head, realizing that he might have felt her tension. She smiled. "No. You're perfect."

And he was, exactly filling her body, bringing her to the edge without having to try.

His mouth found hers, kissing her deeply as his body pulled back. Even knowing that it was part of the dance, she almost cried out at the loss of the exquisite pressure. She knew it wouldn't take long for her to climax again, not with the way he made her body come alive. It would have been embarrassing, like the wetness oozing from her body, except that he liked it. He was trying to meet the rhythm her hips were suggesting while trying to set his own pace, but when her muscles tensed, he would pause and let her enjoy it.

But his arms were starting to shake and she could feel the muscles tensing in his back and shoulders. He was trying to hold out for her, remarkable since he'd already pleasured her once, amazing since few men did at all what he'd already done for her. She held him tight, locking her ankles together as she hugged his chest to hers.

"It's ok, El, I'm ok." She was so close she knew a few more thrusts would finish her and she honestly doubted he'd make it through that, not with the tight fit of her body around him.

His body froze and he looked at her, terror and anxiety joining with the pleasure to twist his handsome features. "I swear, it's never been like this." He swallowed hard, staring at her for a long time.

And she did what she'd sworn she wouldn't because she was moved beyond the point of tears. "I love you."

The moment it left her lips, she feared it was the wrong thing to say, especially since he hadn't answered her about his wife. He'd only told her it was ok, but that was hardly definitive. But she did trust him.

He nodded, letting his mouth descend on hers as his body began to move with a bit less finesse, but a lot more purpose. "I know."

She wasn't expecting a declaration, not in light of the fact that she part of her still wanted to un-say the words. But she let his answer wash over her even as his body started to slam harder into hers.

He knew she loved him. Despite all the flirting and toying and games. Despite all the fighting and yelling and pushing him away. Despite her best efforts to keep herself locked far away from everyone and anyone who could truly wound her. He knew. He really knew. He hadn't been shocked to hear it. Maybe he'd always known.

And he was still there, still at her side everyday. Still there for her when she refused to confide in him.

Still fucking her, in her bed, on New Year's because she'd insisted on getting a kiss at midnight.

If that wasn't love, she didn't know what was.

She felt her muscles contract, somehow so tight even after her earlier release that her back lifted clear off the bed in a painfully sudden arch. Her legs gripped his body, causing pain from the uncomfortable angle to shoot through her thighs. Her nails dug into his skin again, drawing a hiss of pain from him. Her mouth connected with his throat, intending to kiss him, and instead, her teeth latched onto his skin and muscle, biting down until she was sure it would scar.

But she couldn't force herself to let go. Not any of her. Her body was under his control, finding the coordination in her position, to meet his thrusts.

Her internal muscles contracted as she finally reached the peak, her rhythm stopping without warning as her body prepared to fall.

He pulled out, almost completely from her, only to immediately shove all the way back in, sending her flying over the edge. The fire in her body was white-hot and all encompassing as it shot through every nerve, leaving her quivering and spent in its wake. As the tremors continued to run through her, slowly unraveling what he'd been working on for years, she felt his pace fail entirely. He thrust into her hard and fast three more times before his own climax, coming inside her, as his body collapsed onto hers.

They lay there, shivering and shaking and satiated without a word. There was nothing to say. There was nothing they needed to hear.

January 1st
1:12 AM

"I'm cold." It had taken a good long time for her to find her voice, only to discover that she hadn't found her voice. Instead she'd found the voice of a four-year-old with laryngitis. "El? Are you awake?"

"I'm cold too." He'd apparently had the same issue, and result, with his voice. "But I'm not about to move." And then to belie his words, he propped himself up on one arm. "Am I crushing you?"

She squealed at the cold air that assaulted her the moment his chest lifted from hers. "Get back here!" She pulled at his arm to get him to cover her once again.

"We're going to freeze to death." He tried to roll to the side, but her legs were still wrapped around him, her feet long since having gone numb.

"Where do you think you're going?" She wasn't about to let go of him, not when that meant he'd pull out of her. Spent and limp as he might be, she liked him right where he was. Not to mention that she wanted to know the moment he was up for another round.

And apparently, her words were just the thing to trigger his interest. "Oh, I get it. You like me right here, huh?"

She nodded, feeling his body stirring inside her. "I hate to break it to you, but you're not getting out of here without a fight."

He grinned and moved to kiss her again. "I'm not going to put up much of a fight, babe."

January 1st
1:59 AM

"I'm cold."

"Let me see what I can do to warm you up."

January 1st
2:47 AM

"I'm cold."

"I can fix that."

January 1st
3:33 AM

"I'm cold."

"Not this again." He turned his head, his hot breath falling on her shoulder.

"No, really."

"Maybe you should get a blanket."

She kicked him, only lightly since she couldn't seem to lift her leg very far off the bed. "Remind me to kick you tomorrow."

"It is tomorrow."

She reached for the blanket, only to discover that it had relocated to the floor. "Damn it, I can't reach."

Unhappy, Elliot pushed himself up and off her, snagging the blanket and hurling it over them in one quick move. "There, now shut up. I'm tired."

She shifted her feet around until they were tucked in next to his. "And whose fault is that?"

"It's yours. You're the one who wore that shirt and you knew full well what it would do to me since I couldn't take my eyes off you the last time you wore it."

She giggled while his arms wound around her middle. "Well, that's not all you could keep off me tonight."

"I dare you to wear it to work tomorrow."

"That'll be interesting since it doesn't have any buttons."

"That's the point."

January 1st
3:59 AM

"Liv?"

"Liv?"

"Honey?"

A sleepy, confused Olivia lifted her head to find Elliot staring at her intently. "I was sleeping." Then she realized what it meant to find Elliot in bed with her and the ache between her legs reminded her that things had gone very well indeed. She smiled happily.

"I never told you what happened."

"I'm pretty sure I remember what happened. Although that last time, my head did hit the wall pretty hard." She giggled, remembering what had been happening when she'd smacked her head.

"With Kathy."

That was a mood killer. Without conscious thought, Olivia began pulling back into herself, trying to disentangle her limbs from his.

His arms stayed tight around her, his mouth moving into her neck. "It's ok, Liv. I just wanted you to know so you didn't think I was just trying to get you in bed."

But her fears were getting the best of her and her body started to fight his in order to retract. She shook her head, promising herself she wouldn't cry. She could hardly ask for more from a married man – they'd had a wonderful time in bed, he'd accepted her declaration of love, he'd even stayed to hold her most of the night.

"It's ok, El, really."

His mouth found her neck and began pressing kisses on her skin. "It's over, Liv. It's really over." Continuing to rain kisses on her face and throat, he shifted up to look at her in between. "We'd been talking about it for a while and I didn't want to say anything until it was definite, but tonight when I went home, I decided it would be better for everyone, especially the kids, if we stopped pretending. She didn't argue with me. She actually said she was planning on asking me to move out after the holidays."

She was quiet for a long time, trying to absorb the information and process it. Her first reaction was to jump up and down for joy, but then she wondered if that meant she was the rebound, the first woman he'd gone after following the dissolution of his marriage.

"I wanted to be with you, Liv, a long time before things with Kathy fell apart." His lips touched hers lightly. "Hell, I wanted to be with you a long, long time ago, Liv."

She smiled, understanding what he was saying, that he wasn't going anywhere ever. "Happy New Year, El."

He didn't answer her. Instead, his lips fastened onto hers and gave her a pretty fair idea of just how good the new year was going to be.