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Thanks to Wendy for all of her help!!

Free Man
Chapter 5

Outside Elliot's Apartment, Tuesday, 6:30 pm

Elliot flagged a cab and directed the driver to Olivia's apartment. He had really screwed up with her, and he needed to talk to her now before he had time to chicken out. His pride usually got in his way when he was talking to Olivia. Elliot kept imagining her expression when he told her he didn't care who she fucked. Olivia had not been able to hide the shocked hurt on her face, the rush of tears. Damn it, she wasn't the only one hurting. He thought he would lose his mind thinking about her at lunch with Porter, talking and laughing, spending time with a man other than himself.

As the cab pulled up in front of Olivia's building, he spied her walking through the security entrance. Elliot quickly paid the driver and jogged after her, needing to get to her before she locked him out. Luck was with him as another tenant was leaving just as he reached the security door so he was able to enter without being buzzed in. Elliot rushed to the stairs and took them two at a time, managing to catch up with Olivia as she exited the stairwell.

Olivia looked over her shoulder at him and hesitated, then walked to her apartment. Elliot followed her, catching a hold of her arm before she could put the key in the door.

"Olivia, I need to talk to you," he said.

"I think that you have said enough already," she said.

"Please, let me come in so we can talk," Elliot begged.

Elliot refused to let go of her arm, even when she glanced pointedly at his hand. He couldn't afford to let her get away from him.

"Elliot, I can't do this with you right now," she said.

"Please?"

Olivia shook her head slightly, unlocked her door and allowed him entrance.

Olivia closed the door and slumped against it, looking at him

He reached for her hand. "Let's sit down," he said.

She allowed him to lead her to the couch. She sat in the corner with her arms crossed defensively on her chest. Elliot sat at the other end with his elbows on his knees trying to focus on his reasons for rushing over here.

"What do you want, Elliot?" she asked.

Elliot looked at her frozen features, at a loss on how to make her give a damn about anything he had to say.

"Why are you here?" she sounded impatient.

"Olivia, I want…," he hesitated and stumbled into silence. Why was this so hard?

Olivia stood and walked to the door then pulled it open and said, "I would like for you to leave."

Elliot moved toward her, stopping beside her, and gently pushed the door closed. Carefully he lifted her hands to cradle within his own. He knew he could no longer avoid saying what needed to be said.

"Olivia, please forgive me" he whispered. He stared at their hands, unable to look at her.

"Why? Why did you say those horrible things to me?" she asked.

Elliot felt choked by the lump in his throat; he couldn't remember a time that he had felt so ashamed of himself.

"I don't know," he replied.

Olivia pulled her hands away from his and said, "Elliot, you said you wanted to talk!"

Elliot hesitated, still unable to force the words out. Olivia clenched her hands into fists. He knew he had better find the words pretty damn quick.

"Olivia, please, I was jealous. I didn't want you to spend time with anyone except me," he said. "I couldn't think straight."

Olivia looked long and hard at him. "I didn't go to lunch with Dean," she stated.

Elliot's eyes locked with hers; he could see the truth there. The tight spot in the middle of his chest began to ease.

How could he be so connected to this woman? Why couldn't he breathe unless things were right between them?

Elliot shook his head from side to side, surprised by her words. "You didn't go to lunch with Porter? You left the office with him so I thought you two were going out," he said.

"I would never jeopardize our relationship by going out with another man," she said quietly.

Elliot pulled her into his arms, cradling her tenderly against his chest. Elliot rubbed his palms over her back until the tension eased from her body.

"I'm sorry, Olivia" he said again. She pulled away to look at him, staring deeply into his eyes. Elliot leaned in to press his lips against hers, slowly increasing the pressure until her lips parted. He sucked on her bottom lip until she moaned.

Olivia's hands cupped his face as she ran her tongue inside of his mouth to tangle with his. Their breath had become ragged and they strained toward one another. She pulled him even closer by pressing her hands against the back of his neck.

"Elliot, I want you," she whispered.

"God, yes," he groaned the words.

Olivia unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the tails out, pushing it over his shoulders. Once it fell to the floor, she pulled the t-shirt over his head, dropping that as well. She rubbed her hands over his chest, down towards his belt. Her hands pulled at the belt buckle until she opened it. Elliot caught her hands before she could unbutton his pants.

"Wait, let's go to your room," he said.

Elliot led her to the bedroom then gently removed her shirt. Olivia removed her pants and he did the same. They stood admiring each other in their underclothes. He reached for her, pulling her in tightly against him. Elliot kissed along her jaw and down her throat, sucking on the pulse there.

He loved Olivia, and he hoped, by her reaction to his apology, that she felt the same about him. The taste and smell of her made him want to bury himself deep inside of her warmth. He couldn't let his desire take priority; Elliot needed to tell her how he felt before they made love. He didn't want any more misunderstandings as to why he was here with her.

"Olivia, I love the way you taste," he said. Her moans encouraged him to continue down her neck to her breasts. Before he could remove her bra, she reached around to unhook it and pull it down off of her arms, letting it drop to the floor.

Elliot drew a deep breath, trying to hold himself in check, pulling away to look at her. The sight of her naked breasts chipped away at his resolve to talk first and make love second. Unable to help himself, he cupped a breast and ran his thumb back and forth over her nipple. He stared at her nipple hardening under his touch; he leaned in to take a taste, just a small taste. Olivia moaned and pulled his head in closer to her, Elliot opened his mouth wider to keep from apply too much pressure and hurting her. He was hard, really hard and he had better talk to her now or he wouldn't be able to put two words together.

Elliot pulled away from her body and said, "Olivia, wait. I need to tell you something."

Olivia looked at him with heavy lidded eyes, breathing hard. "What?" she asked.

Elliot swallowed and tried to get his breathing under control.

"Olivia, I know that I have been acting like an inconsiderate bastard since the first time we were intimate. I can't tell you how ashamed I am of my behavior and I want you to know how sorry I am." Elliot took a deep breath and rushed on, "My only excuse is that my feelings were so strongly affected that I acted like a fool."

"I understand, Elliot," she said. Looking as if she didn't really understand why this had to be talked about just when things were getting really hot and heavy between them.

"I don't think you do, Olivia," he said. "I barely understand it myself; I have never acted like this before or felt like this before."

Olivia moved closer to him and put her arms around his neck. She looked into his eyes and said, "Its okay; it doesn't matter anymore. I only want to be with you."

"Olivia, it does matter!"

Olivia tightened her arms around him to force his body closer to her own. She whispered in his ear, "It doesn't matter because I love you; I have loved you since we first met."

Elliot trembled as her words sank in, "God, Olivia. I love you too." He pulled her body flush against his and held on tightly. He was content to hold her like this, still dazed and trying to absorb the idea that she returned his feelings, "I love you so much."

After several more minutes Olivia squirmed, loosening his hold on her. She looked into his eyes and smiled then said, "Now can we make love?"

"Gladly," he replied. They could always talk later.

Elliot walked her to the bed, pushing her back onto the mattress, until he was leaning over her, resting between her legs. He smiled; really smiled at her; his heart full to overflowing.

The End.